Yiddish Word of the Day - "Losing"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

In Yiddish, the verbs for losing a game, losing your glasses and losing your way are all different.Today we get to learn the Yiddish word for losing and some of the words and expressions associated with loss.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Trains"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish words for trains.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Toys"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish words for toys and playthings.

Enjoy!

Today is Lag BaOmer - Here's a Yiddish Take on the Holiday

Today is Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the period between Pesach and Shavuot. Around the world, the day is celebrated mainly in Jewish schools with children going on picnics and hikes and playing with toy bows and arrows in the field. In Israel, schools are closed for two days.

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

Today we look at how the Lag BaOmer holiday and some of its features are described in the Yiddish language. 

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Head Coverings"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish words for the many different head coverings worn by Jewish men and women and an expression about a powerful person who lost his influence.

Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Day - "The Eulogy"

It's another Monday and time for another Joke to Start the Week. This week we're doing something a little bit different. We're sharing a joke told entirely in Yiddish, with English subtitles. 

It’s widely known that Eastern European Jews have a traditional, ironic brand of humor.

You can hear it clearly in this anecdote told by Ruth Kohn, a professional Yiddish translator and interpreter, at a talent show held at the annual “Yiddish Vokh” in Copake, NY. 

Here's the setup: Long ago in a shtetl, a man passed away, who happened to have been very nasty. No one liked him, he didn't have any family, was all alone in the world. But someone needs to eulogize him. And then...

Enjoy! 

8 Yiddish Words Israelis Don’t Even Know Are Yiddish

Tamar Meisels is an Orthodox Jewish wife and mother living in Israel. She is a mom of 4 children, working full time in data. She posts videos about values, Judaism, Israel, personal development, family tips and cooking. 

She has posted videos about the history of the Yiddish language. In this video Tamar focuses on eight Yiddish words that Israelis use every day, often assuming that they are Hebrew. But actually most of them have origins in Yiddish.

Enjoy! 

 

American Pop in Yiddish: Lea Kalisch Sings Elvis Presley's Hit "Can't Help Falling in Love"

Today we're sharing a Yiddish version of Elvis Presley's big hit "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You". It's sung by Lea Kalisch and with Rabbi Tobias Moss on guitar.

Lea Kalisch is a multi-genre multi-lingual singer, actor, dancer, skater, and producer. Some know her as the Eshet Chayil of Hip Hop. Tobias Moss is a rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, a musician on YouTube and busking on the streets, and a creator of digital content known as Rabbi T.

Enjoy!

Musical Showcase: Ludmila Shapira Sings ABBA's Pop Hit "The Winner Takes it All" in Yiddish

"The Winner Takes It All" was a major success for ABBA, hitting No. 1 in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa and the United Kingdom. It reached the Top 5 in Austria, Finland, France, West Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Zimbabwe. 

It peaked in the Top 10 in Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain and the United States (where it became ABBA's fourth and final American Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 8. The song spent 26 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, more than any other ABBA single).

The song was performed in many languages, so why not in Yiddish? Singer and song collector Ludmila Shapira took up the challenge and created a music video with Yiddish lyrics by Lenny Misikoff.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Cleaning"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish word for cleaning and lots of related expressions.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day - "The Fourth of July"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

On Friday we start a year of celebrating America's 250th anniversary, so let's see how to say the Fourth of July in Yiddish and learn a few expressions relating to the holiday.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Children"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish words for children and a few related proverbs.

Enjoy!

Musical Showcase: Riki Rose Sings Que Sera Sera -- in Yiddish!

Raised in the cloistered Satmar community of Williamsburg, Riki Rose left that world in her twenties, but didn’t abandon the Yiddish language that had permeated her environment since infancy. 

Within the past ten years she’s appeared in dozens of Yiddish comedies, cooking shows and concerts, gaining a loyal following on Instagram.

She recently posted a YouTube video of her singing Que Sera Sera in Yiddish.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day - "The Pope"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.
Today we get to learn the Yiddish word for the Pope and some of the words and expressions associated with his religion.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Feet"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish word for feet and lots of related expressions.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day: Comedian Modi Rosenfeld and Actress Mayim Bialk Bring us "Gehokte Tsuris"

Comedian Modi Rosenfeld and actress/blogger Mayim Bialik are very funny in their own right, but when they collaborate the fun just multiplies. Here they bring the Yiddish word tsuris up a notch by adding the adjective gehakte and give us the ultimate trouble -- gehokte tsuris.

Enjoy!

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Yiddish Word of the Day - "Hands"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish word for hands and lots of related expressions.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Phrase of the Day - "Oy a Broch!"

Rabbi Gavriel Bellino is a frequent guest on comedian Modi Rosenfeld's blog, "And Here's Modi." The blog is an inside look at the man behind the microphone. Hosted by Modi, And Here's Modi features a raw and unfiltered side of the comedian rarely seen on stage. 

A native of Lower Manhattan, Rabbi Bellino grew up attending the Young Israel of Fifth Avenue, and after graduating from Ramaz, studied at Yeshivat Shalavim outside of Yerushalayim before getting his degree in Psychology, Philosophy and Women’s Studies from Brandeis University. He pursued his smicha at RIETS before returning to his childhood community in 2006 to lead the Sixteenth Street Synagogue (formerly the Young Israel of Fifth Avenue).

In a recent episode he traced the origin and usage of the Yiddish term Oy, a Broch.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Disappointment"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish word for disappointment and some related expressions.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day: Ceasefires

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish word for ceasefires and some related expressions.

Enjoy!