Yiddish became the Jews’ tongue via the Jewish mother, who, not being male, was denied a Hebrew education. - Leo Rosten

In the Middle Ages, church and secular powers often forbade Jews to trim their beards in any way. Why? To be certain that a Jew could be identified.

Yiddish is the Robin Hood of languages. It steals from the linguistically rich to give to the fledgling poor. It shows not the slightest hesitation in taking in house-guests — to whom it gives free room and board regardless of genealogy, faith, or exoticism. A memorable remark by a journalist, Charles Rappaport, runs: “I speak ten languages — all of them in Yiddish.

​It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.