Mr. Monday and other tales of Jewish Amsterdam

162 Air. Monday and Other Tales of Jewish Amsterdam

you yourself would like to be helped when in need. Their compassion expresses itself in the interjection "Nebbish". He who says "nebbish" sincerely, can never have a heart of stone. He will even regard the most vicious criminal to be a schlemiel. Asked what the subtle difference is between a schlemiel and a nebbish, they will define the difference with a parable.

"A schlemiel is someone who lets everything drop from his hands, and a nebbish is someone who picks it all up for him."

Or they explain "A schlemiel is someone who falls on his back and breaks his nose."

Although the rich help readily, the next of kin, the mishpocheh must help first. That is a case of ethics. It would be a personal disgrace for each and every member of the family if strangers would say "Those poor souls have to go on the dole because their mishpocheh left them in a lurch."

But on the other hand, sometimes this can also lead to rows about money.

A man meets another on the street and says "How are things with you?"

Says the other "With me everything is fine."

Says the first one "How is that possible? Don't you have mishpocheh?

They have a mystical belief in the magic power of words and thoughts, so their everyday speech is full of formulas with which they hope to allay danger. Says a mother "My daughter has a good husband, unbcschrien-unherufen. Unbeschrien-unberufen is a magic charm to fend off evil spirits which may lay snares for the young woman whose