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Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe
Syosset, New York
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*The Yiddish words for whiskey are “bronfen," “shnapps" and “mashkeh"/"mashke."
“trinken" means to drink
“shiker" means drunk/intoxicated
“nikhter" means sober
“schnapps" is an alcoholic drink like Old Overholt
The headline read:
JEWS LOVE WHISKEY,
AND THE NEW YORK TIMES
IS ON IT!
(June 4, 2013, heebmag.com)
According to the Gray Lady, “Whiskey has numerous fan bases, but few are more devoted--and arguably less noticed by the press and public--than Jews, particularly observant Jews. Synagogues are increasingly organizing events around whiskey, and whiskey makers are reaching out to the Jewish market."
Yes, Jews have traditionally loved whiskey because, as whiskey is naturally kosher, certification as such doesn't pose the same challenge as it does for, say, wine (“vayn").
Harry Golden (“The Greatest Jewish City in the World," published in 1972) wrote, “Whiskey, known as ‘a stack of reds, 'cost ten cents; gin, ‘a stack of whites,' was five cents; and beer, with a free lunch, was also a nickel."
The Yiddish song, “Di Mashke" by Mikhl Gordin was printed in Itzik Zhelonek's book. The translation is shown below:
Whiskey, I'll hold you in respect, I'll respect you like an elder I'll hold you in respect, whiskey, because I need your favors
When the matchmaker came to my grandfather to propose a match They talked and talked in vain until a glass of whiskey was mixed in Thanks to whiskey the match was agreed upon, and my father became my mother's bridegroom.
Soon came the wedding and there was whiskey all night. Everybody drank from big glasses, in honor of the bride and groom. It was thanks to whiskey my father took my mother, it was thanks to whiskey I came into the world.
I also remember my circumcision. The table was never without a glass of whiskey. The guests shouted congratulations! The child grew up to be a rabbi! That's why I drink from a great big glass (rov-kos) - and I drink limitlessly
I remember when they took me to school, they celebrated late into the night. And the rabbi drank from the bottle, and it was from him in school I learned to drink a lot of whiskey
At my bar-mitzvah I gave a speech, that it's not bad at all to take a little whiskey one's own self. The czar is (pardon me) a great drunkard. Therefore, brothers, poor and rich, let's drink, all together.
I remember at the signing of my marriage contract everybody drank like the goyim. And the glass was broken and the whiskey never crept off the table. And I didn't notice I was a bridegroom and was pouring down my throat the whole time.
I remember when I was taken to the khupe. One took a bit of booze. And the rabbi said the blessings, and in the cup there was nothing left at all. And I stood like a fine young man and licked the cup with my tongue
Soon after the wedding I began fighting with my wife. We went to see a good guy, he gave us an amulet so we could go to a new apartment. And in the new apartment I couldn't hear my wife and all the while I'm gulping it down...
My few years, when I've lived them out, I want to be taken to the grave, a flask of whiskey close by the wall, a big glass in my right hand. When the dead are raised I'll be here again and I'll soon be drinking whiskey, in the first hour. Source: polishjewishcabaret.com
The New York WhiskyFest was recently held at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. It featured a day of star-level seminars featuring top whiskey makers from around “di velt" (the world). They presented rare (“zeltn") and even unique whiskies. Unfortunately, "der sof-vokh" (weekend) schedule meant that some Jewish patrons could not attend.
Congregation Beth Israel on W. 34th Street, held a Whisky Jewbilee. Makers of scotch (some wearing kilts, some wearing standard garb) was attended primarily by males. A few women did join the 35 exhibitors. There was a “vunderlekh" kosher spread, which included smoked salmon and herring. Lots of Yiddish was being bandied about. Mr. Jason Johnstone-Yellin said, “We run a whiskey festival for whiskey geeks."
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Marjorie Wolfe likes Hiram Walker Pumpkin Spice Liquer. She reminds her readers of the following proverb:
“Vos bay a nikhtern oyfn lung, iz bay a shikern oyfn tsung." (What a sober person has on his lung [mind], a drunk has on his tongue.)
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