Litvaks are from Mars and …

John Gray’s book, Men are from Mars, Women from Venus was published in 1992 and now again has come in handy.

While back East, Sally and I were greatly benefitted by the Marriage Encounter program that helps couples have an even better marriage through dialog in a 10 and 10 activity. When we retired in 1984 and moved to Sunny California there was no convenient group nearby and the 10 and 10 soon ceased.

In 1991 the 7-year itch reared its ugly head and looking for a new challenge, Der Bay was born. The following year Gray’s book did wonders.

Now, in 2011 this book has brought new insights. As my sight fails, I’ve turned to talking books from BARD: Braille and Audio Reading Download.

This time the comparison between men and women, and Litvaks and Galitsianers came loud and clear. YIVO’s standard orthography and Weinreich’s dictionary are patterned after the northern Litvak dialect.

Men are problem solvers, speak less, and want to be alone when confronting problems. On the other hand women search for other women to “talk things out.”

The Galitsianer dialect is used in song and stage. These southerners are warm, homey folk unlike we aloof, intellectual, aristocratic Litvaks.

Of course there are exceptions--just like among men and women. I wish I were born a full "Galits" and not half-and-half.

Thank you John for the added insight the second time around.