Sponsored by the Mayrent Institute, an undertaking of the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Farbindungen / פֿאַרבינדונגען Yiddish Studies Conference:

Bad Yiddish / בעד ייִדיש

February 2-3, 2025 | virtual

The virtual 2025 Farbindungen Yiddish Studies Conference, Bad Yiddish / בעד ייִדיש, has concluded! Thank you to all who submitted a proposal for papers and workshops for this year's conference, thanks to our faculty moderators, and many thanks to our engaged and thoughtful audience members.

The 2025 keynote address is available on our YouTube page. Recordings of select conference presentations are forthcoming.

Sponsored by the Mayrent Institute, an undertaking of the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the Farbindungen / פֿאַרבינדונגען Yiddish Studies Conference took place virtually on Sunday, February 2nd and Monday, February 3rd, 2025

In our fourth gathering, Farbindungen 2025, Bad Yiddish / בעד ייִדיש, we aimed to bring together graduate students, advanced undergraduates, and early career professionals to look towards the futures of Yiddish and Yiddish Studies. Through a keynote address, interactive workshops, and moderated paper panels, participants were invited to study, envision, and build the future of the field.

Conference Theme: Bad Yiddish / בעד ייִדיש

Keynote speakers: Natan Meir (Portland State University) and Saul Zaritt (Harvard University)

Keynote moderator: Jacqueline Krass (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Workshop facilitators: Jake Schneider (Yiddish.Berlin), Magali Bertrand (University of Lausanne), Meena-Lifshe Viswanath (Yugntruf), Lilye Weitzman (Boston Workers Circle), Giuliana Gotesdiner (Fundación IWO), and Yazmín Kleiner (Fundación IWO)

Faculty moderators: Joshua Price (Yale University), Sunny Yudkoff (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Eve Jochnowitz (Colombia University), Katarzyna Person (Warsaw Ghetto Museum), Ruthie Abeliovich (Tel Aviv University), Tal Hever-Chybowski, and Asya Vaisman Schulman (Yiddish Book Center)

Presenters: Marcin Dzidek (University of Warsaw), Lindsey Bloom (Mount Holyoke College), Yasha Giner (Independent Scholar), Rebecca Weingart (Washington University in St. Louis), Uri Horesh (University of St. Andrews), Pamela Brenner (Harvard University), Rachel Greiner (UNC Chapel Hill), Grisha Leyfer (Yiddish Book Center), Hinde Ena Burstin (Monash University), Eve Glazier (Independent Scholar), Sam Bick (York University), Benedikt Putz (Freie Universität Berlin), Rebecca Turner (Northwestern University), Bluma Lange (Independent Scholar), Yael Horowitz (CUNY Graduate Center), Jason Rosenblum (Indiana University), Serra Bardin (University of Oklahoma), Uri Schreter (Harvard University), Hannah Lukow (Penn State), Joshua Raclaw (West Chester University), Nathan Bernstein (Brandeis University), and Emma Breslow (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa)

Organizing committee chairs: Caleb Sher (Yiddish Book Center) and Sean Sidky (Virginia Tech)

Organizing committee: Corbin Allardice, Alona Bach, Carolyn Beard, Eyshe Beirich, Cameron Bernstein, Sarah Biskowitz, Sophie Cardin, Anita Christensen, Jacob Hermant, Jacqueline Krass, Jules Riegel, Justine Orlovsky-Schnitzler, Sophia Shoulson, Lesley Turner, Hannah MJB Wickham, and Jakub Zygmunt

Faculty advisors: Sunny Yudkoff, Associate Professor of Yiddish Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Director of the Mayrent Institute