is both a symbol and a symptom of the Galut. I do not use the word symptom lightly, the particular Galut that was responsible for this disease was not exactly our "shining hour". The language, with all that it symbolizes, the habits and the garb, must die an undignified death, they must not even be allowed the usual presence and attention of the Chevra Kadisha.

so start teaching your kids with Dick and Jane http://www.vidlit.com/yidlit

bist a klenes yankee drek

My grandchildren in the U.S. and Canada are being raised to speak Yiddish, but my grandchildren in Russia and Israel are raised to speak Ivrit.

I'll admit that I don't know Yiddish (except for a few words) but I also don't have this burning desire for all those who speak it to die horribly and be denied Jewish burial. There was already one person in history who wanted all the Yiddish speakers to die horrible deaths and their bodies disposed of without ceremony. It becomes you not to wish for more of this.

The attitudes shown by #1 #2 and in particular #3 are a disgrace. These are people who are ashamed of who they are and where they come from. Obviously they have internalized anti-semitism without realizing it. They sound exactly like the anti-semites who wanted to kill all the Yiddish speakers.

what ignorant comments by #1, 2 and 3. Her mech tzi, zolste vacksen ozoy vi a tzvibbel mitten feess hoyach ind kopf in dererd. If you cant translate then you know you know nothing. Yiddish is a unique and beautiful language its all emotion expressed through words. Yiddish will always be preserved by the chassidim but will definately have no future amongst the seculars. A few will try to save it here and there but it wont come to anything as goes with their jewish religion that they let go and generally assimilated so will theyre yiddish coupled with secularism, it has no future. Thats the price of assimilation. My favourite yiddish is thru chassidic songs like Michoel Shnitzlers Birchat Habonim and De Neshoma Flam and the fantastic incredible Nisht Gedanged Yidden by Avrohom Fried. They are so beautiful that I had to translate them with a box of tissues as linked here bottom of page, find the songs and follow theyre meanings http://www.thejewishhome.org/page6.html You will not have heard anything so beautiful. and if you cant find the recordings let me know somehow and I will try and get them to you.

Nothing Secular lasts. why worry about Yiddish when you have more contemporary issues like Zionism, at least Yiddish lasted a few hundred years, not to mention how amongst the Hasidic community the language thriving!

To those who say"who cares about Yiddish?" you are sadly mistaken. Yiddish is a part of our people. It is warm, and "heimish". It evokes memories of our parents and grandparents,a nd ofour culture . ( I am an American born Jew, whose parents were also born here, and both spoke Yiddish) i have spoken Yiddish since I was a child and do so to this day . I am 61 and have tauht my son yiddish so that he can work in a Jewish nursing home as a Judaics coodinator. It is not a dying language thanks to people like Itche Goldberg, Dovid Katz, Michael Wex and Jason Rubin. It is the elderly that are dyig out but the legacy of Yiddish is very much alive. Zeits meir allah guzunt... piz 120 yor.

I most humbly apologize for the misunderstanding on your part. I have gone through the English again and again and I can find no mistake or no possible premise for a misunderstanding. Please read again. I would never, under any circumstances say that I wish to deny a Jewish burial to any Jew, whoever he or she may be. I now understand your anger at me on other sites. Please, I only used the term Chevra Kadisha in a metaphorical sense in respect of the language etc. Jews, God forbid that words like that should come from my mouth. Please read again. I promise to be more careful next time, but express my opinions I shall. Particularly on the subject of the "perpetuation" of the Galut, as I see it. Sorry.

Hebrew is the language of our past and future. Yiddish will go by the wayside and while some may mourn its passing, the Jewish people and their traditions will march on - in Hebrew. In fact, I know one rabbi whose test for whether someone of dubious Jewishness was Jewish was whether or not their grandparents spoke Yiddish. I remember an Italian Jew who he decided wasn't Jewish because his grandmother didn't speak yiddish. I was forced to point out, that while Colin Powell may speak Yiddish, the Italian Jews never did. Nor the Sephardic or Mizrachi Jews. I hope they don't check his background by asking his grandmother if she speaks Ladino or Arabic. Its a historical language of *some* Jews and its time has passed. After all, what Jew wants to speak Middle German mixed with Hebrew? Its the language of the butchers.

The word is Golus.

Talk about self hating... Why do people need to rant against something that is a reminder of where we have been and a repository of cultural treasures?

Don't preach to me about a language that is not Hebrew and tell me how "Jewish" it is. There is nothing Jewish about Arabic (the language MY ancestors spoke) but at least I don't go playing Muhammad trying to stuff culture down everyone's throat like you guys love to do. The only reason we still speak Arabic is because it unlike Yiddish has practical purposes. If none of you half-wits ever noticed most of the Middle East functions on Arabic. I never knew the Russians, Germans, or Polish ever spoke Yiddish but then I must be ignorant, right? #8 The only thing that is disgraceful is your stupid assumption that I'm a European Jew. It’s disgraceful as your apparent disdain for other kinds of Jews really shows since you can't fathom a ni$%r Mizrachi could ever post in English. Don't go crying like a little momma's boy about anti-Semitism when another Jew (me) makes it pointedly clear that we are Israeli's and have a new culture (stop playing the ghetto Jew). David attempt to listen to the absurdity of your statement "Obviously they have internalized anti-Semitism without realizing it. They sound exactly like the anti-Semites who wanted to kill all the Yiddish speakers." (David post #8). Obviously David you like to talk nonsense. It's Jews like you who are the real anti-Semites by defending a language, which was never spoken by our common ancestors (Remember Moses? Or how about the king whose name your parents disgraced by naming you after him?). Hebrew is the language we speak and don't give me that garbage about it being a new re-created language. You don't just go creating a language out of thin air... Hebrew existed before, unless of course your one of those anti-Semites who holds Hebrew never existed but Yiddish did. Maybe David you defend the language because it is a means to exclude other Jews (hidden agenda David???). Think twice about accusing Mizrachi Jews of anti-Semitism because last time I read historical books on Jews by Jews it pointedly stated the European Jews were the ones famous for their self hating ways,(I'm not making up facts, read the book by Max Dimont) so its more likely your an anti-Semite since you'd be more prone to hating yourself. #9 Yisraeli, the only ignorant comment is the one you posted (you must have been the smart one in your class.... assuming a Mizrachi would understand Yiddish, LOL). And no believe it or not I can't understand but maybe you can understand this Yisraeli, N'al Deenak. #11 Yiddish is part of YOUR people's heritage and not my people's. Save the touchy feely cry act speech for someone else. The language is specific to a group and has no place in ISRAELI (the culture we ALL belong to) society. #13 you said it exactly. These provincial minded petty clowns couldn’t seem to grasp the concept that we are not Europeans, Arabs or any other people but JEWS who are descended from ancestors who originally spoke Hebrew. I'm waiting to see if #8, 9 or 11 can respond (Not very likely though).

We have met before Sir on this same subject. By # 8 I have just been called an antisemite, I do not know how to respond to him. With respect,Sir, I am and have been very perturbed all my life by the divisions within our people, especially in times of distress and crises. Our malefactors only take advantage of this, lezanev banu. The divisions are great but not insurmountable. I ask you, is it wrong for me to adhere to a belief that we should close ranks and become one instead of being divided. We contend to our right to the Land of Israel and give, at the same time, to our enemies reasons to contend otherwise. Was not the "raison d'etre" of the ideaology of Kibbutz Galuyot to get everybody back to The Land and erase the Galut which brought upon us suffering and ridicule from 135 AD till 1870 and beyond. Was the founding of "Bilu" and "Hovevei Zion" not for the purpose of shaking off the Galut and its attitudes and restrictions and humiliations. Am I to be called an antisemite because I have served Israel with all my heart and soul and might all my life. You want to have a "dig" at me by saying "Golus". I do not want to ridicule you in any way, I believe that the ways and mores of the Galut are detrimental to the very meaning of Zionism . I know you not Sir, as you do not know me. I have visited extensively throughout Russia, I have been to umpteen small towns and villages which were heavily populated by our people for hundreds of years, and in some cases for thousands( Bukhara and Samarkand ). These places are to this very day primitive and it is so easy to understand why our people generated so much hate and animosity from the peasant populations. Am I to be ridiculed by you and called an antisemite because I wore the uniform of the Israeli army for many years and served my country and people in other ways. The divisions are manifest in many ways, but for me the perpetuation of the Galut by the usage of the Language of the Galut is the epitome of this perpetuation, which is to me contradictory to all that we should be doing in order to achieve "kommemiut". I use this word intentionally and I presume you know not only its meaning, but also the etymology and its deeper and profound meaning. Israel and Jewish values and ethics are to me of cardinal importance, I do not desrve to be ridiculed or called an antisemite.

Their Greatest Yiddish Hits will always be cherished! The yiddish speaking world would'nt be the same w/out 'em!

in America, along wiht the culture that it came from. In fact, it is growing. The author's real complaint is that it is the Yiddish of the Hasidim that is alive and well, not the secular Yiddish culture of the Forward and the Workmen's Circle.

G-d created us all with different faces, voices, dispositions and personalities. Accept that. We are one nation, but twelve tribes. Accept that. We were exiled. We intermingled with our environment. Accept that. But we all held steadfast to our fathers' traditions in language, names and clothing. Accept that. The Exile was not all evil. We had and continue to have great influence on the morality of the world. On the spread of monotheism. Accept that. You ask if it is "wrong...to adhere to a belief...and become one". The answer is, it is not wrong. However, It is wrong to erase our history. It is wrong to erase our differences. It is wrong to belittle the Golus experience. It is wrong to belittle those who have a tradition received from their ancestors that this is an authentic way of pronouncing Hebrew. It is wrong to toss aside like useless trash everything from your "Galut". You are not an anti-Semite. I never called you this or by any other name . But you, who are so offended at being ridiculed, are the first on the offensive against all those who hold dear and sacred our beloved heritage. It is you who ridicule! In a word, your Hashkofo is skewed. Besides, if you want to create a uniform Hebrew pronounciation, make it mine. I'll go for that. Why should I go for someone else's (and not that it is invalid for him, mind you)? On a personal note, one of my motivations in this matter is to be living proof that the Nazis lost. I do this by emulating my murdered grandparents. End discussion.

Acting and dressing like polish goyim has nothing to do with our heritage and for sure nothing to do with our future, as much as they are trying to force the issue.

Was a part of Jewish history but Hebrew IS jewish history, past and future, leave the language (dialect) to scholars translate the artistics works and literature and let it die, it served its purpose but is is now obsolete.

You know what would be an even better way to prove you beat the Nazi's and the rest of Europe? Emulate the ancient Jews. Rome sought to break our heritage, our culture, our community (Jews from all the world not just Europe) and our spirits. Romans would love to see Jews no longer speaking Hebrew and no longer following the traditions of our ancestors. Rome did not just represent one European nation but a whole mentality (synonymous to Europe even today) bent on subjugating and demeaning Judaism and its rich traditions (traditions all our common ancestors shared). Speak Yiddish and you may beat one nation but speak Hebrew and you defeat all our enemies who would love for nothing more then the Jews to still be the broken people they became after the roman conquests. Yiddish was a part of your survival just like Arabic was a part of my ancestors survival. Today Hebrew is a part of OUR survival and the survival of all our ancestors. I know my Arabic speaking ancestors would be overwhelmed with joy to see their descendant speaking Hebrew as I'm sure your Yiddish speaking ancestors would also be proud (but perhaps I've assumed too much). You need to understand that those against Yiddish are not advocating its demise but are simply saying that if it fades away let it. Is your loyalty to Israel greater or European Jewry? Is your loyalty to a history exclusively shared by Ashkenazi Jews or to a history shared by all Jews? I know I put my loyalty to Hebrew, Israel, and the common ancestors we all share above any selfish experience the Mizrachi experienced exclusively while in Diaspora. I’m not saying forget your pasts but I’m warning you not to become like the Jews in Egypt who whined to Moses that it was better in Egypt. P.S. I hate doing these idealistic speeches because while they do emulate my true feelings I seldom find they ever work and I tend to prefer the hard cuts and quick-witted comments bent on showing you people up for the clowns you are. In any event think upon what I’ve said and if you’re still stubborn then I’m always more then willing to oblige you to yet another round of tough “love”.

You started this whole thing off with your own abuse against something held dear by many other Jews (Yiddish), and now you're trying to twist things to make yourself the aggrieved party of some intra-Jewish ethnic hatred that you yourself have manufactured and are promoting. You are an unpleasant, abusive, manipulative, paranoid racist hypocrite. 1. You began with a line of abuse against Yiddish, and now are trying to come up with a "real" argument. But you're still talking about those "against" Yiddish, among whom you count yourself. What a nasty person you are. 2. Yes you ARE ignorant. Of course Yiddish is a Jewish language, unlike Arabic. Not because our ancestors spoke it, but because it's a Jewish language. Perhaps you've heard of Ladino. Another Jewish language. What a stupid argument you make. 3. You'd be the first one screeching racism against Sephardim if someone here said they were "against" Ladino and started heaping the abuse you do against other groups of Jews. 4. And I repeat about you what I said in my original post: You have internalized anti-Semitism and a whole set of its stereotypes. You continue to repeat them. Who cares if it's the racist stereotypes historically applied to some Jews but not all? And so what if I assumed that an English-speaking guy named Jonathan was Ashkenazi? How is that "disgraceful?" It's only disgraceful if you think being an Ashkenazi is a bad thing, which you have made abundantly clear you do. You are the only racist here. 5. No-one said anything rude or insulting about Mizrachim. Yet all the while hysterically sounding the "RACISM AGAINST MIZRACHIM!!!" bell at every turn and finding ridiculous hidden agendas, you feel perfectly at liberty to throw abuse and insult Yiddish, to abuse and insult Ashkenazim and so on. What kind of racist hypocrite are you? Take a look in the mirror. I repeat: You are an unpleasant, abusive, manipulative, paranoid hypocrite. You started this whole thing off with your own abuse against something held dear by many other Jews (Yiddish), and now you're trying to twist things to make yourself the aggrieved party of some intra-Jewish ethnic hatred that you yourself have manufactured and are promoting. You are one sick puppy.

1. I never spoke about Yiddish. Many of my antecedents were German-speakers, anyway. 2. I only spoke of the authenticity of the Ashkenazi pronounciation. 3. My loyalty is to all the Jewish people, in all generations, not just to our mutual ancestors in Egypt. 4. Why demean the ("selfish" noch) Ashkenazi experience simply because your family did not experience it? I should ignore it because you didn't live through it? That's nonsense. What, are you jealous? If you want, I will send you a good kugel recipe. 5. Your phraseology of "you people" being "clowns" exposed your true feelings. Sorry, JL, but calling people clowns because you disagree with them is not very mature. Genuk. RB

i think there should be even more concern about the loss of ladino...that also has a very proud heritage.. why is it either /or...what is wrong with and /both...? historically when a country tries to destroy another culture it does it by destroying the language... qv english + scottish gaelic, english + welsh we need yiddish, we need ladino and we certainly need arabic to understand our dear neighbours and cousins..... hebrew is the only language to be revivied from the dead (as a spoken language) and small countries/nations trying to keep their language alive...eg welsh, irish etc come to israel to learn how we've done it.. i write as an ashkanazi jew who only knows a few words of yiddish and certainly no ladino or arabic... and as for hebrew i hardly have any of that either..just conversational.. lets jsut be proud of all our heritages and keep as much as we can... don't let our languages die...or our cultures....and we can all grow together ....and teach each other our backgrounds and help kal yisrael to grow.

On your computer, you can find a song by Avrohom Fried by clicking on to Jewishmusic.com and then on Yiddish favorites. My clock is being turned back to the era when my father used to take me to the Yiddish theaters on Second Avenue in New York. That was a long time ago. What is it called: Nostalgia. Zai Gezeunt!

yiddish was the language of OUR 6 million jewish brothers and sisters who perished in the holocaust. WE lost them. i grieve for them and miss them because they are my people who died because they were jewish. to disparage their language is hateful. they deserve our deepest love and respect. it is mandated.

I am a Sephardi and have no affinity with Yiddish. But as long as the Hassidim use it (and they are a growing community) why should it die out.? Ladino is in much greater danger as the majority of the Mizrahim did not use it but used arabic instead. And by the way as far as I can tell Israeli Hebrew is actually low level Sephardi. You need to hear proper Sephardi Hazanuth to appreciate and recognise the real thing.

David you seem to not enjoy me pulling out the racist card. I seem to not enjoy being accused of being an anti-Semite as I am a Jew who served in the Israeli military. Last I checked anti-Semites served in the Nazi regime and as security forces for hama$$. Your accusations of anti-Semitism in post #8 are dirty and cheap. My comments made in the past posts excluding post #23 are also dirty and cheap HOWEVER I made those past posts as a come back to your posts (ever heard of an eye for an eye David?). If you don’t like being hit back with your own medicines then don’t dish them out in the first place. Your like the Palestinian terrorists who shoot at Israeli’s and then cry foul play when the Israeli’s shoot back (can’t handle being dosed with your own cheap argumentative tricks?). Don’t make ill thought and extreme comments accusing Jews whom I know from other posts fully support Israel and the Jewish people. If we won’t support Yiddish don’t cry racism and if we express our disdain for it don’t try to shut our voices with mewling cry acts. I can also shoot off the racism bells (and I did to prove to you that playing dirty with words can easily be turned back on you). Read my title in this post because it also starts off with a line of “abuse”. The Arabs also learnt to cry, “abuse” every time an Israeli dealt “harshly” with them. Should the Israeli’s lay down their weapons and appease the Arabs who cry “abuse”? Should I back off when you cry “abuse” because you got shown up?