Reflections From The Bell Curve: Kosher? Only This Bell Curve Maven Knows
Call me a putz, but because the post above has been one of my most popular since it was published eight years ago, I decided only a schlub would give up after one try. Besides, a few comments made on that post reminded this schmo of some critical Yiddish gems he uses regularly, stuff left out of the first part of this megillah.
I ask you, what better word is there than schmear to describe what to do with the cream cheese before you begin noshing on a bagel? While on the subject, unless you know bupkis about food, how does anyone survive without blintzes and latkes? And no, I've never been concerned about what those foods might do to the size of my tush. Thanks to my forebears, the heft of my tuchus was a given before my first knish or the start of any collection of music-related tchotchkes. My shiksa daughter will attest to the fact that the size of my tush has little to do with consumption of kugel and the like. I'm grateful my schnozz falls within a more normative range.
I'll conclude my spiel - like the first - lest any noodge accuse me of wearing out my welcome. But first I want to thank a fellow hiker - a real mensch - for providing me with schnorrer, the latest addition to my Yiddish treasure chest. He gave me that jewel recently via a comment made on my original 2017 post. I must admit, his long-delayed comment got me all verklempt. Mazel tov, John.
Great post Pat! Big smile here after enjoying it. Looking forward to Schmoozing on Monday.
ReplyDelete"Anonymous"; Thanks for the comment, the big smile, and especially for "schnorrer". I love that word. And let the schmoozing commence.
DeletePat, these words are so perfect. Growing up we had this sign over our door "L'chaim."
ReplyDelete"To Life" In my opinion, the best words to raise a glass to.
Regina; Thanks for the comment. I wish I'd remembered "l'chaim" - another expression I was familiar with, despite being a goy - either when I wrote the original post in 2017 or for this second (and final) iteration eight years later. Could've easily found a good spot for it. Oy vey!
DeleteTook me a few minutes to find my favorite use of a Yiddish word and used ever so cleverly…Jane Malcolm in her collection of essays “Forty-one False Starts”
ReplyDelete“…..Argo, in a Peruvian poncho and ankle-length hemp skirt(yes, that’s right, a skirt.”) and gray-braided Gabriela in a garish African SCHMATTE” sends them off to an exclusive NY benefit”. If you have not read this collection, please do. Outstanding and golden Malcolm.
Anonymous; Thanks for the comment and the essay recommendation. Unfortunately, even though "schmatte" is another Yiddish word I'm familiar with, I don't have enough other words thoroughly familiar to me to flesh out a third iteration in this two-off series. I'm afraid schmatte, bris, dreck, and some others - including the unfamiliar ones suggested by readers in their comments accompanying my original (January 2017) post - will not be making an appearance on this bell curve. But thanks anyway, bubbeleh.
DeleteI love all those Yiddish words. What has always amused me is how the "sch" prefix is used for so many words to describe people in a way that is, well, let's say less than perfect -- schmuck, schlemeil, schlimazel, schmendrick, schnorrer -- all of these losers no doubt dressed schmatte. That said, my favorite Yiddish word is "machatunim" (mak-a-TU-nim), which refers the parents of your SIL or DIL. We don't have a word for it in English. In Spanish these people are your consuegros, but I prefer machatunim.
ReplyDelete