1925-2023
Rivka Bassman Ben-Haim was a poet and published many books. Born in 1925 in Vilkomir, Lithuania. Studied at a Jewish school and a Lithuanian gymnasium. During World War II, she stayed in the Vilnius ghetto and forced labor camps for women. After the war, she took part in the "escape" operations from Europe. Rivka immigrated to Israel in 1947 and joined the Kibbutz HAMAAPIL and fought in the War of Liberation. She was one of the founders of the group of Yiddish writers "Young-Israel" and a member of the board of the Association of Yiddish Writers and Journalists in Israel.
Chairman of Leyvik House
Born in Argentina and educated in a Yiddish - speaking Jewish home and community schools. In 1965 he immigrated to Israel. Published the play "Muscles" in Hebrew and a book of Yiddish songs "Oyer Silhouette" (silhouettes of the ear). He later published six more of his plays. Served as an editorial board member of the journal New Roads. He has won numerous scholarships and awards, including the Prime Minister's Award for Composing and the National Authority for Yiddish Culture for Composing Jewish Music.
Director of H. Leyvik Publishing
Doctoral student in the Department of Jewish History at Tel Aviv University. His research deals with a popular culture among the Jews of Europe in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. Roni is a member of the board and director of the publishing house H. Leyvik.
Member of the Board of Directors of Leyvik House
Born in 1937 in Birobidzhan (Russia) to a Yiddish-speaking family. His father, Moshe, was an actor and director at the State Theater in Birobidzhan, and his mother, Lyuba Wasserman, is a poet in the Yiddish language. He studied piano at the Academy of Music in Chisinau, Moldova, then played at the Municipal Opera and Academy of Music and also performed in various countries in the mysterious vehicles. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he became an activist for Yiddish culture in Moldova and directed the radio program "Word on Nigun". He currently lives in Israel and lives in Nahariya.
Translation and special events
Active and volunteers at Beit Levick, initiates and leads various activities such as: an experiential class in Yiddish, a cooking workshop in Yiddish, event production and more. Engaged in translating letters, diaries, testimonies, poems and other writings from Yiddish to Hebrew. She speaks Yiddish at home and has been immersing herself in the language independently for ten years.
Researcher, lecturer and journalist
The daughter of the Yiddish writer Yerachmiel Bryks, whose legacy she gives lectures on. She is a researcher and holds a master's degree in Yiddish from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is a journalist at Forverts and translates from Yiddish into English and Hebrew. In addition, Bella voluntarily initiates and publishes a monthly newsletter on Yiddish events entitled: "What When Where".
Linguist and revivalist
Chair of Linguistics and Endangered Languages at the University of Adelaide, Australia; President of the Australian Association for Jewish Studies. Founder of Revivalistics, holder of an NHMRC research project assessing the link between language reclamation and mental health. Author of Revivalistics (Oxford University Press, 2020), Language Contact and Lexical Enrichment (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003), Israelit Safa Yafa (Am Oved, 2008) and other bestsellers.
Member of the Board of Directors of Leyvik House
Composer, poet, conductor, lecturer and researcher of Yiddish folklore. Born in the Latvian capital Riga. Graduate of the Latvian State Academy of Music named after Y. Vitols. One of the founders of the Jewish community of Riga and Latvia in 1988. One of the leaders who promoted and spread Yiddish culture in Latvia. Founder and artistic director of the children's and youth theater for Jewish music 'Kinor', famous in European countries and in the home countries. Groom International awards.
