Yiddish emerged on the territory of present-day Germany more than a thousand years ago, and has been spoken here ever since, even as the language spread to Eastern Europe and around the world.

The Holocaust claimed the lives of five million Yiddish speakers from across Europe. Survivors quickly brought Yiddish back to Germany: with Yiddish education, press, theater, radio, and more. Sadly, these enclaves were transitory – but today’s growing Yiddish community is eager to build on these efforts to ensure that our culture not only survives, but thrives.

Yiddish is a living language sustained by grassroots initiatives, artists, scholars, and cultural organizers across Germany, both secular and religious. Yiddish has inherent value for its own sake. This language is the medium of intangible cultural heritage, including literature, music and art, which can be enjoyed by people of any background.

Eight countries have recognized Yiddish under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In 1996, the Council of Europe particularly called on German-speaking countries to play a special role in protecting and revitalizing Yiddish language and culture. We strongly believe that now is the time for Germany to declare Yiddish a minority language with structural support, alongside its seven currently recognized minority languages. Existing religious, academic, and artistic endeavours cannot sustain Yiddish on their own. Without official recognition, the continuation of the Yiddish language and culture relies on individual dedication and precarious forms of support, which are not enough.

We hope for Germany – the country where Yiddish was born – to provide the structural support for its future.

Jiddisch Jetzt believes the time is now: for recognition and support.