(This post was written before today’s attack on Israel by Hamas. I have no words, except to say that I’m sending love and prayers to family, friends, teachers and classmates in Israel right now. I will leave it to politicians and journalists to describe what is happening on the ground, but I decided to post this essay, about the joy of teaching Judaism to Jewish children, because that joy is a big part of what keeps me going and I hope it helps others too.)
This year for my synagogue school elective, I’m teaching Yiddish, sort of. More like I’m teaching the kids some of the Yiddish words that have become popular among American Jews, so they can feel like they are part of the club when people around them are kvetching (complaining, whining) and kibbitzing (chatting, gossiping) and kvelling (expressing great pleasure and pride in someone else’s achievements) over a nosh (a snack) of bagels and lox.
The hardest part of planning the class was trying to limit the number of words I would teach them. I mean, you have to do verklempt (choked up with emotion) and schlep (drag something, or drag yourself somewhere) and chutzpah, but how can you leave out farshtunkene (stinking, rotten, contemptible) or bupkes (nothing, literally “goat droppings”)?
At first, I thought I would use video clips of famous comedy routines or movie scenes to help them get a feel for how the words are said, but most of the clips were way too grown up in content, or so chock full of Yiddish words that the kids would have been overwhelmed. So I decided to go with theme days, and have the kids tell their own stories using Yiddish words on that theme. For Chutzpah Day, I decided to leave it at just the one word, because everyone has chutzpah stories: times when they had the chutzpah to speak up or take action, times when they didn’t have the chutzpah to do something they wanted to do, and plenty of times when someone else had the chutzpah to do something crazy nearby. And for Oy Vey Day, of course, we start with Oy Vey, the classic expression of dismay and then plotz (exploding or fainting with emotion) and shpilkes (restlessness, or “sitting on pins”), which pretty much every child in synagogue school experiences everyday.
But I started with Kvetch Day, because I knew the kids would have a ton of complaints that they needed to get out, and the chance to vent, while saying funny words that make you spit or cough, is priceless. They go through so much tzuris (troubles, worries, suffering) in their daily lives, and there are so many times when brothers or sisters are nudniks, interfering with games or bothering them endlessly, and of course when your friend gets a new iPhone for Hanukah and you get socks, which is worse than bupkes, it stings.
My own adventures in Yiddish have been meaningful to me, which is why I wanted to bring it to the kids, at least in a lighthearted way. The language itself is a history of where Jews lived over a thousand years, picking up new words from each new town and city they lived in, a lot from medieval German, but also from Polish and Russian, and plenty from Hebrew itself.
I wish I knew more about Ladino, the language of Jews from the Iberian Peninsula, who had to leave during and after the Spanish Inquisition. Ladino is based on an old version of Spanish, mixed with Hebrew, and just like Yiddish, picked up words as the people who spoke it traveled to new homes in Amsterdam, and South America and the Ottoman Empire, again with Hebrew laced through it like the blue thread woven through the tzitzit.
There are so many other Jewish languages, from all the different places where Jews have lived, because the Hebrew from prayer and study bled into the language of the market place automatically as they lived their daily lives.
We’re living through a period, now, where diversity is celebrated, and it’s ok, with most people, that Jews often maintain their own customs and languages as well as becoming full-fledged members of the communities where they live. But historically, that wasn’t the case. Even when Jewish separateness was enforced by the local governments, keeping Jews out of certain neighborhoods and professions, it still bothered the locals that the Jews had their own ways of living, and their own languages in which to do it, because you never knew what they were saying to each other.
But right now, when everyone is allowed to celebrate their unique cultures, of food and music and language and fashion, Jews are feeling freer to celebrate it too, and to celebrate all of the different cultures that have been woven through Judaism over the millennia. There are tons of cookbooks for Jewish foods from the Middle East and Eastern Europe and South America and North America, and Jewish families on Long Island are eating foods from Morocco and Jamaica and Russia and Ethiopia at their Passover Seders, as a way to honor the diversity of the Jewish people, and because they’re really yummy.
What I want most for my students is that they will gradually grow their idea of what it means to be Jewish, so they aren’t limited to what they see in their own communities on Long Island, but can also see that Judaism has existed and transformed over and over again in a million different forms, and therefore there will always be room for them to bring their own unique ideas to the table. And I want them to know that their own stories are just as important as Abraham and Isaac and Jacob’s and Tevye and Herzl and Golda’s. I especially want them to know that the Jewish people have always been complainers, and have grown and changed and lived good and interesting lives as a result of having their say. I want them to know that their voices are to be celebrated and heard, no matter how much phlegm they cough up along the way.
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my Young Adult novel, Yeshiva Girl, on Amazon. And if you feel called to write a review of the book, on Amazon, or anywhere else, I’d be honored.
Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
My heart joins yours in grief tonight. I only know one family in Israel, but I grieve with all the others, especially the children attacked in their own homes today.
The more I hear the more frightened I get.
You’ve got excellent ideas about how to teach the kids.
I didn’t have the news on all day, and this is the first I heard about the new war. I am so sorry for all the lives already lost, the terrible injuries, and people being taken hostage. It’s a horrible thing. I believe the U.S. will aid the Israelis if needed.
I wish it wasn’t needed, but the support will help.
Thank you for this insightful Yiddish lesson for your readers’ enjoyment. I knew only a few of these words. Now I know more of them; plus you included some background for our edification.
Thanks for reading. Half the fun is hearing the kids practice the words.
Praying for Israel 🙏😭💔
Rachel, the method you have used sounds like it is effective in teaching and helping your student learn and understand the meaning of each word you choose for a theme day. 😊
I hope so!
Pretty and I have been devastated by the news today, too.
While we don’t have the close ties to Israel as you do, we find it more personal now that our granddaughters attend a Jewish day school here in Columbia. I will never understand the rationale for killing people on any level, anywhere. One of Ella’s best friend’s name is Shalom. He is in her class, but she also knows his older brothers and his father who picks them up from school when we pick up our granddaughters. We feel a kinship to them, smiles of recognition of the closeness of the children. We have no words except let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with us.
Shalom, what a wonderful name!
Oh, Rachel, this is such a wonderful post and I want to congratulate you on coming up with a way to engage your students in learning “everyday” Yiddish. I’m sorry the attack of Hamas on Israel casts a pall on the day and going forward. Please take good care of yourself and your loved ones.
Thank you!!!
I love how you’ve chosen to teach Yiddish to the children. It makes it so fun and interesting! And I too am grieving over today’s news.
I wish I knew some Ladino, because a lot of my students are either learning Spanish or speak it at home and it would be great to tie it to Spanish speaking Jews. I love how languages can help us time travel.
Thank you for this. After this day of heart-broken prayer you bring life and joy.
Thank you so much!
Such a wonderful post exploring the resilience of the people as they survived the world on a sad day that needs more than just a lift. You may have written it days ago yet somehow it fits and makes today better
Thank you so much!
There were quite a few Jewish families near where my father grew up. He spoke Yiddish along with the kids.
I love that!
Thanks for the lesson Rachel. Sorry about family in Israel 🤗🤍
Thank you!
The attack on Israel and Israeli civilians was horrible, shocking and cruel. What a dark day. I am sorry about the family, friends, and classmates you may have there and I hope they are all safe.
Thank you for the interesting reading and the beautiful dog pictures. “Every day is a Kvetch day” with cricket looking sad is very cute.
Thank you!
We have a number of Jewish friends, several of them returned from Israel a few weeks ago. I am so sorry for the attack today. I hope your friends are family are safe.
Thank you!
Rachel, if you would like me to connect you with someone who has Ladino ties and has written a book, maybe two, for young children, I’d be happy to make an introduction.
The news out of Israel is beyond upsetting and I haven’t heard from my daughter yet who was spending the holidays with her friend whose parents and other relatives all live in Israel. I’m not sure if they would have broken Shobbos but I messaged after and still haven’t heard back. I love the Yiddish lessons, I’m too tired to say more now, but I’m happy to follow up on the Ladino this week if you would like to.
I only realized this morning that Orthodox Jews in the US are still in holiday mode – not watching tv or getting phone calls. I’d forgotten that Israeli and liberal American Jews finish the holiday a day earlier. I’m sure some information has gotten through, I can’t imagine the pain of not knowing what’s happening to family and yet feeling obligated to stay out of touch.
I’d love the titles of ladino children’s books! That would be wonderful!
Yes, I usually don’t worry when I haven’t heard from her because I know they go off the grid for holidays I don’t observe and she lets me know when she’s back in touch. To be clear, I know my daughter is safe. I just want to know that her friends are safe too. As one woman in Israel wrote yesterday in a Facebook group I’m in, “We are alive but we are not okay.” She continued, describing several personal and local details and ended with the same sentence she began with. So painful.
The one book I can remember, a board book is MAZEL BUENO and here is the author’s website. She’s also a singer.
I don’t think they’re going to be okay for a while.
https://saraharoeste.com/?fbclid=IwAR1Oh0ySKerCeZ7Ou-J6XwvOI2BWdRp6XgApa7EQZF-11ZD4H42GUO4cquY_aem_AXKOxnGOOXFfVNTfTq8nkR92XDhPzg_bfNrOS0GVBiyMvmSx3HW_5hLtK2gXx-xzX7M
So sorry to hear, Rachel.
Thank you!
What a wonderful objective for your lucky students.
Thank you!
You’re very welcome Rachel
Rachel, I’m glad you decided to post this life-affirming essay against the backdrop of the tragic events. Humor is such a vital component of culture and is a weapon against tyranny. You’ve used it beautifully here. Thank you!
Thank you so much!
I add my prayers to your for all those people killed. How very sad. As far as your students go,I believe they are very lucky to have you. You clearly have a good grasp on what they would like to learn and have fun doing so. Good job!
Thank you!
You are most welcome!
Thank you for continuing to ensure the life of the beautiful Yiddish language. Our ancestors are qvelling! Prayers and strength to all our brothers and sisters in Israel 💔
Thank you!!!
If only prayers could resolve this ongoing crisis. So many lives lost. So much hatred & mistrust on both sides. So many tears shed for the innocent dead.
May God keep His hand of protection on Israel. ❤
Beyond tragic, the attacks.
Absolutely.
You’ve brought a sunbeam of joy to a day fraught with sadness.
Thank you!
Your discussion of Ladino had me wondering yet again why Jews should be expulsed from anywhere. But then I don’t understand anti-Semitism and don’t want to (well, maybe academically). It seems to me that Jewish groups in a town or wherever are good for cohesion all around. But I’ve also thought that Jews are often targets for success. For being successful. Evil-minded people eye assets of others and may consider how to steal these assets. But in these attempts, I think everyone must suffer and so should stick together. And how naive am I? I enjoy the Yiddish words you share here. I was reminded of how many Yiddish words I know as well as how many I do not. I, too, wrote something else and posted without saying much about the attacks in Israel. It’s awful, how many Israelis dead or hurt and now hundreds of Palestinians. Frankly, I think there are many real people there and elsewhere who would simply like to live and have everyone have the chance to live. For now, what Hamas has done is horrible. The killing and inciting war. If I’ve said anything hard or stupid, then I apologize. (Cookie may bite me.) I hope your family and friends are all right. And you be well as well.
Thank you!
Rachel, I had a reply to your great post here, but my reply, I must say has mixed feeling on the subject and became too long trying to put understanding into thought so I put it elsewhere. The one word I do have would be “rachamim”~! AND YOU CAN SEE MY THOUGHTS HERE,
What a great way to teach the kids Yiddish: start with expressions that have found their way into American dialect. Sounds like fun.
Thank you!
wild you wrote this before🙏🏼🙏🏼 the war broke out. All I can say is oye vey to it all…”And for Oy Vey Day, of course, we start with Oy Vey, the classic expression of dismay and then plotz (exploding or fainting with emotion) and shpilkes (restlessness, or “sitting on pins”), ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼
It’s a lovely, joyful post and very interesting.
Thank you!
Beautiful peace. God bless your teaching.
Thank you so much!
So sad what happened in Israel. Just to tell you how close we could be to war and how fragile lives could be. Pray your family, friends are out of harm’s way.
Thank you!
In your opinion Rachel, what would be an honorable way to help the Jewish cause now in view of the recent Hamas attack?
Other than sharing compassion and concern for the victims of the Hamas attacks, my synagogue sent out a list of reccomended places for monetary donations, if that helps: The UJA Israel Emergency Fund; Hadassah Medical Center; Israel Democracy HQ; The New Israel Fund.
thank you for liking my cheddar crackers. I remember your posts and comments from a year or so ago, and they were very good! I hope your life is okay mostly, except for the terrible things in Israel! Best, Marilyn Raff
Thank you!
My 2nd husband (my children’s father) was Jewish. His mother was originally from Hungary and lost most of her family during WWII. After the war, the only survivors of her extended family (which was quite large) were her brother and her (they had moved to the US). They had scoured the records to find out what happened to them. Most went to concentration camps and were never heard from again. She used almost all the yiddish words you mentioned.
The mixture of joy and despair built into Yiddish is a big part of its power.
It is sad to see how Hamas has “repaid” Israel for supplying water and electricity to Gaza by staging an attack that took them 2 years to plan. The PR videos by Hamas (“caring” for Israeli children whose parents they killed, “mourning” the death of a little girl, etc.) are nothing more than attempts to play on Western sympathy and keep other countries from helping Israel. A few strategists say this is the beginning of WWIII. There are enough nuclear weapons to wipe out everything but mosquitoes and roaches.
Love your dedicated days idea, Rachel! My best friend in high school was Jewish and I grew very close to family. As a result, I picked up an affection for Yiddish words (as well as kosher food) back then, and have never lost it.
Praying for the situation in Israel.
Love your dedicated days idea, Rachel! My best friend in high school was Jewish and I grew very close to family. As a result, I picked up an affection for Yiddish words (as well as kosher food) back then, and have never lost it.
Praying for the situation in Israel.
Thank you!
This is informative post for me. Hamas attack was heinous and condemnable. My thoughts and prayers are with Israeli people.
Thank you so much!