The Jewish Language Project is a peoplehood initiative—we are harnessing language to strengthen identities and communities.
The Hebrew Union College Jewish Language Project is transforming how people discover, understand, and engage with Jewish languages, preserving centuries of history while building for the future. We strengthen intergenerational and intercommunal Jewish connections by engaging people with the many languages Jews have spoken throughout history.
Wherever Jews have lived around the world, they have spoken and written in languages distinct from their non-Jewish neighbors—from Yiddish and Ladino to Judeo-Italian and Jewish Malayalam. Because of migrations and other historical events, many of these languages are on the verge of extinction, and most Jews today are unaware of their existence.
The Hebrew Union College Jewish Language Project is building for the future, harnessing the power of centuries of history by engaging people today with the many languages Jews have spoken throughout history.
We bring this knowledge to audiences worldwide through more than three dozen Jewish language descriptions and more than a dozen dictionaries, events, podcasts, online and in-person exhibits, innovative curricula, global partnerships, and our social networks of 22,000+ followers.
Because of this work, we are confident that by 2045, every known Jewish language variety will be documented, educating the public on the diversity of Jewish communities and creating stronger connections for Jews around the world.
Join this Jewish peoplehood initiative. Sign up to receive stories, events, and updates as we preserve history while building for the future.
Questions?
Please contact Dr. Sarah Bunin Benor, Director of the Jewish Language Project, at sbenor@huc.edu.
The Jewish Language Project is an initiative of Hebrew Union College.
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