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The New Joys of Yiddish: Completely Updated Paperback – August 26, 2003

4.7 out of 5 stars 393

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Enjoy the most comprehensive and hilariously entertaining lexicon of the colorful and deeply expressive language of Yiddish. With the recent renaissance of interest in Yiddish, and in keeping with a language that embodies the variety and vibrancy of life itself, The New Joys of Yiddish brings Leo Rosten’s masterful work up to date. Revised for the first time by Lawrence Bush, in close consultation with Rosten’s daughters, it retains the spirit of the original—with its wonderful jokes, tidbits of cultural history, Talmudic and biblical references—and is enhanced by hundreds of new entries and thoughtful commentary on how Yiddish has evolved over the years, as well as clever illustrations by R. O. Blechman.

Did you know that cockamamy, bluffer, maven, and aha! are all Yiddish words? If you did, you’re a gaon, possessing a lot of seykhl.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Witty, intelligent, scholarly ...an abundance of stories and anecdotes. A joy."

From the Inside Flap

Enjoy the most comprehensive and hilariously entertaining lexicon of the colorful and deeply expressive language of Yiddish. With the recent renaissance of interest in Yiddish, and in keeping with a language that embodies the variety and vibrancy of life itself, The New Joys of Yiddish brings Leo Rosten s masterful work up to date. Revised for the first time by Lawrence Bush, in close consultation with Rosten s daughters, it retains the spirit of the original with its wonderful jokes, tidbits of cultural history, Talmudic and biblical references and is enhanced by hundreds of new entries and thoughtful commentary on how Yiddish has evolved over the years, as well as clever illustrations by R. O. Blechman.

Did you know that cockamamy, bluffer, maven, and aha! are all Yiddish words? If you did, you re a gaon, possessing a lot of seykhl.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harmony; Updated edition (August 26, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0609806920
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0609806920
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.81 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.36 x 1.05 x 9.18 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 393

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
393 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2023
I keep this on the coffee table and thumb thru it whenever I sit down in the living room. One doesn't have to read this from cover to cover. Just flip open any page and you'll be amused and entertained and informed.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2023
I gave it to a friend who is not Jewish who enjoys Yiddish expressions and slang. Perfect gift.
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2023
This is a nice new edition of an old classic
I like the large print for us alta cockers.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2023
Much more than the usual dry lexicon, it is still organized alphabetically, but between Rosten's anecdotes and "Talmudic" commentary, as well as the updated comments from his editor, this is a valuable book to have on the shelf for anyone with even a passing interest in Yiddish.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2023
Neat book but PLEASE don't cram a big book into my small mailbox.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2020
Joys of Yiddish is a treasury of Yiddish words, well,defined, often followed by a corny joke you’ve heard before. Phonetic pronunciation is right on target.

I enjoyed all 500 pages of nostalgia that brought me back to growing up in a Brooklyn neighborhood where Yiddish was a second language to some and a first language to many.
Parents spoke Yiddish only about matters not fit for the ‘kinder.’
English was the preferred ‘American ‘ language so I grew up knowing words but not able to hold a Yiddish conversation. A pity.

I loved, loved, loved this book and if your childhood was anything like mine, so will you.
10 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2015
Second time around for this excellent book, having lost my original. This is the most rewarding, informative - and downright entertaining - book.
The author, now deceased, came to fame withe a series about a young Jewish guy - Hyman Kaplan, and his comical adventures in an
English language class in New York. In "Joys", Rosten takes apart the hybrid language of Yiddish in scholarly fashion in terms of word derivation BUT then adds a superb human touch by illustrating the use of the word through anecdote or jokes. Great jokes. The reader will be amazed how many modern English words and expressions used everywhere, every day, spring from Yiddish. Examples: "This shouldn't happen to a dog"… "I need this like a hole in the head". This edition has been thoughtfully updated to modern times and is sprinkled with simple Blechman cartoons. Highly recommended - you'll learn a lot, while you laugh a lot.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2022
So many Yiddish words permeate our language. But, where did they come from and how do we use them? This book answers those questions. A joy to read and discover new words.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Alan C. Cameron
5.0 out of 5 stars OY! SUCH A BOOK !
Reviewed in Canada on December 2, 2022
READ A BOOK , BECOME A SCOLAR !!
Maria
3.0 out of 5 stars Get a copy of the old edition if you can
Reviewed in Italy on February 24, 2021
I was so thrilled when I ordered this, the wonderful “The Joys of Yiddish” was back in print! But this new version is so much poorer than the original book, what a bummer. The layout of its inside also saddened me a bit, it looks like a high school textbook.
It’s not like I don’t recommend it but what I truly recommend is you get a second hand copy of the original book (too).
yankeebrit
5.0 out of 5 stars L'chaim!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2014
I love this book! Leo Rosten's original was on my bookshelves until it disappeared during a house move. The revised edition has al the warmth and humour of the original woth some updating. The stories/anecdotes/jokes range from the silly to hysterical. This is well worth having whether or not you are Jewish or for that matter speak Yiddish.
4 people found this helpful
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Miriam
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in France on January 13, 2012
Livre neuf en parfait état, rien à signaler quant à l'expédition, emballage soigné, malheureusement altéré par la Poste. Vendeur consciencieux, je recommande.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Jewish background for a play
Reviewed in Canada on October 27, 2016
A wonderfully humourous resource book