Mr. Monday and other tales of Jewish Amsterdam

BACKGROUNDS t61

mother announces so openly that she is a lucky person. That is because everywhere, Evil lies in wait to destroy Good. Says a young woman "My child is healthy and is growing up well."

Then the worried grandmother warns "Do not beschrie it."

They speak reluctantly of sickness and death. So, when they cannot avoid talking about death, for instance when they buy an insurance policy, they tone down what they fear by a funny paraphrase.

"Look Dad, now that you bought that insurance and if, G-d forbid, you close an eye after two hundred years, then at least Mother is provided for."

Says Father indignantly "Two hundred years? Three hundred years!"

Says someone to another,"You look bad..."The other one is ruffled and grumbles "I suppose that you did not see me on New Years Day that only now you have come to bring me your good wishes."

But in a different context those same words can have a completely different meaning. When a woman comes home from her holidays, sunburnt and radiantly healthy, her friends tell her "Well, you look bad," which is meant as a compliment.

In this way a curious form of negative affirmation has snuck into their colloquy.

"Are you going for a walk?"

"No, I am taking the tram."This is said in a disgusted way.

By this they mean that they are going for a walk. It is just a matter of phrasing and accent.