The World of Sholem Aleichem
(Taught in English)
5 Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. ET
Oct. 13 - Nov. 10
If you're a fan of "Fiddler on the Roof," you've experienced a taste of Sholem Aleichem's Yiddish literary world: The 19th-century shtetls of Eastern Europe, rendered in bright color, full of hardship, humor and love.
The writer, born Salomon Rabinovich, is one of history's most beloved Yiddish writers, a giant who helped the language get read around the world. (And yes, his stories about Tevye the dairyman were the basis for "Fiddler.")
Dive into the life, writings and legacy of Sholem Aleichem in this engaging five-week online course from My Jewish Learning and Debra Caplan, one of the top historians in the field.
Each week, we'll read and discuss one short story — from the comic mishaps of Tevye to the sharp wit of his other shtetl tales, exploring how Sholem Aleichem captured the joys, anxieties and absurdities of Jewish life in Eastern Europe at the turn of the 20th century.
No prior knowledge of Yiddish literature is required, just curiosity and a willingness to laugh. Together we'll unpack Aleichem's distinctive voice, his blend of humor and heartbreak, and why his characters still feel so relevant today.
Zay gezunt, and we'll see you in class!
There are no refunds for this course. By registering, you'll also begin receiving an events email each Sunday from My Jewish Learning featuring free and paid classes and events offered by our 70 Faces Media brands.
About Your Teacher
Debra Caplan is Associate Professor of Theatre at Baruch College, CUNY. She specializes in modern Jewish theater and performance, with a particular interest in Yiddish theater. Her first book, "Yiddish Empire: The Vilna Troupe, Jewish Theater, and the Art of Itinerancy" (University of Michigan Press, 2018), won the George Freedley Memorial Award from the Theatre Library Association for best new book in theater and performance studies and the Leviant Memorial Prize in Yiddish Studies from the Modern Language Association. "The Dybbuk Century: The Jewish Play That Possessed the World", an edited collection of essays co-edited with Rachel Merrill Moss, was published by University of Michigan Press in 2023. She is currently working on a biography of the legendary Yiddish performer and lyricist Molly Picon.
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About My Jewish Learning
My Jewish Learning is the internet's leading pluralistic Jewish education resource. We offer thousands of articles, videos, live classes and other resources to help you navigate all aspects of Judaism and Jewish life — from Jewish ritual and practice to texts to history and culture.
My Jewish Learning is geared toward all backgrounds and levels of knowledge and is a part of 70 Faces Media, the largest Jewish digital media organization in North America.