Re: [Cz-L] an essay on von Rezzori; hochstapler, schwitzer

Miriam (Mimi) Taylor <mirtaylo_at_indiana.edu>

My two bits:

According to what I remember, in Czernowitz, the term "Hochstapler"
was used to describe someone who exaggerated his worth mostly
in order to boast, but also for financial gain.

The word "Schwitzer" I heard for the first time in Israel.
In Czernowitz we called someone self-important and "busy-body"
a "Roshekhul" derived from the Hebrew "Rosh kahal" (head of the community).

We also used the term "Kochloffel", for someone who got involved
in other people' business, thereby stirring up trouble.

Someone who claimed to be morally superior, but was not,
or hid his misdeeds behind an air of righteousness, we called:
"Chazer fissel kusher" (a kosher leg of pig).

Clearly we strove for perfection, particularly in others.
A little bit in ourselves as well.

Shavua tov,

Mimi
>
>
> FYI: In the Dec. 4 issue of The New York Review of Books (NYRB):
> "Luminous Memoir of a Lost World", an essay by John Banville, based on
> his introduction to the just-reissued edition of "The Snows of
> Yesteryear". NYRB is the publisher.
>
> Interestingly enough, in Polish, hochstapler spelled hosztapler, is
> elevated to the status of con man. As for schwitzer, it enjoyed a wide
> usage among Polish Jews, including the non-speakers of Yddish, to
> describe a habitual self-aggrandizer. So I wonder whether the assertion
> about the word's Czernowitz provenance is correct.
>
> Ina Lancman

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This moderated discussion group is for information exchange on the subject of
 Czernowitz and Sadagora Jewish History and Genealogy. The opinions expressed
 in these posts are the opinions of the original poster only and not necessarily
 the opinions of the List Owner, the Webmaster or any other members
 or entities connected with this mailing list. The Czernowitz-L list has
 an associated web site at http://czernowitz.ehpes.com that includes a
 searchable archive of all messages posted to this list. Please post in "Plain
 Text" if possible (help available at:
<http://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/PlainText.html>).

To remove your address from this e-list follow the directions at
http://www.cit.cornell.edu/computer/elist/lyris/leave.html

To receive assistance for this e-list send an e-mail message to:
owner-Czernowitz-L_at_list.cornell.edu
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Received on 2008-11-16 19:00:13