Close to three weeks ago, Hamas broke through the barrier that separated Gaza from Israel and proceeded to butcher, mutilate and murder innocent Israelis. As a rabbi who has always assured my congregation that we will see morning sunshine if we can make it through the dark night, I share with you five terms that will hopefully ease the malaise that has threatened to envelop so many of us.
Fahraynikt (united). For those of us familiar with counting in Yiddish, fahraynikt is a form of the Yiddish number ayntz (one). In Yiddish, the United States is known as Die Fahraynikteh Shtahten. On Friday, October 6, Jews in Israel were at each other’s throats largely because of political differences. One day later, Jewish hearts joined together to deal with the nightmare that was unfolding. Out of their bloodthirsty desire to maim, mutilate and murder, Hamas does not differentiate between Jews. Since the onslaught, there has been a refreshing amount of solidarity among Jews.
Einshtimmik (agreeable). Fifty-six years ago, Menachem Begin, leader of the opposition party in the Israeli Knesset, reached out to Prime Minister Levi Eshkol assuring him of total support as Israel entered what came to be known as the Six Day War. One of the responses on the part of Prime Minister Netanyahu to the Hamas incursion was to reach out to former Defense Minister Benny Gantz to see if he would be einshtimmik to form an emergency unity government. The Yiddish word shtimmeh means voice. Shtimmen is the Yiddish word for “vote” in that shtimmen is voicing one’s political preference.
Shtoom (mute). For months now there have been demonstrations in Israel, often with thousands gathering, to protest the government. At question was the autonomous nature of the Israeli Supreme Court. For many it was an ominous reminder of Abraham Lincoln’s memorable words (originating in the Christian Bible) “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Unfortunately, it took a national catastrophe for the voices of dissent to become shtoom. On Saturday, October 7, the shtoomkneppl (mute button) was pressed.
Ahlitz ayntz (all the same). As President Reagan was being wheeled into the emergency room at George Washington University Hospital on March 30, 1981, having taken a bullet in the lung by John Hinckley Jr., he quipped to the medical staff, “I hope you are Republicans!” The attending physician answered, “Mr. President, today we are all Republicans!” When the air raid sirens began to wail in the early hours of October 7, and the horrific news reports began to unfold, Israelis put aside political differences and ideological views. Had they known Yiddish (most Israelis do not) they would have proclaimed, as far as we Israelis are concerned, “We are ahltz ayntz.”
Ess vett zein goot (it will turn out well). It was the Tzemach Tzedek, the third Lubavitcher Rebbe (1789-1866) who was known to have promoted the idea of “Tracht goot, ess vett zein goot! Keep a good thought and things will turn out well.” Despite the oy veys with which so many of us are associated, we Jews are eternal optimists. We defy expectations, we defy odds. Despite its background and authorship, the song “We Shall Overcome” is as Jewish as it gets. The very lyrics exude what ess vett zein goot is all about.
When our brothers and sisters in Israel are fahraynikt, when they are capable of being einshtimmik, when agitators remain shtoom, when we adopt a self-attitude of ahltz ayntz, then we will know in our hearts ess vett zein goot.
Rabbi Shawn Zell has recently returned to New Jersey, after serving at a pulpit in Dallas. He possesses certification in teaching Yiddish. Rabbi Zell is the author of three books.
