When expressing condolences, a common Jewish saying is “May his/her memory be a blessing.” This can go along with “Sorry for your loss.”įor more about what to say when you visit a house of mourning, see “ How to Pay a Shiva Call,” and our booklet, Mourning the loss of a Jewish loved one. You don’t really have to say anything, just be there and listen. There is a traditional Hebrew phrase to say at funerals and houses of mourning, “Ha-Makom hu yinachem et chem b’toch avlei tsiyon v’yerushalayim.” It means, “May the Merciful One comfort you among the mourners for Zion and Jerusalem.” It seems unlikely you will need to say this, but it’s good to be in the know. When you see someone you love at a sad occasion like a funeral, what do you say? There is a Yiddish expression, “Oyf simches” which means, “Let’s only meet at happy occasions.” A good substitute is, “Glad you could make it,” or “Hope the next time we meet is at a happier occasion.” If someone says that to you, reply, “Baruch tihiyeh”-or just, “Thanks!” Sad Occasions If you feel uncomfortable pronouncing that, you can say, “Good job” and shake their hand. When someone has an aliyah (is called up to the Torah during a service) or reads from the Torah, or does some public ritual in the synagogue, one traditional thing to say is “Yasher koach,” may your strength increase. (The feminine form of this word is “tithadshi.”) There isn’t a really a good English equivalent, because there’s no specific way of congratulating people on getting new things-but you can always say, “Congratulations, enjoy it!” When your friend gets new clothes, a new house, or a new car, there is a special way to congratulate them-“Tithadesh,” may it renew you. That’s because, at Jewish weddings, it’s traditional to break a glass and sometimes also a plate. You might also hear some wise guy yell “Mazel tov” in a Jewish delicatessen when someone drops dishes. If someone says “Congratulations!” to you when you say you are going to a friend’s wedding, say, “Thanks,” not, “It’s not my wedding, you goofball.” One thing that makes the Jewish subculture a little different from the dominant culture is that it’s typical to congratulate the parents, siblings, and friends of people getting married, having a baby or watching their relative become bar or bat mitzvah. It’s also a nice thing to say to someone who has a birthday, gets a new job, or a new car. It’s something to say to couples getting married (or their anniversary), parents of children becoming bar or bat mitzvah, and new parents (but not to be said to expecting parents). Though this expression means literally good luck (or “a good sign”), it’s always used to mean congratulations. If you feel uncomfortable pronouncing that, say, “I’m so happy for you.” Instead, say “b’sha’ah tovah,” or “in a good hour”-meaning something like, I hope this works out perfectly.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |