YIVO Institute for Jewish Research

The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is a renowned academic center dedicated to the dissemination, teaching, and study of East European Jewish history, language, and culture. Established in 1925 with support from leading intellectuals and scholars such as Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud, YIVO specializes in Yiddish language, literature, and folklore, the Holocaust, and the American Jewish experience. Despite being forced to relocate to New York due to WWII, YIVO is the only prewar Jewish archives and library to survive the Holocaust, making it a unique and invaluable resource. With a vast collection of approximately 23 million items, including sound and music collections, theater and art collections, communal and personal records, photographs and films, manuscripts, diaries, memoirs, and correspondence, YIVO's archives and library represent the largest and most comprehensive compilation of materials on East European Jewish civilization. Additionally, the YIVO library houses nearly 400,000 volumes in all European languages and contains the largest collection of Yiddish-language books, pamphlets, and newspapers. YIVO's Uriel Weinreich Program in Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture, established in 1968, is the oldest intensive Yiddish language-learning program. The institute also offers adult education and Yiddish language programs, research opportunities, and scholarly publications, including the acclaimed Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe, one of the world’s most comprehensive and free online encyclopedias. Furthermore, YIVO hosts various events such as lectures, conferences, concerts, theatrical performances, film screenings, and exhibitions, featuring award-winning scholars, writers, performers, and artists. Notably, YIVO's rules for transliteration of Yiddish into English are the standard used by most publishers and academics, amplifying its influence in the academic and literary realms.

With its rich history, unparalleled collection, and commitment to advancing scholarship and preserving the East European Jewish legacy, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is a significant establishment in the education sector.