Last August, I had the pleasure of joining the Workers Circle (Arbiter Ring) for their annual week-long retreat, Trip to Yiddishland. This year’s trip was particularly meaningful, as it marked the 125th anniversary of the formation of the Worker’s Circle union. As a member of the Worker’s Circle College Network, I had access to the program and all its offerings on a pay-what-you-can basis. The retreat, held at Camp Kinder Ring and the Circle Lodge–the Workers Circle’s beloved getaway in Upstate New York since 1927– offered a range of activities and tracks. A few of the sessions offered me not only a gateway into Yiddish culture but a strong appreciation for the community I had joined.
Each day after breakfast, all participants took a Yiddish class. I was placed in the Veys gornisht class, literally meaning “don’t know anything,” as noted in my activity folder. Despite arriving as a veys gornisht, after six days of intense learning, I left with a solid arsenal of greetings and phrases, the ability to understand basic jokes, and even a short list of Sholom Alechiem’s stepmother’s curses. Our teacher was warm and animated, keeping us engaged with the kinds of fun games you’d expect in a language class. She even included a few surprises, like watching clips of Seinfeld dubbed in Yiddish! The passion that the Workers Circle members had for Yiddish language and culture became obvious.
During the second period, everyone was free to explore whatever class caught their interest and even switch T things up day-to-day. My second period course ended up being a highlight of the experience: Parshe Poetry. Led by scholar Sheva Zucker, the class paired excerpts from the weekly parshe with Yiddish poems, presented in both the original Yiddish and English translation. Each day we received a thick packet filled with poems and prose from names familiar to me, like Itsik Manger, and new discoveries such as Meylekh Ravitsh. A few of my favourites were Alexander Shpiglblat’s “My Mother’s Hands” and Rokhl Korn’s “I Will Take With Me.”
But Yiddishland was not just about sitting and studying; there were also plenty of physical and musical activities to keep the energy high. Every night after dinner, the entire camp gathered for singing and dancing, accompanied by music from students in the camp’s “klezmer track.” Joy radiated; especially because we had dancer leaders to guide newbies, like myself, through the steps. People of all ages joined in, from young kids and college students to longtime members, forming one of the largest and most spirited folk dance circles I’ve ever been part of. We danced bulgars almost every night and even attempted a somewhat chaotic sher on one of the final evenings.
Beyond the classes and dancing, there were also Yiddish tishn (conversation tables) for language practice with speakers and a number of fascinating talks. My favourite was given by Goldah Shore, a 97-year-old camper who was a native Yiddish speaker. She spoke about her lifelong relationship with the language, occasionally slipping into Yiddish as she shared her story.
This deep connection to Yiddish, its history, humour, and its living culture made my Trip to Yiddishland so memorable. The excitement and appreciation for the language were palpable throughout the week. There people of all ages, from all over, came together to speak, sing, and think critically in the language of their ancestors, bringing Yiddish to life by using it to form connections with their friends and family. I can’t wait to return next year and continue to learn, immersing myself in this special again again.
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