Reply To: Speaking Yiddish

Hakohen: My Rav explained to me that throughout history, the jews had a ‘yiddish language’. in other words, a language that was unique to the ‘Yidden’. As jews went into Golus, they would adopt the new host country’s language

It for this exact reason that Yiddish is not for today. It is for sure not in the top 2 languages spoken by jews today. Yes, you can look back at it with respect like they do for other old-time languages such as ladino, but it should be phased out as a current language.

I responded above to most of the claims that Yiddish isn’t machlokes inducing. However everyone keeps on bringing up that Yiddish speakers are not condescending towards non-yiddish ones.

I believe this is false, for as long as speakers refer it as the “jewish” language, they are subtly reminding others that the language has a certain kedusha in it that only yiddish speakers can obtain. As if one is naturally somewhat holier just by speaking a dying-out once-popular-by-jews dialect of german.

Being that yiddish is not the top current “jewish” language, the “jewish” language claims have to be eliminated. I am sure I am not the only one who feels insulted from these type of remarks. I don’t have to say that anyone can speak as they please, but I believe the yeshivas have to move on with the times, like our ancestors have with Aramaic, ladino, arabic, old french, and I’m sure a bunch of other languages.