Mendy Cahan (BE/IL, Yiddish language)
grew up surrounded by the living vibrancy of Yiddish in the traditional-yet-cosmopolitan Jewish community of Antwerp, which today is still home to some 17 different Hasidic communities.
He has degrees in Philosophy and in Yiddish literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is the founder and director of the non-profit organisation YUNG YiDiSH in Israel, a vibrant stage and book collection which has continued to ignite awareness and Yiddish creativity since 1990.
Lecturer and teacher of Yiddish language and literature, Mendy is also an actor, badkhn (Yiddish bard) and cabaret singer. He currently performs in the Dybbuk at The Gesher Theatre in Tel Aviv. He is also a film actor with major roles in Son of Saul (Oscar 2015), Rough Diamonds (Netflix) and other series and productions, in which he serves as Yiddish advisor and coach as well.
The National Authority for Yiddish and Israeli President Herzog accorded to Mendy a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his dedication to Yiddish.
Photo: Joshua Dolgin
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