Want to know what’s HOT? My cable company, that’s what’s HOT. It’s either that or YES, the two choices of cable companies in Israel. I haven’t had cable in the two years I’ve lived here…well, not until now anyway. My two roommates have cable which means that I have no more excuses for not sitting my tooseek down and watching the news in Hebrew to learn a few things. (I find tooseek to be a funny word. It’s not so different from the Yiddish word tuchus but it amuses me for some reason. Maybe because people in America don’t really use tuchus in normal conversation but tooseek seems to be the actual word, as far as I know. Or maybe just because Hebrew makes me laugh.)
Today, I realized that “The Office” was on Bip (pronounced beep), the Israeli comedy channel. No subtitles to practice reading Hebrew; oh well. Anyway, this reminded me of a conversation I recently had with my Israeli friend Eitam about the Israeli sense of humor.
It’s actually come up in conversation with a few people recently, how Israelis don’t get sarcasm and irony. I haven’t figured out exactly what it means but since at least three people have repeated it, there must be something to it. Apparently what most people here like about “Seinfeld” is the slapstick of Kramer, for example, and less the dialogue and discomfort from many of the situations that unfold.
I asked Eitam, “So you’re telling me that Israelis just don’t get shows like ‘The Office’ or ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and all the awkward things that Michael or Larry David say to people?”
His answer? “Most Israelis don’t find those situations uncomfortable because Israelis would say all those things. It would be funnier if the character didn’t say them!”
Whoa. That’s scary. Does that mean Israelis aren’t shaking their heads laughing at this story? I know I laughed, and believe me, NOT because it’s ok. Exactly the opposite…because you just don’t know what else to do. Maybe the same reason I laughed after almost getting hit the other day. What are people thinking in this country at times?
“Ehhhh….dees Leh-ree Deh-veed guy eez scree-meeng to express heem-self and heez chutzpah?Waht eez so fah-ny about that?”
I don’t get it….which brings us back to bullet point #2 here.
I definatly remember being told to sit on my Tushee. But that was in preschool and we also used words like Tinkle. I don’t know if anyone uses those wards past age 4.
By the way, I explained Tinkle to my Israeli kids and they did get it.
I do think Israelis get sarcasm and irony. Ever seen Eretz nehederet? But I don’t they get it as well when it’s in English and targeted to an American audience.
Israeli’s don’t get sarcasm and irony? You’re implying that Americans do?? That is funny!!
The British have arrived! Welcome to my blog!
Tush, or tuchus, is the Anglo-ization of the Hebrew word “tachat,” or “tachas,” meaning “under,” or “beneath.” I can’t help you with tooseek, though.
my Israeli friend said that they are direct and don’t have time to “play nice” as she calls it.
I don’t know who you know around here. The Israelis I know are cynical and love sarcasm, irony and dark humor. The rules probably look like this (those easily offended avert your eyes now):
Holocaust–Funny
Genocide–Laughable
Nuclear threat from Iran–Comic
Misrad haPnim–Nothing funny there, part of life
How Israelis drive–How is that funny? (Get out of the way, I’m driving here!)
Living in a war zone?–What war zone? This is Israel
Hey Benj- Your friend who doesn’t get it–his name is “Ei-TAM???–Does that mean “Where is his taste”????–(or did you make those silly typos?)… MS
Weighing in here.
Benji is right.
As always.
Toosik – I go with Mia. Preschool word. But lots of Israeli adults I know like preschool words. OTOH many of my friends say “yashvan”
And of course there is the hilariously funny way some of my friends refer to what you do in the bathroom: ktanim and gedolim. This is funny when you realize that it’s mostly Chareidim who say “gedolim” about, well, you know. And Gedolim also means their LEADERS.
HOT vs YES. Benji Benji Benji. HOT is cable. YES is satellite. Ya gotta have a dish for that. Disposables won’t work. And they don’t give you phone service.
Sarcasm? Ma ata omer?
yeah, that is why i am a little hesitant to make aliyah. i don’t think i could feel comfortable raising kids in a country where “the office”, “arrested development”, and “curb your enthusiasm” aren’t considered comic goal. just saying.