Recognize Yiddish under the European Charter in Germany
The Issue
As someone of Ashkenazi descent, the Yiddish langauge has a special place in my heart.
Though i believe Hebrew should be the Lingua Franca of Jewry globally, i do also believe that every jewish language should be preserved in their respective communities. (In Europe alone other extant jewish languages include Karaim, Krymchak, Ladino, Romaniote, and Italkian).
Yiddish originated from the Jewish dialect of High German in the Rhineland of Western Germany. It spread alongside Ashkenazi communities to Eastern Europe, Scandiniva, the British Isles, as well as further to the Americas and Oceania.
Yiddish is a rich language with influences from Slavic, Romance, Hebrew, and Aramaic, and has an extensive literary tradition. But all of that is at risk, already Klezmer Loshn (the dialect of Eastern European Jewish musicians) is extinct, and West Yiddish (one of the 2 main groups, the other being east) is all but.
Ukraine, Slovakia, Bosnia [and Herzegovina], Romania, Sweden, and the Netherlands have ratified the charter and under it have recognized Yiddish. But that is not enough to save Yiddish, which currently survives in mainly Ultra-orthodox enclaves. More need to recognize it:Belgium, Germany, France, and Hungary with their large jewish communities would be a good start.
Sign this petition to get the German government to recognize Yiddish under the charter, and just maybe help revive it.
31
The Issue
As someone of Ashkenazi descent, the Yiddish langauge has a special place in my heart.
Though i believe Hebrew should be the Lingua Franca of Jewry globally, i do also believe that every jewish language should be preserved in their respective communities. (In Europe alone other extant jewish languages include Karaim, Krymchak, Ladino, Romaniote, and Italkian).
Yiddish originated from the Jewish dialect of High German in the Rhineland of Western Germany. It spread alongside Ashkenazi communities to Eastern Europe, Scandiniva, the British Isles, as well as further to the Americas and Oceania.
Yiddish is a rich language with influences from Slavic, Romance, Hebrew, and Aramaic, and has an extensive literary tradition. But all of that is at risk, already Klezmer Loshn (the dialect of Eastern European Jewish musicians) is extinct, and West Yiddish (one of the 2 main groups, the other being east) is all but.
Ukraine, Slovakia, Bosnia [and Herzegovina], Romania, Sweden, and the Netherlands have ratified the charter and under it have recognized Yiddish. But that is not enough to save Yiddish, which currently survives in mainly Ultra-orthodox enclaves. More need to recognize it:Belgium, Germany, France, and Hungary with their large jewish communities would be a good start.
Sign this petition to get the German government to recognize Yiddish under the charter, and just maybe help revive it.
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on October 7, 2026