by
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe

Syosset, New York

To paraphrase Mary Martin, Cathy Rigby and Sandy Duncan in the Broadway show,
Peter Pan, where they sing, "I'm Flying":

I'm kveln,
Look at me,
Can't you see,
I'm kveln.

Etymology-meisters have determined that the word "kvell" is derived from Yiddish kveln, meaning "to be delighted," which, in turn comes from the Middle High German word quellen, meaning "to well, gush, or swell."

The Merriam-Webster mavens have not pinpointed an exact date for the appearance of "kvell" in the English language. They have found an entry for the word in a 1952 handbook of Jewish words and expressions, but actual usage evidence before that date remains unseen.

I recently had the pleasure of hearing Harry Sapoznik, a walking-talking archive of Yiddish music, and founder/director of " Klezkamp," at the Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, New York. His mother, a Holocaust survivor, sat in the front row of the sanctuary "kvelling."

According to Weiner & Davilman ("Yiddish with Dick and Jane"), "...the inevitable response when someone kvells at you is to squirm and become self-conscious and generally act like an embarrassed twelve-year-old--which to the kveller, you essen tially are."

Eisenberg & Scolnic ("Dictionary of Jewish Words") gives an example of how the word " kvelling" might be used: "Congratulations on your daughter's getting into Harvard. You must be kvelling."

Ruth and Bob Grossman ("The Italian-Kosher Cookbook" (1964), defines "qvelling" [sic] as follows: Mom's pride when she finds out her new daughter-in-law is going to keep kosher.

Robert M. Hertzberg, the first Jewish Assembly speaker in 73 years, wrote a book titled, "Yiddish for Assembly Members." He wanted to make sure members don't get farblondjet when us alter kakhers of the Assembly make a megillah about our bills." He gave this example of how "kvell" would be used in politics: "I worked hard on her campaign, so when she took the oath of office, I kvelled."

According to Birnbach, Hodgman & Stone ("1,003 Great Things About Being Jewish"), two "Best Kvelling Lines" woul d be as follows:

Sophie Tucker had nothing on our shayna madele.

He slept through the night at two weeks.

Billy Crystal must have "kvelled" when in 1991, the Anti-Defamation League named him the entertainer of the year...and gave him an original seat from the Yankee Stadium.

Jake Ehrenreich's 87-year-old father, Jonah, must be proud of his son's "haimish" wisdom as he performs in the off-Broadway show, "A Jew Grows in Brooklyn."

Barbra Streisand must also be "kveln." The diva singer-actress-director-producer- housewife has an impersonator, Steven Brinberg. According to David Hurst, Ms. Streisand MIGHT say, "So, darhling, what's with this fekockteh show thing of yours you're doing? Every time I come out of retirement now, you have to do a tour too?"

Authors, Weiner and Davilman, must be " kveln " with the publication of "Yiddish with George & Laura." You haven't read it yet?

Here's a sample:

Meet George, an ex-shikker, and his shiksa wife, Laura. Watch as the two shep naches from daughters Jenna and Barbara. With all their krechtzing and kvetching, they come off looking just like any other family, emes.

And, finally, George and Laura must be " kveln" since Jenna was recently in Paraguay on a 10-day UNICEF trip for volunteers. "Gedainkst" (Remember?) when Jenna tongued the photographers in St. Louis, Missouri, and the First Twins persisted in seeing themselves as victims of daddy's job?

Yes, "Kleyne kinder, kleyne freydn; groyse kinder, groyse zorgn." (Little children, little joys; big children, big worries.)

_____
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe believes that "Nakhes fun kinder iz tayere fun gelt."
(Joy from [her three] children is more precious than money.)

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___________________________________________
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe is the author of
two books:

"Yiddish for Dog & Cat Lovers" and
"Are Yentas, Kibitzers, & Tummlers Weapons of Mass Instruction?  Yiddish
Trivia."  To order a copy, go to her
website: MarjorieGottliebWolfe.com

NU, what are you waiting for?  Order the book!