Jewish Dirty Words

It's always healthy to stop and examine the words we use -- that's one meaning of the prohibition on lashon hara (evil speech) -- even when we use words in jest. The term shiksa is a good example. The post corerctly points out that it derives from the Hebrew term sheketz, meaning insect, and thus is derogatory in its origins. Comparing people to insects is generally not cool. The term is also derogatory in certain common uses, as in the coarse phrase "shiksas are for practice." So yes, probably better not to use it.

Your comparison to the N-word is a stretch, however, since that term was used for well over a hundred years in connection with discrimination, hatred, physical harm, and murder. Last time I checked, the Jews weren't out there lynching blonde women and calling them shiksas.

Finally, do we really need to be shaming people? To paraphrase one of those "leaders and thinkers who assumed the best about the future and the Jewish people's ability to respond to it,": "Let he among you who is without shame cast the first stone."

To me, this is really pretty simple. Is the "S-word" as bad as the "N-word?" *Not* the question.

Words like this, no matter how you rank them, are used to separate "us" from "them." BUT -- both "us" and "them" are human beings, and we are all passengers together on this one spaceship Earth.

IMHO -- anything we use to separate people from other people, against their will, is not a good thing. It's time for the human race to outgrow this mentality.

Of course "offensive" words should not be used.

But...

Language is funny--whom the word "offends," or why the word is judged to be offensive is probably rule-governed by political correctness or personal temperment. Ivanka, it seems, is not too bothered. Yet,Jews who know the meaning of the word relates to "insect" know the words is a "no-no."

The word "nigger" comes from the Spanish word, negro, or black. It is no sin to call someone with black skin "black," while we call someone with white skin "white." "Nigger" is not used because it relates to slavery. There are many varients of "nigger" used in the South that soften the connotations; I have heard the word "niggra," deliberately pronounced with the vocalic ending, that does not intend any insult. I am offended when I hear African-American performers refer to themselves as "nigga." Obviously, they are not offended because they are making the reference to themselves. Let a white person say "nigga," and heads would role.

Language is funny.

Oh Rabbi! Relax! I am not using the word to put someone down or even to describe them. In fact, "shiksa" may even be considered a DESIRABLE word, as in "Take a look at the shiksa Solomon is banging."

Al, the better joke goes:

What's the difference between a shaygitz and a shiksa?

One's a chaya, the other, a m'chaya.

While the Rabbi is fundamentally correct, (and I first heard condemnation of the use of those words from Rabbi Avi Weiss at an NCSY Shabbaton), it is clear that the author of the post was trying to sound "in" and colloquially "Jewish." Doesn't make it OK, but context and intent are important. And, as chinkjunior points out, it has gone on to become a term of desire, that Shiksa gains in appeal precisely because of her "otherness." Taking an adult view of this issue would require us to confront real reasons why we think marrying within one's faith community is important, and whether we can come up with more positive reasons to strengthen Jewish education than as an inoculation against marrying out. Marrying out is not a bad thing if a person doesn't even know why they bother being Jewish. It is just another choice, which perhaps carries with it some social or cultural discomfort. I want my children to marry other Jews, because I believe that for them, having a strong, affirmative, happy Jewish life has value, and raising Jewish children with a Jewish spouse helps achieve that. But ultimately, they will have to own their judaism with enough strength, confidence, and Love to make that choice worthwhile. It can't just be because "We" need to continue.

We want to let you know about an article we wrote which may be of interest to readers of "Jewish Dirty Words." The article is published in the free online journal Women in Judaism: A Multidisciplinary Journal. Please see the link below.

The article is entitled:"JAP -- Jewish And Passed-over: The Invisibility of Single Jewish Women in Issues of Intermarriage and Conversion"

Click on the first entry under "Biographical Essays."

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