YIVO's Shine Online Educational Series

YIVO’s Shine Online Educational Series fills a critical gap in Jewish Studies education today. While many secondary schools and universities feature extensive curricula covering biblical literature, Israel studies, and the Holocaust, far fewer courses focus on a crucial period in Jewish history: the 1,000 years of Jewish life and culture in Eastern Europe. This story of Ashkenazi civilization is an essential part of the larger Jewish story—a millennium rich in language, literature, art, music, and culture.

Our self-paced online courses bring together a global community to experience the richness and vibrancy of Jewish history and culture from the comfort of home. These online courses are flexible and interactive, allowing users to study at their own pace and to delve into YIVO’s unique collection of resources.

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Explore our courses:

	Is Anything Okay? The History of Jews and Comedy in America Sponsored by Edward Blank and Family, Ruth and David Levine, and The Shine Trust In our newest online course, delve into the history of Jewish comedy and its explosive development in the United States. See hundreds of unique archival objects, along with interviews and discussions with leading scholars and personalities from the world of Jewish comedy. Learn more
	A Seat at the Table: A Journey into Jewish Food Sponsored by Edward Blank and Family, The Covenant Foundation, and The Shine Trust Join us for an exploration into the heart of Jewish food, with an emphasis on the Ashkenazi table. This course features hundreds of never-before-seen archival objects, lectures by leading scholars, and video demonstrations of your favorite Jewish recipes by renowned chefs. Learn more
	Oh Mama, I’m in Love! The Story of the Yiddish Stage Presented by Edward Blank and Family Take a step behind the curtain and enter the world of the Yiddish theater, with lecture and discussion videos from leading scholars, and nearly 1,000 objects and documents from the YIVO Archives. Learn more
	Folksong, Demons, and the Evil Eye: Folklore of Ashkenaz Presented by Edward Blank and Family Explore the music, folktales, rituals, and superstitions of Jewish Eastern Europe with Prof. Itzik Gottesman and special guests. Learn more
	Discovering Ashkenaz: Jewish Life in Eastern Europe Whether you’re in Florida or Odessa, join Prof. Samuel Kassow for Discovering Ashkenaz, a survey of the 1,000-year history of Jews in Eastern Europe. Learn more