She’s a real belly buster!

Zoog mir in Yiddish

By Sol Awend, GenShoah SWFL

It doesn’t much matter what the situation is, our need to vent can be relentless.

So begins this true story.

Esther was a wonderful cook. As they say in the old country, a real balaboosta. A real ‘belly buster.’ If noodles were involved, so much the better. She could make a kug’l like nobody’s “bidness.”

First you gave a shmek , and then the tahm following the first bite with the rozhinkess was heaven sent. She was adept at creating milic’hdikeh dishes, but you should have seen what she could do with ah shtik’l brisket.

Well, it was the time of year when Esther’s thoughts turned to Pysec’h — just a month away. A brisket with all the trimmings would take everyone’s breath away. Myren, and oogeh brooteneh getoffel floating in a rich brown rosy’l What with the gefilteh fish un royteh c’hrayn, raaz mit yowec’h, compot and saalaat plus her famous bilkelec’h … They’re gonna plaatz!

So, one day she began, in earnest, to find a proper 10-pound booc’heh. Mot’l, the friendly shoyc’het, was waiting for her with his finest shtik’l fleish , and she approved, shlepping it home. Before all was said and done, the brisket was prepared. She let it cool and froze it. She forgot to label it.

Time came for the seder, and everyone was glad to be there, grateful to partake of a traditional Passover dinner. The rooc’h leading up to the main course came to a halt, as everyone was seated and waiting for Esther’s grand entrance. And grand it was. She brought out the “guest of honor,” fah dek’t in aluminum foil. Mit ah flourish she set the dish in the middle of the table and uncovered it. Leebeh goht in himmel! Oy vy geh vaalt! Voos ot doo paaseeyet?!

Somehow, in the tumult of preparation, Esther fah towsh’t the kig’l with the brisket. The tumult, mayhem and mishigas that ensued is still discussed and laughed about 40 years hence. There’s the age-old story told of the Israelites leaving Egypt … and then there’s Esther’s Pysehdikeh brisket kig’l. You should have been there.

Best wishes to my loyal readers for ah hart’zlic’hen, frei lec’hen Pysec’h!

Words and phrases spoken this time of year

Balaboosta – Baal–ah-Boos-the: Zee is geh vayzen dee emis tikeh balaboosta. (She was the undisputed leader of the household.)

Kug’l, shmek, tahm, rozhinkess, milic’hdikeh ((you know), sniff, taste, raisins, dairy)

Myren, oogeh brooteneh gehtoffel, roys’l, raaz mit yowec’h (carrots, roasted potatoes, gravy, rice with chicken soup)

Bilkelec’h (Passover popovers)

Plaatz-plaatz (to burst)

Er vet plaatzen! (He’s going to burst!)

Rooc’h (A calamity)

Vayeh maac’ht ah rooc’h! (Who is creating an unsettling situation!)

Fah Deck’t (covered)

Deh tawp iz fah dek’t. (The pot is covered.)

Leebeh Goht in Himmel! Voos ost dee geh teeyen?! (Loving God in Heaven! What have you done!?)

Oy vy geh vallt! Reef deh polit’zei! (Oh no, lookee here! Call the police!)

Ah hart’zlic’hen, frei lec’hen Pysec’h! (A hearty and joyous Passover!)

Dee Geh filteh fish un Royteh C’hrayn shmek’t git! (The fish boulders and red horseradish taste great!)