YIDDISHKAYT LOS ANGELES

Dear Friend of Yiddishkayt,

This week, many of you received our 2008 membership appeal letters in the mail.  If you've already responded, thank you.  If you haven't responded yet, think of this as a friendly reminder.  And if we only know you through email, we invite you to read the following letter and join with us to ensure the survival of Yiddish.

2008 promises to be an especially exciting year for us: our Education Initiative, now in its third year, proves that Yiddish can become a vital part of the Jewish day school curriculum. Our Road Show outreach programs continue to develop and unfold. And this past October's two sold out shows at REDCAT of our "Una Noche Idishe" were a wonderful forshpayz (appetizer) for our planned Family Festival next fall, which will explore and celebrate the vibrant history of Yiddish in Latin-America.

Join us for 2008 and insure that Yiddish remains alive and vibrant with generations old and new!

mit frayndshaft un groysn dank, with friendship and great thanks,



Dan Opatoshu
Executive Director
We strive to ensure the survival of Yiddish. Join us.

When Jews began to lose their Yiddish, they also began to lose
the text and texture of a thousand years of Jewish life.
- The Los Angeles Times, 2005


Your Yiddish insurance is about to expire!
In our society, we insure all sorts of things - our cars, our homes, our health, our lives - but do we take the time to insure our heritage? Do we make a commitment to insure our identity?

You might say that Yiddishkayt Los Angeles is in the insurance business. Your membership serves as an insurance policy for Yiddish - through your support you celebrate and transmit Yiddish heritage to the next generation.
Some people say Yiddish is a dead language. S'iz nit emes! That is not true! We prefer to say that Yiddish is endangered. And time is not on our side.

We must act now to ensure that Yiddish language, culture and history is passed on to future generations. We're not only preserving a culture - we're renewing a crucial part of Jewish identity.
Renew your insurance and protect Yiddish!
Don't let your policy lapse!
We need your support. Join Yiddishkayt Los Angeles for 2008 and insure Yiddish for future generations!

How does your donation insure Yiddish?
Continue reading to find out.

Funding our Mission

Description of IncomeThis kugl-chart* shows where we get our funding from. As you can see, the vast majority of our funding comes from individual memberships.

Your donation goes directly to supporting our mission. We rely on your generosity to develop and run our many programs and events.

*Pictured kugl was made using the winning recipe from our Kugl-Kukh Off in 2004.



Education/Outreach


A Yiddish III student re-enacts a Yiddish poetry recitalHave you ever heard a 17 year-old speak perfect Yiddish? Have you ever seen an entire school rise to sing zog nit keyn mol, the Hymn of the Partisans?

Three years ago, we began a groundbreaking program to bring Yiddish language and culture back to day school, where it belongs. Last year we also began offering evening language classes to young adults. And last summer we took over a Jewish summer camp with Yidish Tog, a day of Yiddish language and culture. We have great plans to continue developing our educational outreach programs, but they need your help.


Festivals/Events

Una Noche Idishe played to two sold-out audiences at REDCATWe produce the largest celebrations of Yiddish culture in the U.S. Our family festivals have engaged thousands of participants throughout Los Angeles. We are currently planning our next festival for Fall 2008. With your help, Viva Yiddish: the Yiddish World of Latin America will be an inspiring spectacle.

Our events allow everybody to enjoy Yiddish. By sharing the riches of the culture, we invite people into the world of Yiddish and inspire them to learn more. We are constantly seeking new ways to present Yiddish culture, whether at the LA Times Book Festival or on YouTube. Our calendar for 2008 is packed, but it can only be brought to life with your support.

PHOTOS: festival at top, Aaron Paley; kugl and Yiddish student, Cory Fischer; Klezmer Juice, Courtesy of CalArts Photography

Yes, I want to support Yiddishkayt Los Angeles in 2008!

Your contribution is tax-deductible. Click on the following membership levels to make a secure credit card payment through Paypal:


*Naming and sponsorship opportunities are available for larger gifts.  Information on planned giving is also available. For more information, please call us at (213) 389-8880.

Be sure to note if your payment is a gift in honor of or in memory of someone special. Also note the address you would like a gift acknowledgment sent to.

A Sheynem Dank
- Thank You!

For more information, visit our website or call us at (213) 389-8880.