How the “Forverts” is Being Transformed in the Digital Era

The University of Colorado Boulder’s Program in Jewish Studies and cosponsors welcome Rukhl Schaechter, editor of the Yiddish Forward (Forverts). Schaechter will present a public lecture on the CU campus titled “How the Forverts is Being Transformed in the Digital Era,” Thursday, October 11, 2018 @ 7:00 pm, Chancellor’s Silver & Gold Room, University Club, 972 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80302. Schaechter’s lecture kicks off Jewish Studies’ 2018-2019 Community Talks Series, Yiddishkvell: An Appreciation of All Things Yiddish, made possible in part by a grant from Rose Community Foundation.

Schaechter will explore how the publication, founded in 1897 as a newspaper for Jewish immigrants, has adapted to the changing demographic of its readership. Today, there is a growing interest in the Yiddish language and culture, not only in the Diaspora, but also in Israel.

In addition, many Hasidim, the largest Yiddish-speaking community today, now read the Forverts on their smartphones since it brings them material they don’t get in their own newspapers. Through its website and social media, the Forverts now serves all these groups as an international clearinghouse for the latest Yiddish news, analyses, cooking shows, and music videos.

Rukhl Schaechter, editor of the Yiddish Forward (Forverts), is the first woman to hold that position since its founding in 1897 and the first editor of the Forverts to be born in the United States. Since taking the helm, Schaechter and her staff have increased the Yiddish Forward’s profile. With active Facebook and YouTube channels, international podcasts, regularly translated articles, and subtitled videos, the newspaper has found broad audiences.

As editor, Schaechter has brought in a number of new writers, including women from secular and Hasidic backgrounds to mirror the eclectic landscape of Yiddish writing today. The Yiddish Forward has become a clearinghouse for the latest developments in the Yiddish world with almost daily news reports related to Yiddish language and culture. Before Schaechter became a journalist, she was a prize-winning Yiddish short story writer as well as a songwriter.

This event is hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Program in Jewish Studies and cosponsored by CU’s College of Media, Communication and Information, Department of Journalism, Department of Media Studies, Center for Media, Religion and Culture, and ATLAS Institute.

Schaechter’s visit is part of the Community Talks Series in the Program in Jewish Studies, made possible in part by a grant from the Rose Community Foundation. Community Talks features nationally and internationally renowned scholars, authors, artists, and performers for themed public events with the goal of enriching community learning and expanding access to academic programming on Jewish culture and history. Guarantee your spot at all events for the academic year by becoming a friend of Community Talks. 

Learn more about Rukhl Schaechter’s visit and the Community Talks Series at Colorado.edu/JewishStudies/.