"What Kind of Person is a Mentsh?": Philip (Fishl) Kutner on Preserving the Yiddish Language

Since 2010, the Yiddish Book Center’s Wexner Oral History Project has recorded hundreds of in-depth video interviews that provide a deeper understanding of the Jewish experience and the legacy and changing nature of Yiddish language and culture. 

The interviews in the growing collection are conducted in Yiddish and/or English with narrators of all ages from a variety of backgrounds. 

In this video excerpt from an interview, Philip (Fishl) Kutner, founder of "Der Bay" a website for Yiddish networking information, explains why he thinks people should learn Yiddish today, and how its rich culture and unique terminology make Yiddish a language worth preserving. 

Fishl is also the founder of the International Association of Yiddish Clubs (IAYC). Jewish Humor Central's publisher Al Kustanowitz is a member of the IAYC Advisory Board.

 

To see the full interview and learn more about the Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project, visit: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/collections/oral-histories/interviews/woh-fi-0000861/philip-fishl-kutner-2016.

 

Fishl also runs an hour-long Zoom Yiddish discussion every Tuesday at 2pm Eastern Time. If you're interested in joining FYG (Fishl's Yiddish Group) you can register and get more information at this link: Join Fishl's Yiddish Group.

Enjoy!

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