Yiddish is a language that developed among Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe. It's been spoken since the 10th century and became a highly international language, used not only across Europe but in other countries (including the United States) through the diaspora. 

Yiddish is classified as a Germanic language (like English and German), but also has Romance, Slavic and Semitic influences and uses a writing system based on Hebrew characters. Traditionally, it was a vernacular language for everyday use while Hebrew was reserved for religion and study. 

There are several dialects of Yiddish; what the characters in this production of Indecent generally speak (with the help of our genius language consultant RB) is Polish/Galitsianer.

Further Reading: Read more about the language and its history, or get a taste through these audio recordings

Modern Yiddish Literature is generally considered to have started in the late 1800s, with the works of authors like Mendele Moykher-Sforim, Y. L. Peretz (represented by the character in Indecent), and Sholem Aleichem. At a time when most Jewish writers worked in Hebrew or non-Jewish languages, and Yiddish was commonly considered a broken "jargon" of the uneducated, they sought to prove that their native tongue was a worthy medium for artistic expression - and inspired others (including Sholem Asch) to follow. 

Many classics from the rich body of Yiddish novels, stories, poems, and plays can be read today both in the original language and in translation. And, although fewer than in the past, new works in Yiddish continue to be produced by modern authors.

Yiddish theatre is thought to have origins in "purim-shpil" skits enacted during the Jewish holiday Purim, and in troupes of traveling performers such as Klezmer musicians. Professional Yiddish theatre emerged in the late 19th century, and by the early 20th century was a major cultural institution in pretty much every city with a large Jewish population. 

On New York's Lower East Side (a neighborhood where many Jewish immigrants lived), 2nd Avenue was known as the "Yiddish Broadway." Performance styles developed there would have an extremely important influence on American theatre and film as we know them today, especially musicals and comedy.

Further Reading: Explore the Digital Yiddish Library for Yiddish books, plays, and audiobooks. Learn about Yiddish Theatre today or listen to actor Leonard Nimoy explain the influence of Yiddish and Jewish culture on Star Trek. 

Tragically, of the 11 million Yiddish speakers before World War II, nearly half were killed in the Holocaust. This loss, and increased assimilation pressure in the years that followed (like we see in the later scenes of Indecent), caused great injury to the language. However, Yiddish is still spoken (and written!) today, including by many people who love it deeply and are passionate about keeping it alive.

Further Reading: Hear from "Yiddishists" advocating for the language today and a modern poet on why he writes in Yiddish. Access Yiddish learning resources.