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For five days in July, the UW–Madison campus will be a nexus of all things Yiddish.

From July 10–14, the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies will present two Yiddish programs: the inaugural Madison KlezKamp and the twelfth annual Greenfield Summer Institute, “Yiddish in the Twenty-first Century.”

Organized by Henry Sapoznik, director of the newly founded Mayrent Institute for Yiddish Culture, the Madison Summer KlezKamp is modeled after Sapoznik’s wildly popular “KlezKamp: The Yiddish Folk Arts Program,” which has taken place in the Catskills every winter since 1985.

Madison KlezKamp participants will be treated to a wide range of classes in klezmer music, Yiddish song, dance, cultural and linguistic history, and art.

In addition, the KlezKids program offers age-appropriate Yiddish programming to children ages 5–12. KlezKamp’s evening concerts and dance parties are open to the public at a cost of $25 per person.

Founded in 2000 by Lawrence Greenfield, a member of the Center for Jewish Studies Board of Visitors, the Greenfield Summer Institute offers adult learners a unique blend of continuing education, entertainment, and fellowship. Now in its 12th year, the Institute will present a series of lectures on Yiddish language, arts, and culture.

In addition to showcasing Jewish Studies faculty at UW–Madison and UW–Milwaukee, this year’s Institute will bring to Madison a number of nationally renowned scholars. Lecture topics include contemporary Yiddish literature, Yiddish theatre, and the challenges of raising children in Yiddish today.

Although KlezKamp and the Greenfield Summer Institute run concurrently, the two events are conceived of as complementary, rather than competing. Those who are interested in hands-on activities are encouraged to register for KlezKamp, while adults who enjoy attending lectures would likely prefer the Greenfield Institute. Greenfield participants are welcome to attend select KlezKamp classes and concerts at no extra charge.

To Register:

• Those interested in the Greenfield Summer Institute can download a brochure at http://jewishstudies.wisc.edu or call the Center for Jewish Studies at 608-265-4763.
• The registration fee of $150 ($175 after June 10) covers classes and selected refreshments.
• To register for KlezKamp, please visit http://mayrentinstitute.wisc.edu or call 608-263-1936 to request a brochure.
• Tuition, which includes all classes, concerts, and kosher lunches and dinners, is $750/adult, $300/child.