yiddish-to-english translations

Get professional English translations for your Yiddish handwritten documents!

• Family letters

• Postcards

• Memoirs

• Newspaper articles

• Documents

• Oral testimonies

• Printed or handwritten material

• Hebrew-to-English translation available as well

ABOUT

Yiddish family letters, postcards, and memoirs are priceless treasures, replete with secrets waiting to be revealed. My goal is to help you uncover the secrets of these heirlooms. I will do this, with G-d's help, by providing a translation that is user-friendly and easy to read, while accurate and preserving the voice of the writer.  

I will also use my knowledge of Jewish culture and tradition to detect nuances within the text that will shed light on the life and character of your ancestors.

Following delivery of translation, I am always available to address any questions you may have so that your satisfaction is guaranteed.

TRANSLATOR

Rabbi Yehuda Altein is a freelance writer and translator specializing in Jewish academia and handwritten family material. He has researched and written papers on a wide variety of topics, such as Jewish history, scriptural exegesis, Jewish law, and chassidic philosophy, and has translated hundreds of family letters, postcards, memoirs, and other documents from Yiddish and Hebrew to English.

Because of his experience in translation, research, and Jewish culture and tradition, Yehuda brings a unique skill set to the area of Judaic writing. His work reflects a thorough understanding of the subject material and its nuances, seamlessly presenting an easy-to-read translation that carries the full spirit of the text while maintaining its authenticity. 

Yehuda resides in Brooklyn with his wife and seven children. When the latter bunch give him a moment’s respite, he enjoys exploring genealogy, antique Judaica, and natural history. He can be contacted at translator@prolifictranslations.com or 347-423-5734.

TESTIMONIALS

I worked with Rabbi Altein over the course of a year as he translated several dozen hard-to-read handwritten letters from Yiddish to English. This project was very important to me, and I wanted a translator who would be as fastidious as I was in ensuring the translations were accurate and also readable in English. Rabbi Altein is both a consummate translator and an elegant writer. He exceeded expectations, routinely adding footnotes with citations to Jewish religious texts and links to historical resources to add to my comprehension of the translated letter. Rabbi Altein works efficiently without compromising quality, and he is also very easy to work with. I highly recommend him!

Corinne Y., Maryland

Rabbi Altein proved to be not only a man of integrity but also an absolute expert in his field. Being a researcher and translator of Judaic writing, he could both decipher a text and provide a comprehensive understanding of what it was communicating. I didn’t even consider what an important key to translation is a keen understanding of Jewish culture, rituals, and religious texts. Fortunately, Rabbi Altein provided that insight. The translation he gave me was worth every penny.

Jessica Weible, Brookville PA

Thanks to you I now know about my Aunt Freidl and my cousins Hershel and Avraham. I am forever grateful to you, and so are they, because I will keep their memory alive.

Alice L.

After my parents passed away, I discovered a box of old Yiddish letters in their house. Not knowing Yiddish, I needed someone with the technical ability to translate the letters who could also understand and properly communicate the meaning and nuance of the religious expressions and sentiments contained within them. I was fortunate to find Rabbi Altein. His complete understanding of the Yiddish language coupled with his religious background and training provided me with translations of these letters creating a vibrant and poignant portrait of my broader family history. I am indebted to Rabbi Altein for opening this window into my family’s past.

Michael Kirshner, Bergenfield NJ

Thank you for your efforts to bring the will to life. Aside from the impression it made on me, it also opened up new avenues to get acquainted with distant cousins and learn more about the family. Everyone who has seen this has been so impressed.  

Avraham Dov Furman

Thanks again for all your help. If you ever need a recommendation, please pass along my name. I was so highly impressed with your translations and the level of detail you provided.

Gillian Meigs, Baltimore MD

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your translating the letters, some of which were written by my father. Seeing that no one from that era still survives, you can understand how meaningful these letters are to me and my family.

Frances Belzberg, Vancouver BC

Rabbi Yehuda Altein has translated many letters and documents for me in Yiddish or in a mix of Yiddish and Hebrew over several years. I have been completely satisfied. He is amazing!

Felissa Lashley, Austin, TX

CONTACT

Rabbi Yehuda Altein

translator@prolifictranslations.com

347-423-5734