Thank you for another great article. Just for fun, especially for our non-Jewish friends: Yiddish is a language that developed over the past few centuries by Jews mostly in Eastern Europe. They borrowed from the languages of Poland, Germany, as well as Hebrew. When European Jews immigrated to the U.S., they borrowed from English as well, inventing words such as “boychick” to describe a young boy, or “peacenik” to describe a peace-loving person.
Many of these words even appear in many dictionaries and people don't know they were originally Yiddish:
Chutzpah (HUTS-pah --with guttural “h”) - a lot of nerve, bravery. "He had a lot of chutzpah to ask the boss for a raise!"
Cockamamy (Cock-a-mame-ee) - mixed-up, muddled. “What a cockamamy story he told about where he was last night.”
Klutz - a clumsy person. "I keep dropping things--I'm such a klutz!"
Maven - an expert on something. "She sees a lot of films. She considers herself a maven on Woody Allen."
Mensh - (mensch) - a good guy, a nice man who does things for people.
Noodge - a pest, a bore, a person who is relentless in asking or seeking something they want. OR, it can be a verb, such as "Stop noodging me!"
Nosh - to nibble on something, or eat a little something. “Come over later, we'll nosh.”
shlep - to drag around ("why do you shlep such a heavy purse around all day?"--OR, a person can be a shlep ("He doesn't work very hard, he’s such a shlep.")
Shmaltz - corny, over-sentimental. “I hated that romantic movie. It was so shmaltzy.”
Shmooze - idle talk, friendly patter. “We should go to the office party and shmooze with the boss.”
Shnoz (rhymes with Boz) - a nose. “Howard Stern has the biggest shnoz I’ve ever seen.”
Tchotchke - (CHOCH-key) - little trinkets. “My little girl has a million tchotchkes she gets from McDonalds kids' meals.”
Tuchas –(TOOK-us, with the gutteral "ch"). Your backside/butt. Also, “tushie,” is often used when talking to children.
Shmuck - a jerk. Not a very polite word, sort of like “bastard.”
Putz - literal meaning is penis. It's what you call a guy who is a jerk.
Zaftig - (ZOF-tig) - a plump female. “Ever since she had the baby, she looks a little zaftig, don’t you think?”
Common phrases, or a “Jewish” way of saying things, that have crossed into English:
Love this subtrack. We will survive, not only by power, but by humour, infighting, etc., etc., etc.and all the time we are doing this we are creating music, theatre, medications, etc., for the whole world.
Very clever and witty article. I am sending to my non-Jewish friends in the hope that they will understand what I have emailing them in nuanced fashion to increase awareness, so far without great success. Not one comment to date from them about 10/7 (unbelievably hurtful).
I wish more Jews I know like arguing. The other Jewish moms do not like it when I share contrary political opinions . . . or even just share about Republicans supporting Israel.
We have a Whatsapp group and they would respond to each other, completely ignoring my comments as if they're not even there.
One invited everyone to a concert and then didn't go when I was the only one who said yes.
I can absolutely relate as arguments over specific politics have ruined friendships and/or family ties. And the ignoring of the person with a different opinion who suggests something in a group chat sucks.
It makes me very sad, especially since I want my kids to to be part of a whole group of Jewish kids. And I mostly bite my tongue, I could be saying alot more. Some things I really didn't expect to even be problematic. Do I say screw it? Do I keep quiet and not voice any thoughts that might be contrary? If I choose the latter, is that what I'm teaching my kids?
Your #2 brought back fond memories of my maternal grandmother and her baking. She was, of course, a fantastic cook and a wonderful person who I loved dearly. As I like to say, "A woman of substance." Thanks.
Thank you for another great article. Just for fun, especially for our non-Jewish friends: Yiddish is a language that developed over the past few centuries by Jews mostly in Eastern Europe. They borrowed from the languages of Poland, Germany, as well as Hebrew. When European Jews immigrated to the U.S., they borrowed from English as well, inventing words such as “boychick” to describe a young boy, or “peacenik” to describe a peace-loving person.
Many of these words even appear in many dictionaries and people don't know they were originally Yiddish:
Chutzpah (HUTS-pah --with guttural “h”) - a lot of nerve, bravery. "He had a lot of chutzpah to ask the boss for a raise!"
Cockamamy (Cock-a-mame-ee) - mixed-up, muddled. “What a cockamamy story he told about where he was last night.”
Klutz - a clumsy person. "I keep dropping things--I'm such a klutz!"
Maven - an expert on something. "She sees a lot of films. She considers herself a maven on Woody Allen."
Mensh - (mensch) - a good guy, a nice man who does things for people.
Noodge - a pest, a bore, a person who is relentless in asking or seeking something they want. OR, it can be a verb, such as "Stop noodging me!"
Nosh - to nibble on something, or eat a little something. “Come over later, we'll nosh.”
shlep - to drag around ("why do you shlep such a heavy purse around all day?"--OR, a person can be a shlep ("He doesn't work very hard, he’s such a shlep.")
Shmaltz - corny, over-sentimental. “I hated that romantic movie. It was so shmaltzy.”
Shmooze - idle talk, friendly patter. “We should go to the office party and shmooze with the boss.”
Shnoz (rhymes with Boz) - a nose. “Howard Stern has the biggest shnoz I’ve ever seen.”
Tchotchke - (CHOCH-key) - little trinkets. “My little girl has a million tchotchkes she gets from McDonalds kids' meals.”
Tuchas –(TOOK-us, with the gutteral "ch"). Your backside/butt. Also, “tushie,” is often used when talking to children.
Shmuck - a jerk. Not a very polite word, sort of like “bastard.”
Putz - literal meaning is penis. It's what you call a guy who is a jerk.
Zaftig - (ZOF-tig) - a plump female. “Ever since she had the baby, she looks a little zaftig, don’t you think?”
Common phrases, or a “Jewish” way of saying things, that have crossed into English:
You should live so long.
My son, the doctor (or lawyer, or ...).
I need it like a hole in the head.
All right, already.
He knows from nothing.
From that he makes a living?
How come only five?
This I need?
He’s a regular genius.
You want it should sing, too?
I should have such luck.
On her, it looks good.
Tsuris means troubles. What you describe is (having) shpilkes.
That's what I thought-- According to my mom, us kids were always on shpilkes cause we couldn't sit still!
Yes! That is correct. I thought the same thing when I read it.
Love this subtrack. We will survive, not only by power, but by humour, infighting, etc., etc., etc.and all the time we are doing this we are creating music, theatre, medications, etc., for the whole world.
Very clever and witty article. I am sending to my non-Jewish friends in the hope that they will understand what I have emailing them in nuanced fashion to increase awareness, so far without great success. Not one comment to date from them about 10/7 (unbelievably hurtful).
I must be lucky. My closest three non Jewish friends all came to the early demonstrations against hate after 7/10.
This was spot on!
Loved it, that’s us!!
‘Catholic guilt? Adorable…’ what a gem.
Excellent post! Shabbat shalom!
Haman ….. Hamas….. proximity?
Joshua, that was absolutely brilliant
Fun article but makes me wonder if I'm really 100% Jewish; maybe only 50% or 60%, at most.
Clever piece, I assume not to be taken entirely seriously. Especially #6 which in my view could be destructive.
I wish more Jews I know like arguing. The other Jewish moms do not like it when I share contrary political opinions . . . or even just share about Republicans supporting Israel.
We have a Whatsapp group and they would respond to each other, completely ignoring my comments as if they're not even there.
One invited everyone to a concert and then didn't go when I was the only one who said yes.
Whoa! That is crazy!
I can absolutely relate as arguments over specific politics have ruined friendships and/or family ties. And the ignoring of the person with a different opinion who suggests something in a group chat sucks.
It makes me very sad, especially since I want my kids to to be part of a whole group of Jewish kids. And I mostly bite my tongue, I could be saying alot more. Some things I really didn't expect to even be problematic. Do I say screw it? Do I keep quiet and not voice any thoughts that might be contrary? If I choose the latter, is that what I'm teaching my kids?
Beautiful article....(as always )Yes, definitely we are one of a kind......and very proud of being Jewish !!!.....
I loved this. Most of it I sort of knew already but the whole thing made me both happy and hungry.
Your #2 brought back fond memories of my maternal grandmother and her baking. She was, of course, a fantastic cook and a wonderful person who I loved dearly. As I like to say, "A woman of substance." Thanks.