Working at OCLS gives me the joy of meeting people from all walks of life, each carrying their own unique history. Not long ago, I had a wonderful conversation with a customer eager to share theirs. They spoke about their family’s Jewish roots and the rich worlds of Hebrew and Yiddish. Their stories stayed with me, leading me down the winding paths of these fascinating languages.
Oy Vey!
In the late 19th century, waves of Eastern European Jews made their way to America. They brought with them Yiddish—the spirited language of the Ashkenazi Jews—a mixture of High German with elements of Hebrew and Slavic within it.
But history, like language, can be both generous and cruel. During the Holocaust, nearly half of the world’s 12 million Yiddish speakers were lost. Each surviving word, song and story today is an act of resilience and cultural preservation. Although Yiddish now primarily lives on in Hasidic communities and among passionate learners, its influence lingers in American English—words like “klutz,” “Oy Vey”, “glitch” and “shtick” have found a second home. Thanks to resources like Mango Languages, available through OCLS, anyone with a library card can dive into the fascinating cadences of Yiddish and keep that echo alive
The Rebirth of Hebrew
I was equally fascinated to learn about Hebrew’s unlikely revival. Once the language of the ancient Kingdom of Israel around 1200 BCE, Hebrew had fallen silent as a spoken language for centuries, surviving only in prayer, poetry, and scholarly texts. Across continents, Jews prayed in Hebrew, even when their daily lives primarily used another language.
However, beginning in the late 19th century, a cultural awakening emerged. Visionaries refused to let Hebrew remain a relic of the past and today there are more than nine million people speaking it. Here in America, Hebrew is still sung in family celebrations, in sacred rites, and in the hearts of those who study it to deepen their understanding of their faith and heritage.
Language, Culture, and Identity
For many, language is not just communication—it is ancestry made audible. It carries the weight of generations, memories we may never have lived, but still helped form who we are. Even if a person doesn’t speak the language of their ancestors, its presence in their identity is undeniable, like a river flowing just beneath the surface. OCLS offers pathways to this ancient voice—each new learner part of the extraordinary story of its return.
As the linguist Edward Sapir once said, “Language is the most massive and inclusive art we know, a mountainous and anonymous work of unconscious generations.” His words still ring true for millions of Jewish Americans. In every prayer, every familiar phrase, every note of an old song, Jewish Americans continue to honor the heritage of Hebrew and Yiddish—and through them, the enduring strength of their story.
Explore and Learn languages with OCLS
Studying these languages at the library can be a rewarding way to understand Jewish American Heritage, through Mango’s online lessons or by exploring a book.
Language Learning Databases:
Mango Languages – A free online platform (with your OCLS library card) offering structured courses in Modern Hebrew and Yiddish. Each course combines vocabulary, grammar, and cultural notes to bring the language to life.
Pronunciator – The resource offers interactive audio and videos, along with music featuring lyrics, translations, and practice quizzes to enhance your language skills. Personalized courses allow you to tailor your language learning according to your individual needs. This includes 164 languages, including Hebrew and Yiddish.
Recommended Reading:
Hebrew for Dummies by Jill Suzanne Jacobs
Welcome to Hebrew with Sesame Street by J. P. Press
Hebrew Calligraphy: A Step-by-step Guide by Jay Seth Greenspan.
Writings on Yiddish and Yiddishkayt: The War Years, 1939-1945 by Isaac Bashevis Singer; translated and edited by David Stromberg
How Yiddish Changed America and How America Changed Yiddish edited by Ilan Stavans and Josh Lambert
The Story of Yiddish: How a Mish-mosh of Languages Saved the Jews by Neal Karlen
Kiddish Yiddish: Jewish Traditions and Culture in Rhyme by Barbara Feltquate; illustrated by Tom Post
The New Joys of Yiddish by Leo Rosten; revised by Lawrence Bush
Ashton is a librarian at OCLS
