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Ten-Word Tuesday: Let’s Play Mensch, Not A Mensch

The other day that was actually a week or maybe even months, Bossy’s mom described someone as a mensch. Bossy’s daughter, who has heard this word for all of the fourteen years of her life because she is a nice Jewish girl hold approximately half of the Jewish, responded, “What exactly is a mensch?”

Now understand, Bossy’s mom comes from a long line of excellent definers of words, along the lines of, “You know! Mensch! Like, to be a mensch! Mensch!” But in this case, Bossy’s mom attempted to define the word by providing examples. This was her first:

santa-clause

“Santa is a mensch,” Bossy’s mom began. “He’s warm and generous and kind, with unflagging character.”

Next to appear on Bossy’s mom’s mensch list was him:

tevye-fiddler-topol

He’s Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof, but you would know him better as Mensch. And next Bossy’s mom referenced Marv.

marv-mensch

And then Bossy’s mom explained to Bossy’s daughter that character and generosity and kindness alone don’t make a mensch. As an example, Bossy’s mom suggested that although Bossy’s brother is all of these things and more, he wouldn’t universally be described as mensch material.

bossys-brother

In this case of Bossy’s brother, Bossy’s mom wondered aloud if girth, and maybe even a beard, were mandatory in order to be a mensch.

marv-mensch2

So then Bossy’s mom considered whether being Jewish was a critical component to being a mensch.

santa-mensch

Bossy can sum up her understanding of the word mensch in this way: Can’t define it, can spot one from afar. Hi Dad!

Which is what today’s Ten-Word Challenge is all about. In exactly ten words, can you provide Bossy with examples of who qualifies as a mensch, or what the word means to you?

And tomorrow Bossy will post all of those suggestions here and we can all play Mensch/Not A Mensch!

Who has more fun than Bossy’s esteemed council?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Caring, considerate, thoughtful, welcoming, generous, not mean-spirited. My Dad too.

    (And Bossy’s bro ain’t far off)

    Reply

  16. May I have your mother’s phone number. Santa a mensch? “He sees you when you’re sleeping? He knows when you’re awake? He makes lists of the good and bad kids?”

    No way!

    Reply

  18. I think this head cold has liquified my brain because when I first saw the word “mensch” I thought the post was going to be about Edvard Munch, you know, the guy who painted “The Scream”? He’s not a mensch, is he? I’m so confused.

    Reply

  21. um…Mensch…never heard of the word (sorry not a good Jewish girl)
    I think the guy that sounds like Cookie Monster on the show The Office is a Mensch.

    Reply

  48. Gramps: a Menschette? (Like female sherpas are sherpettes. A friend and I coined that one.)

    [disregarding the 10 word dictum here, so taken by Gramps’s question]

    Reply

  50. A mensch, while warm, expansive, probably pretty savvy as well?

    (#21’s comment, “the guy that sounds like Cookie Monster on the show The Office” cracked me up. Because I know which one that guy is, and never realized that’s who he sounds like. Even though I somehow doubt his menschishness, if my definition above is right. Is it?)

    Reply

  56. My friend Suzy with an MBA who left her job to devote her life to philanthropy.

    Not a mensch — an old cheating boyfriend who is not worth the type with which I am using.

    My Bubie was also a mensch. She always sent a donation check whenever she read an obituary that spoke to her, even if she did not know the person. That is to say she’d be like, “He sounded like a real mensch and benefit to his community and family. It says American Diabetes Association Donations. I’ll send a $10 check in his honor.”

    Reply

  58. Can’t stand Joy Behar. Not feeling Oprah as mensch either. Mel Gibson as the opposite as suggested earlier….LOVE IT!!!!

    Papa Elf in the movie Elf = Mensch. I have one friend I’d consider a mensch….owns an insurance co, was single forever, and finally met/married a beautiful woman from Italy; she came here to be with him. Generous as the day is long, but doesn’t broadcast it. Mensch.

    Reply

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