Shulem Aleicham
A chance meeting between two Yiddish speakers — Yossl and Chezky — with playful banter about names, origins, and formal vs informal address.
Shulem Aleicham
Shulem Aleicham
Hello / Peace be with you
Aleichem Hashulem
Aleichem Hashulem
And peace be with you
Fin vie kimt a yid?
Fin vie kimt a yid?
Where does a Jew come from?
Vus haist 'fin vie kimt a yid', vilt ihr nisht koidem vissn vie azoy ich heiss?
Vus haist 'fin vie kimt a yid', vilt ihr nisht koidem vissn vie azoy ich heiss?
What do you mean 'where does a Jew come from' — don't you first want to know my name?
Nu. Vie azoy heisst ihr?
Nu. Vie azoy heisst ihr?
Nu. What are you called?
Vous epes 'heisst ihr' — vus bin ich ep's a chushe-Ruv? A pusheter shelmazl bin ich.
Vous epes 'heisst ihr' — vus bin ich ep's a chushe-Ruv? A pusheter shelmazl bin ich.
What's with 'are you called' — what am I, an important rabbi? I'm a plain shlemazl.
Yo Shlemazl nisht slhemazl, zugt shoin vie azoy die heisst.
Yo Shlemazl nisht slhemazl, zugt shoin vie azoy die heisst.
Yes shlemazl never mind shlemazl — just say already what YOU'RE called.
Ich hob lieb when m'redt tsi der zach! Yossl! Azoy rift men mich.
Ich hob lieb when m'redt tsi der zach! Yossl! Azoy rift men mich.
I like it when one gets to the point! Yossl! That's what they call me.
un Ihr, vie azoy heisst ihr.
un Ihr, vie azoy heisst ihr.
And you, what are YOU called?
Zayer git az di zugst 'ihr' in nisht 'dir', val a Shelmazl bin ich nisht... ober ihr kent mich rifn Chezky.
Zayer git az di zugst 'ihr' in nisht 'dir', val a Shelmazl bin ich nisht... ober ihr kent mich rifn Chezky.
Very good that you say 'ihr' and not 'dir' — because I'm no shlemazl... but you can call me Chezky.
Zugt nor, fin vanend kimt ihr? Fin Eretz-Yisrul?
Zugt nor, fin vanend kimt ihr? Fin Eretz-Yisrul?
Just tell me, where are you from? From the Land of Israel?
Take azoi, ich kom a Shue tsirk un gekimen kan America.
Take azoi, ich kom a Shue tsirk un gekimen kan America.
Indeed, I came from a stint in the circus and arrived in America.
Ihr mizt mir batshuldigen, Reb Chezky, Ich miss yetst loify zich trefn mit a Chushever Gvir.
Ihr mizt mir batshuldigen, Reb Chezky, Ich miss yetst loify zich trefn mit a Chushever Gvir.
You must excuse me, Reb Chezky, I must run now to meet with an important rich man.
Nu, sol sein mit Hatzluche.
Nu, sol sein mit Hatzluche.
Well, may it be with success.
Agroyse Shkoyech in Kol Tiv.
Agroyse Shkoyech in Kol Tiv.
Many thanks and all the best.