Yiddish word(s) of the week: Milchig/Fleishig/Parve

RABBI BEN NEWMAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

Each week, Rabbi Ben Newman provides us with our Yiddish Word Of The Week. Newman is the founder and spiritual leader of Shtiebel a new paradigm Jewish community in the Rivertowns of Westchester, NY. He is also the author of several children’s books. Learn more here.

Milchig/Fleishig/Parve

Milchig-: Literally- “milky”–made with milk (Yiddish מילכיק milkhik milky, from מילך milkh milk, cf. German milchig). Usually used to indicate a meal which is kosher dairy–the opposite of

Fleishig- fleishig: “meaty”–made with meat (Yiddish פֿליישיק fleyshik ‘meaty’, from fleysh ‘meat’, cf. German fleischig ‘meaty’).

Parve- containing neither meat nor dairy products (from Yiddish (פּאַרעוו(ע parev(e))–

e.g.- I asked if they were having a milchig or a fleishig meal at the shiva minyan, and they said I could bring either a parve or a milchig dish.