About Us

Global Reach

A Global Cultural Clearinghouse for your Organization

Numerous organizations have discovered the key to building membership and increasing participation – Jewish cultural programming. They’ve done it by sponsoring events ranging from solo performances to small theatrical productions, concerts and local festivals. But few have the on-board personnel to produce or present events beyond their local contacts and resources.

What’s needed is a global resource for Jewish culture and entertainment staffed by experts in both subject matter and production.

YI can design events responsive to the specific size, demographics, cultural interests and budget of a wide range of organizations, including Federations, JCCs, synagogues, Hadassah chapters, Hillel chapters, men’s groups, women’s guilds, special interest clubs, youth groups, summer camp programs and educational institutions.

From South Florida to New York to Los Angeles and from Canada to Romania to Israel, our reach extends to all corners of the Jewish cultural world.

Future Vision

The Beginning of a Jewish Cultural Renaissance

For thousands of years, the treasure trove of Jewish culture has educated, inspired, entertained and most importantly, bound together the Jewish community. These riches are still there. Together, our Yiddishkayt – our Jewishness – can thrive into the 21st century.

YI will be on the forefront of this movement. Our record of accomplishments includes the establishment of the Joseph Papp Yiddish Theatre, which has presented highly acclaimed theatre productions in the United States, Israel, Romania and Canada. Our leadership team has strong relationships with many Jewish organizations, including the UJA/Jewish Federation, Center for Jewish History, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, the Forward Association and many other prestigious Jewish institutions.

The future goals of YI are to build new outlets through our diverse foundation to create the following:

Jewish Culture Initiative – The Initiative will be created with the University of Miami’s George Feldenkreis Judaic Studies Program and the Leonard and Sue Miller Center for Contemporary Jewish Studies. This program will explore all aspects of Jewish culture in a university academic environment, in all its forms from literature through theological writings, whether rendered in English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic or even Ladino. The fruits of this Initiative will then be incorporated into academic programs, study guides and curricula that inform the wider world of the impact of Jewish thinking on mainstream culture.

Fund For Jewish Programming– The fund will finance film, television and other media programs embracing comedy, drama, musicals, variety shows and documentaries that depict Jewish cultural identity throughout history, both here and around the globe. Distribution and syndication agreements will enable our rich culture to reach worldwide markets.

Center for Jewish Cultural Studies– Florence and Michael Edelstein Center for Yiddish Culture, Home of the Joseph Papp Yiddish Theatre, in association with the State and City of NY, boards of education, academic institutions, cultural, historical and community organizations, The Public Theatre and the Hebrew Actors Foundation (HAF), will create exhibitions and programming for students and the general public addressing the contributions of Yiddish and Jewish culture to the world. Preserving the richness of the past while encouraging the artistic expressions of the future.

Theater Conservatory– The Conservatory will be created in association with the University of Miami’s George Feldenkreis Judaic Studies Program and the Miller Center for Contemporary Jewish Studies, and operate through the University’s Theater Arts Department. It will follow a model developed by the National Yiddish Theater of Israel- Yiddishpeil, to train future generations of actors, directors, composers and playwrights.

We need you to partner with us to see these goals to fruition. Please contact us for additional information. Serious donors only please.

We look forward to a time when “wandering Jews” will find their passion for Jewish history, life and culture through the Yiddishkayt Initiative.