Meshuggenary: Celebrating the World of Yiddish - Hardcover

Stevens, Payson R.; Steinmetz, Sol; Levine, Charles M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0743227425 ISBN 13: 9780743227421

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2002

Synopsis

An eclectic introduction to the Yiddish language and its culture in America throughout the past century considers its grammatical and vocabulary basics, offers a wealth of expressions and insults, and profiles Yiddish influences on the arts, food, and education. 25,000 first printing.

About this title

About the Author

Payson R. Stevens has worked as an artist, designer, and writer for thirty years. He and his wife live in Del Mar, California.

Reviews

Maven, schmooze, schlock, kvetch, nosh: they're just a few of the Yiddish-origin words that have made their way into American dictionaries. Tracing the history of the Jewish lingua franca not only from a linguistic perspective, but from a cultural, religious and societal viewpoint as well, this spirited and informative reference offers readers a foundation for understanding the myriad facets of Yiddish culture. (The title, the authors say, means a "crazy-quilt guide to Yiddish," not to mention a Yiddish bestiary.) There are entries on shtetl life, Yiddish proverbs and blessings, klezmer and Yiddlish (words that sound Yiddish but aren't), as well as traditional Yiddish recipes and a slew of Yiddish jokes interspersed throughout the more factual segments describing Yiddish theater, literature and music. The authors, who "love this strangely beautiful language full of humor and pathos," are enthusiastic guides, and this motley exposition is a fun and entertaining crash course in everything it means to be Yiddish.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

With the present revival of interest in Yiddish, this light, popular introduction will appeal to newcomers to the language and also to those who remember bits and pieces and want to know more. The authors don't try for the comprehensiveness of Leo Rosten's Joys of Yiddish (1968). Rather, they focus on the heart of the language, how it expresses European Jewish history and culture, and what Yiddish has lent and borrowed in America. Clearly designed for browsing, with lots of subheads and boxed notes, and with the Yiddish words in bold type, there are chapters on humor, on proverbs and sayings, and on recipes and cooking. There's also a useful overview of literature, theater, and music, past and present. A long alphabetical list of expressions works great for quick reference, and the final extensive bibliography includes Web sites. This is a book for sharing and reading aloud: the schmaltzy endearments, the grousing and kvetching, and, of course, the insults-- untranslatable, irreplaceable in their invective and vulgarity, hilarious "if they're not directed at you." Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0743227425
• ISBN 13: 9780743227421
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256