A Yiddish Renaissance: Language, Memory, and Modern Jewish Life — with Rukhl Schaechter
Jan 20, 2026•44 min•Ep. 259
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Episode description
Did Yiddish ever really die?
On this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Rukhl Schaechter, editor of the Yiddish Forverts, to explore the surprising renaissance of the Yiddish language—from new dictionaries and online media to Duolingo learners and Hasidic vernacular. Together they discuss what is drawing people back to the language, how Yiddish carries culture across generations, and why so many Jews are using it to seek connections to their roots in a moment of renewed searching.
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