Here at the National Yiddish Book Center, we can hear the rumble of heavy equipment and the pounding of hammers as workers create the Kaplen Family Building for our new school.

These sounds are a welcome reminder that we will soon fill the space with fantastic new educational and cultural programs. We’re contemplating everything from year-round courses for college students and community leaders, to multi-day seminars for anyone with curiosity about Yiddish language and Jewish culture – as well as online classes so you can study from the comfort of your own home. We’ll also have a new multi-purpose performance hall, which will hold up to 275 people for concerts, dances and other events.

As we brainstorm and plan we would love to hear from you. What public programs would you like to attend? What kind of classes would you like to see offered? Would you like to learn Yiddish so you can some day translate your grandfather’s journal? Would you like to explore the history of Jewish food? Jewish theater? What else?

And how would you like to participate? Online? In your own community? Ponim al ponim, face to face, here at our center in Amherst?

We look forward to hearing your responses!