Sun 2/25 @ 2PM
Yiddish, a German dialect, used to be the everyday language of most Jews across central and eastern Europe. A hundred years ago, it was common in Jewish communities in the U.S. which had a thriving culture that included Yiddish-language theater and literature.
Its use precipitously declined following World War II, as many Yiddish speakers died in the camps and others scattered around the world and assimilated into local cultures. Among many of us, vestiges remained in the Yiddish insults our Jewish grandmothers reserved for guys they didn’t approve of us dating (“a real schmendrick”) and outfits we wore that Tricia Nixon in her little pink girlie dresses would never have been caught dead in (“That schmatte again!”)
Dr. Sean Martin of the Western Reserve Historical Society will be at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage talking about the importance of Yiddish to Jewish immigrants a hundred-plus years ago, how it evolved once they became Americans and where it’s at today. He’ll also teach you a few choice Yiddish words like the ones my grandmother used!
It’s $12 general admission, $6 for Maltz members.