June 2010
12 posts
Shpigl - שפיגל
Shpigl - שפיגל \SHPIG-el\ Noun \ Masculine \ Pl. Shpiglen:
A mirror, looking-glass.
Pronunciation: Click here to hear a native Yiddish speaker use this word in conversation.
German equivalents: der Reflektor, der Spiegel.
Etymology: The word derives from Middle High German “spiegel,” which comes from Old High German “spiegal” or “spēgal,” in turn from...
Digitized Collection of Yiddish Books
For those interested, the Universitätsbibliothek Frankfurt am Main has a digitized collection of over 800 old printed Yiddish books, including our very own Brant Shpigl and two books mentioned in a previous post, the Bove Bukh and the Mayse Bukh. One slight problem with this site is that its transliteration system is hard to decipher (it’s some sort of hybrid between academic...
Helfn - העלפן
Helfn - העלפן \HELF-en\ Verb:
To help, aid, assist, remedy; further; do good. Pronunciation: Click here to hear a native Yiddish speaker use this word in conversation.
Synonyms: bayshteyn (ביישטיין), mesayeya zayn (מסייע זיין), tsushteln a pleytse (צושטעלן א פלייצע).
German equivalent: helfen, verhelfn. Etymology: The word derives from Middle High German “helfen,” from Old High...
YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe!
For those interested, the YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe, published in 2008 by Yale University Press, is now available online, free of charge! In addition to all the amazing articles on topics related to Jewish culture contained within the printed volumes of the encyclopedia, the Web version has extra color pictures, interactive maps, video and sound clips, and more. Check it out!
Haltn - האלטן
Haltn - האלטן \HALT-en\ Verb: 1. To hold, contain. 2. To believe, think, maintain, affirm, live up to (promises, principles). 3. To stand. 4. To observe (a holiday). Pronunciation: Click here to hear a native Yiddish speaker use this word in conversation. Synonyms: (Sense 1:) araynnemen (ארייננעמען); koylel zayn (כולל זיין). (Sense 2:)meynen (מיינען). (Sense 3:) shteyn (שטיין). German equivalent:...
Index of Yiddish Periodicals Search Engine!
For those interested, the Indeks tsu der Yidisher Peryodik (Index of Yiddish Periodicals), operated by Hebrew University in cooperation with the Jewish National and University Library (JNUL) in Israel, provides access to a search engine which allows a person to search for the bibliographical records of many Yiddish periodicals, some dating back to the 19th century. Certainly a useful tool for...
Heyln - היילן
Heyln - היילן \HEYL-en\ Verb:
1. To heal, cure. 2. To get better, recover [with reflexive zikh (זיך)].
Pronunciation: Click here to hear a native Yiddish speaker use this word in conversation.
Synonyms: oyskurirn (אויסקורירן), according to Harkavy.
German equivalent: heilen. Etymology: The word derives from Middle High German “heilen,” from Old High German “heilen,”...
California Institute for Yiddish Culture and...
For those interested, the California Institute for Yiddish Culture and Language (CIYCL; Der Kalifornyer Institut far Yiddisher Kultur un Shprakh), together with the L.A. Yiddish Culture club (Der L.A. Yidisher Kultur Klub), hosts various Yiddish cultural events, including lectures, theater productions, film screenings, etc., in the LA area on a slightly more than monthly basis. They also...
