I should say that I re-met him, since we actually grew up in the same neighborhood in Detroit. My Yiddish life took a dramatic turn for the better about 7 years ago, when I met up with Moishe. Of course, when they replied I would often get confused and flustered.Īs much as I tried, I felt stuck in my Yiddish learning. I pounced on every old Jewish man, hoping to practice my Yiddish conversation with them. I read many textbooks and teach-yourself guides. In my early 20s I felt an increasing desire to learn this rich Jewish language. I grew up in Detroit, Michigan, in a Jewish home but I hardly knew a word of Yiddish for most of my life. My name is Shmelke (or at least that's what they call me in Yiddish).
