Alefbeys Workshop
Tuition: $160 | YIVO members: $125**
Students: $80 (Must register with valid university email address)
This is a live, online course held twice weekly on Zoom. Enrollment will be capped at about 15 students. All course details (Zoom link, syllabus, handouts, assignments, etc.) will be posted to Canvas or distributed via email. Students will be granted access to the class on Canvas after registering for the class here on the YIVO website. This class will be conducted in English.
Instructor: Moishele Alfonso
Who should take this course?
This course is appropriate for those who are new to Yiddish or would like a review.
What topics will this class cover?
In this four-session course, we will delve into the wonders of the Yiddish alefbeys! This may be your first step in learning Yiddish, or it may just be a refresher. All are welcome! We'll learn how to read, write cursive, and pronounce Yiddish in a fun and dynamic way that is accessible to everyone. By the last lesson, you'll be able to read out of a real children's Yiddish reader and be set to begin, or continue, your Yiddish journey!
Course Materials:
All course materials will be provided digitally through Canvas or email.
Questions? Read our 2025 Fall Classes FAQ.
Moishele Alfonso received his B.A. in German, French and Italian from the University of Memphis. He attended the YIVO-Bard Uriel Weinreich Summer Program in 2018 and participated in the Yiddish Book Center’s Yiddish Pedagogy Fellowship (2018-19) and the Yiddish Pedagogy Practicum (2021-22). He has taught Yiddish at the Yiddish Book Center, the Workers Circle, and at Kadimah in Melbourne, Australia.
In 2021-2022, Moishele transcribed Isaac Bashevis Singer’s book, Sonim: di geshikhte fun a libe (Enemies: a Love Story) into standardized Yiddish from the orthography used in its original serialized publication in the Forverts (1966). Moishele’s version was published in 2022 by Olniansky Farlag in Sweden and is the first time Sonim has ever appeared in book form in Yiddish.
**Become a member today, starting at $54 for one year, and pay the member price for classes! You’ll save on tuition for this course and more on future classes and public programs tickets.