It has been 60 years since the British rock group “The Fortunes” released their hit song, “You’ve Got Your Troubles, I’ve Got Mine.” Had “The Fortunes” been able to sing in Yiddish, they would most likely have phrased their lyrics as follows: “Doo maynst ahz doo host tzorres?” (You think that you have tzorres?) Whether you grew up hearing the word pronounced tzorres or tzooress, you knew that the Yiddish word tzorres meant troubles. In keeping with social norms, I once asked a fellow Yiddish speaker, “Voss hehrt zich?” (How are things going?) He responded philosophically by reminding me, “Ahz meh vet lebben, vellen kayn tzorres nisht fellen” (If you live, there will be no absence of tzorres). Not that I wish tzorres on anyone, but I believe that it would be of interest to look at the following five tzorres phrases:
Oif tzorres (tough times). Most of our Eastern European ancestors were hesitant to truthfully respond to the question “Voss hehrt zich?” If things were going well, they were afraid to say so, lest the evil eye befall them. If things were not going well, they would reply “Besser, zollst nisht freggen” (Better, you shouldn’t ask). Typically, it was a well-meaning friend, relative or neighbor who would reveal, “Zee eez oif tzorres” (She’s going through difficult times). Zee eez oif tzorres serves as a word to the wise not to probe any deeper.
Tzoo alleh tzorres (Lit. In addition to all the tzorres, If all this weren’t bad enough). Recently, I learned the meaning of “DAN.” It’s a term used in Florida where retirees spend their golden years. A “DAN” refers to an octogenarian who still is able to drive at night. The latest gossip concerning Sadie Portnoy’s new gentleman friend was, “I don’t understand what she sees in him! An intellectual, he isn’t. He’s unkempt and disheveled. Just listen to him talk and it doesn’t take long for you to be bored to tears. And tzoo alleh tzorres, he doesn’t drive at night.”
Gehahkteh tzorres (Lit. chopped tzorres. Perhaps my expression “Tzorres on steroids” would come close to providing an adequate translation.) With tzorres there always exists the possibility of sooner or later being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Gehahkteh tzorres is far more ominous. When someone eez oif tzorres, your curiosity gets the better of you and you want to know more. When someone eez oif gehahkteh tzorres, you immediately realize that the less you know, the better. No one wants to hear about gehahkteh tzorres.
Koym mit tzorres (Lit. barely with tzorres. with great difficulty) As a child, koym mit tzorres sounded to me like “comet tzorres”). Personally speaking, the final two years of high school were not a particularly good time in my life. I would not be overstating it if I said that koym mit tzorres I managed to graduate twelfth grade. The expression koym mit tzorres is very versatile. The following expressions support such versatility: “Koym mit tzorres voss ehr gayt” (He can barely walk); “Koym mit tzorres voss ehr hehrt” (He can barely hear); and “Koym mit tzorres voss her farshtayt” (He barely understands).
Doss iz dee tzorreh (This is the problem). Dee tzorreh iz … serves as an introduction to an explanation of what the problem is. More often than not, Doss iz dee tzorreh serves as an affirmation for a eureka moment. Oyf zich zett menn nisht (the ability to see one’s true self) is unfortunately a rare human ability. Because of this, people have distorted images of themselves—both positive and negative — and are unable to see how they are viewed by others. As a result, they are unable to address their weaknesses and build on their strengths. Doss iz dee tzorreh.
Never let a smattering of Yiddish prevent you from peppering your speech with Yiddish words. Do you feel that your Yiddish is not up to snuff? Doss iz dee tzorreh. Better you should know from gehahkteh lebber (chopped liver) than from gehahkteh tzorres! And if you can’t decide to take the payout all at once rather than in installments, by no means are you oif tzorres. Speaking Yiddish koym mit tzorres is better than not speaking Yiddish at all. And for those who insist on pronouncing tzorres as tzoores, that’s your prerogative, but when it comes to me, please don’t adopt the attitude,“Tzoo alleh tzoores iz ehr a Litvahk” (If all this weren’t bad enough, he’s a Litvak)!
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.
