Published: August 30, 2008 05:17 pm            

Vasicek: Favorite Yiddish words

My friend, Sam Stevens, is very involved in our church, but he is even more involved in a Messianic Jewish congregation in Indianapolis. About once a year, Sam treats our Sunday School class to fresh potato pancakes. Sam makes them right: lots of onion, oozing garlic, and fried in olive oil. I put a dab of (fat free) sour cream on mine – and down the hatch.

Yet Sam and I disagree as to their name. He calls them “latke” and I call them “latci” (the “c” is pronounced softly, like an “s”). What’s the difference? Latke is the Yiddish term, but latci is the Slovak term. I wonder how many hundreds of those babies my mom fried up? Whatever you call them, they are out of this world.

Why the similarity in terminology, you ask? The reason is simple: Yiddish (a variation of “Jewish”) was the language spoken by Jews who inhabited central and eastern Europe. It is a blend of Hebrew, German and, yes, Slavic dialects (of which Slovak is one).

So did the Jews invent the potato pancake and then the Slavic peoples adopted the cuisine, or did the Slavic cuisine make its way into the Yiddish culture? Who knows?

Although most of the victims of Holocaust were European (Yiddish-speaking) Jews, the Yiddish language lives on – but is slowly declining. In Israel, modern Jews typically learn to speak simplified Hebrew.

Even if Yiddish were to die out completely, many Yiddish words survive in other languages, including English. Consider some of my favorite Yiddish words.

My very favorite is the word, “schmooze.” Hoosiers sometimes have difficulty pronouncing this one, I have noticed. It usually comes out “smooze.” Don’t know why.

A schmooze is a social individual who likes to chat informally. A schmooze is not usually out to complete a project or advance a cause, but enjoys people simply because he enjoys people. I am a schmooze with a capital “S.” Schmoozers like to play cards, join clubs, or enjoy community events, for example. Studies show that schmoozers provide a binding quality in our communities, schools, organizations and churches. They make us feel at home and brighten our days.

In contrast, a “macher” has its origin in the concept of “making” things – someone who is achievement oriented. Machers are into causes, measurable results, and are social for a purpose (marketing, raising money for charity, politics, etc.). If aimed in the right direction, machers can be great civic servants and do-gooders.

The Yiddish word “glitch” is used so often, most of us do not realize that it is a Yiddish word! The same is true with “klutz.”

My cousin, a teacher, kept tripping and bumping into things. Another teacher suggested she get a physical. Her mom (my aunt) said, “There’s nothing wrong with you – you’re just a klutz.”

She went to the doctor and explained her condition, “My mom says I am just a klutz.” The doctor ran a series of tests.

Two weeks later, she met with the doctor. He explained, “I got all the test results back. Your mom was right. You’re just a klutz.” Such is life.

Eastern Europeans are into dumplings big time. I could write an entire column on that subject, but I fear I am barely holding your attention as it is. But Polish Jews got the idea of boiling up a large dumpling and then baking it. Hence we have the “bagel,” another Yiddish term.

I have friends who are “mavens” but do not know it. A “maven” is an expert who knows an awful lot about an awful lot of things. If you want to know the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise, ask a maven.

How can we forget the word “schmo” (a not-so-bright person) or “schnook” (a gullible person)? And how many times have we heard politicians present their “spiel?” If you like detective stories, you’ve probably heard your favorite private investigator referred to as a “shamus,” yet another Yiddish word.

Someone who is mighty of nose has quite a “schnoz.” Jimmy Durante made quite a “shtick” out of his nose routine. Oops — I’m out of space. Oy vey!

Ed Vasicek is pastor of Highland Park Church and a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune.

        

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