The University of Maryland at College Park may be putting Yiddish instruction out on its tuchis after the 2010-11 academic year for financial reasons, but the National Yiddish Book Center is celebrating the biggest single gift in its history, $3-million from the estate of Mickey Ross, a television writer whose work on shows like All in the Family took aim at anti-Semitic bigotry. The Yiddish Book Center is a scholarly resource known for efforts to save books of Yiddish literature and make them available to researchers and others in more technologically friendly formats. Mr. Ross’s bequest also included $4.5-million for YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, its largest gift ever.
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4 Responses to From Tsoris to Nachas: A Boost (and a Shove?) for Yiddish
msumlarry - January 12, 2010 at 4:16 pm
To the meshuggenehs at UMCP, I say “Zolst geshvollen veren vi a barg!” It’s a shanda. But what’s the use to argue. Shlog zikh kop in vahnt.
12058486 - January 12, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Which, roughly translated, means:To the nuts at UMCP, I say “You should swell up like a mountain!” It’s a shame. But what’s the use to argue. Hit your head on the wall.Any better Yiddish scholars out there? Annotations welcome.
wilkenslibrary - January 12, 2010 at 8:31 pm
When I was a kid and had to spend a whole sunny Saturday at my grandparents’ house, listening to the grown-ups talk, I’d complain about being bored. My grandmother would say, “Shlog kop in vahnt.” I never knew how to spell it, and I don’t remember her saying “zikh,” but she might have. Not being a Yiddish speaker, I took her meaning to be that being bored was less awful than the alternate activity she was offering me: banging my head against the wall.
judicial - January 13, 2010 at 8:01 am
What a mensch, that Mickey Ross! I am sure his mother would kvell! May they use the gift in good health, kine hora. Gay avek UMCP.