We'd like to welcome aboard all of our new readers -- the participants from this winter's Fellowships programs who have just returned from Israel to their campuses and home communities. Our staff truly enjoyed hosting you, and we hope you'll come back again for a visit very soon.

If you have anything else that you'd like us to publish here, please send it along via our email address, jf@aish.edu.

The Jerusalem Fellowships Internship for Leaders
Judging from the reviews, our second JFIL program ever was a huge success. The group of 27 students including large contigents from Rutgers University in New Jersey and the University of Maryland, enjoyed the mix of Judaism, politics, touring, and activism fieldwork, and came away fully motivated to make their marks as Jewish leaders on campus. Special thanks to our Scholar-in-Residence, Rabbi David Gutterman, the director of Rutgers Hillel for adding so much to the program. (The word from Jerusalem is that this was the "singing-est, dancing-est group ever!")

The Jerusalem Fellowships Winter-Break Program
From clearing bombing rubble in Kiryat Shemona, to the Discovery Seminar, to Shabbat in Jerusalem, this winters program was an unforgetable experience for our 20 participants (5 of whom's first name was "Mike" -- a new world's record).

As promised last week here are some impressions from two of our returning students:

Last January, when I left Yerushalayim, I took with me many questions left to be answered. When I received the e-mail about Return 'n' Learn, I knew that this was the trip for me. When I arrived, I knew that there would be classes at J.E.W.E.L., and also classes at E.Y.A.H.T., but all of the classes exceeded my expectations. When I found out we would be having tiyulim every week, I knew I was on the perfect trip.

Having the opportunity to learn and grow in our Judaism in the Old City is a tremendous advantage. We are all very lucky that we had a chance to experience Israel in this manner. Even though most of us are not in Jerusalem, the spark we saw here can be carried on to others - the ones who weren't here. And this "feeling" we all had on Friday night at the Kotel can be carried with us no matter where we are.

Call 1-800 FELLOWS for more information on our Return and Learn and Student Leader programs.

Hi Chaim!

Sincerely,

Shoshana Potts

Mark and Cheryl Ellis (JF July 1996)
mark_e_ellis@email.mobil.com, ellisme@hotmail.com
We are learning at Darche Noam and Midreshet Rachel. We live in Kiryat Moshe.

Yiddish English or "Hebonics" hardens consonants at the ends of words.

Thus, "hand" becomes "handt."

The letter "W" is always pronounced as if it were a "V." Thus "walking" becomes "valking."

"R" sounds are transformed to a guttural utterance that is virtually impossible to spell in English. It is "ghraining" "alghready."

Short "a"s are changed to "eh"s. Such as, "She his ha vonderful dehncer!" Instead of, She is a wonderful dancer. Also, "Vats de mehtte, you neveh mett eh yenke before?"

Also, the word "Nu," closest meaning is "Well" or "So," is often placed in front of a question. It is said slowly with a rising inflexion to give emphasis. Such as, "Nu, so ow's by you?" or "Nu, did you get a raise?"

"Oy," and "Oy vay" and "Oy vay is mir" and "Oy gevalt" have generally the same meaning. An expression of "Oh, my G-d." This might be uttered at the moment that a disaster is observed. Usually, it is the observance of an "almost disaster." In other words this expression is usually an exaggeration.

Questions are always answered with questions:

Question: "How do you feel?" Hebonics response: "Nu, so ow shouldt I feel?
The subject is often placed at the end of a sentence after a pronoun has been used at the beginning: "She dehnces beautiful, dat girl."

The sarcastic repetition of words by adding "sh" to the front is used for emphasis: mountains becomes "shmountains" turtle becomes "shmurtle."

"Th" is pronounced as a "d" or a "t", s in: "De Dodgers shoulda never vent to Helay." or "Oy gevalt! Dere's a mot hin de sveaters!"

Standard English Phrase Hebonics Phrase

"He walks slow" - "Like ee's hin deep mud, ee valks."

"Sorry, I don't know the time" - "Vat? I look like, ha clock?"

"I hope things turn out for the best - "You should BE so lucky"

"Anything can happen" - "Hit his never so behd, hit cehn't get voise"

It has been suggested that a review of HEBONICS would not be complete unless a sample of the ever colorful curses were included for your approval. In Hebonics the fact is curses never contain curse words ... they are unnecessary. There is more than enough that can be levied on your opponent without resorting to curse words.

We have all heard of the Mid-East curses such as: "May the fleas of a thousand Camels fly up your nose," or some such sayings. HEBONIC curses resemble these Mid-east curse in style and elaborateness.

For example: Instead of telling someone to go to hell, this may be more appropriate:

Sam, you should buy ha suit mit two pair pents hand boin ha ole hin de jacket!

or,

You should live like a chendiler, henging by day hand boining hat night!

or,

You should ride hon de trolley hand de conductor should keep blowing de horn.

or,

You should grow like ha honion, mit your handts hand feet hin de hair hand your head hin de ground!

You can see how wonderful and rich the language is particularly if you like to curse.

Please be sensitive to those speakers of Hebonics. Since it is its own language, do not attempt to correct its speakers, but rather you should make every effort to learn and use it.

The only way you can do acts of kindness for others and meet their needs is to become aware of what they lack. Elevate the material world by doing acts of kindness and bestowing material gifts.

Think of three people you see regularly. Think about one thing that each of them lacks. Then come up with something you can do to help them overcome that lack.

(see Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler - Michtav MaiEliyahu, vol.3,

p.35; Rabbi Pliskin's "Consulting the Wise")