A Yekke (also Jecke, Jekke) is a humorous, mildly derogatory reference to a German-speaking Jew in Israel. In Germany, they were contrasted with their Eastern European counterparts, the Ostjuden.

Etymology

There are several suggestions on the etymology of the word, all of them being inconclusive.

A significant community escaped Frankfurt after Kristallnacht, and relocated to the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, where they still have a synagogue, Khal Adath Jeshurun, which punctiliously adheres to the Yekkish liturgical text, rituals, and melodies.

Further reading

See also

  • German-Speaking Jewry Heritage Museum Tefen

Notes

References

  • Machon Moreshes Ashkenaz
  • The American Yekkes (Yisrael Kashkin, 2016)
  • K'hal Adas Yeshurun of Jerusalem Nusach Project