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Come join us for three weeks on zoom to practice your shmues (conversation) skills in relation to a variety of texts and media. This online, three session mini-course is designed for intermediate Yiddish language learners. We will look at video clips, audiobooks, and written texts and discuss how the rich availability of such materials can facilitate a self-study of Yiddish or discovery of the many gems that exist on the internet when one knows where to look. A focus in this class will be on continuing a conversational approach where we speak in Yiddish throughout, to the best of our ability, and with much communal care and support. Another focus will be on enjoying the language and having fun! ***Registration Deadline*** Friday, May 16th ***Schedule & Fees*** This course includes three 90-minute online classes on Sundays (2-3:30pm PST) from May 18th to June 1st. The standard fee is $54 ($18 per class), with payment plans available to address financial access barriers. To set up a payment plan, select the “payment plan deposit” ($18) option during registration and Peretz staff will reach out to finalize the details. ***Instructor Bio*** Emily Glass (she/her) grew up in North Vancouver hearing no Yiddish at all. Like many people interested in the language, she has a “discovery” story. Hers involved spontaneously signing up for a beginner Yiddish class with Rebecca Margolis during her undergrad at the University of Ottawa in 2015 and then falling in love with the culture at the Steiner Summer Program at the Yiddish Book Center in 2016. Since then, she has studied Yiddish and its vibrant culture at KlezKanada, Yiddish Summer Paris, and Yiddish New York. Professionally, Emily has worked for over three years as a high school French teacher. This past year, she took a break from high school teaching to do a masters in Yiddish Studies at the University of Toronto, where she did language seminars and researched the ways that Ashkenazi ways of being have been expressed in dance cultures. Throughout her masters, she was additionally mentored by Avia Moore of KlezKanada in her Yiddish dance research. Image: Postcard by Przedruk wabronieny (Stanisławów, 1905)

Start your Yiddish language learning journey at the Peretz Centre with Beginners' Yiddish Language Classes (Spring 2026). In this introductory class, we will dive into the language and culture of Eastern European Jews, and explore the fascinating world of Yiddishkayt. Using a communicative and task-based approach, we will practice basic conversational skills, learn important verbs and adjectives to describe our daily life, and learn to read and write in Yiddish! During our classes we will also learn Yiddish folks songs and get exposed to Yiddish film, art and, culture. This term we will expand our vocabulary, learn to describe things and people around us, and begin exploring the past tense. Familiarity with Yiddish/Hebrew alphabet is recommended, but not required. **This course continues the introductory course from last session, but is open to everyone with some level of spoken Yiddish who wants to practice and improve their language skills. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at: imanoff@peretz-centre.org ***Schedule & Fees*** This course includes 10 in-person classes on Thursdays (6-7:30pm) from January 8th to March 12th. The standard fee for Beginners' Yiddish is $250 (or $25 per class), with payment plans available to address financial access barriers. To set up a payment plan, select the "payment plan deposit" ($26) option during registration and Peretz staff will reach out to finalize the details. Plans can be monthly ($86 x 3) or weekly ($26 x 10). ***Instructor Bio*** Itamar Manoff (he/him) is co-executive director of the Peretz Centre. Itamar holds a PhD from the Department of Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia, where he conducted research focused on language education. Itamar has over 15 years of experience in language teaching for adults, including Hebrew, English and Yiddish, and is currently a Yiddish Pedagogy Practicum Fellow at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. In his teaching, Itamar focuses on conversational, communicative and theme-based approaches to the teaching of Yiddish language and culture, all the while emphasizing the importance of grammar and vocabulary acquisition. *Image: Illustration by Issac Lichtenstein in Herman Gold's children's book אין וואלד (1918), US Library of Congress, http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.amed/amedscd.54048485

This course is based on a conversational, interactive and communicative approach to Yiddish. In it, we will focus on deepening our conversational and expressive skills in Yiddish, all the while deepening our grammatical to allow us to engage in authentic conversation in Yiddish. In addition, we will learn Yiddish songs, read short stories and poems, watch Yiddish films, clips, interviews and more! The fee for this program is $235 for 13 classes. --- Instructor Bio: Itamar Manoff (he/him) is co-executive director of the Peretz Centre. A PhD candidate in the Department of Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia, his research focuses on language education research. Itamar has over 15 years of experience in language teaching for adults, including Hebrew, English and Yiddish, and teaches Yiddish at the Peretz Centre and a the Centre for Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies at the University of British Columbia. In his teaching, Itamar focuses on conversational, communicative and theme-based approaches to the teaching of Yiddish language and culture, all the while emphasizing the importance of grammar and vocabulary acquisition. Image: Es kam das Feuer by El Lissitzky, from the portfolio Chad Gadja, Kiev 1919; Jewish Museum Berlin

Looking to practice your Yiddish conversation skills, in a fun, inclusive and supportive environment? In this 4 session course we will get to know each other in Yiddish, speak about our daily lives, interests and hobbies, and talk about past experience and future plans! Each session will be dedicated to a different theme, with specific conversation models and vocabulary provided to help us build our confidence in the art of shmusen in Yiddish! The course is meant for a variety of levels, from beginners who have completed at least one introductory course, to those with speaking knowledge who want to practice and enjoy speaking the language. For more information please contact: imanoff@peretz-centre.org ***Schedule & Fees*** Tuesdays, 5:30pm-7:30pm at the Kirman Library (Peretz Centre, 6184 Ash St.), from April 14 to May 5, 2026 (4 sessions). The standard fee for this course is $90. ***Instructor Bio*** Itamar Manoff (he/him) is co-executive director of the Peretz Centre. Itamar holds a PhD from the Department of Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia, where he conducted research focused on language education. Itamar has over 15 years of experience in language teaching for adults, including Hebrew, English and Yiddish, and is currently a Yiddish Pedagogy Practicum Fellow at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. In his teaching, Itamar focuses on conversational, communicative, and theme-based approaches to the teaching of Yiddish language and culture, all the while emphasizing the importance of grammar and vocabulary acquisition.

What was Jewish life like in Eastern Europe? How did the political and economic upheavals of the 19th and 20th centuries change Eastern European culture, and how do these changes still inform historical and cultural memory today? How did the changes in traditional Jewish life relate to gender and the place of women in society (and importantly, how do we queer these historical narratives)? Who were the Bund, and what was their relation to socialist movements of the time? What is a Shtetl, and how was it distinct from other types of communal settlement in Europe? In this course, we will explore these (and other) questions, focusing on the social, cultural and political changes that shaped the lives and cultures of Jews in Eastern Europe. Drawing on a wealth of literary, musical, and visual materials, as well as archival and historical documentation, we will encounter poets, radicals, artists, musicians and revolutionaries who lived, created and dreamed in Yiddish, and learn how they thought about their world and sought to change it for the better! ***Schedule & Fees*** This course includes 6 in-person classes from Oct. 21 to Nov. 25 (Tuesdays from 7-9pm) PLUS full access to the Zhargon Speaker Series (4 online talks by leading scholars in Yiddish Studies) on the following tentative dates: November 2, November 20, December 7, January 25. The course fee is $50. We acknowledge the support of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation with funding provided by the Government of Canada. ***Instructor Bios*** Jess Goldman (they/them) is a writer, comics artist, and amateur puppeteer based on the traditional, unceded lands of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam peoples. Their writing has been published in Maisonneuve, the CBC, and Room Magazine. A graduate of University of British Columbia’s MFA in Creative Writing Program, their writing explores that sweet spot where Yiddishkayt and queer culture joyfully collide. Itamar Manoff (He/Him) is the co-executive director of the Peretz Centre. A PhD in Educational Studies, Itamar is a community educator, language teacher and learner, and Jewish history enthusiast. He is a graduate of the Wallis Annenberg Helix-Yiddishkayt Fellowship (2018-2019), and is a Yiddish Pedagogy Fellow at the Yiddish Book Center. Itamar is also the co-founder of This is Not an Ulpan, a grassroots, cooperative language school dedicated to the principles of critical pedagogy and emancipatory education in Palestine and Israel.

The Peretz Centre offers a pluralistic approach to Jewish cultural education that emphasizes the humanist, progressive, and universalist aspects of our heritage. We focus on literature, language, ethics, music, art, and dance. Although children learn about Jewish spirituality and religious history, Peretz does not seek to promote particular religious commitments or doctrines. Learn more about the program format and curriculum here: https://www.peretz-centre.org/pnei-mitzvah/ ✱𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬✱ Our Pnei Mitzvah program is open to participants of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities, who feel a connection to Jewish cultures and histories. The 2-year program is intended for youth who will be 12-13 at the end of the second year (spring/summer 2028). Early/late participation may be permitted with instructor approval, depending on maturity level and other factors (contact us with questions). ✱𝟮𝟲━𝟮𝟳 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 🙴 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡✱ Classes take place twice a month on (alternating) Sundays, from Oct. 18 through June (schedule below is subject to change). Class times are two hours including 15-minute snack break (12:30-2:30pm). Students are expected to attend class in-person at the Peretz Centre (6184 Ash Street), unless otherwise arranged by program staff. ✱𝗧𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡✱ Standard tuition is $1,300 per year or $1,800/year for 2 siblings. Payment plans are available to address financial access barriers; pay a deposit with the “request payment plan” option during registration and we will contact you to finalize details. Year 1 tuition includes: ➜ 17 two-hour classes (October-June) with Matthew Gindin ➜ Program materials and supplies ➜ Subsidized student tickets for Peretz secular holidays for 5 years ➜ Access to Peretz building for additional cohort activities (movie nights, etc.) In order to subsidize the costs of the Pnei Mitzvah celebration for families, Year 2 tuition will also include venue rental (Gallia & Ben Chud Auditorium), access to Peretz equipment/supplies and admin event support. ✱𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗜𝗢✱ Matthew Gindin has been teaching Jewish history, philosophy, and contemplative traditions in a wide variety of settings since 2004. Formerly Peretz Education Director and Master Teacher at Or Shalom, we welcomed Matthew back to the Peretz Centre in 2024. He also works as a freelance writer and editor, professional lecturer, and independent journalist. (matthewgindin.com)

✱ 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧: Registration is restricted to students who already participated in the Year 1 cohort. ✱ The Peretz Centre offers a pluralistic approach to Jewish cultural education that emphasizes the humanist, progressive, and universalist aspects of our heritage. Over two years of bi-weekly sessions, Pnei Mitzvah cohorts focus on literature, language, ethics, music, art, and dance to connect with and reinterpret traditions in new ways. Although children learn about Jewish spirituality and religious history, Peretz does not seek to promote particular religious commitments or doctrines. Learn more about the program format and curriculum here: https://www.peretz-centre.org/pnei-mitzvah/ ✱𝟮𝟲━𝟮𝟳 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 🙴 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡✱ Classes take place twice a month on (alternating) Sundays, from October 18 to the end-of-program ceremony, which cohort families will organize towards the end of the school year (May/June). See the schedule below for exact dates (subject to change). Please note the adjusted start and end time for Year 2 (3-5pm). Students are expected to attend class in-person at the Peretz Centre (6184 Ash Street), unless otherwise arranged by program staff. ✱𝗧𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡✱ Standard tuition is $1,200 per year. Payment plans are available to address financial access barriers; pay a deposit with the “request payment plan” option during registration and we will contact you to finalize details. Year 2 tuition includes: ➜ 16 two-hour classes (October-May) with Matthew Gindin ➜ Program materials and supplies ➜ Venue rental for end-of-program graduation (Gallia & Ben Chud Auditorium) ➜ Administrative support for planning graduation ➜ Access to Peretz equipment and supplies for graduation ➜ Subsidized student tickets for Peretz secular holidays for 5 years ➜ Access to Peretz building for additional cohort activities (movie nights, etc.) ✱𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗜𝗢✱ Matthew Gindin has been teaching Jewish history, philosophy, and contemplative traditions in a wide variety of settings since 2004. Formerly the Peretz Education Director and Master Teacher at Or Shalom, we welcomed Matthew back to the Peretz Centre in 2024. He also works as a freelance writer and editor, professional lecturer, and independent journalist. (matthewgindin.com)

Drop by a choir rehearsal to check it out! Rehearsals: We rehearse Tuesday evenings (7:30 - 9pm) in the Ben Chud Auditorium, from September-June (with a break over Christmas/New Years). About us: We are an eclectic and friendly choir of about 25 members. Our ages range from 20’s to late 70’s, and we have Jewish and non-Jewish members. The choir has a long history of overlapping with the LGBTQ+ community, and has many queer/trans members. We also aim to be a neurodivergent friendly and anti-ableist space. We stand with the long revolutionary Yiddish history of advocating for peace. Repertoire: We sing mostly Yiddish pieces ranging from traditional folk and Yiddish theatre songs to newly-composed and arranged pieces of greater complexity, plus Hanukkah and Pesach repertoire in Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino and English. We often get to sing music arranged or composed specifically for the choir, and most of our music is in beautiful minor keys. All text is in transliteration, so no knowledge of Yiddish is required. You also don’t have to know how to read music (though it helps). Level: The vision of the choir has always been as a community choir open to all levels of experience. We do sing from sheet music and in 4-part harmony, but also have paid section leads in each voice part to make things easier. We also create recordings of voice parts to help new-comers learn the music. If you don’t have any musical experience you might find it challenging, but we’ll do our best to get you up to speed! We welcome more experienced singers, too. New Members: We are always accepting new members in all voice parts and offer choir memberships on a sliding scale. Email dbecker@peretz-centre.org if you have more questions, or fill out the form if you just want to drop into a rehearsal and see how it goes. Learn more about the choir and its history here: https://www.peretz-centre.org/vancouver-jewish-folk-choir Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Vancouver-Jewish-Folk-Choir/61557043684723/ Pictured: "Yidish iz mayn loshn"

Start your Yiddish language learning journey at the Peretz Centre with Beginners' Yiddish! In this introductory class, we will dive into the language and culture of Eastern European Jews, and explore the fascinating world of Yiddishkayt. Using a communicative and task-based approach, we will practice basic conversational skills, learn important verbs and adjectives to describe our daily life, and learn to read and write in Yiddish! During our classes we will also learn Yiddish folks songs, get exposed to Yiddish film, art and culture and learn about the fascinating culture of Yiddish. The fee for this program is $235 for 13 classes. --- Instructor Bio: Itamar Manoff (he/him) is co-executive director of the Peretz Centre. A PhD candidate in the Department of Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia, his research focuses on language education research. Itamar has over 15 years of experience in language teaching for adults, including Hebrew, English and Yiddish, and teaches Yiddish at the Peretz Centre and a the Centre for Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies at the University of British Columbia. In his teaching, Itamar focuses on conversational, communicative and theme-based approaches to the teaching of Yiddish language and culture, all the while emphasizing the importance of grammar and vocabulary acquisition. Image taken from the Jewish Public Library in Montreal

Important: Registration is restricted to students who participated in the Year 1 cohort. The Peretz Centre's Pnei Mitzvah program offers students aged 10-13 a pluralistic, non-dogmatic approach to Jewish education and culture that emphasizes the humanist and progressive aspects of our heritage. Over two years of bi-weekly sessions, Pnei Mitzvah cohorts focus on literature, language, ethics, music, art, and dance to connect with and reinterpret traditions in new ways. Although children learn about Jewish spirituality and religious history, Peretz does not seek to promote particular religious commitments or doctrines. Peretz is an LGBTQ+ safe environment, and while we are rooted in the Ashkenazi humanist, yiddishist culture that gave birth to Peretz, Jews of all backgrounds are welcome, and the diversity of global Judaism is explored in our Pnei Mitzvah curriculum. *** Schedule & Fees *** Pnei Mitzvah classes (Year 2 cohort) take place two Sundays a month from 10am-12pm at the Peretz Centre, from October 20 to the Pnei Mitzvah celebration towards the end of the school year. Please note the following schedule, which may change according to your plans for the end of program ceremony (usually in June): - October 20 - November 3 & 24 - December 1 & 15 - January 19 & 26 - February 9 & 23 - March 9 & 23 - April 6 & 27 - May 4 & 25 - June 8 & 22 The standard fee for the course is $690 in Year 2. Payment plans are also available to address financial access barriers. *** Instructor Bio *** Tania Grinberg is a singer, composer, theatre actor, writer, illustrator, and animator who has performed around the world. As an educator in Vancouver and in Sao Paolo, Brazil, she helps students connect artistic expression in threatre, music, and more to Judaism. In 2021, she won the People's Choice Prize for "New Song in Yiddish" at the Bubbe Awards. https://www.taniatgrinberg.com/