Michael Wex

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To Bug and Be Bugged

By Michael Wex

Annoyance and botheration are never as well expressed as in Yiddish. Here are a few useful idioms.Read More

Just Say 'Nu?': Manners Maketh the Mensch

By Michael Wex

Our previous installment looked at how Yiddish will often use the third person as a sign of respect. Day-to-day use of the third person in addressing male strangers is pretty much restricted to der yeed, “the Jew,” which is sometimes used instead of reb yeed, “Mister Jew,” in addressing strangers.Read More

Just Say 'Nu?': I Remember Mameleh

By Michael Wex

It all starts with TAteh, MAmeh, Dad, pa, Mom, maRead More

Just Say 'Nu?': Bottoms Up!

By Michael Wex

It’s a case of life imitating rhetoric. The original meaning of the phrase “Jews don’t drink” was not that Jews abstain. It didn’t even mean that Jews don’t get drunk. It meant that Jews don’t stay drunk: they don’t drink to the exclusion of all else, and such drinking as they do isn’t an end in itself but an accompaniment to other activities, often quite pious in nature. The synagogue kidesh is a perfect example — first you pray, then you refresh yourself with a drink.Read More

Just Say 'Nu?': Food and Drink, Part 3

By Michael Wex

Since we’ve already had a glimpse of the main categories of Yiddish food, today we’ll look at everything you need for a balanced meal: vegetable, grains, main courses, a few uniquely Yiddish side dishes and something to wash it all down with.Read More


 

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