Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 5.050 July 11, 1995 1) Kroyvits (David Goldberg) 2) Yiddish speaking jewish day schools (Helen Abeles) 3) Teaching Yiddish to children (Marjorie Schonhaut Hirshan) 4) Shepn un shlepn nakhes (Patty Becker) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 11 Jul 95 09:12:41 EST From: david_goldberg@smtpgwy.mla.org Subject: Kroyvits Max Weinreich discusses 'kroyvits' on pages 80-81 of Shtaplen (Berlin 1923) where [Elye Bokher is cited regarding] the acronym explanation for the word given by Paul Pascal is a popular misconception, and supports instead the other explanation Pascal refers to: that the word is a "corruption" of 'kroyves.' The altered pronunciation, Weinreich explains, stems from the fact that French speakers, among whom Yiddish speakers in Germany originate, do not distinguish between tsadik and sof. Weinreich translates Elye Bokher's words as follows: "Es iz bavust, az mir daytshe yidn kumen funem shtam fun di frantsoyzishe, vorem beys men hot unz fartribn fun frankraykh, in yor [1395], zaynen mir tseshpreyt gevorn iber daytshland. zaynen ibergeblibn in unzer moyl a sakh verter fun zeyer shprakh, un a zakh fun unz meynen, az di verter nemen zikh fun loshn koydesh, vi ikh hob gevizn baym vort srgns [sargenes]. ot di piyutim vern gerufn kroyves, vayl men dernentert zey tsu di tfiles...un makhmes di frantsoyzn sheydn nit unter fun a c [ts] biz a s ... hobn mir, herndik 'kroyvis' gemeynt az zey zogn 'kroyvits.' David Goldberg 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 11 Jul 1995 23:37:49 +1000 From: abeles@ozemail.com.au Subject: Yiddish speaking jewish day schools I'm from Melbourne, Australia. We have a full range of Jewish day schools here offering all levels of religious education but also an option of a full Yiddish education where I believe the children do a large part of their curriculum in Yiddish. This results in there being a full spectrum of ages in the audience at any live Yiddish theatre that there may be. I wouldn't suggest that the numbers are huge but we still have a core of Yiddish speakers here. What concerns me is that from the various comments I have read, it seems like our community is unusual - Is there elementary school education in yiddish elsewhere in the world? Helen Abeles 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 11 Jul 1995 14:23:15 -0400 From: shirshan@aol.com Subject: Teaching Yiddish to children To Morrie Feller: A blessing on your head for thinking in terms of di kinderlekh, of hemshekh. I don't know the Kinderbukh you talk of, but Yosl Mlotek wrote a text for beginning children called "Yidishe Kinder - Aleph" which we used in the Arbeter Ring. Lesson 1 begins "Motele geyt in shul. Gitele geyt in shul...." and I always loved Mlotek for creating a first chapter for kinderlekh emphasizing learning and a shul, for what is more precious to us? I remember the first lesson for beginners in French, the shallow: Le crayon est sur la table. Le crayon est rouge. And the beginning La Casa routine of mesa, etc. to starters in Spanish. The Workmen's Circle number in New York is 1-800-922-2558. The Education Department is very helpful and may suggest other newer teaching aids. You might also ask for the Book Center which would bring you Steve Dowling, meshpokhe, who is on Mendele. Marjorie Schonhaut Hirshan North Conway, New Hampshire 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 10 Jul 95 18:31:28 EDT From: patty_becker@mts.cc.wayne.edu Subject: Shepn un shlepn nakhes At the urging of our shames, I wish to raise an issue regarding the verb 'shep' and the verb 'shlep.' This came up in connection with the term 'sh(l)ep' nakhes. When I was answering a response on Mendele, I defined nakhes partly in terms of the phrase 'shlep nakhes.' Noyekh said that it was wrong and should be 'shep,' and he fixed it. Well, as I've mentioned before, I don't hear very well (a great hindrance in understanding and learning any foreign language, Yiddish included). I thought that maybe I had always heard 'shep' but thought I heard 'shlep.' Then Noyekh thought that, no, maybe lots of people say 'shlep.' So that's the question of the day: is it 'shep nakhes' or 'shlep nakhes?' Whichever, it's still a wonderful term especially when you have kids who are the type that you can do it! Even if my daughter (age 20) thinks I overdo it a bit! Patty Becker p.s. You could also transliterate shlep as 'schlep.' What are the preferences on this? ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 5.050 Mendele has 2 rules: 1. Provide a meaningful Subject: line 2. Sign your article (full name please) Send articles to: mendele@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu Send change-of-status messages to: listserv@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele nomail b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele Other business: nmiller@mail.trincoll.edu ****Getting back issues**** 1. Anonymous ftp archives are available. ftp ftp.mendele.trincoll.edu in the directory pub/mendele/files A table of contents is also available, along with weekly updates. 2. 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