A few seasons ago on a Sunday afternoon, shul member Adrianne Greenberg organized a Yiddish workshop that our members raved about. “What fun.” “Let’s do this again.” “ I want to learn more.”

And then Covid…

Nevertheless, according to Adrianne, “There’s been a resurgence of interest in the Yiddish language, partly based on a fear that the “mama loshen” (mother tongue) of many Eastern European Jews may disappear.” Not if Adrianne can help it, it won’t. Adrianne submitted the following for your enjoyment.

“Did you, like me, watch ‘Shtisel’ on Netflix, and kvel (proudly smile) if you were able to understand any of the Yiddish without reading the English subtitles? Maybe you know the translations of these common Yiddish words: bubbe (grandmother); zeyde (grandfather); mamele/tatele/bubele (affectionate references); ziskayt (sweet); zoftik (chubby); punim (face, often squeezed by your aunt when seeing you); chutzpah (nerve); bissel (a little); faklempt (mixed up). People often confuse schlemial with schlimozzel; here’s the difference: a schlemiel stupidly causes an accident; a schlimozzel is the victim. (A schlemiel spills soup all over a schlimozzel.)

What fun Yiddish words and phrases do you know? Submit to info@tiferethisrael.com, and watch next month’s issue of The Shofar for more Yiddishisms.