It is the only annual weeklong Yiddish-language immersion retreat. Up to 170 people come from all over the world each August in order to live in Yiddishland, the place where everyone speaks Yiddish. This event, which has been going on for over 44 years, is sponsored by Yugntruf – Youth for Yiddish. It has been described as a mixture of Woodstock and a Kibbuts – without the drugs and loud music – because it is a community in the truest sense of the word. Anyone can volunteer to lend their talents, knowledge and ability in any way they can. Because some of the top Yiddish experts and talents come to the YV, the program is always top-notch. The YV invites the participation of the young and the young at heart. It does not discriminate in terms of religion, race or political affiliation, only in terms of readiness and willingness to speak Yiddish for the entire week.

This year, YV will be Wednesday, August 14th to Tuesday, August 20th. YV starts at around 4 PM on Wednesday and ends at approximately 1:30 PM on Tuesday.

Yes! Many of the handouts at the YV are written in both Yiddish (the Hebrew alphabet) and in Yiddish transliteration (the English/Latin alphabet). If you cannot read Yiddish in English transliteration either, that will make it difficult for you, as nothing written (or spoken, for that matter) is translated into English.

There is an involved answer and a simple one.

1) The simple answer. Contact the organizers at yvokh@yugntruf.org or 1-212-796-5782. While conversing with you in Yiddish, they’ll ascertain whether the YV is appropriate for you.

2) The involved answer. At the YV, speaking Yiddish is no less important than understanding it. Anyone who comes needs to be ready, willing and able to speak Yiddish. Chances are, if you haven’t spoken the language in that many years, it will be very hard for you to start speaking it suddenly. And to have people who come and speak English would defeat the whole raison d’être of the YV, which is for everyone to spend one week of the year in a place where all the participants speak only Yiddish. We recommend that you find Yiddish classes, Yiddish CDs, Yiddish vinkls and private Yiddish tutors. Start speaking Yiddish with people who know the language, and hopefully after a few months of speaking more and more Yiddish you will eventually be comfortable speaking it again. At this point, you would be able to enjoy and thrive at the YV, as well as maintain the total immersion environment.

1) If the Beginner’s Yiddish course is at one of the intensive summer programs – like the Uriel Weinreich YIVO Program, the Vilnius Yiddish Institute, the Naomi Prawar Kadar Program, or the Summer Program at Yiddish Farm, then it’s safe to assume that you are really committed to learning to speak Yiddish, to dig your heels in, to dive in, etc. In that case, the YV is the next natural step.

2) If the Beginner’s Yiddish course meets, on the other hand, once a week for 1 1/2 hours, chances are you will not be ready for the YV, unless you study Yiddish on your own as well. To determine which category you fall into, call one of the YV organizers and see if you are able to maintain a Yiddish conversation.

Of course! P.S. In Yiddish, it’s “Vi zogt men … af yidish?”

Sorry, but the YV is only for Yiddish speakers. There is very limited space at the YV – room for 180 at most, and that is with very few private rooms. (If more people want private rooms, the capacity is ca. 160.) People from all over the world who want to speak Yiddish for an entire week clamor every year for the limited spaces that there are. We simply can’t afford to give any of those spaces to people who won’t be speaking Yiddish. We also want everyone in the Yidish Vokh community to participate in our mission, activities and to get acquainted with each other, which is not possible for people who don’t speak Yiddish.

That said, we will be starting a small pilot program for significant others of Yiddish speakers who would be willing to attend Yiddish classes in the morning and integrate (in Yiddish) with everyone else in the afternoon and for mealtimes. Please contact meenalifshe@yugntruf.org if you’re interested in participating in this pilot program.

All kinds. All ages, from newborns through nonagenarians. Observant and secular. Orthodox and egalitarian. Mainly Jews, but also a handful of non-Jews. Singles, couples, parents with and without their children, husbands/wives with and without their spouses, widows, widowers and divorcées. From as far as Australia, and as near as New York State.

No matter what your age, there are other people your age that come. There are children, college and graduate students and people in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

See above.

First of all, of course, everything is in Yiddish. Each morning there are activities, with occasional multiple options, including lectures, discussions, workshops, computer-groups, and Yiddish classes. The lectures and discussions are sometimes on Yiddish issues, sometimes on Jewish issues, and sometimes about nothing Jewish whatsoever. The afternoon offers more lectures, discussions, sports, and arts activities. There is daily swimming in the beautiful outdoor swimming pool. In the evenings, there are campfires, talent shows, concerts, films, TV game shows and klezmer dancing. The above are merely the organized activities. There’s always time for socializing, relaxing, reading, writing, studying, and impromptu hikes or discussions.

You can go to as many or as few as you like. Some people come to the YV because they want to relax, read books, go swimming, etc. in a place where everyone speaks Yiddish. Others come because they want to go to every lecture and discussion they can. The schedule will be handed out upon arrival at YV, and will be posted in the main entry hall as well.

Please do NOT bring your child if he/she cannot speak Yiddish or is not willing to speak Yiddish with other children. If your child can speak Yiddish pretty well, there are lots of activities for your child. For a small fee, there are morning children’s groups that meet for two hours to do age-appropriate social, education, arts and crafts, and music activities. If your child does not yet speak Yiddish but you would like him/her to start learning, please look into Yiddish classes, Yiddish CDs, and private Yiddish tutors in your town before the Yiddish Vokh. If you know Yiddish yourself, start working it into your everyday interactions with your child, and after a few months of speaking more and more Yiddish with your child, the child will understand more and more, and will eventually be able to answer more and more. When your child can understand everything and speak at least haltingly, only then will they be able to enjoy and thrive at the YV.

No. The YV is the event to aspire to once you can already communicate in Yiddish.

Yes and no. If “be invited” means have an opportunity to give a talk or perform in Yiddish, yes. If “be invited” means be hired, no. The YV is a heymish community. Those who lead activities at the YV volunteer to do so, and are provided a small discount in appreciation. But because some of the top Yiddish experts and talents come to the YV, the program is always top-notch. If you would like to lead an activity, please contact yvokh@yugntruf.org as early as possible so that the organizers can carefully put together a schedule.

No. The activities are finalized only after everyone has signed up, and the coordinator sees who has volunteered to lead an activity, and what activity they have volunteered to lead. The schedule is usually completed in the beginning of August. If you want, though, you can view the past year’s schedule to get an idea of what the coming year’s schedule might look like.

No. You can come for as little as one night. See the registration page for all the options.

Supply and demand. There is usually room on the weekdays, but we get filled to the brim on the weekends.

When someone comes for just a few days, they are occupying a space that could otherwise be used for the full week. We prefer participants to be full-weekers.

No.

Yes. Contact yvokh@yugntruf.org for commuter information.

1) For students, not automatically, but there are scholarships. Please see https://www.yugntruf.org/yiddish-vokh/scholarships/?lang=en

2) For seniors, no.

3) For distant travelers we have scholarships for young people from Eastern Europe. Otherwise no, but we encourage you to apply to your local Jewish/Yiddish organization/philanthropy, which may support you – it has happened in the past!

We also have a limited amount of funds to assist people who cannot pay full price. Please contact yvokh@yugntruf.org to discuss the available options.

The filled-out YV registration form is only valid together with the payment. Your reservation is not recorded until we receive payment.

No. Payments are only accepted in full.

Also, if you haven’t paid membership yet this year, do include that in your registration and payment.

If you cannot make the full payment immediately for financial reasons and want to set up a payment plan, that may be possible. Contact yvokh@yugntruf.org to discuss the available options.

You can decide as late as you want, but at your own risk. If you have a specific room preference, we cannot guarantee that a space will be available. The bus from New York also has limited spots, and often fills up early. There is also a late fee of $75 after August 1, which is waived for students of summer Yiddish programs.

Still, 1) there are sometimes cancellations in August, 2) if you have a car and you’re willing and able either to bring and stay in a lower-tier room, it may allow you to sign up to the last minute (though it’s not recommended), and 3) if you’re coming just for a day or two on the weekdays, we may be able to squeeze you in pretty late in the game. Finally, if you need a specific kind of room – in size, location or any other parameter – the answer is: sign up as soon as possible. You will be informed if your room request cannot be granted.

We accept payment through PayPal as the final step of the registration process.

If you need to pay by special methods, please contact the organizers at yvokh@yugntruf.org or 1-212-796-5782.

The cost for coming for one meal is $25 per person. Please contact us at yvokh@yugntruf.org or 1-212-796-5782 to arrange this option.

The organizers try to get a sense of the people who have requested roommates, and try to match them up accordingly. Age is one determining factor – people of like age are usually matched up. Another factor may be level of Yiddish; i.e., sometimes a weaker Yiddish speaker requests to be with one who is more fluent, and if we can find a complement, we have a match. No one is allowed to smoke anywhere on the premises. Please be open with the Yidish Vokh coordinator about any concerns, such as health, accessibility, gender, or lifestyle concerns so we can help you find a comfortable situation.

As with most other organizations, Yugntruf membership is annual, and a paid member is one who has paid during the current year. Any adult who comes to the YV must be a paid member.

Our refund policy is as follows:

100% till July 8th
50% till July 22nd
25% till August 5th
No refunds after August 5th

At the Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp (BHEC), 159 Empire Rd, Copake, NY 12516, USA.

Telephone: (518) 329-3303 Fax: (646) 619-4488

The closest airport is Albany International, about one hour away from the camp. From there you will need to take a car, shuttle, or taxi.

See below for information about the YV bus leaving from New York City.

Also, see the BHEC website for a map of how to get there.

LaGuardia Airport – about 20 minutes with no traffic. Kennedy and Newark – about 40 minutes with no traffic. The bus will leave August 16th and return to NYC after YV on August 22nd.

We can find out during the summer if there are any willing hosts. If not, you would need to stay in a hotel, at your expense.

Sure. It’s up to you. If neither the long drive nor the expense are an obstacle, and if you feel you may need to come and go from the campus during the YV, then renting a car may make life easier for you. However, there are no car rental locations within walking distance of BHEC, so you would need to rent the car for the entire week.

Yes. They are available online on BHEC’s website. They’ll also be sent out in early August to those who have signed up for the YV who don’t have internet access.

Depending on the driving speed, between 2 1/4 and 3 hours from midtown Manhattan.

Do not be late for the bus.

All details about the bus will be provided in early August to all those who will have registered at that point.

We can arrange group pickup times on any days where there are more than a few people arriving by bus. Please plan to arrive during those times; otherwise you will have to arrange for your own transportation from the bus stop to the camp. If you do plan on arriving by local bus during the week, please contact yvokh@yugntruf.org in advance.

See above.

If you’re driving by car straight to the airport, yes. But if you’re traveling by the YV bus be aware that we plan to return to Manhattan by 1:30 but due to traffic it could be more like 2-2:30 in which case you technically still have enough time to take public transportation but it could be tight and NYC can be unpredictable. The safest would be to plan your flight later in the evening to be able to arrive without rushing.

The bus will drop off outside of Penn Station, at West 30th street, between 7th Ave and 8th Ave, NYC, between 1:00 and 2:30 pm (depending on traffic).

Yes. This is answered in depth here.

It’s good. It’s healthy, it’s kosher, and it’s tasty. Gourmet cuisine, it’s not.

Absolutely. There are vegetarian alternatives at all meat meals.

Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp has their own mashgiach that oversees all Kashrus on site.

Yes. Usually about 10% of those attending are Orthodox.

We have an Orthodox and egalitarian minyen both Friday night and Saturday morning. Please note both minyonim are held only when there are enough volunteers, who organize themselves beforehand. If you want to help organize these, please be in touch, yvokh@yugntruf.org