Discovering Ashkenaz: Jewish Life in Eastern Europe

Over the centuries, despite different languages, religious customs, and geography, the Jewish people have maintained a coherent sense of self – But how has that happened? Many of the answers lie in the story of East European Jewry. The legacy of Jewish civilization in Eastern Europe is enormous: from Hasidism to the Jewish Enlightenment, to Yiddish Literature, Modern Hebrew Literature, Zionism, and more.

In Discovering Ashkenaz, you will delve into the rich history and culture of the Jews of Poland, Russia, and Lithuania from Medieval times through the Communist Era. Explore Jewish relations with peasants and nobility, compare the rises of Hasidism and the Jewish Enlightenment, and investigate Yiddish and Hebrew modernism.

This course is an intensive, college-level survey, equivalent to two 2-hour sessions per week over six weeks. Work at your own pace, following the course videos and interactive quizzes and activities, explore YIVO’s unique archive and library collections, and join our discussion forum to meet up with students and faculty. Those who complete the whole course will get a special YIVO certificate.