4 Responses

1. Not everyone was fortunate enough to have learned Yiddish at home or in school. We too need to hear the precious words of chizuk. I hope when the Moshiach comes (and I get the feeling he’ll be speaking to us in Yiddish) that we will have headsets with translators on hand! Until then, and may it be soon, PLEASE, keep the Yiddish illiterate in mind.

2. #1, I feel with you. B”h I know Yiddish well. It was excellent chizuk.
   the only thing that bothers me is that Ravi Chaim Kanievsky’s letter was not translated to Yiddish or English.
   I do hope and perhaps we should request an English translation on whole minus.

3. The English-speaking American Yeshivos and the Ivrit speaking Yeshivos (and Chassidim) in E. I. are doing a great disservice to their Talmidim by essentially denying them the pleasure and chizuk of the older generation who are more comfortable with Yiddish. Many of today’s American Roshei Yeshivos can themselves hardly speak Yiddish with any fluidity.

   I, myself arrived in Mirrer Yeshiva in Jerusalem in 1964 as an English-speaking American with a smattering of Yiddish. I learned Yiddish by being forced to speak to my Yerushalmi chavrusos. I now speak Yiddish fluently with only a bit of an American accent.

   I know it is hard to learn a new language. But Yiddish is the language of many of the older (and younger Chassidishe) poskim.

   I highly recommend it.

4. #1, why are you certain that Moshiach will be speaking yiddish? Maybe he is a sefardi and will speak Loshon Kodesh?