Did the Jews of Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland speak the language of the country they were living in?

Question

The Ashkenazi Jews in Eastern Europe spoke Yiddish, a jewish derivitive of German. However, did they also speak the gentile language of the land they were living in? For example, did Jews living in Minsk, Belarus speak Yiddish AND russian or belarussian? Or were they isolated in speaking yiddish only?

Answer 1

as far as I know the spoke Polish, Russian and Yiddish...I have an Uncle...he had to learn all those languages after the Russian came to Poland....

Answer 2

It all depends on where they were. For the most part the men would be able to speak Yiddish, understand Hebrew if they were wealthy enough to be educated, and also speak the local languages. WOmen might only be able to speak Yiddish, because in some Jewish groups the men did the shopping and working, so the women were only among other Jews.

In most European Empires, like the Russian, German, and Austro-Hungarian Empires, there was enough moving around for bussiness being done that most people spoke the dominant language and 2 or three others. Bt grandmother was from Austria-Hungary and can speak 4 languages besides Yiddish.

YOur question also applies to AMerica and Israel as well. To this day, there are Jews in New York and London who can speak Yiddish and Hungarian better than English. In Israel, it's not uncommon for Chassidic women to be able to speak Yiddish and Russian, or Yiddish and Hungarian, but not Hebrew.

I live in Jerusalem, and my wife can't understand Hebrew.

Answer 3

Yes they did. As with many immigret groups. While they most likely used there own native languge at home or in certain social circles, many learned the langugue of there home countires as well. In many cases, they might not have spoken Yiddish at all.

Jewish people come from two groups, the religion and the natianlity. Many jews from the second catigory would have seen German, Polish, or Cech as there langugue from birth. While the religous Jew would have seen Yiddish as native lang. and others as the lang. of buissness and public life.

It would be the same as the Irish, German, or Mexican immigrents in the US, they would learn both langugues, one for home and the other for work.

Answer 4

Yes. This is especially true of post-first generations born in those exiled countries.

Additionally, the former Soviet countries required Russian all through school, because it was one way to unify fifteen different nationalities, so Russian (as well as the local language of the country) would have been taught to the Jewish children as they were growing up.

Answer 5

Yes they spoke the native languages of these countries aswell as you have mention Yiddish

Answer 6

Yes, they did speak the language of their country. It is highly encouraged in Judaism to be part of a community, both of your Jewish one and of the one where you live.

Answer 7

Of course they spoke the language of the country..

Answer 8

I would honetly want to know more then one thing, It's hard to choose just one so i'll just put these down, sorry it's more than one. Where is the hospital ordering food where is the bathroom thank you please ( you need to have manners)

Answer 9

Everything changes in time young grasshopper