WJC YC was invited to participate in the conference on the basis of our continuing successful cooperation with JDC, which proved itself to be very effective in promoting Yiddish language and culture in FSU last year.
The program consisted of handful of activities from the areas of Jewish self-identification, literature, arts, history, crafts, music, poetry, games, volunteering, cooking. Any participant could find something suitable for own taste and enjoy the time.
Excursions also had their time in this 5 day gathering, during which Tbilisi, Mtzcheta and Mukhrani district were explored.
This time our representing team of lecturers was bigger. It consisted of Dr. Mordehay Yushkovsky (WJC YC academic director), Dr. Valentina Fedchenko (scholar from St. Petersburg university), Marina Yakubovych (musician, singer and actress from Israel), and Lev Sandiuk (well-known Klezmer musician from Moscow).
Dr. M. Yushkovsky presented lectures about 3 classics of Yiddish literature: Mendele Moicher-Sforim, Sholem-Aleichem, I.L. Peretz; an image of a woman in Yiddish literature and folklore; pages of the history of Yiddish theatre.
Dr. V. Fedchenko spoke of forming of Yiddish literature and two-faced Itzchak Bashevis Singer: adapting novels in Yiddish for American readers.
Our lecturers also gave 2 lectures-concerts, with participation of Mordehay Yushkovsky, Marina Yakubovich and Lev Sandyuk: "Between the hammer and sickle" and "From an old home into the new one".
We got a very flattering gratitude letter, in which Dr. Asaf Kaniel, JDC educational program director, wrote:
"<...> Thankfully during the conference, I was able to attend Dr. Yushkovky's and Dr. Fedchenko's sessions, and I enjoyed every moment. They offered a deep and exciting analysis of the world of Yiddish culture, and the relevant European cultural counterparts. Their knowledge of the historical and ethnographic context in which this developed, was very impressive. The materials were delivered in a manner which awakened among the audience a love and curiosity for a world which most were not familiar with. This was due to the vast knowledge, emotional involvement and wonderful humor of the lecturers.
Both the concert and musical lecturers in which Yakubovich and Sandiuk were involved, were interesting and full of humor and talent which were well received by the audience.
As we witnessed during the conference, JCC directors and educators from across the FSU expressed interest in inviting the lecturers and musicians to their communities. I hope that will come about, and that we will be able to continue to enjoy future collaboration. <...>"
Such a feedback makes us proud of our work and happy that the Yiddish topics gather more and more attention.