Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc.

Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc. (YI) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that produces and promotes a wide range of programs and services to participating organizations, ranging from solo performances to small theatrical productions, concerts and local festivals.

Founded in 2015, the Yiddishkayt Initiative has already created substantial programming around the world, including Israel, Canada, New York and So. Florida, including our YI Love Yiddishfest 2018 at the Colony Theatre on Miami Beach.

Our record of accomplishments include an alliance with the University of Miami's Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies and the Feldenkreis Program for Judaic Studies and our year long YI Cultural series at the Betsy Hotel on Miami Beach. YI has reestablished the Joseph Papp Yiddish Theatre, which has presented highly acclaimed theatre productions and concerts throughout South Florida, 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.

Yiddishkayt Initiative is committed to advancing Jewish CULTURAL identity for the entire community through exposure to varied Jewish programs, concerts, publications and events.

Founder Professor Miriam Hoffman is a renowned scholar with a 50-year career that includes 25 years of teaching the Yiddish language and Jewish culture at Columbia University. Her son Avi Hoffman is ideally positioned to bring Jewish culture to today's audiences. Recently inducted into the Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame, his award-winning productions have been seen worldwide and his one-man shows have brought laughter and learning to live theatre and national Public Television audiences for decades.
He was named a "Sage" by the NY Times and was invited to meet Pope Francis for his work on Holocaust awareness.