Favourite or meaningful Jewish quotes

[Trulywonderful]

Just what the title says really. Post your favourite quotes or the ones you think are meaningful on this thread

You can explain why or just post the quote

I’m not certain if this ‘counts’ and I’m only ‘sort of’ Jewish, but the one I love is something like: ‘You die twice. Once when you stop breathing and again when your name is spoken for the last time’.

It’s meaningful to me in more than one way.

I remember hearing something like this when I was little and it has really stuck with me ever since ❤️ it's why the names of those who perished during the Holocaust are still handed out alongside candles every Holocaust memorial day.

Also, please don't feel the need to qualify or quantify your Jewishness.

Agree that you don't have to be Jewish or fully Jewish to share or post on this board

I think the only requirement is to be respectful that some have loved ones in Israel. Not to treat it like the conflict board or try to minimise posters feelings about Jew hate in the UK or abroad

There's loads I love, but I've always loved 'two jews in the room, 3 different points of view'

I've always loved this, from Pirkei About:

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

And if I am only for myself, what am I?

And if not now, when?"

It's for sure the most apt one 😅 I think the same goes for a lot of people in the middle east though, regardless of religion. I had a Lebanese Christian friend in school and any discussion we had about literally anything (except for middle eastern politics, that was strictly out of bounds) just ended up out of control as we had so many different opinions between us. Inevitably, there'd be a point where he'd be arguing my original point to me and I'd be arguing it was wrong.

Yes, that has come in very handy lately to remind some that Jewish people all have different views like everyone else. Plus some of us(myself included) can often hold two views on a subject at once 😁

I meant Pirkei Avot!! not About 😆

I forgot to move my own picks here from the other thread

And this one

Thanks for this thread, OP. I needed to read these today.

My dm would say outrageous things in Yiddish, though she has never, ever uttered a rude word in English. As we got older she started translating her 'curses' for our benefit. In fact I don't remember the last time she said this one in Yiddish:

May they grow like onions - with their heads underground!

It exemplifies the Jewish attitude to swearing - don't swear. Instead, get creative!

This is phenomenal!

Reminds me of the time I was watching the news with my dad about 20 or so years ago. For some reason we were watching a debate taking place in the Turkish (I think!) government and they were all cursing each others moustaches 😂😂😂😂 it's been 20 years and I still think about that on a fairly regular basis as it amused me so much.

I hope you're ok

Love a good Yiddish saying 😂

I used to have a book of Yiddish sayings/quotes. Most were rather insulting and rude but hilariously funny

As I am the op I say people can definitely post their favourite Yiddish sayings too😁

A while back I remember from somewhere in the middle east, I think a recording of officials in court or some kind of meeting. They all kept hitting each other with their sandals, whenever they disagreed. It was so very bizarre because this was a official meeting.

Kids now may have Tiktok but we had the good stuff 😂

@Trulywonderful that's hilarious!! PMQs are so boring in comparison 🙄

“Im hayu samim et hamo’ach shelcha betoch tsipor, hi hayta matchila la’uf achora!”

Had they put your brain inside a bird, it would have started flying backwards!

Brilliant insult, I may use it myself on mumsnet 😁

All fine thanks, apologies for derailing the thread.

My husband has a wonderful video he made of his late Bubby saying Yiddish phrases! I never got to meet her, so it is especially nice to have. His other grandma spoke Ladino but never taught him any fruity language, sadly 😆

That is a lovely thing to have. I think it is something special to hear the voices of the dead on recordings. Makes them feel more real or something still than a photo

She had a good point on this

“For a Jewish guy, I’ve recorded a lot of Christmas albums.”

– Barry Manilow

😂

“The idea that it’s possible to move from slavery to freedom and from darkness to light and from despair to hope – that’s the greatest Jewish story ever told.”

– Rabbi Sharon Brous

I love that last one, OP.