No Yiddish? No Problem! Just Bring Your Curiosity.
WINNIPEG, MB – This year, we start with a knish and end on the dance floor.
The Rady JCC is excited to announce the return of the ‘Put a Yid On It!’ Festival of New Yiddish Culture, taking place June 7 to 13 with tickets now officially on sale.
Now entering its third year, the one-of-a-kind festival celebrates the creativity, humour, music, and evolving spirit of Yiddish culture through concerts, film, dance, food, and immersive cultural experiences across Winnipeg.
And no, you do not need to speak Yiddish to enjoy it.
From hands-on knish making workshops and lively dance gatherings to internationally acclaimed musicians and rare Yiddish cinema, the festival invites audiences of all backgrounds to experience a culture that is expressive and deeply alive.
“This festival is really about creating experiences where people feel connected to one another,” said Laura Marjovsky, Director of Programming at the Rady JCC. “There’s warmth to it, there’s joy to it, and there’s also so much creativity. Every event offers something completely different.”
Yiddish culture, once carried across generations through storytelling, music, food, and everyday life, is now being rediscovered and reimagined by artists and creators around the world.
“People often say klezmer lives somewhere between a cry and a dance,” said Shira Newman, Producer of ‘Put a Yid On It!’. “This festival moves in that spirit. It brings together memory, celebration, artistry, and community in ways that feel emotional, vibrant, and very present.”
The 2026 lineup features seven unique events ranging from interactive workshops and family programming to concerts, dance experiences, and film screenings.
Below is a breakdown of this year’s festival including ticket links.
For complete event details, download our festival brochure here or visit our festival website here.
North End Knishery: The Art of Traditional Knish Making
Sunday, June 7 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Multi-Purpose Room, Rady JCC
$10 | Rady Members receive 25% off
This is knish making the way your baba would want you to do it.
Harriet Zaidman, beloved voice behind the North End Nosh blog, guides participants through the traditional stretched dough method while sharing stories of migration, memory, and the role food plays in preserving culture and connection across generations.
Don’t miss the kick-off event to this incredible festival.
Freylekhs: A Yiddish Family Dance Party
Sunday, June 7 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Kanee Foyer, Rady JCC
Free to Attend | Pre-registration required
Treat yourself to a joyful afternoon filled with music, movement, and playful Yiddish dance for all ages.
Led by KlezKanada Artistic Director Avia Moore, this lively gathering invites everyone into the circle through easy to follow dances, clapping games, and live klezmer music from Winnipeg favourites Kinzey Posen and Shayla Fink.
And yes, there will be a little nosh!
Take My Hand: A Yiddish Tantshoyz
Sunday, June 7 | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Multi-Purpose Room, Rady JCC
$10 | Rady Members receive 25% off
Enjoy an evening of live klezmer music, Yiddish circle and clapping dances, and shared celebration rooted in Yiddish tradition.
Participants are welcomed into circle and partner dances at an easygoing pace, creating a warm and energetic gathering where movement, music, and community come together naturally.
Come solo or with friends. Take a hand and be part of it.
Payadora Tango Ensemble: The Soul of Yiddish Tango
Tuesday, June 9 | 7:30 p.m. | Berney Threatre, Rady JCC
Under 30: $15 | Over 30: $25 | Rady Members receive 25% off
Internationally acclaimed Payadora Tango Ensemble traces the journey of tango into Yiddish culture through an emotional and immersive live performance.
Joined by master dancers on stage, the evening blends music, movement, and storytelling into a vivid exploration of longing, identity, and cultural connection.
Sit back, take it in, and let the music carry you.
I Have Sinned (Al Khet)
Wednesday, June 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Berney Theatre, Rady JCC
Under 30: $8 | Over 30: $12 | Rady Members receive 25% off
A newly restored landmark of Yiddish cinema returns to the screen after decades out of view.
Blending melodrama, comedy, and music, this rare 1936 film follows a sweeping story of love, rupture, and survival across war, migration, and family history.
This is a special screening for film lovers and history enthusiasts alike.
Romeo & Juliet in Yiddish
Thursday, June 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Berney Theatre, Rady JCC
Under 30: $8 | Over 30: $12 | Rady Members receive 25% off
See a sharp and funny reimagining of Shakespeare set in contemporary Brooklyn.
As a group of young translators work to bring Romeo and Juliet into modern Yiddish, the film explores language, identity, belonging, and cultural change with humour and heart.
This unique take on a classic will feel both familiar and entirely new.
The Klezmatics: We Were Made for These Times 40th Anniversary Tour
Thursday, June 11 | 8:00 p.m. | Crescent Arts Centre | 525 Wardlaw Avenue
Under 30: $15 | Over 30: $25 | Rady Members receive 25% off
A festival finale worth dancing for.
The Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics close the festival with a powerful night of music that blends klezmer, jazz, folk, and global influences into something bold, joyful, and completely alive.
Known around the world for their electrifying live performances, the legendary ensemble brings an energy that transforms concerts into shared celebration.
Come ready to listen, feel, and be part of a truly special night as the festival comes to a close.
Transportation available upon request. Contact Karolina Garlinska at 204.477.7534 or kgarlinska@radyjcc.com to arrange.
With Thanks
The ‘Put a Yid On It!’ Festival of New Yiddish Culture is made possible through the generous support of The Asper Foundation and its Cultural Enrichment Initiative, along with the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg.
At the Rady JCC, we believe arts and culture bring people together in meaningful ways. Through this support, including a Jewish Community Impact and Ongoing Grant through the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba (JFM), as well as the Laurie Mainster Community Visionary Fund, and the I.L. Peretz Folk School Endowment Trust, both held at the JFM, we are able to create welcoming, accessible experiences where people can connect, celebrate, and feel part of something special.
This festival is a reflection of that shared commitment. We are deeply grateful to our supporters for helping bring these moments to life and for ensuring that Jewish culture continues to be vibrant, evolving, and open to all.
Questions about ‘Put a Yid On It!’?
Contact:
Laura Marjovsky
Director of Programming, Rady JCC
204.477.7539 | lmarjovsky@radyjcc.com