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| OHCC LIVING | DECEMBER 2025 | 35 Salt Club We had a great turnout for our personal safety seminar presented by Al Owens of Owens Training and Consulting. The event received rave reviews by attendees who related they all learned some invaluable information as to what security steps to take both at home and in public. Mr. Owens, a retired Escondido Police Lieutenant and current personal defense instructor, delivered a very personable and informative presentation. I think that all who attended walked away with a good understanding and knowledge of situational awareness and how to better protect oneself in a variety of situations. On Mon., Dec. 15, an old OHCC tradition of "Caroling through the community" is returning. This event invites any of you who would enjoy a stroll through the neighborhood, spreading holiday cheer and smiles to all. We will meet at the Clubhouse to warm up those silky vocal cords at 4 pm and go over some favorite holiday carols. Caroling will begin through the community from 5 to 6:30 pm and then we will return to the Clubhouse for a chili dinner and fellowship. No perfect pitch required — just enthusiasm, a smile, and the holiday spirit! This is all about sharing joy and togetherness, not perfection. Residents who would like the carolers to visit their home can sign up at the Clubhouse front desk beginning Dec. 1. Please include your name and address, and don't forget to leave your porch light on so we know where to stop. Let's make this holiday season a memorable one filled with music, laughter, and community spirit. Grab a friend, wear something festive, and come sing with us! SALT Holiday Caroling Event — Bringing Joy to Ocean Hills, One Song at a Time! If you have not become a member of SALT and are not receiving all the benefits provided by our club, please look into signing up at the front desk with a $10 membership fee, or see us on Do Dues Days. You can reach us by email at saltoceanhillscc@gmail.com or visit our website saltoceanhillscc.wixsite.com/saltohcc. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all! Written by Marshall Kelsay Yiddish Club Yiddish is a combination of many languages. It's a mixture of Hebrew, German, Polish, and even some Russian. Ironically, many people who thought that Yiddish was a language disappearing into oblivion, have been surprised by its resurrection into common usage into the English language. As a child, I was a f luent Yiddish speaker. I lived with my grandparents who only spoke Yiddish. I spoke English in school and with my childhood friends on New Jersey Avenue in Brooklyn. BUPKES, pronounced Bubkiss, is commonly used in a dialogue on Television shows. Its origin is from the Russian word for beans. It means something of little value or very trivial. "What is that shirt worth? Bupkes." CHAZZER - My family had a friend who was affectionately referred to as "Sam the chazzer." Sam didn't fulfill the definition of a chazzer or pig, or by being vulgar, cheap, slovenly or greedy. He ate a voluminous amount of food. Calling him a "pig" would have been insulting, but referring to him as a "chazzer" would have been almost endearing. CHUTSPAH is commonly used by non-Jews. It epitomizes outrageousness, annoyance, and gall. The joke which demonstrates extreme "chutzpah" is the story of the man who kills his parents and then pleads for mercy from the jury because he is now an orphan. DRECK is commonly used also. I grew up at a time when it was disgraceful to use the four-letter words. If something was trashy, and perceived as valueless, we used the word "dreck" which translates to excrement and is more acceptable than sh_t. FRESS - My grandmother always thought that I didn't eat enough when I came to the dinner table. She didn't tell me to eat, she said "fress!" This meant eat a great deal. However, someone like Sam the chazzer, who eats a lot or devours his food quickly, is a "fresser." BOYCHIK, pronounced Boy-Chick, is used to refer to a young boy with affection. My Uncle Morris referred to me as boychik until I was 63 years old! KIBBITZ is a Yiddish word that is thought to have English origins. To kibbitz means to give advice, or comment, especially when you weren't asked for it. A kibbitzer would give advice to both players competing in chess. KVELL - When your son or daughter or grandchildren are listed on the "honor roll" in school you "kvell," or are filled with pride and extreme pleasure. MAVEN is Yiddish meaning an expert. The word suggests that you have outstanding knowledge about a subject. Someone who works on faucets, sinks and toilets is a plumber, but a maven can listen to the sounds these appliances make and tell you what has to be repaired. SHLEMAZL refers to someone who has consistent bad luck. The shlemazl loses a poker game because his full house is beaten by four aces. SHLEMIEL is an incompetent, foolish person who constantly makes mistakes. A well-known Yiddish phrase states that when a shlemiel falls on his back, he breaks his nose! The shlemazl is the one the shlemiel drops his soup on. Oy Vey – Enough already! Be sure to mark your calendars for Sun., Dec. 14 for our fabulous Deli luncheon with entertainment from the San Diego Jewish Men's Choir! Happy Chanukah to all! Written by Don Kent, Past Vice President

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