Apply to the Program

Applications for 2025 are now open.

The Steiner Summer Yiddish Program is open to students between the ages of 18 and 25 who are either currently enrolled in a postsecondary education program (at least one year of undergraduate coursework is required) or have recently graduated. 

Applications must include:

  • The webform below
  • A written statement, 3-5 paragraphs in length
  • A video statement, no longer than 2 minutes
  • Official academic transcripts. If in grad school, please send both graduate and undergraduate transcripts
  • Two letters of recommendation, listed in order of preference: 1. If you have taken a language intensive, the instructor of that intensive, 2. Recent instructor with whom you have studied Yiddish (intermediates) or other languages (beginners), 3. Recent instructor with whom you have studied other disciplines, 4. Work supervisor or colleague from professional or volunteer work
  • A Yiddish essay (for intermediate applicants; see details at the end of the form below)

Please have your two recommenders email their letters to [email protected].

Please have your university (or universities) send official transcripts to [email protected]. If your university is unable to provide digital transcripts, have them mailed or faxed directly to us at:

Yiddish Book Center
Attn: Steiner Summer Yiddish Program
1021 West Street
Amherst, MA 01002
Fax: 413-256-4700

Our online form now allows you to save a draft of your application. Click the “save draft” button at the bottom of the page and copy and save the secure link that appears in the green box at the top of the screen.

Contact Information
Have you ever applied to the Steiner Summer Yiddish Program before?
Yiddish Experience

Please note: Applicants to the intermediate level should have completed one year of university-level Yiddish study or equivalent by the time the program begins (approximately chapters 1-17 of the In eynem textbook).

Intermediate applicants should be familiar with the following topics:

  • Vocabulary: Greetings, introductions, geography, basic verbs, numbers, days of the week and times of day, classroom objects, colors, adjectives, family, professions, physical appearance, food items and meals, furniture, leisure activities
  • Grammar: Present tense verb conjugations, pronouns, word order, imperative, negation, there is/there are, adjective endings; the accusative case; lib hobn (to like), the dative case, the past tense
     

Intermediate applicants should be able to:

  • Introduce themselves and ask and answer basic personal questions (where you are from, people in your family, what you study/your profession, etc)
  • Describe physical spaces and where objects are in relation to one another
  • Describe physical appearances
  • Give commands
  • Discuss food and table settings
  • Exchange information about things to do in your town
  • Express your opinions about various leisure activities
  • Arrange a meeting at a specific time and day
  • Talk about events in the past
     

There are no prerequisites for the beginner level.

If you have questions about your Yiddish level please write to Sonia, our Yiddish Education Specialist, at [email protected].

Which language track are you applying for?
Do you know the Hebrew or Yiddish alphabet?
Note: All students will be required to learn the Yiddish alphabet before arriving to the program.
*such as a textbook, website, or other resource
Education
Additional Language Experience
Please tell us about your experiences speaking or studying other languages. For each language, tell us where and for how long you studied it (at which institutions and/or summer programs), and what level of proficiency you reached.
Additional Experience
Please list a maximum of three relevant work experiences and/or travel, cultural, or extracurricular activities. Include dates and a brief description of each job or activity.
Personal Statements
Each applicant must submit both a written and video personal statement. Intermediate applicants must also submit an essay in Yiddish.
Please describe why you are interested in studying Yiddish. Describe the significance of Yiddish or Yiddish culture for you. Your essay should be between 3 and 5 paragraphs long.
Video Essay

Describe what draws you to the Steiner Program specifically. Have you participated in other intensive language programs? Please describe your experiences if you have. What motivates you to study Yiddish in this program as opposed to a yearlong class?

If you are applying to the intermediate level, please speak in Yiddish for the first thirty seconds or so of your video.

Please speak naturally. Do not read out a pre-written text.
 

Note: Your video should not be professionally produced. Film it with a smartphone or laptop’s camera, whatever you have on hand. Speak naturally. You’ll make a few mistakes; that’s fine—don’t start over if you misspeak. Planning and shooting the video should take about fifteen minutes, and certainly no more than thirty. The video should be no longer than 2 minutes in length. Share the video with us as an unlisted video on YouTube. Please insert the relevant link below or send the video in a separate email to [email protected].

Students who have completed less than one year of Yiddish: Please write a one to two paragraph essay in Yiddish on a topic of your choice (e.g., your family, a recent vacation, a typical week, etc). Take this opportunity to showcase your knowledge of as many different grammatical structures as possible (e.g., conjugation, negation, cases, tenses, etc). Be sure to proofread your work, but do not seek outside help. You may handwrite and scan or compose on a computer.

Students who have completed one year of Yiddish: Please write a one to two paragraph essay in Yiddish about a recent trip you took. Be sure to proofread your work, but do not seek outside help. You may handwrite and scan or compose on a computer.
One file only.
2 MB limit.
Allowed types: jpg, jpeg, png, pdf, doc, docx.
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