Yiddish: Difference between revisions

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== Educational Approach to Yiddish ==

When Rabbi Ben Tzion ~~Wishtzky~~ opened ~~Ohalei~~ Torah in Kfar Chabad and brought his child to a private audience with the Rebbe, the Rebbe tested the child in Yiddish about what he had learned in cheder. The child answered in Hebrew because he wasn't fluent enough in Yiddish. The questions had to be translated for the child occasionally. When the Rebbe asked the child "What color is your jacket?" in Yiddish, it became clear that the Rebbe was testing the child's Yiddish knowledge. When the child couldn't answer, his father whispered the translation, and the child answered "brown" in Hebrew. The Rebbe then looked at the father and seriously asked, "How does he know Hebrew so well?" adding with surprise, "Don't they teach in Yiddish in cheder?"

When Rabbi Ben Tzion Vishetzky opened Oholei Torah in Kfar Chabad and brought his child to a private audience with the Rebbe, the Rebbe tested the child in Yiddish about what he had learned in cheder. The child answered in Hebrew because he wasn't fluent enough in Yiddish. The questions had to be translated for the child occasionally. When the Rebbe asked the child "What color is your jacket?" in Yiddish, it became clear that the Rebbe was testing the child's Yiddish knowledge. When the child couldn't answer, his father whispered the translation, and the child answered "brown" in Hebrew. The Rebbe then looked at the father and seriously asked, "How does he know Hebrew so well?" adding with surprise, "Don't they teach in Yiddish in cheder?"

On Shabbat Parshat Vayeshev 5748 (1988), the Rebbe questioned how it was possible that young married men, "~~elite~~ Chabad ~~followers,~~" were speaking English among themselves instead of Yiddish.

On Shabbat Parshat Vayeshev 5748 (1988), the Rebbe questioned how it was possible that young married men, "Top Chabad Chassidim" were speaking English among themselves instead of Yiddish.

Regarding Yiddish instruction in schools, the Rebbe wrote that since the main goal of the institution is education for fear and love of God and Torah study and observance of mitzvot, the primary consideration isn't which language is used (except where language affects matters of religious observance, in which case language becomes important accordingly). The decision should be made according to the majority of parents' wishes. The Rebbe questioned whether acquiring the special qualities of the Yiddish language was the responsibility of the school or of parents and the home environment.

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 == Educational Approach to Yiddish ==
-When Rabbi Ben Tzion Wishtzky opened Ohalei Torah in Kfar Chabad and brought his child to a private audience with the Rebbe, the Rebbe tested the child in Yiddish about what he had learned in cheder. The child answered in Hebrew because he wasn't fluent enough in Yiddish. The questions had to be translated for the child occasionally. When the Rebbe asked the child "What color is your jacket?" in Yiddish, it became clear that the Rebbe was testing the child's Yiddish knowledge. When the child couldn't answer, his father whispered the translation, and the child answered "brown" in Hebrew. The Rebbe then looked at the father and seriously asked, "How does he know Hebrew so well?" adding with surprise, "Don't they teach in Yiddish in cheder?"
+When Rabbi Ben Tzion Vishetzky opened Oholei Torah in Kfar Chabad and brought his child to a private audience with the Rebbe, the Rebbe tested the child in Yiddish about what he had learned in cheder. The child answered in Hebrew because he wasn't fluent enough in Yiddish. The questions had to be translated for the child occasionally. When the Rebbe asked the child "What color is your jacket?" in Yiddish, it became clear that the Rebbe was testing the child's Yiddish knowledge. When the child couldn't answer, his father whispered the translation, and the child answered "brown" in Hebrew. The Rebbe then looked at the father and seriously asked, "How does he know Hebrew so well?" adding with surprise, "Don't they teach in Yiddish in cheder?"
-On Shabbat Parshat Vayeshev 5748 (1988), the Rebbe questioned how it was possible that young married men, "elite Chabad followers," were speaking English among themselves instead of Yiddish.
+On Shabbat Parshat Vayeshev 5748 (1988), the Rebbe questioned how it was possible that young married men, "Top Chabad Chassidim" were speaking English among themselves instead of Yiddish.
 Regarding Yiddish instruction in schools, the Rebbe wrote that since the main goal of the institution is education for fear and love of God and Torah study and observance of mitzvot, the primary consideration isn't which language is used (except where language affects matters of religious observance, in which case language becomes important accordingly). The decision should be made according to the majority of parents' wishes. The Rebbe questioned whether acquiring the special qualities of the Yiddish language was the responsibility of the school or of parents and the home environment.