David Klinghoffer's exposition of the place of Yiddish in modern culture ("Schumer's Yiddish Lesson," Taste page, Weekend Journal, Nov. 6) leaves something to be desired--say, that someone would buy Mr. Klinghoffer a
Yiddish-English dictionary.
He attacks Senator-elect Schumer for saying that being called a "putzhead" was a slur, yet he doesn't even know what the word "putz" means. (He translates it as "idiot"; in fact, putz is a base term, the English of which the Journal wouldn't normally print.)
Perhaps before Mr. Klinghoffer offers us all advice on how to interpret Yiddish, he might at least want to understand a word or two. That way he wouldn't look like such a schlemeil.