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Friday, October 31, 2008

A Yiddisha Take

The National Jewish Democratic Council, NJDC, has released a quick and clever video which draws a sharp line between Barack Obama and John McCain. Most of the Yiddish words spoken in the video are in common usage. But if you need a little clarification, I’ve listed the translations below, as provided by the NJDC.



Meshugener = crazy person
Meshugeneh! = It’s crazy!
Shmendrick = fool
Yutz = clueless person
Kishkes = guts
Tsores = trouble
Farblondzshet = bewildered.
Schlepping = dragging
Bupkis = nothing
Nudnick = pest
Dreck = dirt
Shonde = a shame, disgraceful
Oy gevault! = Oh for heaven’s sake!
Shtick = comic performance


Mensch = a decent person; a person of integrity and honor!


The NJDC has also released a more serious video, in which the grandchildren of Justice Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, speak about Barack Obama in relation to their grandfather’s legacy.

4 comments:

Ms Brown Mouse said...

Ok I knew schlepping and bupkis and dreck but some of those others are fantastic, I'm going to have to work a few into my vocab!
Thanks for the education and the laugh!

Pink Granite said...

Hi DMM -
Oh good! I'm happy to spread the word and share the wealth of such an expressive language!
Of course then there's my favorite: "Feh!"
I even devoted a post to it:
http://pinkgranite.blogspot.com/2007/02/feh.html
;o)
- Lee

Kent said...

Thanks Lee. Fun and informative.

Kent

Pink Granite said...

Hi Kent -
So glad you liked it!
That's one of the great things about checking in with different bloggers - we all find different tidbits to share and have different takes on things!
;o)
- Lee