The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene

The Drama Desk Award-winning National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene is the longest-consecutively producing Yiddish theatre company in the world (109 years and counting) and the longest-consecutively producing performing arts institution in the US.

The company presents plays, concerts, literary events, and workshops in English and Yiddish, with English and Russian supertitles accompanying all performances. NYTF’s events reach over 100,000 individuals, growing annually, and its educational outreach initiatives bring the performing arts to over an additional 18,000 individuals. NYTF strives to bring diverse communities through multicultural programming and partnership with various organizations and schools.

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 10 ONLY

“A theatrical act of remembrance and defiance.” – The New York Times

World Premiere

Amid Falling Walls
Tsvishn Falndike Vent

A new musical showcasing the Jewish spirit’s perseverance during the Holocaust through Yiddish song.

Featuring material written and performed in ghettos, cabarets, partisan encampments in the forests, concentration camps and clandestine theaters.

Available for on-demand streaming
4 Days Only!
—-
from Midnight (EST) Tuesday December 10 through 11:59 (EST) Friday, December 13
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Celebrating the Future of Jewish Pride
and Creativity
This extraordinary concert evening is a broadcast of NYTF’s live performance on October 20 featuring extraordinary young stars of tomorrow and celebrating the future of Yiddishkayt.
 
The concert also honors long-time Folksbiene supporters Minna and Mark Seitelman and Ellen and Peter Weintraub for their indefatigable support of Israel and the Jewish people.

This free streaming event supports NYTF’s ongoing efforts to use the transformative power of the arts as an educational tool for greater peace and understanding. 

Free to watch, donations welcome!

Check our website for more details.  In the meantime, enjoy this short preview clip of the concert

Conversation with Eleanor Reissa & Zalmen Mlotek 

The Letters Project: The Journey Continues Thursday, December 12, 7PM

Join Eleanor Reissa, author/actress/singer/director with Artistic Director Zalmen Mlotek as they discuss the progress of her new work, currently titled: The Journey Continues.  

As part of the Folksbiene’s continued interest in the grant provided to Eleanor by the New York State Council for the Arts, join us in this exploratory evening to learn about Eleanor’s new work. We are certain that this will be a thoughtful, provocative, heartfelt conversation, with read selections from the new work. Perhaps there will even be a song or two.

 CLICK HERE for More Information and Registration

This exciting and fun new season of 15 Minute Yiddish (more or less) features original mayselekh (short stories) that will guide you as you expand your Yiddish vocabulary and learn more about Yiddish grammar.

Episode air weekly through June starting Thursday, March 14 at 12pm Eastern.

And, wait, there’s more!  All of the stories are collected in a special new companion book, 15 Minute Yiddish Mayselekh, available exclusively as a thank you gift with your donation. If you are new to 15 Minute Yiddish or missed the chance last year to access The Big Book of 15 Minute Yiddish, which accompanies Seasons 1-4, it’s not too late to support today!

Coming in 2024

Stay tuned for announcement of dates!

Kids & Yiddish

90% in English, 10% in Yiddish and 100% fun!

A wildly entertaining and family-friendly show! A past NY Times critic’s pick, Kids & Yiddish introduces children to the Yiddish language through Billboard chart-topping songs and pop culture in the style of Sesame Street meets Saturday Night Live. 90% in English, 10% in Yiddish and 100% fun!

Coming in 2025

Directed and Adapted by David Schechter
From his original play “ Hannah Senesh (a play with music and song) ”

Hannah Senesh
Youth Edition

A multi-media experience.

Hannah’s story and indomitable spirit, along with the moving diary and poetry that she left behind, is adapted into an immersive three-part theatrical and educational experience for kids and young adults

Join the Tradition!

"Our stories are kept alive thanks to the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene ."
–Joel Grey

In the News

The Wall Street Journal | November 16, 2023 

Playbill | November 15, 2023 

The New York Times | November 7, 2023 

The New Yorker | October 30, 2023 

Theatrely | June 1, 2023 

New York Times | April 28, 2023 | Michael Paulson

New York Theatre | April 5, 2023

Jewish Standard | March 16, 2023

NY Jewish Week, Jon Kalish, March 2023

The New York Times | Feb 24, 2022 

Opera Wire | Chris Ruel | Feb 10, 2022

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene & New York City Opera 2022 Review – ‘The Garden of the Finzi-Continis’

The New Criterion | Jay Nordlinger | March 2022

ABC News | Ronald Blum AP | Feb 10, 2022

BroadwayWorld | Chloe Rabinowitz | Feb 1, 2022

The New York Times | Zachary Woolfe | Jan 31, 2022

Hadassah Magazine | Jane Levere | Jan. 2022

Opera News | Jonathan Mandell | Jan 27, 2022

New York Theater Guide | Jan 25, 2022

Broadway.com | Lindsey Sullivan |  Jan 25, 2022

Jewish Telegraphic Agency | Andrew Slow-Carroll |  Jan 25, 2022

the New York Times | Elisabeth Vincentelli |  Jan 21, 2022

Broadway World | Richard Sasanow |  Jan 18, 2022

TimeOut | Adam Feldman |  Jan 17, 2022

Broadway World | Chloe Rabinowitz |  Jan 10, 2022

Jewish Standard | Curt Schleier |  Jan 5, 2022

Broadway Buzz | Lindsey Sullivan |  Oct 6, 2021

Broadway World | Stephl Wild |  Oct 4, 2021

BroadwayWorld | Chloe Rabinowitz |  Aug 22, 2021

Playbill | Andrew Gans|  Aug 23, 2021

New York Times | Elisabeth Vincenteilli |  July 21, 2021

TheatreLife(d0t)com | Paulanne Simmons |  July 15, 2021

Jewish Standard | Joanne Palmer |  July 14, 2021

Digital Yiddish Theatre Project | Sonia Gollance | June 17, 2021

DC Metro Theatre Arts | Deb Miller | April 16, 2021

Times of Israel | Jodan Hoffman | April 19, 2021

San Diego Jewish World | April 1, 2021

The Jerusalem Post | Hannah Brown | Jan 18, 2021

The Jewish Standard | Joanne Palmer | Jan 13, 2021

Kveller| Maddy Albert | Jan 15, 2021

Theatre Pizzazz | Nov 16, 2020

Broadway Showbiz | Nov 10, 2020

The Times of Israel |  July 13, 2020

TheatreLife.com |  July, 2020

American Theater |  April 20, 2020

Time Out |  March 23, 2020

JEWISH STANDARD March 20, 2020

THE NEW YORK JEWISH WEEK March 18, 2020
The New York Times
By:Laura Collins-Hughes
December 28, 2023
OLL: Liberty Fund Network
By:Daniel Ross Goodman
December 8, 2023
New York Theater
By:Jonathan Mandell
November 25, 2023
New York Theater
By:Jonathan Mandell
November 22, 2023
The Front Row Center
By:Kendra Jones
November 21, 2023
The Daily Beast
By:Tim Teeman
November 21, 2023
Lighting and Sound America
By:David Barbour
November 20, 2023
New York Jewish Travel Guide
By:NYJTG
November 20, 2023
Theater Mania
By:Zachary Stewart
November 20, 2023
Theater Pizzazz
By:Samuel L. Leiter
November 20, 2023
Forward
By:Rukhl Schaechter
November 19, 2023
Forverts in English
By:Rukhl Schaechter
November 19, 2023
The Wall Street Journal
By:Avram Mlotek
November 16, 2023
Playbill
By:Natan Zamansky
November 15, 2023
Playbill
By:Molly Higgins, Logan Culwell-Block
November 9, 2023
The Jewish Standard
By:Joanne Palmer
October 26, 2023
TheatreMania
By:Zachary Stewart
September 27, 2023
Theatrely
By:Jordanna Brody
June 1, 2023
The New York Times
By:Michael Paulson
April 28, 2023
New York Theater
By:Jonathan Mandell
April 5, 2023
Jewish Standard
March 16, 2023
NY Jewish Week
By:Jon Kalish
March 3, 2023
Playbill
By:Roberto Araujo
October 25, 2022
Theatre Time
By:Joseph Cervelli
July 15, 2018
The New York Times
By:Laurel Graeber
December 15, 2006

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