- Yeshivish Jews
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 aChareidi Litvish yeshiva.Etymology
The word "yeshivish" means associated with a
yeshiva , a Jewish institution forTorah study ; the suffix is used to indicate association, a usage common to both English andYiddish . 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.Ethnicity and descent
Although Yeshivish Jews are those associated with the
Litvish (and thusAshkenazi ) yeshiva system, many are not originally Litvish in origin. Included among Yeshivish Jews today are many withChasidic 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 anAshkenazi yeshiva.Ideology
Yeshivish Jews vary greatly in their
ideology . Nevertheless, there is a basic, general ideology common to most people considered Yeshivish. Similar to mostChareidim , this generally includes a scrupulousness in religious observancecitation
last = Freedman
first = Samuel G.
author-link = Samuel G. Freedman
title = Yeshivish at Yale
newspaper =The New York Times
year = 1998
date = May 24, 1998
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501EEDF1639F937A15756C0A96E958260 ] , including considerable emphasis onTorah study 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 akollel for a number of years after marriage. Additionally, mostFact|date=July 2008 Yeshivish Jews today are opposed tocollege 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 moderncollege campus es, which would be considered unacceptable to most Yeshivish Jews. Many, though not all, Yeshivish Jews accept alternatives such asindependent study programs to achieve a higher education.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 ayarmulka (skullcap) at all times, usually one made of black cloth,velvet orsatin . Most will wear a darksport jacket and a blackfedora duringprayer s; some wear them any time they walk in the street. OnShabbat andJewish Holiday s, a suit and tie are worn almost universally, accompanied by the black fedora. Some will wear abekishe (a long coat worn by manyHasidic Jews) on the Sabbath, during prayers and/or during meals, particularly, though not exclusively, Yeshivish Jews withHasidic 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 awedding orBar 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. (SeeTznius )Manner of speech
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.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 otherliturgical 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 Chassidic pronunciation when praying.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." It may also refer to something cheap or in poor condition (e.g. a yeshivish car).
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