When was the last time you ate a bagel? Gave a spiel at work? Called someone a klutz? Tried to have chutzpah? Contacted Apple about an iPhone glitch?
These may feel like quintessential examples of being a modern American, but the keywords behind them aren’t: they’re Yiddish.
The Jewish people began speaking Yiddish over a thousand years ago in Eastern Europe. But after a century and a half of immigration to the U.S. and elsewhere, the cultural reach of the language is vast.
These days, most everyone – including goys – feel some connection to Yiddish.
Joining us now to discuss the comeback of Yiddish in America are Ilan Stavans and Josh Lambert, co-editors of the book, “How Yiddish Changed America and How America Changed Yiddish.”
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