On August 29, 2011, David Brooks published an article in the New York Times that delves into the meaning of a single Yiddish word: "Haimish." Perhaps you've heard it from your parents or grandparents. The dictionary defines it as "having qualities associated with the home; simple, warm, relaxed, cozy, unpretentious, etc."
Sarah Rosan, in her excellent article titled "Heimish Is the Greatest Word of All Time," shares her thoughts on this evocative term:
"The other day, I was sitting with friends trying to describe a date I had been on. He had a vibe, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. He was familiar. He kind of reminded me of an old man, but in a good way? Then, a lightbulb moment. He was heimish.
Do you use the word 'heimish'? I started recently, and now I can’t stop. Like so many Yiddish words, once you learn it, you can’t remember life before it or how you used to fill that particular gap in meaning. It’s so distinct, so vivid, so hard to define. Like the word 'schlep.' If you 'schlepped around town all day,' you might try to approximate the same meaning with 'hauled' or 'ran.' But nothing encapsulates that efficient combination of hassle, physical exertion, and charming irritation like 'schlep.'
Heimish is the same. Heimish (pronounced HAY-mish or HY-mish) or heimishe (with that extra Yiddish syllable of oomph at the end) comes from the word 'heym' ('home'). So, the literal translation of heimish is 'home-ish.' And that’s precisely what it means—but it’s also so much more! It means homey, cozy, familiar, casual. 'Mach zich heimish' means 'make yourself at home.' Like a guitar around a campfire, heimish just feels good."
Sarah then provides a playful list of heimish and non-heimish examples:
- Elliott Gould – heimish
- George Clooney – not heimish
- Pickles – heimish
- Cornichons – not heimish
- Shtisel – obviously heimish
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – thinks it’s heimish but isn’t
- Uber – not heimish
- Taxis – medium heimish
- Catching a ride with someone – the most heimish
- Complaining about your problems loudly – heimish
- Drinking away your problems quietly – not heimish
Considering the warm, family-like atmosphere at Chabad Snohomish, the word "heimish" naturally blends with our community’s identity, giving birth to a new term: Snohaimish!
Snohaimish is the shul where you are family. It’s a place where every Kiddush lunch is filled with warmth and conversation, and each holiday event is classy and delicious, but also lively and joyous. Snohaimish is a space where everyone—regardless of affiliation, knowledge, or level of observance—can connect to their Jewish heritage in a non-judgmental environment and engage at their own pace.
The Kabbalah of Snohaimish:
"A home in the physical world." Or, to use the Hebrew-Kabbalistic term, dirah b'tachtonim. "This," say the Chassidic masters, "is what man is all about; this is the purpose of man's creation, and of the creation of all the worlds, supernal and terrestrial: to make for G‑d a dwelling in the lower realms." Snohaimish is our way of making our immediate environment "heimish" for G‑d—in our homes and in our community. Click here to read an excellent article on this concept by Rabbi Yanki Tauber.
See you at Snohaimish!