Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
'Why does someone who doesn't have a Jewish background want to learn Yiddish?' Tomas Woodski from Stockholm is used to the question.
He got into Yiddish by chance, and it became a central part of his life. He is now a Yiddish promoter at the Institute for Language and Folklore (Isof), a Swedish government agency, and has his own Yiddish-themed TV show.
We had a chat with Woodski, who shares some things that people should know about Yiddish in Sweden.
Since 2000, Yiddish has been one of five official national minority languages in Sweden – the other four being Finnish, Meänkieli, Romani Chib and the Sami language. The minority languages have special protection in Swedish law.
Music: Going Home – Sebastian Winskog/Epidemic Sound
'Why does someone who doesn't have a Jewish background want to learn Yiddish?' Tomas Woodski from Stockholm is used to the question.
He got into Yiddish by chance, and it became a central part of his life. He is now a Yiddish promoter at the Institute for Language and Folklore (Isof), a Swedish government agency, and has his own Yiddish-themed TV show.
We had a chat with Woodski, who shares some things that people should know about Yiddish in Sweden.
Since 2000, Yiddish has been one of five official national minority languages in Sweden – the other four being Finnish, Meänkieli, Romani Chib and the Sami language. The minority languages have special protection in Swedish law.
Music: Going Home – Sebastian Winskog/Epidemic Sound
