As a new oleh from Canada currently in the latter stages of Ulpan, I'm focussing on the Hebrew for now. When that's reasonably fluent I'll go for some conversational Arabic, which I think all Israelis should learn. After that the priorities would be improving my French and picking up Russian to converse with the sizable immigrant communities. Eventually I'd like to pick up Chinese and Brasilian Portuguese, the international languages of the future. Ladino, Yiddish and other Galut tongues would not make my top ten.

It's great that some otherwise secular American Jews are rediscovering their roots by exploring Yiddish, if it gives them a bond with the history that brought them to the US. However, it's a much better commitment to Judaism to visit Israel, learn Hebrew, and explore the 21st century by checking out art, music, and English-language sites like Ynet and Ha'Aretz. Otherwise, they'll be proving Yehoshua correct; tunnel vision for the past with an empty assimilationist future. Frankly, learning Yiddish is like learning Latin: great for studying or moving on to something else, but pointless by itself unless you're a linguist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_languages

I love Yiddish and Ladindo. Both languages are part of the Jewish heritage. However, Hebrew is the true mother language of the Jewsih people. Jews around the world would be well advised to learn to speak Hebrew because it will certainly be the main Jewish language of the future.

Er...it was you that dished it out in the first place and then screeched "racism" when you got answered back. By your logic, we shouldn't be concerned about Nazis, since they didn't kill our common ancestors, but went mainly after the "European clowns" (Ashkenazim) you so despise. In any case - most of your posts here involve you hurling borderline or actual racist abuse at Ashkenazim while finding anti-Mizrachi racism where it's not present. Hardly a record of "support" for the Jewish people. The bottom line is - here was an article talking about how a lot of Jews are trying to preserve an aspect of their culture and history that means a lot to them. And this desire comes under attack from you and the likes of you. What kind of support for the Jewish people is that? How are you different from anti-semites that tell us to forget our culture? (And you don't have to be a Nazi or in Hamas or try to physically hurt Jews to be an anti-semite).

David Yiddish isn’t crucial in Jewish identity, Hebrew is. Stop cry acting and instead prove to me that Yiddish plays a more important role in Jewish life and culture than Hebrew does. Try reading the other posts in here because what a lot of people are saying makes sense. Most see Hebrew as the tool for the Jewish future. Can you see eye to eye with that belief David? In any event David give it up because I’m pretty sure most would agree with me that for a Jew Hebrew should be the language they cherish the most. Israel is not Yidrael or Ladinorael so start acting like an Israeli.

even if Yiddish is seen with nostalgia or with indiference, its usage has determined its fate. a language canot be maintained simply on nostalgia valua, ever been anyplace where Latin is spoken? what would be regretfull is if Yiddish is allowed to die off without a proper record of it for future generations, in the meantime Hebrew is the future for the Jewish people, lets move forward, todah.

Why should we have to defend trying to preserve our Jewish history from your attacks? Or defend the fact that we feel it is important? What kind of Jew comes at another Jew in this way?

"What kind of Jew comes at another Jew in this way? " A Jew with a very big chip on his shoulder.

At least I argue that we as Jews all share Hebrew. We as JEWS do not all share Yiddish, Ladino, or Arabic. Hebrew is the past, present, and future of Judaism. To me the Diaspora was a pit stop for Jews and not something that should be considered our intrinsic home. Ancient Egypt was a pit stop in Jewish history. If you were able to show as much determination for Judaism and Hebrew as you do for Yiddish then you would have my respect. You ask me "what kind of Jew comes at another Jew in this way?". The answer is simple; the kind of Jew who comes at you like this is the one who was accused by the "supposed" Jew (you) of being an anti-Semite. If I were a far leftist always going against Israel and blaming Jews for everything then you'd be right. I'm a rightist who served in the Israeli military. My grandparents helped build this country and you have the dirty nerve to call me and the other Jews anti-Semites? What kind of a Jew are you David?

The reason that my wife and I speak Yiddish to each other is that the Yiddish language was spoken in our homes when we were growing up in Texas. Our children likewise have learned Yiddish (or at least, Yiddish words,) listening to our conversations. Why do we not speak Hebrew? I do not understand it.

I'm a Jew who'd like to be able to try to preserve Yiddish without being verbally assaulted for it by people like you who call my ancestors "European clowns" and use classic anti-semitic barbs to dismiss and attack my Jewish heritage. And then you turn around and try to make yourself the victim here? I'm sure there's a diagnosis for this kind of syndrome - people who are rude, nasty and aggressive to others but then act all wounded, hurt and victimized when they get push-back. Like I said, you're a real piece of work. Also see #39.

A pit stop ? Simply a pit.

of what ? A way of life,a culture, garb and habits and a language that was part of no tradition whatsoever, that made people hate us and hold us in suspicion and contempt and that eventually caused some of them to murder 6 million of us in an attempt at all out extermination, while the others looked on either with joy and glee in their hearts or at least with silent compliance. Yiddish was a lingua franca, a bastardization of Hebrew and German, created for a special purpose. The whole concept of the Diaspora, especially the Central and Eastern European one, and all that it implies,embraces and encompasses can not and should not be erased from the annals of our history, but it is an era, an episode that we have nothing to be proud about. The Pale of Settlement can not be a source of pride, Numerus Clausus can not be a source of pride, intellectual giants in the arts and sciences who converted and left the flock to mingle with the masses, can not be a source of pride. In fact they are reasons to hang our heads low in shame and to say to ourselves, we who have been in the deepest valley, where the air is heavy, shall set our glance at the highest mountain, where the air is light, only those who have been in that valley can appreciate the mountain. We are, at the moment, only half way up the slope and as we continue the ascent we must keep our eyes continually affixed on the summit and not look back down at the valley, lest we be tempted to relive it. I have been dragged through the mud by some people in this talkback, to be called an antisemite by another Jew, when you have been loyal and dedicated all your life, to the point of willingness to sacrifice your life, is to say the least, most unpleasant. However, I am still climbing, and I shall reach the summit, on that summit nobody speaks Yiddish.

bunch of pricks we have here, nu voos ken men tiyn, you cant choose your brothers, but hey we can ignore them. David Jerusalem, Im with you in all your comments. Johnny Weintraub, Zai di und dein mishpoocha alle gezunt oichet. And hey we all know Hebrew is the future not yiddish, but no reason to sling mud on the language that held many of us Jews together in galut. I dont seek to eradicate the language of many thousands of fathers and mothers seperated from theyre children just before walking into gas chambers saying with tears 'Du muzt leiben, den tzelt on di velt voos iz geshen doh aff unz.' But I do notice a trend those dirtying yiddish seek to dirty all what our rich heritage had ie being Jewish, saying now me Jewish? nah fooya what the heck Im Israeli - yanni the 'new' jew. And thats the core of the problem we see today in Israel too. A divestment of ones heritage and past. Your only the poorer for it and will lead one to oblivion, for a man with no past and no history is a man with no future.

Don't make up lies David. I called you and Reuven clowns. I never called European Jews as a whole, clowns. Stop trying to blow my words out of proportion to embolden your stance. I said, "acting the European clowns". Where in that statement does it imply everyone from Europe is a clown? Is it racist if I imply Europe has clowns? Let me guess, Tunisia never had any clowns either David? Stop crying and instead argue about the real issue here. For someone who’s supposedly an advocator you sure spend a lot of time trying to deface me instead of ever addressing the issue of Hebrew, which I continually bring up. David calling someone an anti-Semite every time they disagree with your stance is lame. Kate the only Jew with a chip on their shoulder is one who self-hates and wants to demean themselves to a lower status. If the Europeans whipped you (not Ashkenazi in general but you, David, etc..) too hard and you like to be whipped then you truly have an even bigger chip on your shoulder then I do. In Israel we learnt not to accept Dhimmi status can you say the same Kate? Is the weather nice in London Kate? Here in Israel it's gorgeous. You do know where Israel is right? Nicely said in your last posts Yakov. Yakov I have to apologize to you in advance because David and Kate would love to hold that I hate Ashkenazi Jews so I'm not allowed to complement you because it would be in direct conflict with David’s belief that I hate Ashkenazi and David can’t be wrong. I've got Ashkenazi in my family David, how many Mizrachi do you have in your family? How about you, queen of England?

1) I can well understand your sense of inferiority. After all, virtually every single one of the very large number of famous Jews in the world are of Ashkenazi descent. 2) Israel is quite possibly the most hated nation in the world. Do you really think that it's a good idea to alienate your only real friends? 3) Israel far from casting off Dhimmi status has actively embraced it. Only when she can learn to live without the support of the Diaspora and the U.S. for longer than five minutes can she truly be said to have grown up as a nation. 4) I'll be honest with you: Israel's intense mediocrity in many areas shames a very large number of Diaspora Jews. Much of this obviously has to do with the fact that most of the Jews for whom Israel was originally intended were murdered in the Holocaust. 5) I honestly believe that much of the hardness, cruelty and corruption the world today associates with Israel (a hardness and cruetly which is today reflected in Hebrew) has to do with the fact that she has, for obvious reasons, shrugged off her European heritage and instead embraced the culture associated with those Jews who originally came from Arab lands. 6) Do I still support Israel? Wholeheartedly, but that is in spite of what she has become. 7) Do I realise that the UK is a virulently anti-Semtic nation? Naturally. Indeed, that is our most pressing problem: we despise the goyim, but we don't like you people much either. 8) If there were no Ashkenazi Jews in Israel would I support her? Not for one minute.

1. One cannot alienate friends. Friends are supportive even when they do not agree. 2. Israel at 58 has accomplished what her neighbors have not in 5,000 years. 3. You diminish the Jews from the Mograb as if they have not brought culture and commentary to modern Israel. A very racist comment which reflects a Sunni vs. Shi'ite vs. Wahabbi mentality. 4. No doubt living in Londonstan has colored your thinking to the point of obliterating any clarity. 5. No, YOU DO NOT, support Israel. You have too many caveats that say otherwise. 6. The Jewish Communities in the diaspora exist and flourish because Israel exists. 7. You are correct that the UK is anti-semitic and it appears that you not only despise the goyim, but that you have a high level of self hatred as well. 8. With friends like you, who needs enemies!

I am trying to fathom out what lies behind your last statement regarding your withdrawal of support for Israel sans Ashkenazi Jews. I have stated before that I hold in contempt the whole concept of this kind of Jew and that kind of Jew. We all originated from the same place, we were all dispersed amongst the nations and we are all being ingathered. Jonathan Levi and Yakov Shani are both Jews,exactly that, no sectorial differences divide us. We both derive from our ancestors who lived in a land called Yehuda, who were called Yehudim and spoke a language called Yehudit. Do you not see yourself as also being a descendent of our ancient people? Why do you think Jonathan has an inferiority complex , or do you think I have a superiority complex? His ancestors passed through North Africa on their way back home, mine passed through Russia, this makes us different ? I do not think so and those who do are wrong, morally and scientifically.

We really have a problem if an innocuous article about Yiddish could provoke such anger, such terrible language. The Yiddish language was the "garb" so to speak of Ashkenazi Jewry for centuries. The enlightenment Yiddishists wanted to get rid of the body & soul of Jewish existence, i.e. Torah observance, without abandoning their Jewish identity. Hence they made language the basis of their identity. Even without Hitler, yemach shemo v'zichro, an identity without a soul, i.e. Yiddish as a culture, was doomed.

Goodness me no one told me that , "virtually every single one of the very large number of famous Jews in the world are of Ashkenazi descent", And there was I thinking that Rav Ovadia was the greatest Posak of the last 50 years, and that all ther Great Mekubalim were Mizrahi, and that Mizrahi food had a variety and flavour that Kate could only dream about. And that its we what spoke proper. Oh well I better pack up and get to back to the rest of my inferior Mizrahi community.

If you’re trying to lure me into boasting about how Mizrachi are better than Ashkenazi and go on my own tirade against Ashkenazi then your significantly lacking an understanding of my views. I do not feel the Mizrachi are better than the Ashkenazi. I don’t feel the Ashkenazi are better than Mizrachi either. I feel there is a pointless rift between Jews which needs to be breached and Hebrew and the Israeli culture is this common ground that all Jews from anywhere around the world can embrace. Alienate my friends?? Kate, I don’t need some Diaspora Jew making me beg and be grateful for every little thing they do for Israel. The relationship should be mutual between Israeli’s and Diaspora. Not all of the Diaspora but a fair portion feel superior to Israeli’s and feel we (Israeli’s) should be grateful for every little thing they do for Israel. This is the Jewish homeland and it’s an investment for every Jew around the world so stop playing like you’re doing us Israeli’s any special favors. Israel is not intended for one kind of Jew and if you truly believe Israel should be only for the Ashkenazi then I suggest you convert religions because your understanding of the Judaic covenant with G-d is terribly lacking. Cruelty? Harshness? So what your implying is that Mizrachi are violent vigilantes and that’s why Israel has this supposedly violent image? Were the zealots of ancient Judea Mizrachi? Hadrian also felt they were a bunch of violent primitive barbarians (please don’t tell me the Ashkenazi are not descended from the Jews of Judea). So Israel would be better off with a more leftist leaning always appeasing. I won’t appease you Kate or the rest of the world. You feel that Israel is where it is because it shrugged off its European heritage? I guess if Moses had never shrugged off his Egyptian culture (remember he was a prince of Egypt) the Jews would have been better off also. I guess if Samson had embraced philistine culture instead of Jewish culture then the Jews would have been better off also, right Kate? Did Israel have a Jewish culture first or a European one Kate? I know historically that Israel embraced a Jewish culture first and foremost, unless you’re like the Palestinians who hold that the Jews only ever came to this land in 1948. Since you’re so adamant about believing we Mizrachi are a bunch of savages then answer me why Yemenite children were stolen from their parents and sold to rich Ashkenazi families in America? Here’s the best part of that “little” incident, the doctors told the parents their babies had died. This is just Mizrachi propaganda right Kate? Jews like you could never do such a barbaric crime right? I’ll tell you what though Kate, I never blame or blamed the whole Ashkenazi community for this fallacy against fellow Jews. I hold the blame solely to backward thinking, racist Jews, who are incapable of integrating into the Judaic identity their ancestors fought so hard for them to have. I hope if you ever have a son or daughter they fall in love with a gorgeous Mizrachi so you have a s$#t fit.

"One cannot alienate friends. Friends are supportive even when they do not agree. " That is not the way the world works. "Israel at 58 has accomplished what her neighbors have not in 5,000 years. " Mainly due to the genius of the Ashkenazi people and the support of the Diaspora. "You diminish the Jews from the Mograb as if they have not brought culture and commentary to modern Israel. A very racist comment which reflects a Sunni vs. Shi'ite vs. Wahabbi mentality. " I have merely stated facts. Perhaps you want to draw up a list of their Nobel Prizewinners? Let me put it another way. The Jews of North America (U.S. and Canada) have an IQ that far exceeds the average. The Jews of Israel have an IQ which is lower than Europe's average. Do you know why? What binds a people is culture and not race or genetics. I simply have little in common with them. I also believe their culture has greatly diminished what Israel should have been. "No, YOU DO NOT, support Israel." That, thank God, is not up to you. "The Jewish Communities in the diaspora exist and flourish because Israel exists. " For the most part I agree. However, the Diaspora would continue to exist in a fashion without Israel. Israel would be gone in nothing flat without the support of the Diaspora. "No doubt living in Londonstan has colored your thinking to the point of obliterating any clarity. " If you imagine that the U.S. is any less anti-Semitic than the UK, then you are sadly mistaken. It is also a grave mistake to believe that everything the West has to offer is bad. And it really is about time that we Jews started doing something about the manifest ugliness of Israeli society: the cruelty, the corruption, the crime, the trading in human flesh, the greed, the failure to take care of Holocaust survivors. And if you love Israel so much, how come you're still living in the Diaspora?

Scroll down to "Achievement": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashkenazi

"I hope if you ever have a son or daughter they fall in love with a gorgeous Mizrachi" Translation: "Dumb blond seeks rich Jew for long-term relationship"

I am deeply sorry to have been informed that you are inferior to me as I am equally sorry to have been informed that I am superior to you. Remember that summit I spoke about a couple of posts ago ? We will both meet there on equal terms. Kate ? She'll be down in the valley poor girl. She might cry out for help, because it's a long climb up to that summit, I just have the feeling that we would go down there once more to help a fellow Jew in trouble, what do you say, Jonathan ?

A gorgeous Mizrachit ? Dumb there is a possibilty, but blond I doubt. Kate I have sworn to be polite but you really need to get back on track. I know what you are talking about and I know what you mean. I met these people, the Mizrachim, in the late fifties and early sixties coming off the boats and planes and I worked with them. I was ashamed then to see my fellow countrymen in such a condition, I am ashamed now that they are talked about and referred to in such a way as you do. I do not know what to say to you and it is rare for me to be lost for words. It must be put down to my oath on politeness.

Yakov I certainly would go down there to help out. I did not post here to blast Jews. I posted here to try to make the point that we should be working on unity rather than division. Looks like we'll be running up and down that mountain a lot. Kate a blond Mizrachi is like a four leaf clover (Well not quite, but there weren't many blondes where my ancestors came from). Now a blond half-Mizrachi is much more probable, in fact some of my cousins are blond. Higher IQ’s??? Germans sure had higher IQ’s during Hitler’s time huh Kate??? Oh wait no my mistake the Germans must have secretly been Mizrachi in disguise as the Europeans are oh so civilized and could never be capable of violence, soliciting women, murder, rape, genocide, etc…. I did not come here to say one society is worse then the other because as Jews we should be one society with one G-d. Perhaps then Kate your G-d is holier than mine? Last I checked we (Jews) all worshipped the same G-d. If you truly want to be smarter and better then do it as a Jew and not as a European (which you seem to view yourself as). Kate this is not East vs. West. This is Judaism vs. assimilation. Be careful with my words and don’t misinterpret that I’m saying down with all other cultures. What I’m saying is your first identity should be your Jewish one.

Dear Kate are you not embarresed to publisise your ignorance? Don't you know that Wikipedia info is added on by its members and unverified. Why the Michael Jackson entry states that he has sold more records than Elvis, a patent falsity by hundreds of millions. Ah but then perhaps Elvis was Ashkanazi. By the way guess what ,not a single entry on Wikapedia about Great Poskim, Mekubaklm and Great Jewish cooking.

"Dear Kate are you not embarresed (sic) to publisise (sic) your ignorance?" From a man who can barely spell or even think straight that really is rather rich. "Wikipedia info is added on by its members and unverified." You would do far better to point out the inaccuracies, if any, in the article. The fact remains that virtually every famous Jew - scientist, doctor, lawyer, Nobel Laureate, entrepreneur, writer, artist, politician, actor, director, musician - is of Ashkenazi descent. Here, just for example, is a list of Jewish Nobel Prize Laureates. It is a list that proves my point perfectly: http://www.science.co.il/Nobel.asp "By the way guess what ,not a single entry on Wikapedia about Great Poskim, Mekubaklm and Great Jewish cooking." There's a very good reason for that. "perhaps Elvis was Ashkanazi" There is actually evidence to suggest that Elvis did possess Jewish ancestors (Ashkenazi - on his mother's side). As an aside, I can understand your anger and frustration. It can't be easy to live in the shadow of Ashkenazi achievement. On the other hand, denial is certainly no kind of answer to the problem. Indeed, in denying this particular Jewish reality, you make yourself little different to a Holocaust denier.