Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 5.070 July 30, 1995 1) A Yidisher held (Mendy Fliegler) 2) Origin of Yiddish _nitl_ for Christmas (Mikhl Herzog) 3) Makhn a fayg (Mikhl Herzog) 4) Translation of Yiddish teaching materials (Norman Fishman) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 21:52:15 -0400 From: sroolik@aol.com Subject: A Yidisher held Ikh hob di vokh farloyrn mayn onkl--Er hot geheysn Chaim (Franz) Fleigler un iz geven a matros, an ofitzir in der Merchant Marine fun di Faraynikte Shtatn, ober nisht a proste matros--nor a Yidisher held. Er hot organizirt un gefirt Yidn geratevet fun Hitler, fun Italie: pleytim, kayn Palestine, mit an Amerikaner shif fun New York--di 'Wedgewood', eyder de maynse mit der Exodus. Men hot dus dertzeylt in der Bet Hatsufot Muzeyum in Tel Aviv. Ikh hob far im geshribn a loybnsgezang (eulogy) un es presentirt bay zayn livaye: Chaim der Matros Chaim, der matros Hot epes oyfgeton in der velt -In vikhtige tzaytn Ver Gedenkt? Ven er hot sikh aroyfgedropet oyfn Natzishn shif -Un arupgeshlept un tzerisn dem Svastike in New York? Ver gedenkt? Ver Gedenkt? Az er iz shtendik geven in gefar Furendik oyf di yamen in Hitler's tzayt -Gebrakht esenvarg un kleyder, Koyln un biksn, Tzu di Rusn, Zey zoln bagrubn Di Daytshn-- Ver Gedenkt? Ven er hot komandirt a shifl fun Amerike Mit Kanadishe matrosn Tzu rateven Yidn, pleytim fun Hitler, Fun Italie, ibergepakt, un gebrakht zey kayn Yisrul-- Ver gedenkt--dus gefar fun de Englender? Ver Gedenkt? Ver gedenkt aza mentsh mit a zise neshume? Velkher hot nor gekent zayn a matros? Chaim der Matros-- Mayn Onkl, Mayn Tates Bruder, Akh Ha-Bi Bi, Chaim... Mit Shulem...G-t Zol Dir Helfn...Yiskadal... Mendy Fliegler 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 28 Jul 95 18:32 EDT From: zogur@cuvmb.columbia.edu Subject: Origin of Yiddish _nitl_ for Christmas Ruben Frankenstein suggests that Yiddish _nitl_ derives from Latin _natale_. The suggestion, which has some support in the literature, would be strengthened by a demonstration of just how _natale_ "became" _nitl_. The words are similar, yes, but it's not enough to point to similarities to demonstrate a suggested etymology. German _Heirat_ and Hebrew _harey at_ are NOT related. English _British_ and Hebrew _brit ish_ are NOT related. We require detailed word history: By what process did the vowel "a" in Latin _natale_ change to "i" in Yiddish? What other Latin "a"-words changed are realized with "i"? In the case of _nitl_, I favor the suggestion that it's derived from the Hebrew root "tav-lamed-hey" 'to hang'; cf. _nitla_ 'to be hung'. The related forms in Yiddish are _tlIye_ 'gallows' and, in Western Yiddish, _tOle_ 'image of Jesus' (a crucifixion scene, I imagine). Mikhl Herzog 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 28 Jul 95 18:32 EDT From: zogur@cuvmb.columbia.edu Subject: Makhn a fayg It's a bit difficult to demonstrate this familiar gesture on e-mail. Surely it's no less rude than in Yiddish than showing someone the _fig- in English, _Feige_ in German, or _fico_ in Italian. Any good dictionary will describe it. Mikhl Herzog 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 29 Jul 1995 16:48:36 -0700 From: normf@ix.netcom.com Subject: Translation of Yiddish teaching materials This posting is directed to Yosl Mlotek, but perhaps other Mendeleniks will want to comment. First, on a personal note, I am currently involved in the Sino-Judaic Institute, which in addition to its basic interest in the ancient Jews of Kaifeng, also collects and publishes information of interest to the Jews who lived in Shanghai and other Chinese cities from about 1900 to 1945. Yosl Mlotek was one of the refugees from Poland (?) who came to Shanghai via Japan during WWII. I was very interested to see the interviews he provided in the film "Escape to the Rising Sun". More to the subject in hand, I visited the Workman's Circle Education Department and Library about 25 years ago and met Mr. Mlotek at that time. I was on a search for appropriate curriculum materials for a secular Sunday school that I and my wife were in the process of developing. Yosl (and a lovely young lady) forced me to use Yiddish in our discussions -- it was painful, but fun. I was somewhat aware of the Yiddish teaching materials they had, but had no idea of the tremendous breadth and depth of their library. It must be even better today! They were not receptive to my suggestion that this Yiddish treasure, if translated into English, could fill a need that was not being met for Jewish secular schools that were then popping up all over the country. I believe that the need is even greater today, and again suggest that consideration be given to such translations. The parents of school age children are now even further from their "roots" than we were, and are finding it increasingly difficult to put together a meaningful curriculum. The philosophy of the ArbeteRing is just what the secular schools are looking for, and the "tam" of Yiddish has the potential for providing a unifying glue to the school structure. The available teaching materials and texts are still, as they were then, too religious in content and insufficiently grounded in historical, cultural, and sociological elements. There are increasing opportunities for the teaching and learning of Yiddish and I applaud what appears to be a resurgence in the life of the language that we all love so dearly. But do we have to "vergien" our younger people the chance to connect with their people through the beauty of Yiddishkeit just because the venue is English? Comments? Suggestions? Norman Fishman Menlo Park, California ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 5.070