Inspired by the kheyder, the traditional form of Jewish elementary education in Eastern Europe, this exhibit invited visitors to imagine themselves as pupils learning at the Yiddish kheyder, where they could explore some of the basic skills required to engage with Yiddish: how to read it, how to write it, how to speak it, and how to identify what it looks and sounds like. In this kheyder, The University of Toronto libraries’ rich Yiddish collection was the melamed (teacher). On display, there was everything from children’s primers to doctoral dissertations, with a worksheet to track your progress throughout.

Built into the concept of a Yiddish kheyder is a theoretical challenge that encourages us to think about space. As we know, learning and teaching Yiddish was not the express purpose of the traditional kheyder, where instruction instead largely emphasized liturgical and Biblical texts; as Max Weinreich wrote, “No one was ever flogged for not knowing Yiddish.” This Yiddish kheyder, then, is a new creation. It is a Yiddish space rooted in history, but not found in historical space or time. Rather, this Yiddish kheyder is a creation for this space and this time, inviting visitors to reflect on the fact that increasingly, 21st century Yiddish spaces have moved from the street, the home, and the shul into the classroom, the library, and the museum.

We invite you to explore the exhibit and encourage your questions and comments.