A combination of High German and Hebrew, Yiddish is a language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews.
In Tidewater, the Yiddish Club is embracing Yiddish culture, language, and history with music, film, poetry, and literature at its monthly meetings. For information, go to www.Jewishva.org/YiddishClub.
Through A Bissel of Yiddish, Jewish News hopes to introduce and remind readers of a few Yiddish words and phrases. Bissel is Yiddish for ‘little,’ by the way.
Harry Graber is researching and compiling each installment.
Yiddish word for the holiday
Daven
A Yiddish verb that means to pray, “Daven” is most often used when referring to reciting the Jewish liturgy. The word is widely used by Ashkenazic Jews.
Yiddish phrases for the holiday
“Yom Kippur is our Day of Atonement, the most serious day of the year, when we do a 24-hour fast, refrain from normal joys of life, focus on the spiritual tasks of life, focus on living a life that God would have us live.” – Rabbi Jonathan Miller
Oif Yom Kippur mir davened eyn mir unheybn mit Kol Nidre mir zugen Yizkor, Al Chet, Viddui, Avinu Malkenu tfiles eyn tzim sof mit Neilah.
On Yom Kippur we begin with Kol Nidre, say Yizkor and Al Chet, Viddui, Avinu Malkenu prayers and end with Neilah.
Erev Yom Kiper vern alleh ganovim frum.
On the eve of Yom Kippur all thieves become pious.