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| OHCC LIVING | AUGUST 2022 | 27 Yiddish Club New York's Stage Delicatessen comes to OHCC! The aroma of corned beef, lean pastrami and turkey, which permeated that well known midtown restaurant, now stimulates the nostrils of the Yiddish Club members and guests who entered AB Hall for our semi-annual Yiddish Club Luncheon. The bowls filled with potato salad, coleslaw and colorful carrot salad were complemented by the white dishes which contrasted beautifully with the navy- blue tablecloths. The place settings were an object of art which unfortunately had to be disturbed by the pleasure of lunch for all to enjoy. Following this feast, we were entertained by the San Diego Jewish Men's Choir, hailed as "One of the finest vocal ensembles San Diego has to offer." With exuberant audience participation, the Choir sang a variety of Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino songs, incorporated into a theatrical production, and closing with "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen." Clearly, the event was enjoyed by all who gave the Choir a standing ovation! We look forward to seeing everyone at our Aug. 15 meeting, with a definite emphasis on Yiddish culture. Don Kent reflects on a moment in his past: Do you speak Jewish? That was a question which was asked of me as an 11-year-old boy living in Brooklyn, New York. I was Jewish, but I didn't speak "Jewish." "Yiddish" was the language I spoke at home, where I lived with my grandparents, who only spoke "Yiddish." Jews do not speak "Jewish" any more than Protestants speak "Prostestant," or Methodists speak "Methodist." "Yiddish" is the name of a language, not a religion. To confuse one further, Yiddish is not "Hebrew," which is the language of prayer and religious ceremonies in Judaism. Hebrew was considered the "sacred tongue" of the Bible. However, Hebrew is now the official language of the country of Israel. Hebrew was so sacred that, many years ago, Jewish women were not taught to speak Hebrew. They spoke Yiddish to their children, who years later spoke the language to their children. Yiddish became known as mame-loshen, "mother's language," to distinguish it from "the sacred language." When you think you understand this completely, permit me to add one additional distraction: "Yiddish" uses the letters of the Hebrew alphabet and is written from right to left. Incidentally, 20 to 25% of the vocabulary of Yiddish consists of Hebrew words and phrases. Yiddish word of the month: "Boychik" - pronounced Boy-Chick. The diminutive is "Boychikel." This is an example of "Yinglish," pure and simple. The word Boychik or Boychikel is used with affection, even admiration, meaning "That's my boy." "Hello, Boychik," or "How are you Boychikel?" Affectionate: "That Don… he has the spirit of a Boychik. Sarcastic: At his age to go after young girls… Some Boychik!"

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