Pastrami, Verklempt, and Tshoot-spa: Jewish Influences in American English
Hosted By: 70 Faces Media
On July 15th we will be joined for a presentation by Professor Sarah Bunin Benor on “Pastrami, Verklempt, and Tshoot-spa.”
Jews in the United States use many Hebrew and Yiddish words in their English conversation. To what extent do non-Jews pick up these linguistic markers? This multimedia talk explains how words like klutz, shpiel, and kibbitz have become part of the broader American lexicon, sometimes popularized by comedians. Politicians use Hebrew and Yiddish words in diverse ways, from Bill Clinton’s “Shalom, chaver” to Michele Bachmann’s mispronunciation of chutzpah. A much more sinister use of Jewish language is white nationalists mocking Jews with words like Goyim and Shoah. Several video clips are shown, from James Cagney as a Yiddish-speaking Irish taxi driver to Barack Obama “getting all verklempt” while honoring Barbra Streisand.
Join us for a landmark virtual series presented by The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and 70 Faces Media. We’ll commemorate 250 years of the Jewish experience in America and explore the profound ways Jewish identity and the American story have shaped one another. Through a series of monthly conversations over the course of this year with the nation’s leading historians, we will journey from the arrival of the first colonial settlers to the vibrant, diverse communities of the modern era.
This is an online only event. After registering, you will receive the Zoom link via email to join the discussion on July 15. The event will be recorded and sent out to all registrants 24-48 hours after the event. Please note that by registering you will also begin to receive a weekly events email from our 70 Faces Media brands and you consent to receive emails from the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.
Questions can be sent to events@70facesmedia.org.
You can register for the entire series here. The entire package of at least eight events costs only $54, and you’ll have access to all prior event recordings.
Register for THIS event by clicking the REGISTER button on this page.
