Each of the three depth languages of Judaism “presents a very different Jewish response to the modern world”

The need to find the depth languages of Judaism forces us to face the fact that the Jewish people are increasingly split between three distinct depth languages: Hebrew, English and Yiddish – or rather – Israelish, Americanish and Yeshivish. Each of these language presents a very different Jewish response to the modern world. At their best, they each present a rich challenge to the Jewish people: Yeshivish challenges us to be fluent in our tradition, in its wisdom and in its rituals. Americanish challenges us to translate Jewish concepts into the wider world. Israelish challenges us to take political responsibility for ourselves in our own ancestral land.

Rabbi Mishael Zion, “The Language of the Jewish Future: Israelish, Americanish, Yeshivish”, eJewish Philanthropy (2 June 2014) [http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/the-language-of-the-jewish-future-israelish-americanish-yeshivish]