Yeshivish Jews

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For the dialect spoken by some Orthodox Jews, see Yeshivish.

Yeshivish Jews are Orthodox Jews characterized by an ideology, way of life, mode of dress, and manner of speech typically associated with those who have attended a yeshiva, specifically a Chareidi Litvish yeshiva.

1 Etymology
2 Ethnicity and descent
3 Ideology
4 Mode of dress
5 Manner of speech
- 5.1 Variations in Pronunciation
6 Connotation and Variations
7 References

[edit] Etymology

The word "yeshivish" means associated with a yeshiva, a Jewish institution for Torah study; the suffix -ish is used to indicate association, a usage common to both English and Yiddish. In its common usage, yeshivish refers to the general characteristics of the yeshiva population, not to someone who necessarily studies in a yeshiva. Therefore, women, who generally don't study in yeshivas, can nevertheless be characterized as Yeshivish.

[edit] Ethnicity and descent

Although Yeshivish Jews are those associated with the Litvish (and thus Ashkenazi) yeshiva system, many are not originally Litvish in origin. Included among Yeshivish Jews today are many with Chasidic roots, who have gradually lost many of their Chasidic traditions, making them indistinguishable from the "average" Litvak. Less common, though still significant, are Chasidim who maintain a large proportion of their Chasidic traditions, but who nevertheless are considered Yeshivish by virtue of having studied in a Litvish yeshiva and thus incorporating the yeshivish ideology into their lives.

There are also Sefardim who are Yeshivish Jews. Most Yeshivish Sefardim have at some point studied in an Ashkenazi yeshiva.

[edit] Ideology

Yeshivish Jews vary greatly in their ideology. Nevertheless, there is a basic, general ideology common to most people considered Yeshivish. Similar to most Chareidim, this generally includes a scrupulousness in religious observance^[1], including considerable emphasis on Torah study^[2] for men. This can be traced to their Yeshiva background, in which Torah study and self-improvement are the main emphasis. Therefore, many men continue to study in a kollel for a number of years after marriage. Additionally, most Yeshivish Jews today are opposed to college education for unmarried men. This is partially due to the desire to dedicate one's full resources to studying in Yeshiva, as well as to the depravity and immorality commonly encountered on modern college campuses, which would be considered unacceptable to most Yeshivish Jews^[1]. Many, though not all, Yeshivish Jews accept alternatives such as independent study programs to achieve a higher education.

[edit] Mode of dress

Though there is no official dress code for Yeshivish Jews, many can be identified by their distinct mode of dress. Men wear a yarmulka (skullcap) at all times, usually one made of black cloth, velvet or satin. Most will wear a dark sport jacket and a black fedora during prayers; some wear them any time they walk in the street. On Shabbat and Jewish Holidays, a suit and tie are worn almost universally, accompanied by the black fedora. Some will wear a bekishe (a long coat worn by many Hasidic Jews) on the Sabbath, during prayers and/or during meals, particularly, though not exclusively, Yeshivish Jews with Hasidic ancestry. However, unlike most Hasidim, they will wear a tie and a Yeshivish black fedora, as opposed to the Hasidic shtreimel or other hasidic style of hat. The same applies when attending any formal religious event, such as a wedding or Bar Mitzva.

Additionally, young men who are studying in a yeshiva generally wear plain white shirts, and often leave the fringes of their tzitzis visible.

Yeshivish women are generally very scrupulous about the laws of Tznius (modesty), wearing skirts which extend beyond their knees and ensuring that their arms are covered until below the elbow. Married women cover their hair, generally with a wig, but some wear a kerchief or hat instead. (See Tznius)

[edit] Manner of speech

Main article: Yeshivish

Many Yeshivish Jews speak in a manner also known as Yeshivish, in which many common English words are exchanged for words in other languages, namely Hebrew, Yiddish, and Aramaic. These are generally words whose usage has developed from the discussion of the Talmud when studying in Yeshiva. Yeshivish is spoken on many levels, depending on the frequency of these substitutions. In general, younger men who are currently studying in a Yeshiva are more likely to speak in this manner than others.

[edit] Variations in Pronunciation

Hebrew and Aramaic words in Yeshivish are exclusively pronounced using Ashkenazi pronunciation. However, many Yeshivish Jews with non-Ashkenazi ancestry (see Ethnicity and descent above) use their traditional pronunciation during prayer or other liturgical service. This results in a rather common phenomenon in which someone would use Ashkenazi pronunciation when studying and talking Yeshivish, while switching to Sefardi or Chasidic pronunciation when praying.

[edit] Connotation and Variations

The term Yeshivish may be used as a pejorative by those who oppose the Yeshiva world or a Yeshivish lifestyle. Conversely, for many Yeshivish Jews, the term may be used as a criterion for judging if someone measures up to one's own standards. It can also be used comparatively, e.g. "He is more/less Yeshivish than I am."

An alternate, often derogatory term for someone who is Yeshivish is a "black hatter^[2] ," a reference to the fedora commonly worn by Yeshivish Jews (see Mode of dress above).

Historically, it has also been used to mean "juvenile," as most students in a Yeshiva are young.