Questions and answers

Do I need to commit to speaking only Yiddish the entire time?

By signing up for the Yidish-Hoyz, you are committing to speaking only Yiddish during the program at the Yidish-Hoyz spaces and with your fellow participants. This mutual commitment enables everyone to use the language, even though it is sometimes difficult. If you can’t figure out how to say an individual word or phrase, of course it is perfectly fine to say it in another language, and often someone else will know the word or you can look it up. The more new experiences you have in the language, the more words you will learn in context.

However, the larger festival is a multilingual space, and you may of course speak other languages with other people and in mixed groups. You are only committing to maintain the Hoyz and its community as a Yiddish-speaking space. Our experience last year was that participants valued the opportunity for Yiddish immersion, along with its occasional challenges, and noticed and appreciated their Yiddish improving over time. back

Is my Yiddish good enough to participate?

We recommend that learners have a conversational level of Yiddish before participating in this program to help maintain a Yiddish-only space. This is not the same as being “fluent.” Some participants have never or rarely been in Yiddish-speaking contexts outside of the classroom, but the group is friendly and understanding, and as long as you are able to communicate on a basic level, you will learn quite a lot from the experience. Some less advanced participants have found that they need to take breaks from socializing in Yiddish, which is entirely okay – we are a mixture of extroverts and introverts, and we all learn at our own pace.

If you are interested in Yiddish immersion but don’t feel ready to live in the language, we recommend considering the Yiddish Buffet workshop, which offers 3 hours of daily Yiddish immersion for a week and will include some of the Yidish-Hoyz participants. back

I have dietary restrictions. What should I keep in mind?

The kitchens at the Yidish-Hoyz apartments are vegetarian during the course of the program, and in the first year, one of the participants kashered the dishes. The lunch includes vegan and gluten-free options, but is not strictly kosher. You are welcome to buy and prepare whatever food you like, and Weimar has plenty of restaurants. Make yourself at home!

The “Continental breakfast” at the EJBW breakfast buffet is not kosher but is compatible with a “kosher-style” diet. They can prepare more vegan and gluten-free options on request. back

Is Yidish-Hoyz a physical house or several different apartments?

Yidish-Hoyz is a temporary Yiddish-speaking community, a state of mind, a yidishe neshome that wanders from place to place like Yiddishland itself. In its first year, in August 2025, Yidish-Hoyz took place over two weeks and moved between three locations. This year, we are trying a slightly different approach, where we have several Yiddish-speaking apartments in central Weimar that come together as one community. The Shlos, or “castle,” will be our home base, and we will also spend a lot of time at the nearby Other Music Academy, which is the festival’s headquarters. Those who come for the weekend will stay on the campus of the EJBW. Think of this year’s program as a group of Yiddish-speaking “families” who spend a lot of time together. back

How will room-sharing work?

To make the program more affordable, all rooms in the 10-day program are shared between two people. We recommend bringing a Yiddish-speaking friend as a roommate, or reaching out to other friends you know might be coming, but we will also do our best to find room assignments that work for everyone leading up to the festival. If you’re not comfortable sharing a room, you can consider finding your own accommodation independently and signing up for the luftmentsh option. We also have a few available rooms with one double bed for couples or close friends to share - only by request, of course. back

Can you explain the pricing system?

Housing in Weimar is unfortunately expensive, and we have worked to find the most affordable, comfortable options possible. We are also actively seeking grants and sponsorship to make Yidish-Hoyz more accessible.

For now, we are using the three-tier model common at Yiddish Summer Weimar. If attending is financially difficult, choose the reduced price. If the standard price is manageable, choose the normal tier. If you are able to support the program and help others participate, choose the sponsor tier.

If even the reduced price is out of reach this year, you may register as a luftmentsh and arrange your own accommodation (for example, at a hostel). For the weekend program, private rooms at the EJBW are available, and you may select any price tier for either a private or shared room.

We welcome any leads on funding or sponsorship opportunities.

"Early bird" discount: Anyone who signs up by April 30th receives a 10% discount on registration. back

I am shomer shabes. Is there anything I need to keep in mind?

We will celebrate shabes together in an eclectic, Yiddishist spirit, and welcome both Jews and non-Jews of all backgrounds and levels of observance.

The Yidish-Hoyz apartments and the EJBW use non-electronic keys and are within walking distance of program activities. Participants in the 10-day program have access to kitchens and can easily prepare food in advance. Weekend participants do not have access to kitchens or refrigerators at the EJBW, but we can probably find a workable arrangement.

The nearest active synagogue is in Erfurt (see the website of the Jewish Community of Thuringia for details, in German). back

Can children and teenagers participate?

Minors under 18 are welcome to participate together with a parent or legal guardian. The parent or guardian holds full legal responsibility for their child(ren). If you are interested in participating as a family, please get in touch to discuss the details in advance.

Unfortunately, for legal reasons, minors under 18 cannot participate in Yidish-Hoyz without a parent or guardian. back

What will we do all day? What if I need breaks?

Yidish-Hoyz is flexible: you may join as many or as few group activities as you like. Many participants spend much of their time together - sharing meals, exploring the city, playing games - but your schedule is your own.

During Festival Week, free mini-workshops offer singing, dancing, instrumental music, and more. This year we are also launching a companion workshop, “Yiddish Buffet,” with three hours of daily activities in Yiddish (available at a reduced price for Hoyz participants). A joint field trip to Erfurt is planned.

You may also register separately for other YSW workshops (mostly taught in English), though this reduces immersion. And of course, you are welcome to take breaks. Weimar has excellent parks and museums, and we especially encourage less confident speakers to pace themselves as needed. back