I was just googling Jewish mother phrases for a proper response to Kal, and hit the flippin’ motherload:
A Makeh Unter Yenems Orem Iz Nit Shver Tsu Trogen:
pronounced, ah-MAKEH UN-ter YENEMS iz nit shver tsu TRO-genIt literally means that another person’s problems are not difficult for you to endure. Every time someone says that he has a vicious toothache, the other person always says, “Don’t worry, it’ll go away.” It’s amazing how rational the other person is about your misery.
A man says to someone, “I can’t walk.” His friend always says, “What’s the matter?” “My foot hurts.” “So you’ll walk a little less, it’s not so terrible. Sitting is good for you.”
A man says he’s passing away tomorrow. His friend tells him, “So what? In today’s world, is life such a bargain? I’m still living and I’ve got nothing but misery. You’re dying, but look how many problems you’re saving. At least with what’s going on in the world today, you should thank God that you’re going out.”
Every time you’re miserable, the other guy becomes a great philosopher. All of a sudden, the most brilliant philosophical statement in the world is expressed. It comes from a combination of happiness that it didn’t happen to him and the fact that he really can’t feel your pain. And so the great mind convinces himself that it’s really not that big a problem.
While I was looking, I found Lisa’s hilarious post from January: What If These Famous People Had Jewish Mothers?
That Jewish Mother thing is funny – and I went over to read the famous Jewish Mothers post. My mother missed the boat. She qualifies in every way except the Jewish part. Such guilt.
Thanks so much for the entertainment
What about my mother-in-law who acts exactly like that, but is not Jewish? Do you think it could be that she has simply spent too much time in South Florida?
More funny Jewish stuff…. http://www.glimpseofagrrl.com/archives/2005/08/jewish_humor.php
Very funny, Mindy. (Hmm. I’m Jewish and I’m a mother. Do I really sound like that?)