Psychoanalysis in Yiddish and Hebrew

How did the "Father of Psychoanalysis" sound in the languages of the Jewish people? This three-part series explores the fascinating reception history of Sigmund Freud’s work in Hebrew and Yiddish. We trace the journey of psychoanalytic theory from the clinical halls of Vienna to the bustling world of Eastern European Jewry. By examining how Freud’s radical ideas were translated and transformed, we uncover a unique chapter of Jewish intellectual history where the "unconscious" met the "Holy Tongue" and the vernacular of the masses.

• Session 1 · The Yiddish Unconscious: A look at the linguistic and cultural challenges of translating Freud’s foundational theories into Yiddish.
• Session 2 · A Godless Jew in the Holy Tongue: An exploration of what psychoanalysis looked like when rendered in Hebrew, and how the language of scripture adapted to the modern mind.
• Session 3 · Psychoanalysis for Diabetics: A deep dive into the practical application of Freud’s work at YIVO and its surprising presence in the popular Yiddish press, revealing what Eastern European Jews truly thought of "The Couch."

• Students of Jewish History and Translation Studies interested in the migration of ideas across languages.
• Psychology professionals and enthusiasts curious about the cultural roots of psychoanalysis.
• Yiddishists and Hebrew scholars interested in how these languages evolved to accommodate modern scientific and psychological thought.
• Anyone fascinated by the intersection of secular Jewish identity and 20th-century intellectual movements.

• A nuanced understanding of how Sigmund Freud was perceived and reinterpreted by Jewish intellectuals and the general public.
• Insights into the institutional history of YIVO and its role in promoting psychological health in the Yiddish-speaking world.
• The ability to analyze how the choice of language—Hebrew vs. Yiddish—shaped the theological and secular reception of psychoanalytic theory.