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I have an old postcard, from the early 20th century, in hand-written Yiddish. I was wondering if anyone out there in the Agora world can read this language, and if so, would they be willing to take a look and tell me more or less what the thing says. I figure it's just a basic postcard, but I'm still curious. Can you or anyone you know help me out here?

Check a library for Leo Rosten's Joys of Yiddish and the updated The New Joys of Yiddish. The list price of the updated version was $35.00, but I picked up a copy at a local place called Ollie's that sells overstock of books, tools, and Lord knows what else, for $9.99 Even if it doesn't help with the postcard it's still a good read. It's filled with stories or parables that help explain the word.

Part of a typical entry:

grob
graub
grober
grauber
grobyon
graubyon

Pronounced GRUB or GRAWB, to rhyme with "daub," and GRAW-ber. From the german: grob, "course, uncouth, rough."

1. Coarse, crude, uncouth, vulgar; ill-mannered.
2. Ignorant; insensitive.

...


A rabbi came to the notoriously brutal governor of a province in Poland and pleaded for help for the many who were starving.

The gober governor struck the rabbi across the face. "Jew, take that!"

The rabbi nodded. "That, sir, is for me. Now what will you give to my people?"

Also, the classic definition of Chutzpah is found in this book:

Chutzpah is that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.

A great book if you don't know your Schlemiel from your Schlimazel. Just don't be a Gonif or a Momzer!

Thanks for the idea, Larry, but it won't help me here. This is what it looks like:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo ... ertainment

Not quite your basic English letters.

Oy vey!

Yiddian? Russish?

I'm not even sure which end is up! The right side? Is it a Russian, or even a Georgian allphabet?

If the Czar packed his kids side-by-side in a flat tin can would they be Czardines?

I've been told it's Hebrew script, though the language is Yiddish.

A bit of a mess, eh?

The postcard is definitely written in Yiddish.

I downloaded a relatively high-res copy from the webshots website. As my ability to read Yiddish is, uh, less than optimal, I'll consult with a friend whose mother tongue is Yiddish. I'll post the results in a week or so.

Paul

The postcard is definitely written in Yiddish.

I downloaded a relatively high-res copy from the webshots website. As my ability to read Yiddish is, uh, less than optimal, I'll consult with a friend whose mother tongue is Yiddish. I'll post the results in a week or so.

Paul

Thanks, Paul! I look forward to the results, whatever they may be. I don't expect history-altering news from it, but I do hope to find out what it says, at least in part.

Thanks to your friend, too.

You might send Perry a private message to see if he can read it on the off chance he hasn't seen this post.

Deleted

I gave it a try, but in vain. The letters are Hebrew characters, but I am no Yiddish expert. And the handwriting is tiny and crowded. Sorry!

I gave it a try, but in vain. The letters are Hebrew characters, but I am no Yiddish expert. And the handwriting is tiny and crowded. Sorry!

Thanks for the attempt. Maybe one of these days I'll find a Hebrew-reading Yiddish expert who can make some sense of the thing. I'll need to find a new place to try, though. The Agora is one of only three I belong to that stood a chance, and I've struck out on all three. Good thing this isn't baseball, eh?

I've made a stab at the postcard:

The handwritten text appears to be from a brother and sister to other family members, including a mother-in-law, sister-in-law, niece and perhaps others. The writer(s) seem to feel that the other members of the family are angry with them as they are not responding to earlier letters. There also seems to be a reference to someone burdened with troubles, and a wish extended for good health.

I haven't yet consulted with a real Yiddish expert.

If you want a professional translation, I can suggest
Dr. Khane-Feygle (Anita) Turtletaub
8914 N. Central Pk.
Evanston, IL 60203-1815
847-675-3335

http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/jewish ... letaub.htm

http://www.german.northwestern.edu/peop ... etaub.html

Thanks for the information, Paul. I figured it was probably a family-type card, but never thought of how much there might be there. It would be a rare find to come up with more details from some historical treasure trove.

If you want a professional translation, I can suggest
Dr. Khane-Feygle (Anita) Turtletaub

Is she a person, a bird (feygle), or a deaf turtle? For that matter do turtles have good hearing? Funny how my mind works (see ditto).

Is she a person, a bird (feygle), or a deaf turtle? For that matter do turtles have good hearing?

Where's the deaf bit come from? Taub is German (and Yiddish) for dove.