After “laughing to repair the world” by Freddy Raphaël, La Nuée Bleue is releasing a second book on Alsatian Judaism, a book somewhat resembling the first in its composition, could this be the start of a collection? In any case, he is one, it is Alain Kahn, president of the Jewish Community of Saverne where he also assumes the function of ‘hazan and teacher at the local Talmud Torah, he has carried out a valuable work of collecting Judeo-Alsatian expressions in literature and among elders who still speak Yeddisch-Daïsch, this endangered dialect. Alain Kahn has chosen 350 expressions to share them and make them last: the most emblematic, the most understandable, the most fun. Joyfully mixing German, Hebrew and Alsatian, they talk about customs, holidays, Shabbat, but also everyday life, business, Christians and cooking. //
For example, how to tell that your neighbor has freaked out? Dü besch gànz maschùgge! A word that we still hear in Alsatian, which comes from the Hebrew Meschouga, crazy in Hebrew. Or even “Dayyess fer Onngelegti ayyer”, literally: “these are worries for eggs that have not yet been laid”. Words come back, maybe you use the Alsatian word “Schlàmàssel”? This Yiddish word is a fusion of the Alsatian word “schlìmm”, serious, and the word “mazel”, chance, so when the luck is serious, it is rather a catastrophe, notice that can also designate the person to whom it happens misfortunes.I have the impression that you liked the music earlier?
These expressions make us discover the traditions and the daily life of the Jews of the Alsatian countryside of yesteryear, then populated by cattle dealers, bridegrooms, grinders and peddlers. Quiet ! Let’s say no more, because… Dü derfsch niks vermassere! No spoilers! As a bonus in the book on these 350 Judeo-Alsatian expressions by Alain Kahn: a lexicon of Judeo-Alsatian first names and twelve nursery rhymes. 192 pages for 22€ at your favorite bookseller. And the Yiddish lullaby that we heard in the background comes from the website of the Office for Language and Culture of Alsace.