_The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language
              (A Companion to _Mendele_)
______________________________________________________
Contents of vol. 01.025
16 November 1997

1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager)
2) "Der baybak" (Mendele Moykher-Sforim)
3) Bookmart: Yosef Guri, _Vi kumt der kats ibern vaser?_ Toyznt yidishe
idiomen fartaytsht oyf hebreish, english un rusish. (Leonard Prager)

1)----------------------------------------------------
Date: 16 November 1997
From: Leonard Prager <lprager@research.haifa.ac.il>
Subject: Yiddish Matters: 1. In this issue; 2. In future issues

a. In this issue:

Sholem-Yankev Abramovitsh, as it is known, in addition to creating his most
famous teller, Mendele Moykher-Sforim, also experimented with another
narrative figure, Yisrolik der Meshugener, best known for his role as narrator
in _Di klyatshe_ (Vilna 1872).  Abramovitsh may have planned a series of
stories told by Yisrolik largely to avail himself of fictional options denied
the more realistic Mendele.  Of unknown date, the unpublished story "Der
baybak" in this issue of _TMR_ (reproduced with permission from _Khulyot_ 2
[1994], pp. 9-17) casts light on this second teller -- and its creator. 

The story is a veritable laboratory of fictional and non-fictional modes: 
dream vision, animal fable, metamorphosis, comedy of juxtaposition of earthly
and angelic figures, domestication of the divine ("Vos makht er epes der
alter"?), social and political satire and criticism, play of language (e.g.
"oyfn himl a yarid").  The animal dimension is deepened by the fact of
Ambramovitsh's abiding interest in nature studies and his devotion to making
nature understood in Hebrew.  In the third volume of his _Seyfer toldot
hateva_ (a translation of Herold Othmar Lenz's _Gemeinnuetsige
Naturgeschichte_, Gotha 1834-9), Mendele gives an ample description of the
marmot and his habits. 

Alongside maskilic satire -- Yisrolik cannot transcend his impulse to wheel
and deal -- and angelic sermonizing on education and Palestine, we have the
humor of comparative angelology, with Jewish angels enjoying "tsimes fun
ambrozye" and Jew-turned-marmot still feeling Jewish despite his
transformation.  In this curious story we also have a free and unselfconscious
allusion to the New Testament.  It is not a finished, fully coherent story,
but the fragment is fascinating. 

 b. In future issues:

_Mendele_ from its outset has repeatedly discussed the subject of
daytshmerisms, but not always in the most informed manner.  _TMR_ will shortly
present Max Weinreich's essay, "Daytshmerish toyg nit,"  reprinted from
_Yidish far ale_ 4 (June 1938). 2. Several issues will be devoted to
relatively recent doctoral dissertations in Yiddish. 3.  Noyekh Prilutski's
essay, "Tsum vikuekh vegn di hebreizmen" will be reprinted from _Yidish far
ale_ 3 May 1938. 4. The entire syllabus of the Yiddish Courses of 1922-1923 at
the Second Moscow State University will appear in _TMR_ with an introduction
by Dr. Avraham Greenbaum. 5.  A story together with an appreciation by a Dutch
Mendelist will introduce the work of a living Israeli Yiddish writer.  More
fiction and poems will also be featured in coming issues. 

2)----------------------------------------------------
Date:  16 November 1997
From: Claus Buryn troia@worldaccess.nl
Subject: "Der baybak" ('The Marmot') by Mendele Moykher-Sforim

mendele moykher-sforim

                  "der baybak" ('the marmot')

       a bletl funem dnyevnik(1) Yisrol|ik dem meshuge|nems

1. "gliklekher baybak, du frest, zoyfst, pakst on a baykhl, vi vayt es
geyt nor arayn, un pofst zikh dernokh iber di shlekhte vintertsayt in
dayn lokh, vi a shiker ergets in a kanave, nit visn fun dayn khayes, fun
dayn gezunt un lebn! gliklekhe ir ale groyse un kleyne khaye|lekh, vos
dos pofn iz aykh a matone fun zayn libn nomen! az voyl un gut iz aykh
skotines(2), pefers!"

2. ot azelkhes hot zikh mir haynt in a mies|er osyen-tsayt getrakht. di
pogode(3) iz foyl, s'iz khoyshekh, nas un kalt. a gedikhter
far|ipesh|ter tuman shlept zikh in der luft un farshtelt dem himl, nit
durkhlozndik durkh zikh keyn eyntsikn shtral (!) fun der likhtiker zun.
mentshn zinken in blote un zeen far zikh nit di shayn.

3. "gliklekhe khaye|lekh pefers! far aykh iz di velt tomed zeyer a
fayne, a milde, a gute; far aykh shaynt zi, finklt in ir zumer-kleyd,
farputst mit alerley shmekndike blumen. zi makht aykh a breyte
borkh-h|be mit kibed vi oyf a bal un aykh iz nit bashert ontsukukn zi
in niglezhe(4). di frierdike farfarbte oysgeputste dame, mit a
frayntlekh zis shmeykhele vert, oystuendik di balove kleyder, a
mies|kayt, a shlak, a karge, a beyze zlidnye(5), nisht oystsuhaltn fun
ire kaprizn."

4. ikh lig oyfn divan lebn tish, oyf velkhn s'iz ongeleygt bikher un
gazetn, un oyfn hartsn iz mir shtark nit freylekh, a shreklekhe
moreshkhoyre. di neshome mayne padyet(6) arum, ahin-aher, vi Noyekh|s
toyb, un ken nebekh keyn ort nisht gefinen, vu zikh khotsh a bisl
oystsuruen. in der vister, finsterer hayntiker pogode, dakht zikh ir der
mabl, un yene mine tsvey-gorndike gazetn mit der knufye korespondentn
untn un oybn kumen ir fir vi di teyve mit ale mine khayes, beheymes un
shrotsem dort. es hert zikh ir a geshrey fun eyzlen, a biln fun hint, a
havken, a voyen, a ritshen, a myauken, a lyarem, a gepilder fun ale
zaytn.  Shem(7) yogt zikh arum, hot nebekh nisht keyn menukhe, keyn
khaye-sho, er kukt di ale beheymes on un kratst zikh far tsores... nit
oystsushteyn fun aza pekl hungerike parshoynen, onkhapers, khayes roes,
vilde nefoshes -- bidne neshome! vos zol ikh dir nebekh ton, az arum un
arum ze ikh nisht far mir epes, oyf vos du zolst kenen blaybn shteyn un
farbrengen etlekhe gute minut.

5. "akh, vi vert men a baybak! vi bakumt men epes a nore arayntsukrikhn
ahin, tsumakhn di oygn un ibershlofn di shlekhte tsayt!"

6. -- o, got! heyb ikh on tsu betn mit dem gevisn posek fun evangelyum:
"dos feygele hot ir nest, oykh der fuks hot a lokh un der mentsh nebekh
hot nit vu dem kop anidertsuleygn."(8)

7. mayn tfile iz derhert gevorn.

8. iber dem layb loyft mir iber epes vi a kalt vintele.  dos blut hert
oyf tsu kokhn, dos harts klopt shtiler, shtiler, un es bafalt mikh epes
vi a dremlen.  epes kneytsht mikh, kortshet mikh un (ikh) fil a
farenderung in ale mayne glider:  mayne hent shtrekn zikh oys vi a por
lapkes, oyf zey falt anider mayn platshik kepl, oystsiendik zikh mit a
mordele, mit a nezl a fayfndiks un kuk farshlofn mit oysgeshtshirete
eyglekh glat azoy zikh in der velt arayn, on a shum pitsl gedank in
moyekh un on a pitsl gefil in hartsn, take an ekhter baybak, vos denkt
un filt nor mit dem boykh un vos di gantse khokhme zayne bashteyt bay im
nor in kishke.  epes gor nish|koshe|dik, kh'lebn!  ikh veys, emes take,
nisht fun mayn lebn tsu zogn, oyf vos far a velt ikh bin, nor derinen
ligt ersht ober der gantser tam, di groyse hanoe.  epes iz azoy mekhaye
gut tsu lign vi a lebedike klots, nor tsu makhn mit di zaytn, tsuhern vi
dos nezl fayft un dos megendl kokht.  sonem, ikh vintsh aykh oser nit
keyn shlekhts, oyf aykh ale gezogt gevorn aza lebn!

9. tru-tru-tru! hert zikh plutsem a truben vi mit a shoyfer.  mayne
oyerlekh shteln zikh oyf, ikh smare mit dem nezl un mir dakht zikh an
okhotnik!(9) ikh tsiter far mayn haytl, krikh oyf mayn baykhl un kuk
oys khitre mit di eyglekh tomer iz do epes a nore vu zikh arayntsukhapn
iberzitsn di mesuken|e tsayt.  ikh krikh aynhoykerdik zikh in tsentn,
krikh un kuk.  shlekhts, nishto far mir keyn baheltenish un do trubet
men un me trubet alts vayter tru-tru-tru!  di neshome hengt mir oyf dem
shpits noz far shrek.  tsumakhndik di oygn tu ikh a makh mit der lapke:
'ta, in dayn hant, got, bahalt ikh mayn felkhn!'

10.  "Yisrol|ik, du bist a baybak!"  -- ruft zikh eyner epes lebn mir
on, derlangendik mir a shnol in nezl, azoy, az mir iz likhtik gevorn in
di oygn, velkhe ikh shtel oys un kuk dem nayem parshoyn in ponem arayn
on pakhed, on farvunderung, glaykh vi altsding, vos pasirt zikh do mit
mir un arum mir iz gants rekht, azoy geher tsu zayn alpi seykhl un alpi
derekh-h|teve. s'iz mir afile nit keyn plie ver zol der umbakanter
azoyns zayn? vos far a mekhutn er iz mit mir! mistame, az er iz do
badarf er do zayn, az er git mir a shnol, mistome badarf er shneln, un
ikh darf dem shnol mekabl-b|aave zayn. bay a baybak iz altsding rekht,
im raymt zikh altsding, er derkent epes a zakh nor b|shas zi varft zikh
im in di oygn, oder derlangt im a klap, a knip in boykh. koym farshvindt
zi, hert zi far im in gantsn oyf tsu zayn, er fargest oykh bald take dem
klap, lekt op mit dem tsingl dem broyn-bloyen tseykhn oyfn layb un ligt
zikh vayter gants ruik mit oysgeshtshirete glezerne oygn.

11.  -- du bist a sheyn baybakl, Yisrol|ik!  -- ruft zikh der parshoyn
vayter on, shoklendik oyf mir mit dem kop -- "mazltov dir mit dem
nomen".

12.  -- gam atem, mit mazl zolstu lebn! -- entfer ikh un mayns a lapke
hoybt zikh epes gor fun zikh aleyn oyf, optsushtekn dem parshoyn a
sholem-aleykhem.

13.  -- a yid blaybt a yid, afile ven ir nemt oyf zikh on dem baybak --
makht yener mit a shmeykhele avekshtupndik fun zikh mayn lape.  -- her
zhe, Yisrol|ik! es rayst mir mayn harts zeendik dikh in dayn itstiker
lage un (ikh) muz mit dir zikh oysshmuesn. nor lang tayne|n vel ikh do
mit dir nisht. ikh veys altsding:  dayne ale hanhoges, dayne veytikn,
ineveynikste un zaytike, dayne bakoshes un dayne farlangen (!). meyle,
dir vilt zikh zayn a baybak, nu -- zeyer sheyn, baybakes zaynen borekh
h|shem do genug oyf der velt khuts dir oykh. nor yene iz ober gut tsu
zayn baybakes bay an eygener nore mit fil shpayz, vos zey hobn es
b|yerushe fun zeyere eltern un eyder zey zaynen nokh geboyrn gevorn iz
shoyn far zey geshtanen greyt a fartike vareme nore mit kol tuv. du ober
bist dokh tsvishn baybakes a baybak, shtrekst zikh oys glat vu es
popadyet zikh, gornisht in dayn vinkl un shlofst zikh oyf got|s barot,
nit ongehoybn tsu trakhtn, az du bist in sakone yiye mi sh|yiye zol dikh
nit plutsem iberfaln un aropshindn dir dos felkhn.

14. -- "er dremlt nit un shloft nit der shoymer yisroyl"-- entfer ikh
mit dem gevisn posek.(10)  got zol far mir zikh zorgn.

15.  Yisrolik!  -- tut er zikh a beyzer -- azoy redt a vilder
meshuge|ner baybak. keyn filosofye far a baybak hob ikh nit un zi ken
antgegn im gor nit helfn. eyns fun di tsvey kumt dir oys:  oder
farbaybak zikh mit di ale andere funem hign vinkl, vestu vi an eygener
hobn a mokem menukhe in zeyer nore, oder...

16.  -- neyn -- fal ikh im arayn in di reyd -- farbaybaken zikh mit zey
iz zeyer shver.  mir zaynen fun farsheydene minem.  opgeshundenerheyt
vet men mir derkenen, az ikh bin fun an ander min.

17.  -- oder -- endikt der parshoyn zayn shmues, batrakhtndik mayn
geshtalt, mayn noz un mayne hor mit a shmeykhele -- oder ven du bist
tsum shli|mazl an ander min un muzt zikh haltn opgezundert, zukh zhe
frier oys epes a shtikl nore bazunder far dir. ikh vel dikh drinen
bahilfik zayn. nu? vu vilst du ergets?

18. -- veys ikh? -- gib ikh a zog zikh kratsndik mit der lapke -- loz
efsher zayn dort pa-pa-pi-hi-pit!

19.  dos letste vort, velkhes ikh hob gevolt aroysreydn iz nivle gevorn
in a hilkhedikn fayf oyf baybakske, azoy, az ikh hob mikh aleyn
ibergeshrokn.

20.  -- nish|koshe -- shmeykhlt yener -- ikh farshtey, vos du meynst.
far baybakes kumt es oys shtark gefayft... ruf es beser baybatshene.

21.  -- epes take akurat, kh'lebn, vi gevuntshn!  -- shmokh ikh far
groys hanoe.

22. -- pshite! -- makht yener farkrimendik zikh.  -- trefst akurat vi a
blind ferd in grub arayn.  yents iz shoyn haynt a velt-baybatshene, a
besoylem, der velts heylik ort, vos shmekt mit tsidek-h|din un kvures
bletlekh.

23. -- du bist a lets -- efn ikh oyf im a moyl -- nor dortn take iz mayn
ort.

24.  -- |v|h|sheynes -- redt zikh yener alts vayter, gornisht makhndik
zikh oys mayne verter -- |v|h|sheynes, hob ikh moyre, dort kenstu blaybn
eybik take an emes|er baybak.

25.  -- vos iz do aza far a khesorn a baybak!  -- zog ikh baleydikndik
zikh a bisl.  meynendik, az dos, vos ikh bin atsind, azoy bin ikh fun
eybike yorn take geven.

26.  -- nishto, mishteyns gezogt, mit vemen tsu reydn -- krekhst yener,
shoklendik oyf mir mitn kop.

27. -- zol mikh dos onheybn tsu arn, vos a soyne redt -- fayf ikh
hilkhndik oys un shtel aroys di tseyn.

28.  -- bist a guter svishtsh nish|koshe, a fayfer take gor an antik!
zogt yener, klapndik mit a finger ibr mayn kepl.

29.  -- leg mir nit keyn finger in moyl -- brum ikh mit fardros un tu
mikh take a loz im a bis tsu ton.

30. sha, baybak, ruiker a bisl! makht yener gants kaltblutik. heybt mikh
oyf farn shpits nezl, halt mikh a vayle hengendik in der luft un tut
mikh dernokh a shlayder tsurik oyf mayn ort.

31. ikh fil in mir a gantse iberkerenish, aleyn nisht tsu visn, vos far
a min nefesh ikh bin. epes nisht dos, nisht yents.

32.  -- lesate -- ruft zikh yener on -- iz nor an aveyre di reyd, mir
veln hern shpeter a bisl, vos du vest zogn.  du bist nor a berye mit dem
moyl.  ikh ken dikh nish|koshe gut, Yisrolik.

33.  -- ha vos?  -- freg ikh tam|evate, oysraybndik di oygn -- ma
shimkhem, feter?

34. -- Gavriel h|malekh.

35. -- zeyer ongeleygt, kh'lebn -- zog ikh, epes azoy lekishevate un
shit im op mit nayn mos shayles ekht yidishlekh:  -- fun vanen?  vuhin?
vos tut maylose do?  hot maylose epes an eysek|l?

36.  mayn Gavriel brumlt unter der noz, shtikndik zikh far gelekhter un
redt epes gor targem.

37. -- redt mit mir, ikh bet aykh, prost oyf undzer loshn, nit keyn
targem.

38.  -- targem iz mayn mutershprakh -- entfert Gavriel.  ikh shtam
eygntlekh fun bovl, fun vanen dayne eltern hobn mikh fartsaytn mit zikh
farfirt in zeyer land un bin geven zeyers a gantser khodatay.(11)  (ikh)
bin prezident in der komisye m|koyekh dem yidishn vopros(12) dort oybn
un es kumt mir a mol oys in dem inyen tsu reydn targem....

39.  -- vos fort, adoyni porets -- bin ikh tshikave tsu visn - hert zikh
epes dort in der komisye? vet zi bald shoyn nemen an ek?

40.  -- mit dir in eynem -- entfert er mit a gelekhterl. hob tsayt,
Yisrol|ik! megst gants zikher zayn, az zi vet dikh iberlebn. meyle, dos
in der tsayt. lomir beser reydn eysek.  |v|shoroyus shuso(13), ikh hob
an ukaz(14) funem adoyn h|godl dikh, Yisrol|ik, tsu farzorgn.

41.  -- yasher koyekh!  der alter tate hot fort zikh in mir dermont.
vos makht er epes der alter?

42. -- nish|koshe, der eygener vos frier.  er grist dikh gor frayndlekh
un bet du zolst nor keyn shli|mazl|nik nisht zayn.  vos makhstu epes,
Yisrol|ik?

43.  -- be... ikh makh mit der neshome.  keyn gesheftn iz haynt nito.
der miskher iz gefaln, der kurs ligt in der erd, men zet nit keyn groshn
leyzekhst, veyts hot oyfgehert, frishe onzetsn ale tog, oys kredit,
nishto keyn drayer....  dem grus bin ikh moykhl, hot er beser geshikt
epes gelt?

44.  -- vos hert zikh beser, Yisrol|ik, m|koyekh di klep?  farshteystu
m|koyekh di petsh?

45.  -- et... dos iz bazunder zikh a zakh...  akh-kha-kha-akh, oyfn mark
iz poshet gor nito vos tsu ton.  haynt, meyn ikh, muz zayn gor bay aykh
oyfn himl a yarid.  i-i-i!  vos makhn dort epes akheynu bney yisroyl?

46.  -- vos makhn yidn, maysem? zitsn oyfn bulvar lebn dem altn
dvorets(15), lozn zikh gebn esn levyosn, a portsye shor h|bar un
fartrinken a koyse. oder zitsn avek sho|en lang oyf benklekh glat azoy
un hobn hanoe funem kukn oyf der sheyner shkhine, vos shvebt arum,
shpatsirndik dort.

47.  -- herstu Gavriel|ikl -- gib ikh mikh plutsem a khap b|simkhe --
zay kh'lebn, a guter bruder. ikh hob dir firtsuleygn a gut gesheftl.

48.  -- efsher a shidekh? lakht Gavriel, onkukndik mikh.  -- ikh veys
dokh, Yisrol|ik, du host zeyer lib reydn a shidekh. neyn, Yisrol|ik,
reyshes, iz a yidisher malekh nisht vi di grekishe a mol, vos flegt
khasene hobn, lekn honik un esn a tsimes fun ambrozye.  |v|h|sheynes,
bin ikh vi ale andere yidishe malokhem, a kaptsn, din, on zhalovanye(16)
[ze rusish _zjalovanje_], es nit un gey, vi du zest mikh, naket un
borves.

49.  -- pi -- hob ikh gemakht mit a krim, avekkerendik dem kop in der
zayt. oyb azoy ... vos-zhe iz mit im azoy der yikhes! vos toyg hayntike
tsaytn a malekh afile on gelt?  -- keyn gesheftn vel ikh shoyn mit im
nit makhn. iberikns ta!  -- neyn, Gavriel|ik, ruf ikh mikh on, an ander
gesheftl meyn ikh, a mekleray. tomer volst a svure geven, du zolst
tsunemen mit zikh ahin tsu oybn etlekhe parshoyndlekh un oysarbetn dort
far zey shteln. a groyse mitsve, kh'lebn. di gantse velt vet dir derfar
shtark danken, un mir voltn dertsu oykh nisht tsugeleygt.

50.  -- azelkhe zakhn gehern zikh on dem malekhamoves. i dos bin ikh
mesupek oyb er vet es ton. lakeyen in ganeydn zaynen do shoyn fil mer vi
hern un damen. ale rukn zikh haynt in gehenem. dort iz nit lang geven
afile etlekhe vakansn(17) oyf shmaysers, nor zey zaynen shoyn farnumen
[suvorin, pikhne, a kreyts mit zeyer knufye, shmaysn dort oyf vos di
velt shteyt].

51. -- veys ikh, vos er redt! -- makh ikh farvundert -- di dozike ale
parshoynen zaynen dokh do, gibn aroys gazetn.  men hot fun zey tsu
zingen un tsu zogn.

52.  -- dos zaynen nor guf|lekh on neshomes, zeyere neshomes zaynen
shoyn
lang nit oyf dem oylem. lutsifer kvelt gor on fun zey, azelkhe shmaysers
-- zogt er -- hot er nokh keyn mol nisht gehat.... nu, tfu zoln zey
vern. zog mir beser, Yisrol|ik, vi vilstu zol ikh dikh farzorgn? zog dem
reynem emes.

53.  -- azoy, dem reynem emes?  -- zog ikh un fil b|shas-mayse vi ikh
ver tam|evate -- o, reyshes-khokhme, vil ikh epes a parnose|le, un
vayter veys ikh?  ... es zol zayn b|khlal gut. shenklekh, farlayen oyf
protsent, handlen mit shmates, faktereven un nokh azelkhe melokhes volt
ikh gern afile moykhl geven andere. genug! zoln andere shoyn a bisl mit
azelkhe zakhn zikh opgebn.

54.  -- gants gut. atsind denk dir Yisrol|ik, az du bist shoyn opgerikht
gevorn un dergreykht dayn vuntsh:  du bist shtark raykh, a gvir
mefursem, a groyser bal-shefe mit a sharfer parnose, nu un ahin?

55. -- vu ahin?  a-a, keyn pa-pa-pihi-pihit!  (vayter mit a fayf)
mekhteyse, zoln zikh ahin geyn andere oyb zey viln.

56.  -- un gelt oyf hetsoes un di ale hitstarkhesn dort?

57. -- un gelt?  gelt zoln zey moykhl zayn aleyn tsu bakumen.

58. -- un du?

59. -- un ikh ... far vos? ... a guter mase-|u|matn,
kh'lebn.  mir vet dokh do oykh gut zayn!

60. -- un andere parondkes a bisl un dayn balebat|ishkayt do un dayne
iberike inyonem?

61. -- tsu vos?  zol blaybn altsding vi geven.  ikh farshtey nit, vos
feln den di itstike?

62. -- un m|koyekh tsdoke gebn un visn mit a seykhl vi un oyf vos tsu
gebn, in zinen tsu hobn shuln, biker-khoylem, [zey zoln] zayn vi
geherik iz, in zinen tsu hobn yeshives, talmud-toyre, tsu farzorgn zey
mit ale neytike zakhn vi men [badarf...] kinder zoln dort vern layt un
kenen dernokh fardinen zeyer broyt b|koved un in zinen hobn a... zakhn a
bisl gelt in der tsavoe?

63.  -- epes redstu (!) mit mir targem! foderst fun mir epes azoyns, vos
ikh hoyb es gornit on [tsu farshteyen ...].

64. -- atsind -- tut er a geshrey mit kas -- atsind, az er meynt dos mol
shpilt im, iz er shoyn ... abisl vos hostu gefayft? -- baybak!

65. -- vos baybak?  ver baybak? makh ikh kloymersht farvundert un khap
mikh geshvind bay...

66.  -- du host gevolt zayn a baybak, nu blayb-zhe take a baybak, az du
kenst nor fayfn [lekashishuso(18) "lKshyshuT#" hot er zikh shreklekh
tsebeyzert!] oyf a khaldeyishn zhargon. derlangendik mir derbay a gute
zets, azh mir hot [farkhapt der otem?].

67.  -- o, du kaptsn!  -- tsebeyzer ikh mikh, tapndik di keshene un
aroyszeendik ... gevorn keyn groshn. s'iz nor dvorem beteylem, falshe
haftokhes. er vet ... mikh dervayl nit krank makhn mit dayn bakshusho
[bKshuT#].(19)

68.  - tru-tru-tru! trubet er mit zayn shoyfer mir glaykh in [oyer arayn
(?), khapt mikh plutsem far der noz, heybt mikh oyf hoykh] hoykh un
shlaydert arop mit a geshrey:  b|adishto [b#dshW#]!(20)

69. es geyt mir iber a frost iber dem layb, ikh tu mikh a khap (baym kop
un hob geefnt derbay di oygn).

70. di mame mayne zitst lebn mir oyfn divan, khlipet un brekht di hent:

71.  -- vey iz mir, Yisrol|ik, du bist nebekh krank! eyn got nor [zol
rakhmones hobn oyf dir, mayn tayerer, mayn bidner Yisrol|ik!].

*ibergeshribn fun minsker "shtern", num' 1, 1936, z"z 6-12.  a.
vorobeytshik shraybt tsu a bamerkung, azoy tsu zogn:  "di dertseylung iz
derhaltn gevorn i in shmir-ekzemplar, i ibergeshribn oyf reyn.  di
letste redaktsye iz a bisl geendert legabe der ershter.  tsum badoyern
iz der reyner ekzemplar shtark bashedikt.  do hob ikh zikh gehaltn der
ikersht bay der letster redaktsye mendeles.  nor in di faln, ven in dem
reynem ekzemplar hobn gefelt gantse shures, hob ikh gemuzt onkumen tsu
der hilf funem shmir-ekzemplar.  in di faln, ven beyde redaktsyes zaynen
zikh bashaynperlekh funandergegangen, hob ikh di antliene funem
shmir-ekzemplar shures genumen in kantike klamern.  etlekhe halbe shures
hot zikh mir b|khlal nit ayngegebn oyftsushteln; dortn hob ikh geshtelt
shures mit pintelekh.  di manuskriptn gefinen zikh in mendele-arkhiv, in
alukrainishn muzey far yidisher proletarisher kultur a.n. fun mendele
moykher sforim, in odes.  di numern fun di manuskriptn zaynen:  1186/1;
1186/2; 1186/3."  der mendele muzey ekzistirt shoyn mashmoes nit, zint
der daytsher okupatsye fun odes in der tsveyter velt-milkhome.  baym
ibershraybn hobn mir geendert nor dem oysleyg.

heores ("notes")

1) dnyevnik:  togbukh.
2) skotines:  beheymes.
3) pagode:  veter.
4) in niglezhe:  naketerheyt [ze frantsoyzish "negligee"].
5) zlidnye:  a tsutshepenish, a shlak.
6) padyet:  falt.
7) Shem:  "vayihyu beney-Noyekh h|yoytsem min-h|teyve Shem |u|Cham
|u|Yofes" (breyshis 9:18) [genesis 9:18] 8).  Matye [matthew] 8:20:
hot Yeshue tsu im gezogt:  di fuksn hobn heyln un di feygl fun himl hobn
nestn.  ober der ben-odem hot nit vu zayn kop anidertsuleygn.  oykh:
lukas 9:58 [luke 9:58]; loyt der iberzetsung fun Khayim aynshprukh [dr.
henry einspruch], baltimore 1958) [last print revised by s. gabe 1994;
ze oykh dem iberzetsung fun Arn Krelnboym ("Der bris khodoshe",
Filadelfye, 1949)].
9) okhotnik:  yeger.
10) tilim 121:4  hiney loy yonum v|loy yishan shoymer yisroyl [Psalm
121:4].
11) khodatay: meylets yoysher, shtadlen
12) vopros: shayle
13) veshoroyus shuso:  aramish, meynt:  psikhes h|diber.  fun der
ershter shure inem piet "akdomes milin", vos men iz noyeg zogn mit a
spetsyeln nign dem ershtn tog shvues.
14) ukaz: bafel, farordenung.
15) dvorets: shlos.
16) zhalovanye: gehalt, skhar.
17) vakans: a leydike shtele.
18) lekashishuso: aramish: bizn eltern zikh, fun dem piet "akdomes
milin", ferte shure, ze oybn bamerkung 13.
19) bakshuso: bakoshe, loytn nusekh funem oybn dermontn piet.
20) beadishto: shtilkayt. funem oybn dermontn piet, 18te shure. gemeynt,
mashmoes: shtil zolstu vern!

romanizirt fun claus buryn; korektor: refoyl finkl.

3)----------------------------------------------------
Bookmart

Date: 16 November 1997
From: Leonard Prager <lprager@research.haifa.ac.il>
Subject: Yosef Guri's _Vi kumt a kats ibern vaser?_

Yosef Guri.  _Vi kumt a kats ibern vaser?  Toyznt yidishe idiomen fartaytsht
oyf hebreish, english un rusish_.  Jerusalem:  The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, Department of Russian and Slavic Studies, 1997.  169 pp.  + [9]. 
English title:  _1000 Yiddish Idioms and Their Equivalents in English, Hebrew
and Russian_.  ISBN 965-223-970-4.  (Distributed by the Magnes Press, Hebrew
University, POB 7695, Jerusalem 91076, Israel.  Tel:  (972)-02-660341.  Fax: 
(972)-02-633370.) 

"This dictionary is the first of its kind in Yiddish lexicography,"  writes
Yosef Guri in the "Preface" to his selection of Yiddish idioms catchily
entitled _Vi kumt a kats ibern vaser?_.  In the body of the work, under _vav_,
the idiomatic title is translated as "how do we do this?"  That accurate
rendition may appear dull, but it is precisely the insistent question which
has faced Yiddish educators and language scholars for decades and which,
surprisingly enough, has never been adequately addressed.  As is clear from
the constantly recurring discussions of Yiddish idioms in _Mendele_ and other
forums, such a reference work has been sorely needed.  Yosef Guri's present
effort to fill the lack, while by no means the comprehensive academic
collection we hope some day to see, is a significant contribution, original in
its conception, useful to several levels of students, and generally well
executed. 

This collection includes only idioms, defined as "word combinations in which
all the components of the phrase underwent a semantic transformation." 
Proverbs and similes are thus excluded.  One of the aims of the dictionary is
"to serve as a lexicographic source for linguists researching Yiddish and
spoken Hebrew, and specialists in comparative phraseology."  Guri estimates
that 20% of the Yiddish idioms in his collecion are loan translations from
Slavic languages and about the same number of the colloquial Hebrew idions
included are loan translations from Yiddish.  The great majority of Yiddish
idioms in Guri's dictionary are from spoken Yiddish, but others derive from
"the so-called common phraseological fund" -- e.g.  "a shturem in a gloz
vaser," rendered in Hebrew, English and Russian respectively as:  seara bekos
mayim / a tempest in a teapot; much ado about nothing / burya v stakanye vodi. 

The compiler and his several helpers tried to find equivalent idioms in the
target languages.  Thus "hakn a tshaynik" (literally 'chopping a kettle') is
translated by the parallel English idiom "talk one's ear off"; "goldene berg"
by "pie in the sky;" "oyfn himl a yarid" by "1.  much ado about nothing"; 2.
poppycock!, bull!"  Especially noteworthy -- and praiseworthy -- is Guri's
attempt to give "phraseological equivalents on the same stylistic level as the
Yiddish."  Since all of us perceive certain expressions differently -- what is
"slang" for some may be normal good informal usage for others -- readers will
be divided in their approval of certain translations which try to capture the
right stylistic register.  How many _Mendele_ readers will accept "zilch" as
the idiomatic equivalent of "a lokh mit a beygl," or "no way!" as the "right"
sense-and-feel of "loy mit an alef"? 

Yiddish patriots often claim that certain Yiddish expressions are
"untranslatable."  Such a view would make dictionaries of idioms rash
ventures.  They are, in fact, difficult and we must keep this in mind in
passing judgement.  Guri concedes that many Yiddish idioms have no parallel
idiom in Hebrew, English and Russian and in such instances "a more literal
translation of the Yiddish is given."  What is meant, of course, is:  more
literal than an idiomatic equivalent.  An actual "literal translation" of,
say, "lozn zikh shpayen in kashe" would be the seemingly meaningless 'one's
allowing the spitting into (his) porridge'.  Guri's dictionary translates this
(correctly except for the extraneous negative) as "stand for no bullying." 
Should this perhaps be called paraphrase?  Our linguists can attack this
question. 

A trained lexicographer (his PhD dissertation was on Russian idioms and their
translation into Hebrew), Yosef Guri is no newcomer to Yiddish lexicography.
For many years he was on the staff of the _Groyser verterbukh fun der yidisher
shprakh_.  In 1992 he and Shoel Ferdman issued _Kurtser yidish-hebreish-
rusisher verterbukh_, followed in 1994 by _Kurtser yidish-hebreish-englisher
verterbukh_ (excellent dictionaries, identical in their Yiddish and Hebrew
contents).  He has also edited a collection of proverbs, _Az der sof iz gut iz
alts gut_ [Sof tov hakol tov_], 1993 (Hebrew, Yiddish, English and Russian). 
The present dictionary is to be followed soon -- we are promised -- by _Folk
Similes in Yiddish and Their Equivalents in Hebrew, Yiddish and Russian_.

One feature of this attractively produced paperbound book is the comic pen
illustrations.  Another thing I like is the ample space on every page for the
reader's own annotations -- "improvements," of course.  I recommend that
_Mendele_ readers buy this book, learn to use these marvelous phrases in their
Yiddish conversation and writing, and fill many future issues of _Mendele_
discussing the felicity and accuracy of the tri-lingual translations in this
pioneering lexicon of Yiddish idioms. 
________________________________________________________

End of _The Mendele Review_ 01.025

Leonard Prager, editor

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    lprager@research.haifa.ac.il

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