Regardless of how you feel about Election Day, in general, or about the upcoming Election Day, in particular, next Tuesday will put an end to the seemingly endless campaign vitriol. Let’s be bold and use this November 4 to our advantage by enriching our Yiddish vocabulary with words that pertain to deciding the course this country will take for the next four years.
Vahln (elections). Our Eastern European ancestors didn’t know from vahln. How could they when they lived under the Czar? In answering the question, “Is there a blessing for the Czar?” the rabbi in the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” assured his followers that there was. He then intoned, “May the Almighty bless and keep the Czar, far away from us!” At the turn of the 20th century, the main concern pertaining to vahln for first-generation Jews in this country was that whoever was elected should be good to the Jews.
Shtitzen (support, verb). With but few exceptions, name recognition, real or perceived, was a factor when it came to shtitzen a particular candidate. Barry Goldwater (his paternal grandfather Michel Goldwasser was a Polish Jew who, after immigrating to England, anglicized his name to Goldwater) did not receive a significant amount of shtitzeh (support-noun) from the Jews in this country 60 years ago when he ran for president. On the other hand, Franklin received not only shtitzeh from our people but adulation as well.
Bahshleesn (decide). In the first televised presidential debate between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon, Pierre Salinger, who would go on to become press secretary for JFK, was busy getting out press releases and didn’t have the opportunity to watch the debate. Instead, he listened to the debate on the radio. As far as Salinger was concerned, Nixon won the debate. But Salinger surmised that sitting in front of televisions, dehr oilem vett bahshleesn (the public would decide) that Kennedy won the debate.
Shtimmen (vote). Derived from the Yiddish word shtimmeh (voice), shtimmen means to voice your preference. Closely related to shtimmen is shtimmboodkeh (voting booth), shtimmtzetl (ballot – lit. vote note) and shtimmkestl (ballot box). Far better than the cynical “Vote early, vote often,” would be the Yiddish “Dehr voss gayt shtimmen, kenn zich goot bahrimmen” (One who goes to vote has every right to boast). And boast our Eastern European ancestors did, as they cast their vote for the first time in their lives, once they received American citizenship.
Reggeeroong (government). In a democracy, everyday citizens have the power to chart the course of the country for the next four years. Their vote not only determines who will occupy the White House but will also influence who fills the position of secretary of state and press secretary, and ambassadors to the United Nations and throughout the world. People tend not to be shy in expressing their fears about presidential candidates. Perhaps greater fear should be expressed about the criteria the average voter uses to shape the next four years.
With the election mere days away, it’s time to talk mammeh loshen (cutting to the chase) about the election. As difficult as it might be as far as bahshleesn,when it comes to the vahln, it is important that we exercise the freedom of shtimmen. Hopefully, when it comes to shtitzen, the reggeeroong will be there for us.
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.
