Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 4.331 February 21, 1995 1) Rogelakh (Meyshe-Yankl Sweet) 2) Marketing Yiddish (Leybl Botvinik) 3) Expanded definition of mentsh (Joel Zumoff) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 19 Feb 95 22:31:58 CST From: msweet@facstaff.wisc.edu Subject: Rogelakh I know this was discussed not too long ago, but can't find it in my Mendele files, so--could someone remind me of the etymology of "rog," in rogelakh. Also, whence the --lakh diminutive plural ending? Slavic or what? Thanks in advance. Meyshe-Yankl Sweet 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 20 Feb 95 23:48:56 IST From: leybl@telecomm.tadiran.co.il Subject: Marketing Yiddish :: farkoyfn yidish fraynt yoysef sherman bet hilf vegn 'farkoyfn yidish'. ikh vil oykh helfn, un derbay ibergebn etlekhe interesante yedies far undzere khaveyrim. Mr Joseph Sherman asked about ideas for 'marketing Yiddish'. We've heard many excellent reasons from some of our mendele subscribers. I'd like to add some information for Mr. Sherman's PR work which might be useful: * In Israel, Yiddish is recognized by the Ministry of Education as a language which may be studied for high school matriculation. There are now 55 schools offering Yiddish to about 3000 students at the elementary and high school level. This number is growing steadily. Some of the students are Israeli born 'Sabras', some are new immigrant children. Most are of Ashkenazic origin, but many Sephardic students are enjoying the richness of Yiddish. There are also excellent faculties at the Bar-Ilan, Hebrew (Jerusalem) and Tel-Aviv Universities. * There is now a proposal awaiting its 3rd hearing in the Knesset supporting the creation of an official government overseeing body to support Yiddish Language and Culture. The first two hearings passed almost unanimously. - about 40 out of 120 (?) members of the Knesset were present. (A parallel Ladino proposal was also passed). Presented by Dov Shilansky it was supported by both Sephardic and Ashkenazic Members of the Knesset, by both Left & Right, the Ultra-Orthodox and Arab MKs. The proposal was initiated by the Dor Hahemshekh Ohavei Yidish. * At a recent meeting of the World Council for Yiddish in Tel Aviv, the chairman Prof. Warshavsky made a startling announcement: He has received assurances, that all Israeli Shlikhim negating or otherwise doing harm to Yiddish will promptly be reprimanded and called back. Furthermore, all future shlikhim will be prepared in advance to understand their role in promoting Yiddish in the Diaspora. ---------------------------------------- Those last two are still dreams for me, and haven't been put into effect yet. What is important, is the ground work which has been put in in the last ten, or so, years is beginning to wake people up. dervayle, hobn mir nokh nit gezen keyn mashmoesdike resultatn fun di oybndermonte punktn, ober me ken hofn, az epes bavegt zikh --- afile in yisroyl. lomir hern nor gute bsures. leybl botvinik netanya 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 21 Feb 1995 08:38:17 -0500 From: joel_zumoff@cornell.edu Subject: Expanded definition of mentsh A current thread has been attempting to find one word equivalents for "mentsh" in other languages. Let me take the opposite track and provide a very expanded definition in English. The origins of the following "definition" are unknown to me. If anyone knows, please let us know so appropriate credit can be given. I have taken the original wording and brought it up to date by making it more politically correct, gender neutral, and more widely applicable to people of any religion. Hope you like it. Mentshlikhkayt I grew up under a slogan - zay a mentsh. My mother pleaded. zay a mentsh, by which she meant carry a handkerchief, wash your neck, comb your hair, dress properly. She tried to make a civilized human being from a kid who really couldn't care less. Cleanliness, order, appearances were important to her. A diamond in the rough was to her a nothing until it was cut, polished, and set. She had a point. She, in her own way, was advancing a civilization, a culture, a more developed society. She tried to instill in me a self-respect - not a pride, mind you, but an awareness of the dignity of human beings. After all, a person is not an animal. Zay a mentsh. My father shouted in despair. Zay a mentsh, by which he meant do your chores, be kind to your siblings, respect your elders. He tried to make a disciplined, conscientious, thoughtful provider from a kid who had more interest in toys, sports, and fun with friends. Work and dependability were more important to him. Slothfulness and self-indulgence were abhorrent and somehow sinful. Even an offense against God. Six days shalt thou labor, on the seventh you'll rest. After all, a person is not an animal. Zay a mentsh. Amongst my dearest memories are those of my grandparents. My grandmother sighed and smiled and fed me chocolate cake. Zay a mentsh, she said indulgently, patting me on the head. By which she meant many things. Like remember birthdays and anniversaries, don't hurt other people's feelings, help the less fortunate. Sensitivity to other's feelings were more important to her than her own position or comfort or wealth. A person was nothing if he or she did not in some way recognize and contribute to the needs of society. She had a point there. After all, a person is not an animal. Zay a mentsh. But perhaps the wisest was my grandfather. He would raise his forefinger and his eyebrows, nodding and say firmly zay a mentsh, by which he meant many things: read, study, think, question, observe, and defend your beliefs against all who would destroy them. Be a free human being. He had a point. He knew that the strength of a person was in his or her willingness to be different, that conformity was spiritual and intellectual death. And he had a point there too. After all, a person is not an animal. Zay a mentsh. Joel Zumoff ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 4.331 Mendele has 2 rules: 1. Provide a meaningful Subject: line 2. Sign your article (full name please) A Table of Contents is now available via anonymous ftp, along with weekly updates. 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