Yiddish Theater

Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre (Montreal)

In addition to staging Yiddish and English performances, this Montreal-based theater company has an archive with artifacts such as Yiddish children’s films, sheet music, scripts and costume designs. Its after-school programming, Young Actors for Young Audiences (YAYA), provides ‘‘musical theatre training through theatre-based exercises and games from the perspective of Jewish heritage and Yiddish culture.’’ The theater, founded in 1958, has also taken the show on the road, performing in 48 cities throughout North America, Europe and Israel. English (and usually French) subtitles always accompany Yiddish performances.

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (New York City)

Founded in 1915, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene describes itself as ‘‘the longest continuously producing Yiddish theater company in the world.’’ Repertoire includes both classic as well as contemporary Yiddish dramas, including Di Yam Gazlonim! (The Yiddish Pirates of Penzance), the Broadway Yiddish musical The Megile of Itzik Manger, and Joseph Rumshinsky’s 1923 operetta The Golden Bride. While the performances are in Yiddish, both English and Russian subtitles are provided for each performance.

New Yiddish Rep (New York City)

New Yiddish Rep says its goal is to speak ‘‘to a 21st century audience: modern treatments of the Yiddish classics and Yiddish interpretations of modern and postmodern masterpieces, in an intimate venue, at affordable prices, with easily readable supertitles.’’ The company presents classics of Yiddish theater as well as more contemporary releases, and it also offers other events, such as readings and workshops. Performances are in Yiddish with English subtitles.

Teatr Żydowski Estery Rachel i Idy Kamińskich (Warsaw)

The Jewish Theater Estery Rachel and Idy Kamińskich was formed in 1950 when two theater troupes — Lower Silesian Jewish Theater in Wrocław and the Jewish Theater in Łódź — joined. In 1955, the theater moved to Warsaw, and is currently the only Jewish theater in Poland. Repertoire includes classics from Yiddish theater and literature as well as cabaret and plays with Jewish themes. Note: Most performances are in Polish with no subtitles.

Teatrul Evreiesc (Bucharest, Romania)

The Jewish Theater in Bucharest has operated without interruption for since Avram Goldfaden founded it in 1876 in Yassy as the first professional Jewish theater. The theater eventually moved to Bucharest, and became a national institution in 1948. During World War II no performances in Yiddish or by Jews were permitted in Romania, but the theater still ran contemporary pieces in Romanian. Today, the theater’s repertoire include both Romanian-language contemporary plays as well as well-known classics of Yiddish theater, such as S. Ansi’s Der Dybbuk and Jacob Gordin’s The Jewish King Lear. All Yiddish plays are performed in the original Yiddish and are supplemented by Romanian subtitles.

Theater J’s Yiddish Theater Lab (Washington, DC)

Theater J’s Yiddish Theater Lab debuted in 2018. Under the auspices of the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, Theater J’s YTL says it “revives and re-imagines neglected classic plays of the Yiddish theater, bringing them to a modern audience in English translation.’’ Performances, mostly staged readings rather than full performances, are in English translation. Repertoire includes Jacob Gordin’s The Jewish King Lear; God, Man (also by Gordin); and Ossip Dymov’s Devil and The Bronx Express.

Yiddishpiel (Tel Aviv)

The only Yiddish theater in Israel, Yiddishpiel was established in 1987 with the goal of ‘‘restoring to Yiddish…its charm, its popularity, and its glory, and to make it the focus of a rich and significant culture that is an important foundation stone in the history of the Jewish nation.’’ Classic plays such as those from Abraham Goldfaden and Isaac Bashevis Singer are staged, but non-Yiddish plays that have been translated into Yiddish (such as Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot) are also part of Yiddishpiel’s repertoire. All plays are performed in Yiddish, but subtitles in Russian, Hebrew and other languages — depending on where the troupe is performing — are provided.

Other Yiddish Cultural Events

Ashkenaz Festival (Toronto)

This biennial festival describes itself as “one of the largest and most prestigious showcases of Jewish music and culture in the world.” While originally focused on klezmer music and Yiddish culture, the festival has expanded to include Sephardic and Mizrahi cultural programming as well.

Klezkanada (Montreal Area)

KlezKanada offers Yiddish-related programming year-round in Montreal, but its KlezKanada Laurentian Retreat — often simply referred to as ‘‘KlezKanada’’ — is held at Camp B’nai Brith in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains. The late-summer week-long retreat aims, according to KlezKanada’s website, to ‘‘celebrate the tradition, innovation, and continuity of Jewish/Yiddish culture,’’ and offers ‘‘classes on Jewish history, culture, Yiddish language, and literature, workshops for instrumentalists, singers, dancers, and visual artists of all levels, creative programs for the whole family.’’

Klezmerwelten (Gelsenkirchen, Germany)

The Klezmerwelten Festival in Gelsenkirchen features klezmer ensembles from Germany and other countries such as the United States, Argentina, and Israel. Concerts showcase all styles of klezmer, including those that experiment with fusing styles such as funk and jazz. As with many other klezmer festivals, Klezmerwelten includes klezmer workshops for children, teens and adults. This event is not held every year.

Museum of Yiddish Theater (online)

Launched in 2010, this virtual museum showcases the‘‘legacy of Yiddish Theater, radio, recordings and films for future generations and scholars.’’ The website includes links to resources and archives related to Yiddish theater and music that you can visit online and in real life such as YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and The Thomashevsky Project.

Yiddish New York (New York City)

This weeklong festival takes place every December on New York’s Lower East Side, with workshops ranging from ‘‘klezmer music, Yiddish dance, song, and a broad spectrum of performances and programming in Yiddish language, arts, history and culture.’’ Dance parties, concerts and opportunities to jam are available in the evening.

Yidish Vokh (Upstate New York)

Yidish Vokh is held for a week every year in August, and is currently located in the Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp (BHEC) in Copake, New York. Events include workshops, Yiddish classes, and lectures, along with recreational activities such as sports, campfires and even reality shows. While people of all ages and nationalities are welcome, Yidish Vokh is not intended for those who know no Yiddish or who have just started learning. The event’s website specifies that ‘‘The YV is the event to aspire to once you can already communicate in Yiddish.’’

Yiddish Summer Weimar (Weimar, Germany)

The four-week-long YSW features workshops in Yiddish as well as music and dance. There is no obligation to stay for the entire program; participants may also attend single concerts.

Yiddishkayt (Los Angeles)

Located in California, Yiddishkayt describes itself as ‘‘a cultural incubator’’ that offers ‘‘hands-on, immersive experiences creatively, inclusively, and outside the confines of academic and religious institutions.’’ Yiddishkayt offers online programs, such as Monsa Monster — a podcast series on Yiddish storytelling available on iTunes — and the web series YidLife Crisis. It also offers the Helix Fellowship, ‘‘an immersive residential summer program that transforms scholars, artists, and activists into cultural archaeologists,’’ and Yiddish cultural tours of Poland, Lithuania and Belarus.

The post Where To See Yiddish Theater Today appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

Below are some common Jewish words paired with their verbal doppelgangers — words that sound similar, yet have vastly different meanings. To spare you some potential embarrassment, we explain it all in alphabetical order below.

Did we miss some important ones? Comment below or email us at community@myjewishlearning.com.

1. Challah and Kallah

Challah (חלה), pronounced KHAH-luh, is the braided bread traditionally served on Shabbat. Find some great challah recipes here.
Kallah (כּלה), pronounced KAH-luh, is Hebrew for “bride.”

2. Chesed (or Hesed) and Hasid (or Chasid)

Chesed (חסד), pronounced KHEH-sed, is usually translated as “lovingkindness,” and describes acts such as visiting the sick and helping the poor.
Hasid (חסיד), pronounced KHAH-sid,is a Hasidic Jew, someone who is part of an ultra-Orthodox spiritual movement that began in late 18th-century Europe and comes from the same Hebrew root as chesed.

3. Chodesh and Kodesh

Chodesh (חודשׁ), pronounced KHOH-desh, is Hebrew for “month,” and is most often used in the term Rosh Chodesh, the celebration marking the beginning of each new Jewish month.
Kodesh (קודשׁ), pronounced KOH-desh, is Hebrew for “holy,” as in sefer kodesh (holy book), am kodesh (holy people) and limmudei kodesh (holy studies).

4. Chuppah and Chutzpah

Chuppah (חופּה), pronounced KHOO-pah (oo as in book) or khu-PAH, is a Jewish wedding canopy.
Chutzpah (חוצפּה), pronounced KHOOTZ-pah (oo as in book) or khootz-PAH, is Yiddish (and Hebrew) for “nerve” or “audacity.”

5. Eruv and Erev

Eruv (עירוב), pronounced AY-ruhv or ay-RUVE, is a boundary inside of which Shabbat-observant Jews are allowed to carry items or push strollers on Shabbat.
Erev (ערב), pronounced EH-rehv, means “evening,” and commonly refers to the first night of a Jewish holiday and sometimes the day before the holiday, as in Erev Yom Kippur.

6. Hamsa, Hametz and Hummus

Hamsa (חמסה), pronounced HAHM-suh, is a hand-shaped amulet.
Hametz (חמץ), pronounced khah-METZ, is leavened food traditionally avoided during Passover. Learn more about keeping kosher for Passover.
Hummus (חומוס), pronounced KHOOM-oos (oo as in book) or KHOOM-oos (oo as in food) is a chickpea puree popular in Israel and throughout the Middle East. Find hummus recipes here.

7. Kibbitz and Kibbutz

Kibbitz (קבּץ), pronounced KIB-itz, is Yiddish for chat or small talk, as in “I ran into my friend at the store and kibbitzed with her.”
Kibbutz (קיבּוץ), pronounced kee-BOOTZ, is a collectively run residential and economic community in Israel.

8. Kiddush and Kaddish

Kiddush (קידושׁ), pronounced KID-dish or kee-DOOSH (oo as in boot), is the blessing that is said over wine to sanctify Shabbat. (It comes from the same root as kodesh, meaning “holy.”)
Kaddish (קדישׁ), pronounced KAH-dish, usually refers to the Mourner’s Kaddish, an Aramaic prayer said during all Jewish worship services where a minyan is present. (It also shares a root with kodesh.)

9. Mashgiach and Moshiach

Mashgiach (משׁגיח), pronounced mahsh-GHEE-ahkh, is a person who supervises a commercial or institutional kosher kitchen and ensures that dietary laws are observed.
Moshiach (משׁיח), pronounced moe-SHEE-ahkh, is Hebrew for “messiah.”

10. Mikveh and Mitzvah

Mikveh (מקוה), pronounced MIK-vuh or meek-VAH, is a Jewish ritual bath.
Mitzvah (מצוה), pronounced MITZ-vuh or meetz-VAH, is Hebrew for commandment.

11. Seder and Siddur

Seder (סדר), pronounced SAY-der, is a ritual meal that follows a certain order, usually used to refer to the Passover seder (like the one above). However, many Sephardic Jews also have a Rosh Hashanah seder, and the holiday of Tu Bishvat (the birthday of the trees) also has a seder.
Siddur (סידור), pronounced SIDD-er or see-DOHR, is a Jewish prayer book. Like seder, it derives from the Hebrew root samech (ס), dalet (ד), reysh (ר), which means “order.”

12. Sheitel, Shtetl, Shtiebel and Shtreimel

Sheitel (שייטל), pronounced SHAY-tull, is Yiddish for a wig that some Orthodox women wear to cover their hair after they marry.
Shtetl (שׁטעטל), pronounced SHTEH-tull, is the term for a historic Eastern European village with a significant Jewish community.
Shtiebel (שטיבל), pronounced SHTEE-bull, is a small synagogue, usually referring to a small ultra-Orthodox synagogue.
Shtreimel (שטריימל), pronounced SHTRY-mull, is a type of fur hat worn by some Hasidic men.

13. Simcha and Smicha

Simcha (שׂמחה), pronounced SIM-khuh or seem-KHAH, is Hebrew for “joy” and is used to refer to a joyous Jewish occasion, such as a wedding or bar/bat mitzvah.
Smicha (סמיכה), pronounced SMEE-khuh or smee-KHAH, is Hebrew for rabbinic ordination.

14. Tisha B’Av, Tu Bishvat and Tu B’Av

Tisha B’Av (תשׁע בּאב), pronounced TISH-uh bahv, is the ninth of the Jewish month of Av, a day of mourning commemorating the destruction of the ancient temples in Jerusalem.
Tu Bishvat (ט״ו בּשׁבט), pronounced too bish-VAHT (oo as in boot), is the 15th of the Jewish month of Shevat, a holiday celebrating trees.
Tu B’Av (ט״ו בּאב), pronounced too buh-AHV, is the 15th of the Jewish month of Av, a day celebrating romantic love that is often referred to as “the Jewish Valentine’s Day.”

15. Yizkor and Yahrzeit

Yizkor (יזכּור), pronounced YIZ-kohr, is the memorial service that is part of four Jewish holidays: Yom Kippur, Passover, Sukkot and Shavuot.
Yahrzeit (יארצייט), pronounced YAHR-tzight or YOHR-tzight, is the Yiddish word for the anniversary of a death. Learn how to mark a yahrzeit.

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The post Similar Jewish Words You Don’t Want to Mix Up appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

But neither term captures the multiple cultural influences that shaped the language for more than five centuries of life in the eastern Mediterranean, resulting in a marvelous blend of Spanish, Portuguese, Hebrew, Turkish, Arabic, Greek, Italian and French. Like Yiddish, Ladino was traditionally written in Hebrew characters and known as Djudezmo and Djudyo, words that mean “Jewish.” Below are a few popular Ladino expressions, with a pronunciation guide at the top.

Ladino Pronunciation Guide

j as in French “bonjour”
h as in English “hot”
dj as in English “joy”

1. Ijo de ken sos tu? 

?איז’ו די קין סוס טו

Pronunciation: EE-jo de ken sos tu
Meaning: You are the child of whom?
How to use it: You meet someone, realize you might know people in common, and begin playing Sephardic Jewish geography with the question: “Ijo de ken sos tu?”

2. Haberes buenos!

!חאביריס בואינוס

Pronunciation: ha-BEAR-es BWE-nos
Meaning: Good news!
How to use it: This can be used either to announce good news or as a way to ward off bad news.
Sample uses: You aced your exam and tell you parents: “Haberes buenos! I got an A!”
You find out Nona (grandma) broke her hip and, to ward off the bad news, reply, “Haberes buenos!”

3. Dezmazalado de mi!

!דיזמאזאלאדו די מי

Pronunciation: dez-ma-zal-A-do de MEE
Meaning: Pity me! I’m out of luck.
Sample use: You haven’t texted me in weeks! Dezmazalado de mi!

4. Djente de piron 

ג’ינטי די פירון

Pronunciation: DJEN-te de pee-ROAN
Meaning: The one percent (i. e. rich folks)
Literal translation: “People of the fork”: owning a fork (and not just a spoon) was once a sign of high-class status.

5. Kome kon gana! 

!קומי קון גאנה

Pronunciation: KO-may kon GA-na
Meaning: Bon appetit!
Literal translation: “Eat with desire.”

6. Engleneate!

!אינגליניאטי

Pronunciation: en-glen-AY-a-te
Meaning: Have fun!
Literal translation: Entertain yourself!

7. Hadras i baranas

חאדראס אי באראנאס

Pronunciation: HAD-ras ee bar-an-AS
Meaning: An outrageously big fuss. Being pretentious and really noisy at the same time.
How to use it: When someone is really making a scene: “Look at all that hadras i baranas!”

8. Bavajadas de benadam 

באב’אז’אדאס די בן אדם

Pronunciation: ba-va-JAD-as de ben a-DAM
Meaning: Human foibles
Literal translation: Stupidities of mankind
Sample sentence: Water cooler chatter reveals the bavajadas de benadam.

9. Bivas, kreskas, engrandeskas, komo un peshiko en aguas freskas! Amen!

ביב’אס קריסקאס אינגראנדיסקאס קומו און פישיקו אין אגואס פ’ריסקאס אמן

Pronunciation: BEE-vas, KRES-kas, en-gran-DES-kas, KO-mo un pesh-EE-ko en AG-uas FRES-kas! a-MEN!

Meaning: An elaborate “bless you” after a sneeze (or multiple sneezes)
Literal translation: Live; thrive; grow; like a little fish in fresh water! Amen!

10. Kaminos de leche i miel!

קאמינוס די ליג’י אי מייל

Pronunciation: Ka-MEE-nos de LE-che ee MEE-el

Meaning: Bon voyage!

Literal meaning: May you follow paths of milk and honey

11. Sano i rezio!

סאנו אי ריזייו

Pronunciation: SA-no ee REZ-yo
Meaning: Farewell!
Literal meaning: May you be healthy and strong

The post The 11 Best Ladino Expressions and Phrases To Know appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

On the eve of World War II, the European Sephardic community was concentrated in the Balkan countries of Greece, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Its leading centers were in Salonika, Sarajevo, Belgrade and Sofia. The experience of the Balkan Jewish communities during the war varied greatly and depended on the type of regime under which they fell.

The Jewish communities of Serbia and northern Greece, including the 50,000 Jews of Salonika, fell under direct German occupation in April 1941 and bore the full weight and intensity of Nazi repressive measures from dispossession, humiliation, and forced labor to hostage taking, and finally deportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau and extermination in March-August 1943.

The Jewish population of southern Greece fell under the jurisdiction of the Italians, who eschewed the enactment of anti-Jewish legislation and resisted whenever possible German efforts to transfer them to Poland, until the surrender of Italy on September 8, 1943 brought the Jews under German control.

Sephardic Jews in Bosnia and Croatia were ruled by a German-created Fascist-Catholic satellite state from April 1941, which subjected them to pogrom-like actions before herding them into local camps where they were murdered side by side with Serbs and Roma (Gypsies).

The Jews of Macedonia and Thrace were controlled by Bulgarian occupation forces, which after rendering them stateless, rounded them up and turned them over to the Germans for deportation.

Finally, the Jews of Bulgaria proper were under the rule of a Nazi ally that subjected them to ruinous anti-Jewish legislation, but ultimately yielded to pressure from Bulgarian parliamentarians, clerics, and intellectuals not to deport them. More than 50,000 Bulgarian Jews were thus saved.

Reprinted with permission from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Holocaust Encyclopedia.

The post The Sephardic Experience During the Holocaust appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

Here are some important things to know about this beautiful language that is not well known outside the Sephardic community. Find out how to learn Ladino here.

1- Ladino was once the primary language spoken by Sephardic Jews throughout the Mediterranean.

From the Spanish Inquisition until World War II, Ladino was the primary language spoken by thousands and thousands of Jews throughout the Mediterranean. Ladino no longer is spoken anywhere as a first language, and estimates put speakers with Ladino familiarity at just 200,0000 worldwide.

2-While primarily based on Spanish, Ladino has vocabulary from several other languages.

Ladino, also known as Judeo-Spanish and Judezmo, is essentially 15th-century Spanish, but it also has words mixed in from Portuguese, French, Italian, Arabic, Greek, Turkish and Hebrew.

3.  Ladino was an oral tradition for centuries.

It was first written in Rashi (or solitreo) script, then with Hebrew letters, and now primarily with Latin script.

4.  Ladino is a rich source of Jewish poetry, proverbs, folktales and more.

One collection of folktales we recommend is Folktales of Joha, Jewish Trickster collected by Matilda Koen-Sarano. The nearly 300 stories in this volume were told to Koen-Sarano in their original language of Ladino, and documented over 21 years.

5. Just because you speak Spanish, don’t expect it to be effortless to learn Ladino.

Because Ladino is based in 15th-century medieval Spanish, some vocabulary might seem antiquated and the syntax odd. Certain consonants get flipped (d’s and r’s occasionally), and pronunciations can be strange (an “h” or “j”, which would be silent in modern Spanish, are pronounced in Ladino, for one example).

6. You can watch cartoons in Ladino.

Ora de Despertar (Time to Wake Up!)- is an animated musical cartoon collection developed by me, Sarah Aroeste, with easy-to-learn words teaching the elementals of Ladino. It is intended for young children, but is a good way for adult Ladino learners to connect easy vocabulary and concepts with dynamic visuals.

7. You can listen to Ladino music on Spotify, iTunes and other major music outlets.

Plus, there are several online radio stations where you can enjoy Ladino music and stories, including:

• 91FM Radio Lev Hamedina: Hosts a Ladino music and story program for Hebrew speakers.
• Radio Nacional de Espana (Spanish Public Radio): Has a Ladino broadcast, Emisión en sefardí.
• Israel Broadcast Authority: Has a daily Ladino newscast, Kan Ladino.

8. There are dozens of excellent documentary films about Ladino.

Here are a few we recommend:

• Las Ultimas Palavras (The Last Words) (2015): Filmmaker Rita Ender embarks on a journey in search of Judeo-Spanish in Turkey. The disappearance of the language becomes a symbol for the growing sense of uprooting among the younger generation.
• Saved by Language (2015): The story of how Moris Albahari, a Sephardic Jew from Sarajevo (born 1930), who spoke Ladino/Judeo-Spanish, his mother tongue, survived the Holocaust. Moris used Ladino to communicate with an Italian Colonel who helped him escape to a partisan refuge after he ran away from the train taking Yugoslavian Jews to Nazi death camps.
• El Ultimo Sefardi (The Last Sephardic Jew) (2003): This film follows Eliezer Papo — a lawyer, novelist and itinerant rabbi — on a tour of post-Inquisition diaspora communities. Papo is called the last Sephardic Jew because he can trace his lineage back to Spain, and because he grew up speaking Ladino — which, according to the filmmakers, is the true definition of “Sephardic.”
• The Ladino Ladies’ Club (2015): Nine charming Sephardic women in Bulgaria share memories about their lives and Sephardic traditions in Ladino.

9. Tom Hanks appears in a movie featuring Ladino dialogue.

In Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986), Hanks plays a gentile American soldier who is recuperating in Jerusalem after his bomber gets shot down during World War II. There he falls in love with a Sephardic girl and must navigate the cultural (and linguistic) differences with her Ladino-speaking family.

The post 9 Things to Know About Ladino appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

It is essentially 15th-century Spanish, with words mixed in from Portuguese, French, Italian, Arabic, Greek, Turkish and Hebrew — and it is rich with music, poetry, proverbs, folktales and more. Learn more about Ladino here.

My Jewish Learning is offer a six-part Ladino class during May, 2024. Register here.

While Ladino no longer is spoken anywhere as a first language and estimates put speakers with Ladino familiarity at just 200,0000 worldwide, there are a surprising number of resources available today for people committed to learning this language.

I have used many of these resources first-hand, as I did not grow up speaking the language, myself. Here are some places to begin!

Notes Before You Get Started
Workbooks
Online Courses & Tutorials
Dictionaries
Resource Libraries
Beginner Books
Intermediate Books
Animated Videos
Music Songbooks
Movies with Ladino
Newspapers in Ladino
Ladino Radio
University Courses
Online Forums for Meeting Ladino Speakers
Ladino Speakers’ Social Groups

Notes Before You Get Started

• Many of these are non-traditional resources (animated cartoon series, music songbooks, Tom Hanks movies and more!).
• Ladino was first written in Rashi (or solitreo) script, then with Hebrew letters, and now primarily with Latin script. As a result, it has no universal spellings today. Most of the written resources below are those in Latin script, except where noted. I have not included Rashi or solitreo resources here.
• Do you speak Spanish? You might find learning Ladino can trip you up at first. While there are a lot of commonalities between the two languages, some Ladino words might seem antiquated and the syntax can seem odd to Spanish speakers. Certain consonants get flipped (d’s and r’s occasionally), and pronunciations can be strange. That being said, Spanish speakers do have a leg up learning the language and will likely have an easier time overall than those unfamiliar with Spanish.
• There are many terrific resources about Ladino or about Sephardic history and culture. Those are not included here. Instead, the resources below are in Ladino, specifically to help learn the language itself. Most of these resources come with English translation or American-based learning opportunities, except where noted. It should be acknowledged that much is happening around the world — in Spain, Israel, Argentina and Turkey, in particular — to preserve Ladino, but the resources listed below are the most accessible from the United States.
• Did we miss anything? Feel free to add in suggestions of other relevant resources in the comments below or email community@myjewishlearning.com.

Workbooks

Beginner’s Ladino (includes 2 CDs) by Alla Markova

Manual of Judeo-Spanish: Language & Culture by Marie-Christine Varol

Course in Judeo-Spanish for Beginners by Matilda Koén-Sarano – You might have to search a library for this one, but if you can get your hands on it, it’s well worth it! In addition to this workbook, Koén-Sarano, one of the greatest Ladino writers today, has written several books of Ladino poetry and stories that are essential reading for studying the language. Her book, Ritmo antiko, poezías i kantigas, is one of my favorites.

Online Courses & Tutorials

Italki – One-on-one lessons via videoconference with a private Ladino teacher. ($30 per hour)

Kurso de Ladino (for Hebrew speakers): Thirty-seven Ladino video lessons put out by the Autoridad Nasionala del Ladino i su Kultura, Israel’s leading body for Ladino preservation. The content is in Ladino, but some of the spoken introductions and written descriptions are in Hebrew. (Free)

Autoridad Nasionala del Ladino i su Kultura YouTube Page– In addition to Ladino lessons (see the Kurso de Ladino above), this page also includes interviews with native Ladino speakers, and stories told exclusively in Ladino. (Free)

Memrise – Interactive beginner vocabulary lessons to complete on your computer or mobile devices. (Free)

uTalk – Learn more than 2,500 Ladino words and phrases from recordings of native Ladino speakers on this game-based app which works on smartphones, tablets and computers. uTalk Ladino can also be used by speakers of 100+ languages — including English — as the app automatically defaults to the language of your device. My Jewish Learning readers can receive a 50% discount at this link.

Dictionaries

Ladino-English/English-Ladino Concise Encyclopedic Dictionary by Dr. Elli Kohen & Kohen-Gordon (Ladino/English). This volume also includes a listing of some popular Ladino proverbs with English translations.

Diksionario Ladino-Ebreo/Ebreo-Ladino by Matilda Koén-Sarano (Ladino/Hebrew)

Gramatica Basica del Djudeo-Espanyol by Ferran Marin Ramon (Ladino/Spanish)

Ladino Resource Libraries

The National Sephardic Library and Archives (New York)

This is under the auspices of the American Sephardi Federation (ASF) at the Center for Jewish History, in New York City. This is one of the largest publicly accessible libraries and archives of Sephardic and Ladino interest in the Western Hemisphere. It contains books, documents, photographs, films and more.

Sephardic Studies Digital Library (Seattle)

This searchable collection at the University of Washington, Seattle, showcases one of the most comprehensive efforts to digitize all Ladino written materials — including novels, prayer books, Bibles, manuscripts and letters — and make them publicly available. It focuses on documents produced by Sephardic Jews between the 17th and mid-20th centuries, with a particular emphasis on materials in Ladino. There is also an audio collection.

MyLadino.com

This site, exclusively in Ladino, contains information about books, movies, famous Ladino-speaking figures, holidays, articles, recipes and much more. Speak Hebrew? The same website exists for Hebrew speakers and also includes links for language clubs and class offerings available in Israel here.

Beginner Books in Ladino

La Famiya Mozotros by Irvin Mandel is a book of illustrated cartoons in Ladino that reflect a humorous look at Sephardic life in Turkey today.

Ora de Despertar (Time to Wake Up) is a bilingual Ladino/English illustrated children’s book written by me (Sarah Aroeste) and illustrated by Miriam Ross that walks through morning gratitude rituals.

Aventuras de Alisia en el Paiz de las Maraviyas (Alice in Wonderland, in Ladino)

El Princhipiko (The Little Prince, in Ladino)

Nono’s Kisses for Sephardic Children by Flori Senor Rosenthal is a compilation of easy phrases in Ladino to discuss with children.

Intermediate Books in Ladino

Romansos en Judeo-Espanyol – short, romance stories in Ladino put out by El Sentro Sefaradi de Estambol, the leading organization to preserve Sephardic culture in Turkey. Each small pamphlet is under 30 pages and uses simple vocabulary.

El Kurtijo Enkantado by Matilda Koen-Sarano is a collection of Ladino short stories and folktales.

Animated Videos

Ora de Despertar (Time to Wake Up!)– is an animated musical cartoon collection developed by me, Sarah Aroeste, with easy-to-learn words teaching the elementals of Ladino. While it is intended for young children, it is also helpful for adults to be able to connect easy vocabulary and concepts with dynamic visuals. Watch the first episode below:

Ladino Music Songbooks

There are far too many beautiful Ladino singers to list here! iTunes, Spotify and all major music outlets have Sephardic playlists filled with Ladino music to explore. Classic singers and albums, if you can get a hold of their hard-copy CDs, will almost always have lyrics and translations included. I am listing here popular Ladino songbooks that have accompanying music CDs, which is a convenient way to learn the music and language at the same time:

The Flory Jagoda Songbook: Memories of Sarajevo

Judith Frankel: Sephardic Songs in Judeo-Spanish

Gerard Edery Sephardic Songbook

Ramon Tasat : Sephardic Songs for All

Nico Castel Ladino Songbook

Movies with Ladino

The three motion pictures below are (at least partly) in Ladino, with subtitles.

Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986)

Starring none other than Tom Hanks, this film is about a gentile American in the Royal Air Force who is recuperating in Jerusalem after his bomber gets shot down during World War II. There he falls in love with a Sephardic girl and must navigate the cultural (and linguistic) differences with her Ladino-speaking family.

The House on Chelouche Street (1973)

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, this movie tells the story of a Sephardic family from Egypt that settles in Tel Aviv in 1947. It is a vivid description of the lives of Sephardic immigrant families on the eve of the establishment of the state of Israel.

Stars (1959)

This winner of the Special Jury Prize at Cannes takes place in 1943 when a train carrying Greek Jews is headed for Auschwitz and stops in a small town in southwest Bulgaria. A love affair between a Nazi soldier and a Jewish girl ensues.

Newspapers in Ladino

El Amaneser 

A monthly Ladino newspaper put out by the Ottoman-Turkish Sephardic Cultural Research Center, an organization for everything relating to Turkey’s Jewish communities.

Şalom Gazatesi

This Turkish Jewish newspaper has its own section in Ladino.

eSefarad

A news website about the Sephardic world, mostly in Spanish and Ladino.

La Boz Sefaradi

This weekly newsletter of the Sephardic Brotherhood, an umbrella group based in the United States that provides resources and cultural services for Sephardic Jews, publishes pieces of interest to the Sephardic world. Much is in English, but there are several sections in Ladino highlighting proverbs and folktales each week.

Ladino Radio

All of the stations below can be streamed directly from their websites.

91FM Radio Lev Hamedina

This Ladino music and story program is geared toward Hebrew speakers.

Radio Nacional de Espana (Spanish Public Radio)

This Spanish station has a Ladino broadcast, Emisión en sefardí.

Israel Broadcast Authority

This Israeli station has a daily Ladino newscast, Kan Ladino.

University Courses

Ladino is currently being taught at several universities in different styles (classes, seminars or student clubs). You might be able to audit and sit in on a class if it’s in a city near you! Here are a few for starters: University of Washington, Seattle, University of Pennsylvania, Binghamton University, UCLA, and all major universities in Israel.

Online Forums for Interacting with Ladino Speakers

Ladinokomunita

A Yahoo group correspondence circle exclusively in Ladino, with speakers from around the globe. The site also includes a working Turkish-English-Castilian-Ladino dictionary that you can find here. You could spend days exploring this site!

Sefardimuestro 

A popular Yahoo forum where members communicate only in Ladino.

Facebook Groups

has several groups that are intended to be exclusively in Ladino, including Friends of Ladino (Hebrew/Ladino), Geon Sefarad (Ladino in Latin script) and Klub de elevos de Ladino Djudeo-Espanyol. There are many others if you search!

Ladino Speaker Social Groups

Vijitas de Alhad (Sunday visits)

What better way to practice Ladino than to seek out native Ladino speakers to chat with! This group meets in the Washington, DC area over food and stories. Other informal groups can be found in Boston, Seattle and other large cities.

Sephardic Synagogues

Congregations like Congregation Shearith Israel (the Spanish Portuguese Synagogue) in New York, or any of the Sephardic synagogues listed here (in Seattle, Florida, Atlanta, Indianapolis and more) offer resources and sometimes Ladino classes. They can also connect to you to native Ladino speakers in their community who might be willing to sit and talk with you!

Reushita buena ke tengas! May you have much success!

The post How to Learn Ladino appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

Numerous options are available through universities; organizations such as YIVO (Yidishe Vissenshaftliche Institut), the Yiddish Book Center, and Worker’s Circle; and even on your phone.

Books
Online Courses
Semester-Long In-Person Courses
Immersion Programs
Apps
Enrichment

Advice Before You Begin

Before starting, consider what your goals are and how much time and money you can realistically invest. Do you want to be able to converse with Yiddish-speaking family and friends? Are you a student whose most pressing need is to be able to decode texts for a paper or project? Do you want to be able to read family records? Or do you just want the challenge of learning a new language?

If you don’t necessarily want to speak the language, a book may suffice. If you care more about speaking than reading, an in-person or online course in which you can interact with others verbally will be a better bet. Since Yiddish descends from medieval German and borrows Hebrew vocabulary and the Hebrew alphabet, having a background in Hebrew or German, is definitely an advantage when beginning your Yiddish studies. Beware though that if you already speak German, you may have to ”relearn” words and grammar. Similarly, if you learned Modern Hebrew, you will have to get used to Ashkenazi pronunciations and inflections.

Cost and time are also important factors. While immersion programs can be among the most efficient and fun ways to learn any language, they are also the most expensive, especially when you factor in travel, room and board. Online classes can cost a few hundred dollars, but books may clock in under $50. Self-paced classes may be the obvious choice for those with unpredictable schedules, while courses held at specific days and times may work better for those who are able to clear out blocks of time from their schedule and who need the structure in order to stay on task.

Below are various resources for learning Yiddish. Prices are subject to change. You may also want to inquire locally about courses offered at universities, synagogues and Jewish community centers near you. If you know of other useful resources or have feedback about any of those listed, leave a comment below or email community@myjewishlearning.com.

Books

Assimil Yiddish with Ease (Nadia Dehan-Rotschild)
The Assimil method is to learn a new language “through the listening of audio cd’s and the reading of an accompanying book, one side native language, one side foreign language…It begins with a long passive phase of only reading and listening, and eventually adds active exercises.” This book teaches basic grammar and a vocabulary of about 2,000-3,000 words.

Colloquial Yiddish (Lily Kahn)
This textbook “offers a step-by-step approach to Yiddish as it is spoken and written today.” It includes grammar and vocabulary exercises and comes with a full answer key and mp3 dialogues.

Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature and Culture (Sheva Zucker)
This series teaches Yiddish literacy, grammar and vocabulary in an accessible, straightforward way. It also utilizes excerpts from classic Yiddish literature to help teach the language and familiarize students with the monuments of Yiddish culture.

Online Courses

Gratz College

Gratz College offers courses in Yiddish language for college credit taught via videoconference, including beginners, advanced beginners, and (in some semesters) intermediate levels. Courses are open to non-matriculated students, and qualified high school juniors and seniors may also enroll for college credit at a discounted rate.

Workers Circle

Worker’s Circle is “New York’s leading center for Yiddish language instruction, and the largest provider of Yiddish language classes in the U.S. outside of academic institutions.” They provide Yiddish classes at all levels.

Semester-Long In-Person Courses

Columbia University (New York City)

Columbia University in Manhattan offers degree programs in Yiddish Studies. Available classes include Elementary Yiddish I and II, Intermediate Yiddish I and II, Yiddish for Academic Purposes, and Reading-Yiddish Literature. Note that all classes may not be available during all semesters. Non-matriculated students may take one class per semester.

Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey)

Rutgers offers in-person courses on Yiddish language, culture, and literature at its campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey. There are currently no Yiddish classes planned for the Spring 2018 semester, but keep your eyes open for a class or two in Fall 2018. Courses are open to non-matriculated students, and those over the age of 62 may audit courses.

Universität Salzburg (Salzburg, Austria)

Salzburg University’s Jewish Cultural History program is unique among Jewish studies programs in Europe because it allows students to focus on secular Jewish cultural history as opposed to having only a religious focus. Three semesters of Yiddish instruction are part of the master’s track program, and students have the chance to work with experts in Yiddish literature. While one may enter the master’s degree program, courses are open to non-matriculated students.

Workers Circle (New York City)

Workman’s Circle is “New York’s leading center for Yiddish language instruction, and the largest provider of Yiddish language classes in the U.S. outside of academic institutions.” They provide Yiddish classes at all levels.

YIVO (New York City)

YIVO offers an array of in-person courses, from beginner to advanced, at its Manhattan headquarters. Courses generally meet once a week for 10 weeks, 15 West 16th Street in Manhattan. YIVO members $250, non-members $325. Membership $54/year. Yivo.org

Immersion Programs

The Naomi Prawer Kadar International Yiddish Summer Program

Tel Aviv, Israel

A four-week immersion program held at Israel’s Tel Aviv University. Students attend Yiddish courses and participate in workshops and excursions. Instruction is geared towards both native English and Hebrew speakers, and students of all nationalities are welcome to apply. Program dates for 2018 are June 28-July 25. Students earn four college credits upon completion of program. Full-time students enrolled in degree programs are eligible for a scholarship. Tuition is $1,450, plus a $60 registration fee. Housing is an additional $800.

Uriel Weinreich Program in Yiddish Language, Literature & Culture

New York City

This Manhattan-based six-week summer immersion program is sponsored by the YIVO Institute and Bard College. Courses range from absolute beginner to advanced and include instruction not only in reading, writing and speaking, but also in the history and culture of Yiddish. Sign up for YIVO’s newsletter to keep up to date on upcoming registration dates and deadlines. Tuition is $6,000. Scholarships are available and students needing housing can stay at the International House, where prices range from $900-$1,300 for the six weeks.

Yiddish Book Center
Amherst, Massachusetts

The Yiddish Book Center offers both a one-week winter immersion program and a seven-week summer immersion program in Amherst, Massachusetts. The one-week program, YiddishSchool, is geared towards beginner, advanced beginner and intermediate learners, and is open to all age groups. The 2018 YiddishSchool program runs April 22-27. Tuition plus a room shared with one other person is $1,100 ($375 extra for private room.) Tuition for commuters is $750. Registration limited to Yiddish Book Center members.

The seven-week program also takes place in Amherst. Students may stay in dormitory suites at Hampshire College, which is within walking distance of the Yiddish Book Center. Students can earn up to six college credits. The program is available to undergraduate and graduate students between ages 18 and 26. Tuition is free; however, housing is $1,400, and students are also expected to cover the cost of meals. Stipends that cover costs such as food as well as free housing available to participants in the Yiddish Book Center’s internship program.

Yiddish Farm
Goshen, New York

About 65 miles outside of New York City, the Yiddish Farm in Goshen, New York, offers a two-week summer program, but also offers shorter-term volunteering and learning opportunities. For the summer immersion program, which runs April 23-June 13 in 2018, participants are expected to reside on the farm and perform work there. Students of all ages, ethnicities, and religions are welcome to participate, although the farm is shomer shabbes (Shabbat-observant). English is allowed to be spoken the first week of the course, but after that, only Yiddish is allowed, regardless of proficiency level. College credits are available for $200 per credit. The summer program costs $1,999 ($2,999 for those requiring a private room). Volunteering is free, but participants must pay for housing if required.

Apps

The apps below are not the only ones on the App Store and Google Play, but we selected them because they were recommended by individual educators. Most cost under $10, and some are free. (Note that prices are subject to change.) If you’ve had a good or bad experience using these apps or recommend other ones, let us know!

Pocket Polyglot Yiddish

This iOS app uses digital flashcards, audio recordings of native speakers and multiple-choice quizzes. Words and phrases are grouped by topic, and learning is self-paced. Available for iOS and Android. ($2.99)

Radio Yiddish Pour Tous

This free app enables you to listen to Yiddish music, including klezmer. Available for iOS and Android.
uTalk Classic Learn Yiddish. uTalk teaches essential everyday Yiddish words and phrases. Vocabulary is reinforced through quizzes, images and other tools. This app even enables you to record yourself and compare your pronunciation to that of native speakers! Available for iOS. ($7.99)

Yiddish Slang Dictionary and Quiz

This free app teaches Yiddish slang, as well as Yiddish words that you could use as slang. Available for both iOS and Android.

Tools for Enrichment

Yiddish Music on iTunes

Many Yiddish songs and albums are available for purchase on iTunes. A few notable works include selections by contemporary Montreal-based klezmer band Shtreiml as well as traditional songs such as “Oyfn Pripetshok.”

Teglicher Forverts

A free Yiddish-language e-mail newsletter published by the Yiddish Daily Forward. Content is about Jewish news and current global events. The website is navigable in both Yiddish and English, and a print version is also available.

Yiddish Book Center

On the Yiddish Book Center’s website, you can browse and read a variety of Yiddish works in the original. The digitized collection includes classics of Yiddish literature, such as S. Ansky’s drama Der Dybbuk, as well as Yiddish translations of English-language literature, such as Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book (Dos Bukh Fun Dzshongl). You also can download and print out PDFs free of charge.

Yiddish Pop

This website, from makers of Brainpop, offers short videos with recurring characters who have adventures, all in Yiddish. Each video is accompanied by a vocabulary list, grammar information, and exercises. The website also includes animated flashcards, grammar games, and lesson plans for teachers.

YIVO

In addition to its Yiddish-language courses, YIVO offers online and in-person courses in English that teach about Yiddish culture, literature and history, including Introduction to Old Yiddish (in-person), Folksong, Demons, and the Evil Eye: Folklore of Ashkenaz (online), and Discovering Ashkenaz: Jewish Life in Eastern Europe (online). More are in development. Sign up for its newsletter to receive updates on classes. Prices for in-person classes are $250 for members and $325 for non-members. Prices for online classes are $45-$80 for YIVO members and $60-$110 for non-members.

The post How to Learn Yiddish appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

Unlike the Indian tea chai, which is pronounced with the “ch” sound of “chocolate,” the Hebrew chai is pronounced with the same “kh” sound as in challah. Both words  rhyme with “high,” however.

Chai also refers to the number 18. That’s because each Hebrew letter has a numerical equivalent, and the sum of chet (numerical value of 8) and yud (numerical value of 10) is 18. As a result of its connection to the word for life, the number 18 is considered a special number in Jewish tradition. For this reason, Jews frequently make gifts or charitable contributions in multiples of $18.

In Hebrew, chai is often referred to in the plural form, chaim (חים), hence the boy’s name Chaim and the toast l’chaim (לחים), which, as anyone who has seen Fiddler on the Roof knows, means “to life.”

Chai pendants and other chai jewelry can be purchased at Judaica stores, many jewelry stores and online.

The post What Is the Meaning of Chai? appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

Acronyms — in Hebrew, Aramaic and transliteration — appear frequently in Jewish correspondence, books, spoken conversation and even on gravestones. Famous rabbis are frequently referred to by their acronyms. Even books themselves, like the Hebrew Bible are often identified in this abbreviated manner.

Modern Hebrew has its own ever-growing roster of acronyms, such as its FBI equivalent, Shabak (שׁבּ״כּ), also known as the Shin Bet. (Stands for for Sherut Habitakhon Haklali, or General Security Service.)

Below are some of the most common acronyms and abbreviations organized alphabetically (in English transliteration) by category. If no English initials appear, that means English initials aren’t used for this term. Did we miss an important one? Leave it in the comments below or email us at community@myjewishlearning.org.

General Acronyms and Abbreviations
On Gravestones
Rabbis and Sages
Modern Hebrew

General Acronyms and Abbreviations

A”H
ע״ה

Stands for: alav hashalom (עליו השלום), aleha hashalom (עליה השׁלום) or aleihem hashalom (עליהם השלום)
Pronounced: ah-LAHV hah-shah-LOHM, ah-lay-HAH hah-shah-LOHM
What it means: Hebrew for “peace be upon him.” Alternately “upon her” or “upon them.”
When it’s used: Following the name of someone who is dead.

BD”E
בּד״א

Stands for: Baruch dayan emet (ברוך דיין  אמת)
Pronounced:bah-ROOKH dah-YAHN eh-METT
What it means: Hebrew for “blessed is the true judge.”
When it’s used: Commonly said to a mourner upon learning of their loss.

B’’H
בּ״ה

Stands for: B’ezrat hashem (בּעזרת השׁם)
Pronounced: b’ez-RAHT hah-SHEM.
What it means: Hebrew for “with God’s help.”
Note: This acronym also stands for Baruch HaShem (בּרוך השׁם) or Blessed is God.

BS’’D
בּס׳׳ד

Stands for: B’siyata dishmaya (בסיעתא דשמיא)
Pronounced: bah-SAHD.
What it means: Aramaic for “with the help of Heaven.”
When it’s used: Some traditional Jews put these letters on the upper corner of every piece of written material.

IY”H
אי״ה

Stands for: Im yirtzeh hashem (אם ירצה השׁם)
Pronounced: eem yeer-TZEH hah-SHEM
What it means: Hebrew for “if it will be God’s will” or “if it is God’s will.”

N”Y
נ״י

Stands for: Nehro (נרו) or nehrah (נרה) yair (יאיר)
Pronounced: noon yood (the two Hebrew letters), or neh-ee-ROH yah-EER (for a man), neh-ee-RAH yah-EER (for a woman)
What it means: Hebrew for “his/her candle should burn bright.”
When it’s used: When writing a letter to someone who is alive. As in, “Dear David N”Y, How are you?….”

Shlita

שׁליט״א

Stands for: Sh’yichyeh l’orekh yamim tovim amen. ( שׁיחיה לאורך יומים טובים אמן
Pronounced: SHLEE-tuh
What it means: May he (or she) live for many good days, Amen.
When it’s used: Often said after the name of a prominent living rabbi.

Shotz
שׁ״צ

Stands for: Shaliach tzibur (שׁליח ציבּור)
Pronounced: SHAHTZ or shah-LEE-ahkh tzee-BOHR
What it means: Hebrew for the person leading a prayer service (literally “public emissary”).

Tanach
תנ״ך

Stands for: Torah (תורה), Nevi’im (נביאים), Ketuvim (כּתובים) — known in English as Torah (also Five Books of Moses), Prophets and Writings
Pronounced: tah-NAKH
What it means: The Hebrew Bible, which Christians refer to as the Old Testament.

Z’’L
ז״ל

Stands for: Zichrono (זכרונו) [for a man] or zichrona (זכרונה) [for a woman] l’bracha (לבּרכה)
Pronounced: zahl, or zee-chroh-NOH luh-brah-KHAH or zee-chroh-NAH luh-brah-KHAH
What it means: Hebrew literally for “memories for blessing,” usually translated to “may his or her memory be a blessing.”
When it’s used: Usually appears in parentheses after the name of a person who is deceased.

On Gravestones and in Cemeteries

N”E
נ״ע

Stands for: Nucha (נוחה) [for a woman] or nucho (נוחו) [for a man] eden (עדן).
Pronounced: noon ayin (the names of these two Hebrew letters) or noo-KHAH EH-den (for women) or noo-KHOH EH-den (for men)
What it means: Hebrew for “Let his/her rest be paradise (Eden).”

P”N
פּ״נ

Stands for: Po nikhbar (פּה נקבּר)
Pronounced: pay noon (the two Hebrew letters) or POH neek-BAHR
What it means: Hebrew for “here lies” or “here is buried.” A variation on this is pay tet (פּ״ט), which stands for  po tamun, “here is hidden.”

TNZBH

תנצבּ״ה

Stands for: Tehi nishmato tzrura btzror hachayim (תהי נשׁמתו צרורה בּצרור החיים)
Pronounced: tuh-HEE neesh-mah-TOE tzroo-RAH beh-TZROHR ha-khaye-EEM
What it means: Hebrew for “May his/her soul be bound up in the bond of life.”

Rabbis and Sages

Besht

בּשׁ״ט

Stands for: Ba’al Shem Tov (בּעל שׁם טוב)
Pronounced: Besht
What it means: Hebrew for “the owner/master of a good name,” this was the title given to Israel ben Eliezer (1698‑1760), the founder of Hasidic Judaism.

Rambam
רמבּ״ם

Stands for: Rabbi Moshe (Moses) Ben Maimon, also commonly known as Maimonides, the prolific and influential 12th-century scholar originally from Spain.
Pronounced: RAHM-bahm

Ramban
רמבּ״ן

Stands for: Rabbi Moshe (Moses) Ben Nahman, also commonly known as Nahmanides, a 13th-century Spanish scholar.

Pronounced: RAHM-bahn

Rashi
רשׁ״י

Stands for: Rabbi Shlomo (Solomon) Yitzchaki, the 11th-century French scholar best known for his comprehensive Bible commentaries.
Pronounced: RAH-shee

Modern Hebrew

Motzash
מוצ”ש

Stands for: motz-AY sha-BAHT (מוצאי שׁבּת)

Pronounced: moh-TZASH

What it means: Saturday night, after Shabbat officially ends.

Ramat Kal

רמטכ”ל‎

Stands for: ROHSH ha-mah-TEH ha-klah-LEE (ראשׁ המטה הכללי)
Pronounced: RAH-mat KAHL
What it means: Chief of staff, or commander-in-chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

Sofash

סופ״שׁ

Stands for: sohf shah-VOO-ah (סוף שׁבוע)
Pronounced: soh-FAHSH
What it means: Weekend

Tzahal

צה״ל

Stands for: Tzava hahagana l’Israel (צבא ההגנה לישראל)
Pronounced: TZAH-hall
What it means: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

The post A Guide to Jewish Acronyms and Abbreviations appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

While Yiddish cinema, an offshoot of the bustling Yiddish theater scene of the first half of the 20th century, thrived in the 1920s and ‘30s, few Yiddish films were made after the Holocaust. In fact, when the critically acclaimed Menashe hit theaters in 2017, it was said to be one of the first Yiddish-language feature films released in 70 years.

Nonetheless, we did some digging and found several Yiddish shorts and full-length films that you can stream on YouTube. These films are especially useful for Yiddish-language learners looking to sharpen their ears for the various dialects, as each makes use of a different variant of Yiddish. All feature English subtitles.

For more Yiddish content, subscribe to the  בית שלום עליכם BethShalomAleichem YouTube channel.

1) Menahem-Mendl From Tel-Aviv (2016)

This short film from Eran Torbiner and Yaad Biran is based on a feuilleton (a kind of literary supplement in newspapers) by Yosef Tunkel, a Yiddish writer from Belarus, that he wrote during a 1931 visit to pre-state Israel. The character Menahem-Mendel was created by Sholem Aleichem, one of the best-known Yiddish writers, and came to refer to someone who made money from nothing. (Running Time: 0:11:21)

Memorable Line: “Every guest here must go through these interrogations. It’s the way of nature.”

2) Yidl Mitn Fidl (1936)

Roughly translated as “The Little Yid (Jew) with his Violin,” this movie borrows its name from a popular Yiddish song. The story centers on the musician Arye and his daughter Itke’s experiences after they’ve been evicted from their home. Itke disguises herself as a boy to make their way less problematic. (Running Time: 0:30:44)

Memorable Line: “Don’t think so much, go and eat.”

3) Zay Gezunt, Jerusalem (2015)

“Zay Gezunt” is a benediction that literally means as “be healthy,” but is usually translated just as “be well.” This short is fiction, but is based on real events in 1920 Palestine (pre-state Israel), which was then under British rule. In it, writers from Poland, whose Jewish community was experiencing serious economic problems, travel to Israel and share what they have learned with fellow Yiddish speakers. You can view this film with either English or Hebrew subtitles. (Running time: 0:11:11)

Memorable Line: “A people that wants to live shouldn’t remember so much and so far.”

4) Tevye (1939)

This is a brief excerpt from a film by Maurice Schwartz, a Galician-born film actor and director in the United States. (The full 96-minute film can be purchased on DVD here.) The film is based on the same Sholem Aleichem story that would later inspire the hit musical Fiddler on the Roof. In this excerpt, Tevye’s loyalty to Jewish faith and tradition are challenged when his daughter, Chava, falls for the son of a Ukrainian peasant. (Running time: 0:04:17)

Memorable line: “I’ve squared my accounts with the Lord…We’re even.”

5) Samuel 613 (2015)

This short by Billy Lundy depicts the growing pains of a young Hasidic man. Using “Samuel 613” as his online dating profile, Shmilu, attempts to reconcile his Hasidic culture with life in 21st-century Britain. This film is available with Hebrew and Russian subtitles, as well as English.  (Running time: 0:15:45)

Memorable line: “How the (heck) does a parrot speak Tehillim (psalms)??”

The post Five Yiddish Films You Can Stream Right Now for Free appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

 דרעמל

Dreml (DREH-ml): Nap (noun)

Sample Sentence: “Classes today have worn me out — I need to cop a dreml before I do any homework.”

אונטערזאכן

Unterzakhn. (OON-ter-zakhn) Literally “under-things,” unterzakhn refers to undergarments. Unterzakhn is also the title of a graphic novel by Leela Corman.

“Pull up your britches; your unterzakhn are showing!”

קאשע-בולבע

Kashe-Bulbe (KAH-sheh BOOL-beh): Want to expand your culinary Yiddish beyond kreplach and kugel? Kashe-Bulbe means mashed potatoes, and is more fun to say than its English equivalent.

“My mom must put a pound of butter in her kashe-bulbe, but it’s so good I don’t care!”

מלאכה

Malokhe (mah-LOH-kheh): This is a word borrowed from Hebrew, and it means work.

“Just one more hour of this malokhe and I get to head home!”

 ניט אזוי איי-איי-איי

Nit azoy ay-ay-ay (NEET ah-ZOY aye-aye-aye; the “ay” should be pronounced like the pronoun “I”): This phrase means ‘”not that great.”

“The band usually puts on a great performance, but last night’s show was nit azoy ay-ay-ay.”

רינגלהעפט

Ringlheft (RIN-gul-heft) This is hands-down my favorite word in Yiddish. It refers to a three-ring binder and is definitely an attention-grabber.

“I often find myself wishing I still had my old Trapper Keeper ringlheft.”

 ווערען זאל פון דיר א בלינצע

Veren zol fun dir a blintsa (VEHR-en zol fun DEER ah BLIN-tseh): Yelling this at someone who cuts you off is more entertaining than using more off-color language since you’re telling the offender that they should turn into a blintz!

It’s already a sentence; use it when your buttons have been pushed too far. Make sure to put some attitude behind it! (Some self-righteous fist-shaking, perhaps?)

זיסעלע

Zissele (ZISS-uh-leh) Use this term of endearment instead of the blander ‘”sweetie,” “sugar” or similar English words.

“Would you like the last cheese blintz, Zissele?”

שטוב-מענטש

Shtub-mensch (SHTOOB-mensh, with the “oo” pronounced as in “book”): The literal translation of shtub-mensch is room- or house-person, but is used to mean roommate. English already uses “mensch” to describe a good, decent person., so why not give it an upgrade?

“Even though he’s kind of cheap, my shtub-mensch is a real mensch.”

שושקע

Shushkeh (SHOOSH-keh, with the “oo” pronounced as in “book”): This Yiddish word for “whisper” literally sounds like what it means.

“The museum was so quiet, you could easily hear the slightest shushkeh from two rooms away.”

The post The 10 Best Yiddish Words You’ve Never Heard Of appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

In addition to the traditional route of consulting books or signing up for an in-person class through a synagogue, Jewish community center or university — or traveling to Israel where there are myriad in-person courses and programs — you now can choose from an array of online courses, apps and software. Or, you can set aside a summer vacation for a full-scale immersion program in rustic Vermont!

Selecting the Right Program for You

In sifting among the options, think about your goals, your level of self-discipline and how much time you are able to commit to the endeavor. Are you looking simply to decode so you can follow along in the prayer book? Do you want to study the Bible in its original? Seeking to learn a few phrases to use on a vacation in Israel? Or are you hoping to become fluent in conversational Hebrew?

Vardit Ringvald, director of the School of Hebrew at Middlebury College and a longtime consultant to a variety of institutions that teach Hebrew, also suggests you think about your learning style. “Some people are very independent” and can teach themselves from a book or self-paced program, but others need the social interaction and structure of studying with other people at a scheduled time.

While apps can be engaging and are useful for introducing and reinforcing vocabulary, Ringvald says, they lack “real interaction,” which can make it hard for students to progress from intermediate to advanced or “be able to use the language in real-life situations.”

Although many beginners are interested in focusing on reading or biblical/prayer book Hebrew exclusively, Ringvald encourages learners to jump in with conversational Hebrew.

“Modern Hebrew will reinforce your classical Hebrew,” she says. “It’s not a linear process where first you learn the alphabet, second you learn to read and third you learn the language. Doing it all together is key to success.”

Below is a sampling of online courses and resources organized by category and alphabetically. Did we miss something important? Have you tried some of the programs below and had positive or negative experiences? Do you see something that needs to be updated? Let us know by emailing community@myjewishlearning.org.

Explore My Jewish Learning’s courses for learning Hebrew:

Hebrew Word of the Day

Learn Hebrew one day at a time through this email series! Each day, you will receive a Hebrew word in your inbox, as well as its pronunciation, definition and other helpful information. Sign up here.

Introduction to Hebrew with Rabbi Peretz Rodman

Learn how to read Hebrew or brush up your skills in just six sessions with Rabbi Peretz Rodman! By the end of the series, participants will be able to “sound out” any word in Hebrew (with vowels).

Hebrew Language for the High Holidays

This course is led by Dr. Tamar Kamionkowski, longtime professor for Biblical Studies at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, who teaches vocabulary, grammar, and interpretation of Hebrew prayers, with an emphasis on the High Holiday liturgy. Exercises and PDFs for each session can be found at the Kamionkowski Beit Midrash website.

Self-Paced Courses/Lessons

These lessons can be done completely on your own schedule, but they do not include interaction with a real person.

EasyLearnHebrew.com
Focused on Hebrew reading; seven lessons (accessible on computers and mobile devices), includes flashcards, quizzes, videos and other resources.

LearnHebrewPod.com
Can sample online Hebrew learning tools, including audio lessons, games and quizzes, for free before you buy it. Accessible on computers and mobile devices. In addition to conversational Hebrew lessons, offers a separate reading class, as well as a prayers class. Beginners can try out one month for free.

Mango Languages 
Offers both biblical and modern Hebrew. Accessible on computers and mobile devices. Available for free through participating libraries in the United States, Canada and several other countries, or you can purchase a monthly or annual subscription.

Pimsleur
Mostly audio, but includes reading instruction too. They promise, “Thirty minutes a day is all it takes, and we get you speaking right from the first day.” Available for free through some public libraries, for sale on own site and Amazon. Can be purchased five lessons at a time, one level at a time, or all three levels in one package . You can also download one free lesson from their official website.

Rosetta Stone
Software package, accessible on computer and mobile devices — can pay for a subscription by the month, year, two-year. Or can pay one-time fee to download to computer (no mobile access, but can use without Internet connection and can be used by up to five people). Has speech-recognition software to provide feedback on your accent/pronunciation. Available for free at some public libraries. Downloads and discs also available through Amazon.

Online Courses With Teachers or Tutors

The below all include synchronous sessions (whether via Skype, Webinar or other software) where you can see and speak with the teacher and other students.

Rosen School of Hebrew
Classes in small groups or one-on-one with Israel-based teachers certified in teaching Hebrew as a second language. Eight levels are offered, and a separate program for children is also available. Option to take classes once or twice weekly. Offers separate biblical Hebrew classes through a partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Hebrew College
Various levels of Hebrew courses offered online, on a college semester schedule (Fall, Spring, Summer), with option to take for college credit or not. (For credit is more expensive). Courses include weekly live class session plus assignments and exercises.

Hebrew Homepage (also available for children)
Weekly 30-minute one-on-one sessions with tutor using a webinar platform. Curriculums include learning the Aleph Bet, navigating prayer book Hebrew and modern conversational Hebrew.

Ulpan La-Inyan
Offers virtual group and private lessons in Modern Hebrew; also organizes in-personal classes in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Instruction is available at multiple levels, as well as special business curriculums and courses for kids.

Live-Hebrew.net
One-on-one 30-minute or 45-minute sessions via Skype, plus homework and exercises. Also offer video course to teach beginners how to read in Hebrew and free e-book “First 100 words in Hebrew: what a tourist in Israel should know.”

Apps and Podcasts

A search on the App Store or Google Play will turn up on an overwhelming quantity of apps, many of them free, that teach Hebrew reading/decoding and sometimes conversational skills. We selected the following ones because they were personally recommended by individual educators. If you’ve had a good or bad experience using these or others, please let us know!

Duolingo
Offers a placement test and lots of lessons, games and activities. They claim it is “so fun that people would prefer picking up new skills over playing a game.” Can be used on computer or on iOS or Android mobile devices.

Hebrew Podcasts
Podcasts are approximately 10-15 minutes each and are based on short dialogues on a wide variety of topics. Despite the very basic-looking website, the technology works smoothly. All audio lessons can be streamed for free, but a subscription is required to download them and to access supporting materials, such as transcripts, flash cards, games and quizzes. The more than 150 podcasts (new advanced ones are added monthly) range from beginner to advanced. Although there is a lesson teaching the aleph-bet, it is not clear whether this would be sufficient to teach reading.

Memrise
Interactive lessons and activities available on desktop computer and mobile devices. Enables users to create customized flash cards and other materials, compete with friends and form or join study groups. According to Memrise, the program “uses clever science to adapt to your personal learning style and performance.”

Tools for Enrichment

EKS Hebrew Flashcards
Virtual Hebrew-English flashcards for both Biblical Hebrew (includes 335 words) and Prayerbook Hebrew (includes 332 words), with audio feature to test learner’s pronunciation. Available as iPhone or Android apps.

Streetwise Hebrew
Short (approximately 8-minute) and entertaining podcasts about Modern Hebrew, focusing on slang and etymology.

Intensive Immersion Experiences

Middlebury Immersion Program
Participants live on campus and commit to speaking only Hebrew for the entire three-week or seven-week session. Rigorous daily classroom instruction for various levels, including beginner, plus organized all-in-Hebrew activities, such as soccer and theater. Offers both Modern and Classical Hebrew.

Israeli Ulpans
Numerous intensive Hebrew programs (called ulpans) are offered throughout Israel, ranging from one week to five months in length and ranging widely in price. They include Ulpan Israeli, Ulpan Etzion and programs at major universities, such as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University. Click here for a directory of Israeli ulpans compiled by Nefesh B’Nefesh, a group that promotes and facilitates Jewish immigration to Israel.

The post How to Learn Hebrew appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

We have recipes (usually more than one) for all the specific foods listed. Did we miss something? Email us your suggestions to community@myjewishlearning.com.

Hungry for more? Visit The Nosher, our lively food blog!

Words About Eating and Meals

Bentsching: (Yiddish) Reciting Grace after Meals, or Birkat Hamazon.

Bracha: (Hebrew) A blessing.

B’tayavon: (Hebrew) Literally “in appetite,” used to convey “bon appetit.”

Fress: (Yiddish) To eat copiously and without restraint. (Rhymes with dress.)

Hamotzi: (Hebrew) Blessing said over bread. On Shabbat, Hamotzi is usually said over challah.

Nosh: (Yiddish) To snack. (Rhymes with posh.)

Potchke: (Yiddish) To fuss, or mess around, as in “I was potchke-ing around in the kitchen, when I came up with this recipe.”

Schmear: (Yiddish) A generous spread, usually used to refer to an ample portion of cream cheese applied to a bagel.

Zemirot: (Hebrew) Songs sung at the Shabbat table.

Words Related to Jewish Dietary Laws (Kashrut)

Cholov Yisroel: (Hebrew, also spelled Halav Yisrael) Dairy products produced by Jewish farmers. Some ultra-Orthodox Jews will only eat kosher dairy products that are also cholov yisroel, while others eat any dairy products that are certified kosher.

Fleishig: (Yiddish) Meaty, an adjective to identify foods containing meat or dishes/utensils that are used for meat. Jewish dietary laws prohibit combining meat and dairy foods.

Glatt: (Yiddish) A type of kosher meat, whereby the lungs of the animal were smooth, without any adhesions that could potentially prohibit the animal as unkosher, an issue only applicable to animals, not fowl or non-meat products. (Rhymes with pot.)

Hechsher: (Hebrew) Kosher certification for foods, and some other items, a label that identifies a product as complying with Jewish law.

Kasher: (Hebrew) To make something kosher, usually referring to dishes, cookware or a kitchen.

Kosher: (Hebrew) Adhering to kashrut, the traditional Jewish dietary laws.

Mashgiach: (Hebrew) A kashrut supervisor, someone who ensures that a product or restaurant can be certified as kosher.

Milchig: (Yiddish) Dairy, as an adjective to describe food containing dairy, or dishes used for foods containing dairy. Jewish dietary laws prohibit combining meat and dairy foods.

Pareve: (Hebrew) An adjective to describe food that is neither meat nor dairy and that can be served with either.

Pessadik or Pesachdik: (Yiddish) An adjective meaning kosher for Passover.

Treyf: (Yiddish) Not kosher.

Classic Jewish Dishes/Foods

Babka: A dense bread that’s swirled with chocolate or cinnamon and often topped with nuggets of cinnamon-sugar streusel.

Bagel: On the off chance you’ve been living under a rock for the past 50 years and never saw a bagel, it’s a delicious boiled-then-baked roll with a hole, perfect topped with cream cheese and lox. Try these 12 recipes for using up stale bagels.

Bamia: Libyan Jewish okra dish.

Bialy: A bagel-like roll, but with a matted finish, no hole and almost always stuffed with cooked onions. Try a low-carb bialy here.

Blintz: A thin, crepe-like pancake usually rolled up around fruit or sweet cheese. Traditionally served on Shavuot. Watch our video showing how to make them. Or check out our list of  16 blintz recipes.

Boureka: A savory serving-sized Middle Eastern pastry wrapped in fillo dough.

Borscht: An Eastern European soup containing beets and other vegetables. There are hot and cold versions.

Challah: A braided bread traditionally served on Shabbat. Find scores of challah recipes here.

Cholent: A slow-cooked stew, traditionally served for Shabbat lunch.

Chrain: A spicy horseradish sauce used for topping gefilte fish.

Egg Cream: A sweet drink made with seltzer, chocolate syrup and milk.

Falafel: Fried chickpea fritters served throughout the Middle East and considered Israel’s national dish. Learn 13 ways to eat falafel.

Gefilte Fish: Ground fish mixed with matzah meal and other ingredients and rolled into balls or cylinders, which are then poached or boiled. Traditionally served on Passover and Shabbat.

Halvah: A Middle Eastern candy made from tahini (sesame paste). Try these 10 halvah recipes from around the world.

Hamantaschen: Triangle-shaped cookies traditionally served on Purim.

Hummus: Middle Eastern dip made of pureed chickpeas, tahini, garlic and lemon juice. This video explains how to make simple hummus.

Gefilte Fish: Ground, deboned fish (usually whitefish, carp, pike and/or mullet), mixed with eggs, matzah meal, and other seasoning, which is then boiled or poached (but can also be baked). Traditionally served on Passover.

Kasha: Buckwheat or groats, prepared in a pilaf and often served with bow tie noodles. Try our lightened-up version.

Kichels: Bow tie pastries that are fried and often sprinkled with sugar.

Kishke: A sausage-like dish, traditionally packed inside beef intestine.

Kneidlach: Yiddish for matzah ball, a dumpling made of matzah meal, eggs and oil, usually served in chicken soup. Check out our many recipes for matzah balls and watch our video tutorial on how to make matzah balls.

Knish: A savory serving-sized Eastern European pie frequently stuffed with potato filling.

Kreplach: A triangle-shaped dumpling, usually filled with meat and served in chicken soup.

Kubbeh: An Iraqi Jewish dumpling soup.

Kugel: A sweet or savory baked casserole usually made with some type of starch (often noodles or potatoes), eggs and a fat.

Labne: A thick yogurt-based cheese, often served with breakfast in Israel. Try this labne ice cream.

Latke: A potato pancake, traditionally served on Hanukkah. We have a LOT of latke recipes to try.

Lox: Smoked salmon, traditionally served on a bagel with cream cheese. Learn about the different kinds of lox here.

Mandelbrot or Mandel Bread: Biscotti-like cookies.

Matzah: Unleavened bread traditionally eaten on Passover.

Matzah Ball: See kneidlach (above)

Matzah Brei: A classic Passover breakfast dish of matzah and scrambled eggs, which can be served sweet or savory.

Rugelach: Cookie usually made with a cream-cheese dough and twisted with cinnamon or chocolate. Our video guides you through the rugelach-making process.

Sabich: An Iraqi Jewish sandwich containing fried eggplant, a hard-boiled egg, hummus and Israeli salad.

Schav: A cold sorrel soup.

Schmaltz: Rendered chicken (or other poultry) fat. Learn how to make it and what to do with it.

Shakshuka: North African egg-and-tomato dish. Watch our video on how to make shakshuka.

Shawarma (also spelled shwarma): Spiced meat grilled on a vertical spit, usually served in a pita. This is popular throughout the Middle East, often made with lamb and served with yogurt sauce; in Israel (and in kosher restaurants elsewhere), it is often made with turkey and served with tahini sauce.

Tzimmes: A sweet carrot dish traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah, it often includes meat, sweet potatoes, onions and dried fruit.

The post Guide to Jewish Food Terms appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

The Greek‑speaking Jewish communities, which the immigrants from Spain and Portugal later called “Romaniots” or “Gregos,” were all under Ottoman rule at the time of the fall of Constantinople — renamed Istanbul — in 1453. The Arabic‑speaking Jews (“Mustarabs” in the idiom of the Iberian refugees), were the other important indigenous group. They lived in “Arabistan”–countries conquered mainly during the reign of Selim I (1512‑1520) and of his son Suleiman the Magnificent (1520‑1566). For all the Jews the conquest was a salvation, as their situation in the 14th and 15th centuries under Byzantine and Mamluk rule had been extremely difficult.

Haven for Jewish Refugees from Spain and Portugal

Then, in the wake of the expulsion from Spain (1492) and the forced conversion in Portugal (1497), tens of thousands of Iberian Jews arrived in Ottoman territories. As all that was required of them was the payment of a poll‑tax and acknowledgement of’ the superiority of Islam, the empire became a haven for these refugees.

From early in the 16th century, the Jewish community in the Ottoman Empire became the largest in the world. Constantinople and Salonika each had a community of approximately 20,000 people. Immigration from the Iberian peninsula, arriving in several waves throughout the 16th century, also transformed the character of Ottoman Jewry. Far more numerous than the local Jews, the Spaniards and the Portuguese soon submerged the Romaniots, and the indigenous population was assimilated into the culture and community of the new immigrants.

After the conquest of Constantinople, Muhammad II, wishing to aggrandize the city and make it into a capital befitting a great empire, brought into it many people from the provinces. This migration affected the Jewish community and changed the character it had acquired during the Byzantine period.

The economic and religious situation was indeed ameliorated; but many of the older Romaniot congregations disappeared, their memory preserved only in the names of several synagogues in Istanbul. The congregations which replaced them in the capital as well as in Salonika or in Tiriya in western Anatolia, were purely Spanish.

Jewish Prosperity and Cultural Blossoming

Within the communities, the congregations were organized according to the geographic origin of their members. Grouped around synagogues, the Jewish organizations provided all the religious, legal, educational, and social services, thus creating an almost autonomous society. Until the end of the 16th century, these institutions were very flexible, allowing significant mobility within them. The geographic origin of its members soon lost its importance, and the development of the congregation was determined by power struggles between rich individuals or groups with conflicting interests.

Throughout the 16th century, the Jews in the Ottoman Empire enjoyed remarkable prosperity. The empire was rapidly expanding, and economic demand rose accordingly. Thus the Jewish population could easily enter into trade with Christian Europe, and into industries such as wool weaving that were only then beginning to evolve. Under the leadership of figures like Don Joseph Nasi and Solomon ibn Yaish, they could take advantage of their worldwide network of family connections and their knowledge of European affairs in order to promote the concerns of the Sublime Porte, as well as to protect their personal interests and those of their community.

This was also a time of cultural blossoming: Hebrew law was enriched by Joseph Caro’s Shulchan Aruch (the “Prepared Table”) which was to become the authoritative code for the entire Jewish nation, while from Safed in Palestine emerged the Lurianic Kabbalah of Ha-Ari, one of the most influential trends in Jewish mysticism. It seems that these communities of exiles, suddenly liberated from the danger of extinction, could give expression to an outburst of cultural forces which had been stifled by centuries of persecution.

Reprinted with permission from Eli Barnavi’s A Historical Atlas of the Jewish People, published by Schocken Books.

The post The Sephardic Exodus to the Ottoman Empire appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

No one knows for sure why this is, but scholars theorize that it has to do with the medium in which the language was originally written. Left to right languages are convenient for right-handed people writing in ink. By writing from left to right, the scribe avoids smearing what they’ve written. 

Find out why Hebrew is of central importance in Judaism.

By contrast, scholars believe Hebrew was initially inscribed in stone. For a right-handed person chiseling a tablet, it is most convenient to hold an awl in the left hand and strike it with a mallet held in the right, naturally progressing from right to left across a stone surface. The large blocky letters are also conducive to being rendered in simple, straight marks. By the time parchment and papyrus became the preferred media for writing, Hebrew script was already fixed. 

Writing from right to left makes writing Hebrew by hand a little more awkward than some other languages. As any right-handed sofer (Torah scribe) will likely tell you, inking Hebrew scrolls can be a messy business. Nevertheless, since ancient times Hebrew scribes have developed many beautiful versions of it for sacred Jewish texts, like the sefer Torah and mezuzah scroll. Because these traditional styles are  not conducive to writing quickly by hand, Hebrew also has a script just for handwriting.

Incidentally, the contemporary Hebrew letters — which have remained largely unchanged over the last 2,000 years — are not the original script of the language. An older Hebrew script called paleo-Hebrew was used up until the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE (and in some contexts afterward). That script was also written from right to left.

Want to learn Hebrew one day at a time? Click here to sign up for our Hebrew Word of the Day email.

The post Why is Hebrew Written from Right to Left? appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

In Hebrew, the letters are all consonants and the language is comprehensible when written without vowels. However, some texts do include vowels, which are represented in writing by a set of marks, mostly dots and dashes, written under and between the letters. Sacred texts and books for children who are still learning the language are commonly written with vowels. Other texts, like newspapers and books for adults, are written without.

Unlike English, Hebrew does not have uppercase and lowercase versions of each letter. However, some letters do have a second form that is used in the final position of a word. This is because in ancient times Hebrew was written without spaces between words and these letters helped differentiate where one word ended and another began.

Want to learn Hebrew one day at a time? Click here to sign up for our Hebrew Word of the Day email.

Modern Hebrew has a separate script for handwriting, although scribes use the block script pictured below when handwriting sacred scrolls like a mezuzah or a Torah.

Each modern Hebrew letter, as well as its corresponding English sound and its numerical value, is listed below. Note that two letters make no sound at all. Scroll all the way down to see the vowels as well.

Click here for a printable guide to the Aleph Bet.

Aleph
Sound: Silent
Numerical value: 1
Example: אִמָא (ima, meaning “mother”)

Bet / Vet
Sound: B with the dagesh (dot); V without
Numerical value: 2
Example: בַּיִת (bayit, meaning “house”)

Gimmel
Sound: G
Numerical value: 3
Example: גָמָל (gamal, meaning “camel”)

Dalet
Sound: D
Numerical value: 4
Example: דָג (dag, meaning “fish”)

Hay
Sound: H
Numerical value: 5
Example: הַר (har, meaning “mountain”)

Vav
Sound: V
Numerical value: 6
Example: וֶרֶד (vered, meaning “rose”)

Zayin
Sound: Z
Numerical value: 7
Example: זָכוֹר (zachor, meaning “remember”)

Chet
Sound: Gutteral Ch/Kh
Numerical value: 8
Example: חַג (chag, meaning “holiday” or “festival”)

Tet
Sound: T
Numerical value: 9
Example: טִיסָּה (tisa, meaning “flight”)

Yud
Sound: Y
Numerical value: 10
Example: יְהוּדִי (yehudi, meaning “Jewish”)

Khaf / Kaf
Sound: K with the dagesh (dot); gutteral CH/KH without
Numerical value: 20
Example: כִּיפָּה (kippah, meaning “yarmulke” or “dome”)

Lamed
Sound: L
Numerical value: 30
Example: לָשׁוֹן (lashon, meaning “language” or “tongue”)

Mem
Sound: M
Numerical value: 40
Example: מְנוֹרָה (menorah, meaning “lamp”)

Nun
Sound: N
Numerical value: 50
Example: נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, meaning “soul”)

Samech
Sound: S
Numerical value: 60
Example: סֵפֶר (sefer, meaning “book”)

Ayin
Sound: Silent
Numerical value: 70
Example: עִבְרִית (ivrit, meaning “Hebrew”)

Pey / Fey
Sound: P with the dagesh (dot); F without
Numerical value: 80
Example: פִּלְפֵּל (pilpel, meaning “pepper”)

Tzadi
Sound: Tz or Ts
Numerical value: 90
Example: צְדָקָה (tzedakah, meaning “charity”)

Kuf
Sound: K
Numerical value: 100
Example: קָהָל (kahal, meaning “community”)

Reysh
Sound: R
Numerical value: 200
Example: רַב (rav, meaning “rabbi”)

Shin / Sin
Sound: Sh when the dot is on the right; S when the dot is on the left
Numerical value: 300
Example: שַׁבָּת (shabbat, meaning “sabbath”)

Taf
Sound: T
Numerical value: 400
Example: תְּפִילָה (tefilah, meaning “prayer”)

Final Forms (Sofit)

Five letters have a distinct final form that is used if the letter ends a word.

Mem Sofit
Sound: M
Example: אָדוֹם (adom, meaning “red”)

Nun Sofit
Sound: N
Example: יַיִן (ya-yeen, meaning “wine”)

Tzadi Sofit
Sound: Tz or Ts
Example: אֶרֶץ (eretz, meaning “land”)

Pey / Fey Sofit
Sound: F
Example: חֹרֶף (choref, meaning “winter”)

Kaf / Khaf Sofit
Sound: Guttural Kh
Example: מֶלֶך (melekh, meaning “king”)

Vowels (Nikkudot)

Each vowel sound in Hebrew corresponds with a nikkud (Hebrew for “dot”). Many prayer books and dictionaries include nikkudot, while Hebrew-language literature, newspapers, signs and other written materials typically do not.

Kamatz
Sound: ah
Example: אָדוֹם (adom, meaning “red”)

Patach
Sound: ah
Example: אַחֲרֵי (acharei, meaning “after”)

Sh’va
Sound: uh or ih
Example: בְּיַחַד (beyachad, meaning “together”)

Hiriq
Sound: ee
Example: מִלִּים (mee-leem, meaning “words”)

Segol
Sound: eh
Example: אֶשׁכּוֹלִיוֹת  (eshkoli’ot, meaning “grapefruit”)

Shuruk
Sound: oo
Example: צְנִיעוּת  (tzniut, meaning “modesty”)

Cholam
Sound: oh
Example: עוֹלָם  (olam, meaning “world”)

Kubutz
Sound: oo
Example: שֻׁלְחָן (shulchan, meaning “table”)

Nikkudot can also be used with consonants to distinguish between two similar sounds. The dagesh that distinguishes the letters bet/vet, khaf/kaf, and pey/fey is one example.

The post How To Read the Hebrew Alphabet appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

Hebrew is the language of the Jewish Bible and the modern state of Israel. Jews have traditionally referred to it as lashon hakodesh, the holy tongue — the language of God and the angels. Jewish mystics believe its words, even its letters, hold enormous power. But Hebrew has long been used for mundane purposes as well. In the medieval period, Jewish merchants and travelers used the sacred language as a way to communicate with Jews in other parts of the world. Today, it is the first language of millions of people, most of them living in Israel.

There’s no better way to get started with Hebrew than by learning some basic greetings. Whether you’re planning a trip to Israel or you’re just at a synagogue or visiting a local Israeli restaurant, give some of these a try:

Shalom (shah-LOME): The Hebrew word for peace, which literally means wholeness, also serves as the best-known Hebrew greeting. It also doubles as “good-bye.”

Shalom aleichem (shah-LOME ah-LAY-khem): A fuller greeting than a simple shalom is the phrase shalom aleichem, which means “peace be upon you.” The traditional response is to reverse the words and say it back: aleichem shalom. Shalom Aleichem is also the name of a poem traditionally sung at the Friday night Shabbat dinner table.

Mah Shlomcha/Mah Shlomeich (mah shlome-KHAH, mah shlo-MAYKH): Literally: “What is your peace?” This phrase is a casual way to say hello and inquire how someone is doing. Mah Shlomcha is directed to someone who is male and mah shlomeich is for a female.

Mah Nishma (mah neesh-MAH): This one means “What is heard?” It’s another friendly way to ask someone how they are doing.

Mah Koreh (mah ko-REH): What’s happening?

Mah Hadash (mah khah-DAHSH): What’s new? 

Mah Ha’Inyanim (mah ha-een-yah-NEEM): Literally: “What are the matters?” In other words: What’s going on?

Baruch Haba/Bruchah Haba’ah (bah-ROOKH ha-BA/broo-KHAH ha-ba-AH): Welcome. The literal translation is “blessed is the one who comes.” Baruch Haba is used for someone who is male, while bruchah haba’ah is for someone who is female.

Boker tov (BO-ker tove): Good morning. The traditional response is boker or, meaning morning of light.

Tzohorayim tovim (tzo-ho-RAH-yeem to-VEEM): Good afternoon.

Erev tov (EH-rev tov): Good evening.

Laila tov (LY-lah tov): Good night.

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Looking for Hebrew greetings for special occasions? Check out these other resources:

How to greet someone on Shabbat.

How to greet someone on Rosh Hashanah.

How to greet someone on Yom Kippur.

How to greet someone on Passover.

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Bissel (bisl)— A little bit, as in “I just want to eat a bissel right now.”

Bubbe (bubby) — Grandmother

Chutzpah —Nerve, extreme arrogance, brazen presumption, confidence, as in “It took real chutzpah for him to ask for a raise when he kept showing up late for every appointment.”

Daven — To pray

Klutz — A clumsy person

Kvell — To experience pride in someone else, typically one’s children, as in “David decided to go into oncology, and I’m just kvelling.”

Kvetch — To complain, whine or fret, as in “He likes to kvetch at me when we serve kasha varniskes, because he doesn’t like it.”

Mensch (mentsch)— Literally “man,” an honorable, decent, stand-up person, as in, “I don’t care who you marry, as long as he’s a mensch.”

Meshuggeneh — Crazy, ridiculous, insane, as in, “He must be meshuggeneh to think he can wear that getup to a funeral.” (A related word is mishegoss, or craziness.)

Mishpocheh (mishpokhe, mishpucha)— Family, or someone who is “like family”

Nosh — To eat or nibble, as in “I’d like something to nosh on before dinner.” Can also be used as a noun to mean any kind of food.

Oy vey—An expression of woe, as in “Oy vey, we left the gefilte fish at the grocery store!”

Read: The history of the expression “Oy vey.”

Putz —A jerk, or a self-made fool, but this word literally means penis.

Schlep — To carry or travel with difficulty, as in “We shlepped here all the way from New Jersey.”

Schmooze (shmooze)— Chat, make small talk, converse about nothing in particular.

Schmuck (shmuck)—A jerk, or a self-made fool, but this word literally means penis.

Shande (shanda, shonda) — A scandal, embarrassment.

Shmatte — A rag or old garment.

Tachlis —Nuts and bolts, practical, concrete matters.

Tchotchke (tchatchke)— Knick-knack, little toy, collectible or giftware.

Tuches (tuchis) — Butt, behind, sometimes shortened to tush or tushy.

Zayde (zaide)— Grandfather

The post The 22 Best Yiddish Words to Know appeared first on My Jewish Learning.

Ben-Yehuda conceived of Jewish nationalism as both the return to the historical homeland in the land of Israel, as well as the revival of the Hebrew language. To accomplish the latter, Ben-Yehuda needed to inspire a near impossible feat: transform Hebrew, which for centuries had been used only in study, into a modern spoken language.

A Youthful Yearning

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda was born Eliezer Perelman in Luzhky, Lithuania, in 1858. The son of a Chabad Hasid, Ben-Yehuda was given a traditional religious education at a local yeshiva. The rosh yeshiva, or head of the school, was secretly a maskil, or enlightened thinker. He introduced Ben-Yehuda to secular literature and piqued the boy’s interest in non-religious study.

Eventually Ben-Yehuda transferred to a Russian school, but he remained obsessed with modern Hebrew literature, eagerly consuming Hebrew periodicals, especially those concerned with Jewish nationalism. For Ben-Yehuda, nationalism became a way to embrace Hebrew without religion.

Ben-Yehuda found further inspiration in European nationalist movements. In the 19th century, Italy and Greece — both countries with ties to ancient lands and languages — became independent nations. In 1877, the year of Ben-Yehuda’s graduation from high school, the Russo-Turkish war began and brought prominence to the Bulgarian national movement that sought independence from the Ottomans. Envisioning the Jews as a nation akin to the Bulgarians, Greeks, and Italians, Ben-Yehuda became determined to help create a nation where the Jews could adopt Hebrew as their national language.

Soon after, Ben-Yehuda learned that Jewish communities were using Hebrew to communicate when other languages wouldn’t suffice. (Historians now know that this phenomenon had existed since the Middle Ages in Europe and the Near East.) In Jerusalem, for example, Jews spoke Yiddish, French, or Arabic colloquially.

However, in the rare occurrences when inter-communal affairs required verbal communication, a modified form of medieval Hebrew was the common language. The Hebrew spoken in these contexts was far from what would be required for a national, modern language, but the news nevertheless inspired Ben-Yehuda to move to Palestine.

Arriving in Jerusalem in 1881, Ben-Yehuda immediately put his plan of Hebrew revival into action. He left behind his birth name and with his wife, Deborah Jonas, he created the first Modern Hebrew-speaking household. He also raised the first modern Hebrew-speaking child, Ben-Zion Ben-Yehuda.

In Jerusalem, the secular Ben-Yehuda tried to use Hebrew to attract religious Jews to the nationalist cause. He and his wife wore religious garb — he grew out his beard and payot, and his wife wore a wig, trying to pass as observant. But the ultra-Orthodox Jews living in Jerusalem, for whom Hebrew was used only for holy purposes such as studying Torah, saw through Ben-Yehuda’s guise. Sensing his secular-nationalist intentions, they rejected him and his language. They went so far as to declare a herem, excommunicating Ben-Yehuda.

This setback did little to deter Ben-Yehuda from concentrating on his project. He continued to speak Hebrew at home and convinced other families — who were part of the growing community of secular Jewish nationalists in Palestine — to do the same.

At home, Ben-Yehuda used his son to test the viability of the Hebrew language project; if a child can be brought up speaking entirely Hebrew, then an entire nation should be able to adopt the language as well. This required extreme measures on the part of Ben-Yehuda, who tried to prevent his son from playing with other children and from hearing other languages spoken — so afraid was the father of failing in his endeavor

The other elements of Ben-Yehuda’s revival project were the use of Hebrew as a language of instruction and study in schools, and the creation of a vocabulary that would make Hebrew a tenable language for national use. Ben-Yehuda gained the support of educators who were enthusiastic Jewish nationalists and identified with his project. Teaching Hebrew in schools was also a practical solution to the problem of immigrants from different countries speaking a variety of languages.

Ben-Yehuda began collecting material for the creation of a Modern Hebrew dictionary when he arrived in Israel, and never ceased expanding the language, frequently spending 18-hour workdays developing new words and writing articles.

Lists of words were published in Hebrew language periodicals, particularly Hatzevi, which Ben-Yehuda founded. In 1910 Ben-Yehuda began publication of his dictionary, but the full 17-volume set of the Complete Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Hebrew wasn’t completed until well after his death, in 1922.

A Legacy of Language

Ben-Yehuda’s life was exemplary because, despite the small successes and failures of his various projects, his dedication to speaking Hebrew and cultivating the language inspired others to do the same. In his later years, he co-founded and established the ruling principles for the Va’ad Halashon, the Language Council. The Council gave way to the Academy of the Hebrew Language, which adopted Ben-Yehuda’s rules and took upon itself his life’s work. The Academy, still housed at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, approves new Hebrew words to meet the ever-evolving needs of contemporary Israeli society. The Academy is also in the process of writing the Historical Dictionary of the Hebrew Language.

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda never saw the creation of the State of Israel. He passed away only one month after the British authorities declared Hebrew to be the official language of the Jews of Palestine. Yet his dream of yisrael be’artzo uvilshono, the rebirth of the nation of Israel in its own land, speaking its own language, came to fruition. His efforts are counted among the great language revivals of human history.

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Looking for the latest Hebrew literature in translation? Find catalogues detailing which Israeli books have been translated recently and which titles are in the works.

While not all Hebrew books appear in English as quickly as these Israeli best sellers, readers in English can sample the richness of modern Hebrew literature, particularly novels and short stories, through the many works currently available in translation.

Beginnings of Modern Hebrew Literature

Modern Hebrew literature first emerged in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Few of these classics are still in print, but several notable writers are featured in recent books and reprints.

READ: 7 Female Israeli Writers You Should Be Reading

Chaim Nachman Bialik

(1873-1934) is one of the best known poets of the late 19th century and early 20th century renaissance of Hebrew literature. His rich and complex poetry, presented in translations such as David Aberbach’s C.N. Bialik: Collected Poems, explores radical changes in Eastern European Jewish life, biblical themes and the beauty of the natural world.

Yosef Chayim Brenner (1881-1921) was among the first generation of Hebrew writers in the Yishuv (the Jewish community in pre-state Palestine). Perhaps his best known work is Breakdown and Bereavement, a novel that traces the unraveling of an aspiring pioneer.

While Bialik and Brenner are mainstays of the Hebrew canon, a more surprising figure to find in English translation is Devora Baron (1887-1956). Baron wrote one novel and many intricate, lyrical short stories–often set in small towns in Eastern Europe–that have been collected in “The First Day” and Other Stories, translated and edited by Naomi Seidman and Chana Kronfeld.

Sly Modernists and Fervent Zionists

By the 1930s, the center of Hebrew literature had shifted from Europe to the Jewish community in Palestine. In the decades before and after the founding of the state of Israel, there is immense variety in Hebrew literature, mixing new and old literary themes and techniques.

S.Y. Agnon (1888-1970) was one of the most celebrated Hebrew writers of the twentieth century, and the only Israeli to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Among his best known works are A Guest for the Night, which narrates the protagonist’s return to his Galician town after the destruction of World War I, Only Yesterday, a sprawling social and psychological portrait of the Second Aliya, and his many short stories, collected in A Book That Was Lost and Other Stories.

In contrast to Agnon, Chayim Hazaz‘s (1898-1973) modernist stories and novels are often explicitly ideological, examining different social and historical aspects of Zionism. In the story “The Sermon,” from the collection The Sermon and Other Stories, his characters reject Jewish life in the Diaspora and envision a new Jewish nation, free of the neuroses of previous generations.

Aharon Megged (1920-2016) often writes about the powerlessness and disillusionment of his generation. One of Megged’s best known novels, The Living on the Dead, questions the existence of heroism in Israeli society. A more recent book, Foiglman, examines conflicted relationships between fathers and sons, Israel and the Diaspora, and Hebrew and Yiddish.

The New Wave

From the early 1960s, Israeli fiction has been filled with complex characters alienated from society and the land. Though writers such as Yehoshua Kenaz and Binyamin Tammuz are not easy to find in translation, many others writers of the time are well-represented in English.

Yehuda Amichai (1924-2000) is one of the best known and most beloved Israeli poets. His work has been translated into more than 20 languages, from Albanian to Turkish. His lyrical poetry and prose use everyday language to create vivid, poignant images and capture complex emotions and experiences, both in his early poetry, represented in the translated collection The Selected Poetry of Yehuda Amichai, and in his final book, Open Closed Open: Poems.

Many of Amos Oz‘s (1939-2018) novels reveal the dark underside of life and the psyche. In The Hill of Evil Counsel and My Michael, for example, passion and family dysfunction are narrated from very different perspectives, one of an adolescent boy during the British Mandate, the other of a women in 1950s Jerusalem.

A.B. Yehoshua, (1936-) another  prominent contemporary Israeli novelist, has written a wide range of books, from A Journey to the End of the Millennium, which chronicles a family’s voyage through medieval Ashkenaz, to A Woman in Jerusalem, which focuses on the circumstances surrounding a woman’s violent death.

The majority of Aharon Appelfeld‘s (1932-2018) novels and novellas focus on the Holocaust, both the events leading up to the genocide and its lasting legacy. In clean, calm prose, he sketches a vibrant Jewish community that ignores the looming signs of disaster in Badenheim 1939. Other works, such as The Iron Tracks and The Immortal Bartfuss, feature characters who wrestle with the physical and psychological scars of the Holocaust.

Surprisingly, Yoram Kaniuk’s (1930-2013) work is available in English, even though he has long been on the margins of Hebrew literature. Kaniuk writes innovative fiction that mixes the fantastic and the grotesque, including the exploits of Holocaust survivors in Adam Resurrected and Jewish identity and collective memory in The Last Jew.

Changing Society, Changing Literature

In recent years, Hebrew literature has reflected the increasing fragmentation of Israeli identity and society. Writers like Anton Shammas, Sami Michael, and Dorit Rabinyan represent the changing face of the Israeli author, while the works of writers such as David Grossman and Meir Shalev challenge traditional narratives about Israeli history and Zionism.

Though not always easy to find in print, Sami Michael‘s (1926-) novels represent the emergence of mizrahi writing, work by Jews from Arab lands. Among Michael’s many novels, Refuge chronicles the complex relationships between Jews, Arabs, and Arab-Jews, while A Trumpet in the Wadi narrates a love affair that crosses boundaries between Jew and Arab.

Yoel Hoffman (1937-) weaves together experimental and fragmented language with elements of Buddhism and Western philosophy into books  such as the dream-like love story, The Heart is in Katmandu, and the complex mixture of reality and fantasy, Katschen and the Book of Joseph.

Haim Be’er‘s (1945-) acclaimed novels, Feathers and The Pure Element of Time, are often described as Israeli magic realism. Both books explore life in religious communities in Jerusalem, leaping between past and present, comedy and the macabre, and wholeness and fragmentation.

Several of Batya Gur‘s (1947-2005) popular mysteries, featuring Jerusalem police office Michael Ohayon, have been translated to English. From her first novel, The Saturday Morning Murder, to her final book, Murder in Jerusalem, Gur’s work combines the suspense of classic detective narratives with deft portrayals of Israeli characters and society.

Journalist and writer David Grossman (1954-) takes on some of the most sensitive subjects in Israeli society in his novels, including the legacy of the Holocaust, in the brilliant See Under: Love, and the disillusionment of a young soldier, in The Smile of the Lamb.

Palestinian-Israeli writer Anton Shammas (1950-) provoked a major controversy in Israel in 1986 when he published the Hebrew novel Arabesques, an exploration of Palestinian identity that weaves together personal stories, history, and fantasy into a rich and dense narrative.

Zeruya Shalev‘s (1959-) popular novels focus on family dynamics in Israeli society andthe pressures of marriage. With lyrical prose and deep psychological insight, books like Husband and Wife investigate the mind and desires of contemporary Israeli women.

Orly Castel-Bloom (1960-) has written many stories and novels that capture the fragmentation of contemporary Israeli society. Her satirical novel Human Parts chronicles the exploits of a series of complex women, offering a fascinating portrait of Israeli life with a strange and often surreal sense of humor.

One of the best known Israeli writers to emerge in the 1990s is Etgar Keret (1967-), whose stories, children’s books, and graphic novels have been extremely popular. His short-short stories, collected in Bus Driver Who Wanted to Be God and Other Stories and The Nimrod Flipout: Stories, are filled with cynicism, humor, irony, sexuality, and Israeli pop culture.

Deftly evoking Jewish life in Iran in Persian Brides and Iranian families in Israel in Strand of a Thousand Pearls, Dorit Rabinyan‘s (1972-) lyrical novels offer rich emotional portraits of family life, especially the psychological and emotional dimensions of female characters.

Sayed Kashua (1975-) is a writer and journalist whose work focuses on Palestinian life in contemporary Israel. His first novel, Dancing Arabs, features the protagonist’s struggles as he moves from childhood and adulthood and navigates Palestinian and Israeli culture.

There are many more Hebrew writers who could be added to this diverse list, and many others who will hopefully be translated into English in the near future. Other rich sources of Hebrew literature in translation include the many anthologies of prose, such as the classic Modern Hebrew Literature and the more recent Oxford Book of Hebrew Short Stories, as well as collections of poetry, like The Penguin Book of Hebrew Verse, The Modern Hebrew Poem Itself and The Defiant Muse: Hebrew Feminist Poems From Antiquity to the Present. 

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