The Yiddish language, which transcended national borders, was born a thousand years ago in Rhineland, Germany. There were once 11 million people who spoke Yiddish. After World War II the language and culture were in danger of extinction. At the time of the establishment of the State of Israel, Yiddish was abandoned, in favor of modern Hebrew, except by the Hasidim. It was even outlawed in the secular schools until 1996. But now there is renewed interest and efforts are being made in Israel, and even, surprisingly, in universities in Germany, to keep alive the flame.

This lively film brings us glimpses of Yiddish theatre, song and dance. The director of the Yiddish Theatre in Tel Aviv describes how he was captivated by the language and committed himself to the struggle to perpetuate the theater. A member of the International Association of Yiddish Writers and Journalists comments that there are enough writers, but not enough readers. The documentary demonstrates how language and cultural identity are intertwined.

"Children and adults alike should enjoy this Video or DVD. It can be used by teachers who want to show the cultural connection of Yiddish and Judaism. Appropriate for synagogue, school, or research libraries that collect documentaries." Association of Jewish Libraries review