Yiddish

Yiddish was the lingua franca of Ashkenanzi jews in the pale of settlement that ran as a buffer on Russia’s westernmost border from the Baltic to the Blakc Sea. Hebrew was a holy language to these jews, only to be used for holy matters and prayer. Yiddish was the language they used for day to day activities. The language for conversations, business transactions, family discussions and even, for love. It is a patois – a combination of German, various Slavic languages and a smattering of Hebrew. Because it is mostly German – our grasndfather Louis – who spoke it fluently was drafted into the army field intelligence during the first World War, given a crash course in german and sent out into no-mans land to listen in to the German soldiers talking. It saved his life but meant he lost his sight. But that is another family story. 

The following represents some thoughts on Yiddish from Phillip / Fieval, using various Yiddish phrases and words and phrases – in ryhme!

After this there is a glosssary of words so you can (mostly) translate what he has written. Just scroll the page. 

Read, use and enjoy. 

Yiddish was the secret code, therefore I don’t farshtaist. A bisseleh maybe here and there, the rest has gone to waste.

Sadly when I hear it now, I only get the gist, My Bubbeh spoke it beautifully; but me, I am tsemisht.

So och un vai as I should say, or even oy vai iz mir, though my pisk is lacking Yiddish, it’s familiar to my ear.

And I’m no Chaim Yonkel ,in fact  I was shtick naches, but, when it comes to Yiddish though, I’m talking out my tuchas.

Es iz a shandeh far di kinder that I don’t know it better  (though it’s really nishtkefelecht when one needs to write a letter)

But, when it comes to characters, there’s really no contention no other lin guist can compete with honorable mentshen:

They have nebbishes and nebechels and others without mazel,

Then, too, schmendriks and schlemiels, and let’s not forget schlemazel.

These words are so precise and descriptive to the listener, So much better than “a pill ” is to call someone ‘farbissener’.

Or – that a brazen woman would be better called chaleria, and you’ll agree farklempt says more than does hysteria.

I’m not haken dir a tsheinik and I hope I’m not a kvetch, but isn’t mieskeit kinder, than to call someone a wretch?

Mitten derinnen, I hear Bubbeh say, “It’s nechtiker tog, don’t fear, to me you’re still a maven, zol zein shah, don’t fill my ear.

A leben ahf dein keppele, I don’t mean to interrupt, but you are speaking narishkeit….. and a gezunt auf dein kup!”

Another Yiddish Smattered Poem From Phillip

A BRIS IS NOT A BRIS

You must remember this,
A bris is still a bris,
A chai is just a chai.

Pastrami still belongs on rye,
As time goes by.

With holidays in view,
A Jew is still a Jew,
On that you can rely.
No matter if we eat tofu
As hours slip by.

Old shtetl customs, never out of date.
All those potatoes mother has to grate.
Honey, tsimus, latkes, chopped liver on our plate
The best that gelt can buy.

Some would send us to perdition,
But we’re strengthened by tradition,
That no one can deny.
We roam, but we recall our birthright,
As time goes by.

Dreidels and chocolate, never out of date.
Ancient Jewish stories that we all relate.
Blue-and-white giftwrap, everything that’s great
And festive chazerai!

It’s still the same old Torah,
It’s still the same menorah,
We’ve latkes still to fry.
It’s at yom tov when we feel most blessed,
As time goes by.
L’SHANAH TOVAH!

Yiddish Glossary

Here are a few words you might like to try to use or drop into a conversation. Though few non jews (except some Germans and Austrians) will understand you. Click on the words / phrases below to find out the definition of each one.

(Do You?) Understand

A little

Confused or mixed up

Alas and alack

Woe is me

Mouth

Words of praise like; Well said! Well done! (Lit., A long life upon your head.)

Joy, Gratification

A pity/shame for the children

Not so terrible

A nobody or simpleton

A pititful person or playing the role of being one

Clumsy bungler, an inept person, butter-fingered; dopey person

Nonsense

Nincompoop; an inept or indifferent person; same as chlemiel

Luckless person. Unlucky person; one with perpetual bad luck (it is said that the shlemiel spills the soup on the Shlimazel!)

Embittered; bitter person

A nobody or simpleton

Evil woman. Probably derived from cholera.

Too emotional to talk. Ready to cry.

Don’t get on your nerves (Lit.., Don’t bang your teapot!)

Whine, complain; whiner, a complainer

Ugly

All of a sudden, suddenly

He’s (it’s) gone! Forget it! Nonsense! (Lit., a night’s day)

Be quiet. Shut up!!