Being a briv fraynd and having a Yiddish Pen Pal is simple. You merely register on Der Bay's homepage and you will receive at least ten people with whom you can correspond in Yiddish using the Yiddish/Hebrew oysyes or in transliteration. This can be in hardcopy through the mails or as e-mail.
There are over 460 men and women all over the world who are now corresponding and many for several years. You need to rate yourself as beginner, intermediate or advanced and let us know the proficiency of the person who whom you wish to write. These criteria along with your hobbies are the bases upon which you are matched.
Briv fraynd have been registered from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, S. Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay and the following states in the USA: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, and WI.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Using Yiddish to Fall Asleep
The advice for falling asleep is to do something that is repetitive like counting backwards by threes starting from 300. I used a variant by finding English words by using three-letter words ending with the letter “e”. Start with the middle letter constant and go through the alphabet changing the first letter. Then go back and do the next middle letter. Aae, abe, ace, ade , afe, age, … aze, then bae, bbe, bce, bde, bee, … bze.
Here’s how I use this technique in Yiddish to fall asleep. I take the prefixes and go through the alphabet by adding a word. For example, take “tsu” and add words that start with succeeding letter of the alphabet tsubeygn, tsugeyn, tsydekn, tsuhelfn, if you can’t think of a word skip it. Can you think of a word that starts with tsu plus one starting with a vov?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Kind un Kinder
In Yiddish “kind” and “kinder” are “child” and “children” respectively.
In English “kind” means “type or form” as well as meaning “considerate”. In English “kinder” means “more considerate”.
We are starting a list of words that are spelled exactly alike in Yiddish and English but have a different meaning. We know of words that are spelled the same and have the same meaning n English and Yiddish—examples are “fish” and “finger”.
Other examples of the same spelling with different meanings include: “yam,” “hunt,” and “grin”.
How about sending in your list of words that are spelled the same, but have a different meaning.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The IAYC Conference
The International Association of Yiddish Clubs (IAYC) is unique in that it has no paid staff and is run by a Board of Directors whose sole reimbursement is for the day before the conference when they meet to plan the activities and set policy until the following conference. They do not get reimbursed for travel or get any reduction in registration for the conference.
August 26-29, 2011 will be the 14th IAYC conference and will be held at the beautiful Sheraton Hotel in Novi, Michigan—an upscale suburb of Detroit.
Each year a Lifetime Yiddish Service Award is given. This year Anne Black will accept it for her late husband, Dr. Harold Black, who was the first IAYC president and co-chaired the first and sixth confernces.
The days are filled with attending lectures and workshops, presented by renowned men and women, browsing the vendor booths, and just shmuesing. For many, it is meeting old friends form past conferences.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Father's Day 2011
Father’s Day 2011
It’s amazing how significant the family is for humans and especially the parents. Everyone has exactly one of each sex, and their genetic transmission, partially determine our life and future. We place the highest importance on them. God and Time are referred to as, Father. Mother Earth and Mother Nature are the Mama equivalents.
As a former farmer I am constantly surprised at how we treat our letter F the sweet little fey. Notice that both Father and Family are on the highest level and yet when it comes to marks in school, we give it the lowest level. Perhaps we should reverse the order and made A failure instead of Excellent. Why should B be Good, C be Fair and D Poor? F is considered so low that we even skip the letter E to show that it is way down.
Father’s Day should be the day that dad, papa, pa, pop, foter or tate has the opportunity to thank and be thankful that he was able to play that role. Not every man is a father and not every father is worthy of that title.
If you are reading this post today, make an extra effort to give that title the respect it deserves. There is time to make amends for your shortcoming as a Father. Father’s Day is the day you should be giving the gifts and not receiving it. You have already received the greatest gift that He can give you, a child or children.
Friday, June 17, 2011
A Typical Day
What is your typical day like? It should be what is the typical day I’d like to have. Something either is broken and needs attention, someone calls and needs a favor, a health problem rears its ugly head and needs attention, and you can add yours. The only thing that is regular is my bedtime, in and out. These are 5:30-6:00am and 9:30-10pm. Naptime is about 2pm for half and hour when I can, usually 3-4 times a week.
Mornings start with phone calls. Since the East is 3 hours earlier, I call my time up to 6:30am, Midwest up to 7am. I have very few Mountain states calls. Sally and I take our blood pressure, pills and a glass of juice and a glass of water. About 3 times a week we go to the gym for an hour and come home for breakfast.
Computer time takes about 6-7 hours a day. There are the emails, to read and answer, articles for Der Bay, updating Der Kalendar on the website, working on the upcoming Yiddish Club conference, writing the blog, researching on Wikipedia, and working on the databases.
Being visually impaired means that I spend a substantial time on SMCCB activities, for I’m pres of this county chapter, and take care of the website.
Since Sally has become very active at our shul, naturally it means that I am her support staff on the computer and helping each week with preparing the very elaborate Kiddush.
We have a mixed blessing. Since all of our children and grandchildren are in NJ and FL we do no babysitting, go to no school plays, do not watch them play in ballgames, do not help them with homework, and do not celebrate holidays together. Since we have all of this free time we can do other things. That is why I call it a mixed blessing.
Wednesday night is the highlight of my week. That’s when we have Yiddish class in our home. There is a very remarkable group of men and women sitting around our kitchen table reading Yiddish articles, stories, etc. Class always starts with a short session of getting caught up with the unusual things that happened to us or in the news.
Stop and think of your days. Are you taking your retirement plans seriously? Are your hobbies an important part of your day? Do you sit around watching TV and putting on weight? Whatever it is, I hope you are enjoying it. My early retirement meant that we could come out to sunny California and I can go from hobby to hobby enjoying myself. These have been the best years of my life. Many wonderful friends and a few wonderful acquaintances.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Good Old Days
Thank you Boris for taking me back to those so-called “good old days”.
Hand Me Downs (HMDs)
Children today think that HMDs are things taken from an upper shelf. On the other hand we Depression babies knew these were clothes that had been worn by our older brothers/sisters.
The unfortunate children were the ones where brothers wore items of their older sisters. One case comes especially to mind where a friend was given his older sister’s red rubber boots. Boys would use only brown or black. My friend had to leave the house wearing the red boots, but took them off when he got around the corner. His shoes and socks were always soaking wet. He wouldn’t stand the embarrassment from the older boys of ever wearing those red girl’s boots. He hid them in his lunch bag.
When we had a hole in the sole of our shoes, we slid in a piece of cardboard. And when that wore out, we just put in another one. Today the children just toss their tennis shoes and get another hundred-dollar pair.
In those days having your own bed was a luxury and your own bedroom was only for rich people. Even only two in a bed was considered good. What do kids today know about sleeping tsu fusns? I still can remember being awakened at night by a kick. The worst part was when one of the twins did not have his toenails cut!
Mama’s rule of the house was, “If you put it on your plate, you finish it.” Your plate was always empty at the end. If a slice of bread fell on the floor, you brushed it off kissed it and ate it. If you did that, supposedly G-d took care of the germs.
Mama always sewed the holes in socks. Today, ladies and gentlemen do you remember the last time you did it?
Remember when there were very few parts of the chicken that weren’t eaten? The neck, gizzard, (pupik) liver, heart, feet, wings, shmalts, and little yolks were all eaten.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Glatt, Glatt Kosher Eggs
In 1937 Papa bought a chicken farm in New Jersey for $5,000 and put $500 down. It had been empty all along during the Depression. After WWII he also sold real estate to "refugees" who came over and could not speak English. The Jewish Agricultural Society and HIAS financed them. Many did not last long, but there was one very enterprising fellow that had an egg route in New York.
We were selling eggs for 40 cents a dozen and he got 80 cents for kosher eggs. Since all commercial eggs are candled, not having a blood spot was normal for the trade. What made the eggs kosher was that they were not handled on shabes. That means the eggs were not gathered, cleaned, packed, transported, or sold on shabes.
For $1.20 you could have Glatt Kosher eggs. The explanation given was that chicken feed contains both powdered milk and meat scraps. The feed chickens eat is transformed into the eggs and that makes them treyf. So these chickens were fed only powdered milk.
For $1.60 you got Glatt, Glatt Kosher eggs, the top of the line. The meat scraps fed came from kosher meat.
I have long since left the farm in New Jersey and have no contacts in the New York ultra religious community. Whether this enterprising marketer has expanded or is out of business is beyond my knowledge. Perhaps someone who is currently knowledgeable can help us out.
We were selling eggs for 40 cents a dozen and he got 80 cents for kosher eggs. Since all commercial eggs are candled, not having a blood spot was normal for the trade. What made the eggs kosher was that they were not handled on shabes. That means the eggs were not gathered, cleaned, packed, transported, or sold on shabes.
For $1.20 you could have Glatt Kosher eggs. The explanation given was that chicken feed contains both powdered milk and meat scraps. The feed chickens eat is transformed into the eggs and that makes them treyf. So these chickens were fed only powdered milk.
For $1.60 you got Glatt, Glatt Kosher eggs, the top of the line. The meat scraps fed came from kosher meat.
I have long since left the farm in New Jersey and have no contacts in the New York ultra religious community. Whether this enterprising marketer has expanded or is out of business is beyond my knowledge. Perhaps someone who is currently knowledgeable can help us out.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Yiddish Storytelling
All stories and storytelling have many commonalities. They have a beginning middle and an end. This differentiates them from news reports and coverages of events.
Yiddish storytelling like all other ethnic groups is unique because of the experiences and culture they have had and continue to have.
Fishl's becoming a storyteller was predestined and his developing his style of storytelling was determined when three children were born 20 months and then 19 months apart. Putting them to bed necessitated a story. Like magic the style came when each child wanted to hear a story about another object. Each evening they changed. The range went from a fly, the eye of a needle, and a sleepy town that was on the edge of stream on the bend of a mountain; to the hair on a Shirley Temple doll, a mezuze and a crater on the moon.
Naturally as the children grew up, their requests became more bizarre.No longer does Fishl tell stories to his own children or grown grandchildren. Now as I step in and out of the Fishl-role, the stories are of people and places in the Yiddish World.
Friends tell stories--be my friend--tell me a story--it'll be in Der Bay.
Yiddish storytelling like all other ethnic groups is unique because of the experiences and culture they have had and continue to have.
Fishl's becoming a storyteller was predestined and his developing his style of storytelling was determined when three children were born 20 months and then 19 months apart. Putting them to bed necessitated a story. Like magic the style came when each child wanted to hear a story about another object. Each evening they changed. The range went from a fly, the eye of a needle, and a sleepy town that was on the edge of stream on the bend of a mountain; to the hair on a Shirley Temple doll, a mezuze and a crater on the moon.
Naturally as the children grew up, their requests became more bizarre.No longer does Fishl tell stories to his own children or grown grandchildren. Now as I step in and out of the Fishl-role, the stories are of people and places in the Yiddish World.
Friends tell stories--be my friend--tell me a story--it'll be in Der Bay.
Friday, June 10, 2011
How Do You Start a Yiddish Club?
I have been asked this question at every IAYC conference. Once you ask the question, you are half the way there. It means that you are interested in being part of a group that is not nearby or to your taste. Thus interest is the first requisite and you have it.
Second, you ask the same questions that a good news reporter does in his first paragraph. You answer the what, where, when, who, why, and how.
WHAT – A Yiddish club (that was easyJ)
WHERE – Here are some suggestions; JCC, Temple, Senior Center, Rec. Center, Clubhouse, Retirement home, or your home as a last resort.
WHEN – Whenever it is best for you. Get the word out for those who are interested but can’t make it at that time and ask them when they can make it.
WHO – Anyone interested in Yiddish culture or language.
WHY – Because you are interested.
HOW – This is the most important and really the question of today’s topic. Once you have a place and have decided the day and time, getting the word out successfully has much to do with your initial success. Plan something special for your first meeting. It could be a musician, entertainer, lecturer, etc. Use free publicity. Get the announcement in local papers, on bulletin boards and make calls to people whom you know and may be interested. Ask them for names of others who may be interested. That is how I started Der Bay 20 years ago.
Depending on the makeup of the group and your interest, you will determine if it will be a shmueskrayz, leyenkrayz or even a shraybcrayz. Don’t fall into the trap of your doing all the work from then on.
Finally, Der Bay has excellent material for Yiddish programs and you will then wish to have the group join the IAYC, International Association of Yiddish Clubs. Good luck and send in the info for listing in Der Bay—it’s free.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Yiddish: Basic Merchandising and Marketing
Often I am asked to help/advise on the release of a CD. DVD or book. For those like Yale Strom who is a professional at it, like Zalmen Mlotek, Zachery Berger, or Miriam Koral, etc. this is old hat.
Let's start with defining merchandising and marketing. Stop at this point and come up with your definition.
These words come from the roots merchandise and market. Thus merchandising can be thought of as everything one does in preparing the product for the market. Usually when someone comes to me they have the item already finished or nearly so. It is for the "selling" part that they want help/advice.
At this point I tell the story of what it was like dating when I was a youngster. Usually boys and girls went to dances separately. What the girls did at home preparing their hair, makeup, perfume, stockings and high heels was merchandising. When they got to the dance, the girls sat in chairs along the wall and a boy walked along and chose the girl as if he were at the library looking at a line of books. All he could see was the spine of the book--nothing about the contents. The girl that crossed her legs, smiled, and pulled her skirt a quarter of an inch above the knee was marketing. Sad to say that today girls often call boys for dates, may pay their own way, or even pay for his.
Look at the title--Yiddish: Basic Merchandising and Marketing. YBM&M 101 will come in the near future.
Let's start with defining merchandising and marketing. Stop at this point and come up with your definition.
These words come from the roots merchandise and market. Thus merchandising can be thought of as everything one does in preparing the product for the market. Usually when someone comes to me they have the item already finished or nearly so. It is for the "selling" part that they want help/advice.
At this point I tell the story of what it was like dating when I was a youngster. Usually boys and girls went to dances separately. What the girls did at home preparing their hair, makeup, perfume, stockings and high heels was merchandising. When they got to the dance, the girls sat in chairs along the wall and a boy walked along and chose the girl as if he were at the library looking at a line of books. All he could see was the spine of the book--nothing about the contents. The girl that crossed her legs, smiled, and pulled her skirt a quarter of an inch above the knee was marketing. Sad to say that today girls often call boys for dates, may pay their own way, or even pay for his.
Look at the title--Yiddish: Basic Merchandising and Marketing. YBM&M 101 will come in the near future.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Only One Yiddish Choice
Often I am asked to make a recommendation and the inquirer wants only one answer—the best one. Unfortunately the correct reply is, “It depends,” and often it is a personal preference. So here are my replies with the caveat that in several cases there is more than one answer. It would be interesting to have your opinion--if it is different than the one given below. If enough replies come in, There may be an article with the tally in Der Bay’s hardcopy and also in the abbreviated edition online.
Beginner’s Yiddish Textbook – Weinreich’s College Yiddish
Yiddish Books Online –http://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/books/search
Yiddish Dictionary – Weinreich’s Modern Eng.-Yid., Yid.-Eng. Dictionary
Klezmer Bands – Ari Davidow’s Klezmer Shack http://www.klezmershack.com/
Yiddish Newspaper – Forverts - http://yiddish.forward.com/
Online Information – Mendele - http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/mendele
Yiddish Pen Pal – Der Bay - http://www.derbay.org/penpal.html
Yiddish Research – YIVO - http://www.yivoinstitute.org/
Song Information – Freedman Archives - http://sceti.library.upenn.edu/freedman/
Theater – National Yiddish Theater: Folksbiene - http://www.folksbiene.org/
Yiddish Club/Event – Der Bay - http://www.derbay.org/calendars/kalendar.html
Please let me know if you disagree with my first choice. I appreciate your answer. It would be great if you told me why your choice has more merit.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Yiddish and Disabled
Today the physically disabled folks have many opportunities to partake in activities within the general society. The computer has opened avenues to be part of the mainstream despite of a physical disability. On Der Bay's Yiddish website the link is: http://www.derbay.org/disabled.html
The links and information are for the visually impaired and the hard of hearing. Being politically correct means that the words we used growing up are not in vogue. I guess I'm a little old-fashioned, but I must say some of them are more favorable.
Yesterday I heard a good one. Instead of Low Income Housing, the news term is Affordable Housing. Everyone wants to live within one's means, so I guess that is a good one. A tough one is a HUMAN. We don’t want to say huwoman and I don’t think a huperson is any better.
The links and information are for the visually impaired and the hard of hearing. Being politically correct means that the words we used growing up are not in vogue. I guess I'm a little old-fashioned, but I must say some of them are more favorable.
Yesterday I heard a good one. Instead of Low Income Housing, the news term is Affordable Housing. Everyone wants to live within one's means, so I guess that is a good one. A tough one is a HUMAN. We don’t want to say huwoman and I don’t think a huperson is any better.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Blog Announced
Today's the day. After a week of seeing if I would spend the time to write each night about the day's happenings, I am up to it. So out went the announcement to the online subscribers to the abbreviated edition to Der Bay and also to my Facebookers.
Because I am legally blind the amount of reading hardcopy books is nil. They do not have the sharp contrast of a monitor screen. So I download books from the National Library Service onto the digital player and listen to it. Huffington's book on blogging helped me get started.
Troim Handler called and we finished the last proofing of Harry Kamel's stories. Tomorrow I'll take them to the printer along with the cover letters and the other IAYC materials.
Because I am legally blind the amount of reading hardcopy books is nil. They do not have the sharp contrast of a monitor screen. So I download books from the National Library Service onto the digital player and listen to it. Huffington's book on blogging helped me get started.
Troim Handler called and we finished the last proofing of Harry Kamel's stories. Tomorrow I'll take them to the printer along with the cover letters and the other IAYC materials.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Jerry Kane
Jerry Kane of Toronto skyped me a short while ago and after getting caught up on news since the last time we spoke, he told me about his Yiddish column for the Canadian Jewish News. To my knowledge it's the only Yiddish column in Canada. He said it is 375-400 words and goes under the name of Yiddish Vinkl.
I mentioned that while I have contacts for The Yiddish Network in 17 major cities in Canada, I have never been able to get someone for Quebec city. He mentioned that most of the Jews remaining there are Sephardic because they are French-speaking more so than English.
I commented on his wearing shleykes (suspenders), because I also do. When it's father's day or my birthday, Debbie buys me another pair. I now have both the wide and narrow styles along with the brown, tan, and black. It is great going through the airports, for the kind she gets has plastic and not metal so they do not have to be removed when I go through the line.
Look for one of Kane's articles in a future issue of Der Bay.
I mentioned that while I have contacts for The Yiddish Network in 17 major cities in Canada, I have never been able to get someone for Quebec city. He mentioned that most of the Jews remaining there are Sephardic because they are French-speaking more so than English.
I commented on his wearing shleykes (suspenders), because I also do. When it's father's day or my birthday, Debbie buys me another pair. I now have both the wide and narrow styles along with the brown, tan, and black. It is great going through the airports, for the kind she gets has plastic and not metal so they do not have to be removed when I go through the line.
Look for one of Kane's articles in a future issue of Der Bay.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Speaking on Skype
Skype is the greatest. I have only recently started to expand my skyping to include more than just my immediate family. I need to tilt my monitor so that the top is more toward me to have a better reception at the other end. It is amazing how important the background is to make it even more enjoyable. On my back wall in the office there is a Fiddler on the Roof picture that was used as a billboard for a 1994 play in Mountain View, CA.
Today I spoke with Alva Dworkin. She is publishing an unusual book that will be ready for her presentation at the IAYC conference in Novi, MI in August. Another one of these stories will be published in Der Bay in the Fall.
Boris Kopit of Rochester, NY is sending a few of his many Yiddish sayings that he has collected over the years. He has them in English, and transliteration as well as the etymology of the words. Boris is remarkable and spends quite a bit of time in Costa Rico. When he is in Rochester, he works in his business doing upholstery. Der tupitser is the Yiddish term for the upholsterer. I did not know that. Thanks Boris!
Today I spoke with Alva Dworkin. She is publishing an unusual book that will be ready for her presentation at the IAYC conference in Novi, MI in August. Another one of these stories will be published in Der Bay in the Fall.
Boris Kopit of Rochester, NY is sending a few of his many Yiddish sayings that he has collected over the years. He has them in English, and transliteration as well as the etymology of the words. Boris is remarkable and spends quite a bit of time in Costa Rico. When he is in Rochester, he works in his business doing upholstery. Der tupitser is the Yiddish term for the upholsterer. I did not know that. Thanks Boris!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Harry Kamel
Going to the gym first thing in the morning continues to be our routine when we both are feeling well. It is great because it means being able to meet people who are far different than my normal daily contacts.
Troim Handler's friend Harry Kamel has written wonderful accounts of his days in Europe pre WWII. Troim has transliterated them and along with Harry's own English translation, we shall send them to the IAYC member clubs. Three times a year Troim prepares material that I send out to the clubs. These items make excellent material for club programs.
Contributions supporting Der Bay's hardcopy were light last month, but today we heard from Celia Gordon, Toronto, Canada; Dr. Kronenberg, Everson, WA; Maurice Rosenthal, Los Ranchos, NM; and Helen and Meyer Zaremba, Delray Beach, FL. Thank you!
While the suggested contributions have remained at chai ever since Der Bay' founding, January, 1991, our wonderful readers have added a little extra so it is working out. Any amount sent in is fine and a few send what they can afford--sometimes only ten dollars.
The hardcopy list has remained fairly level, but the free online abbreviated edition still is growing robustly--especially the overseas group. Anyone can signup for the free edition at the homepage, http://www.derbay.org
You can get a briv fraynd (pen pal) by registering at http://www.derbay.org/penpal.html
Troim Handler's friend Harry Kamel has written wonderful accounts of his days in Europe pre WWII. Troim has transliterated them and along with Harry's own English translation, we shall send them to the IAYC member clubs. Three times a year Troim prepares material that I send out to the clubs. These items make excellent material for club programs.
Contributions supporting Der Bay's hardcopy were light last month, but today we heard from Celia Gordon, Toronto, Canada; Dr. Kronenberg, Everson, WA; Maurice Rosenthal, Los Ranchos, NM; and Helen and Meyer Zaremba, Delray Beach, FL. Thank you!
While the suggested contributions have remained at chai ever since Der Bay' founding, January, 1991, our wonderful readers have added a little extra so it is working out. Any amount sent in is fine and a few send what they can afford--sometimes only ten dollars.
The hardcopy list has remained fairly level, but the free online abbreviated edition still is growing robustly--especially the overseas group. Anyone can signup for the free edition at the homepage, http://www.derbay.org
You can get a briv fraynd (pen pal) by registering at http://www.derbay.org/penpal.html
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Harvey Gotliffe
One of the marvelous rewards of being involved in the Yiddish community worldwide is the opportunity to have contact with some remarkable folks. Here is my newest friend. He Happens to live only an hour or so away and we'll be meeting for the first time this Saturday.
Here are some links Harvey sent showing his wonderful work. He will be gong to Vienna next month to represent the US in the European Maccabi games in table tennis.
One good blog deserves another so here is the link to my blog:
Ho-Ho-Kus Cogitator Blog: http://theho-ho-kuscogitator.
I am also including a link to my writing on the Huffington Post at:
Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
To fill your "spare time," here is the link to the article I wrote in The Jewish
Magazine on our friend Chayale Ash:
http://www.jewishmag.com/
In future posts you'll read about more of these unusual people interested in Yiddish.
Here are some links Harvey sent showing his wonderful work. He will be gong to Vienna next month to represent the US in the European Maccabi games in table tennis.
One good blog deserves another so here is the link to my blog:
Ho-Ho-Kus Cogitator Blog: http://theho-ho-kuscogitator.
I am also including a link to my writing on the Huffington Post at:
Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
To fill your "spare time," here is the link to the article I wrote in The Jewish
Magazine on our friend Chayale Ash:
http://www.jewishmag.com/
In future posts you'll read about more of these unusual people interested in Yiddish.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Yiddish Class
Every Wednesday is Yiddish class in my home. We sit around the kitchen table from 7pm until 8:30pm, but seldom do we finish by then. First there is all the news of what special things happened to us during the week. Mostly we read in Yiddish and really find the Forverts, Vayter, about the right level for us. The group of men and women are about as high an education level as you will find in a heterogeneous group. Because we have an Israeli and a German speaker, the unusual words often are known. Otherwise we resort to Weinreich's Dictionary.
Another activity that you will read more about in the coming days is my helping Jim McGovern write his memoirs. Jim is a dear friend and has led a remarkable life. Twelve years ago he lost his two and a half year old grandson to Megakaryoblastic Leukemia--a very rare form of Leukemia. The survival rate was 4% at that time. After being depressed for 3 years he decided to raise money for Leukemia research. His remarkable success is part of the book of this self-made man.
Another activity that you will read more about in the coming days is my helping Jim McGovern write his memoirs. Jim is a dear friend and has led a remarkable life. Twelve years ago he lost his two and a half year old grandson to Megakaryoblastic Leukemia--a very rare form of Leukemia. The survival rate was 4% at that time. After being depressed for 3 years he decided to raise money for Leukemia research. His remarkable success is part of the book of this self-made man.
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