Law and Order: Special Yiddish Unit

Image by Mark Probst, via Wikimedia Commons

By Renee Ghert-Zand May 21, 2012

So, you think there isn’t much work out there in the public sector for Yiddish speakers, right? Well, think again. If you just happen to speak the mameloshn and have always wanted to serve the public, then there’s a job for you.

It seems the police department in Israel’s capital is looking for native Yiddish speakers to join its Central Unit. According to the Haredi news website B’hadrei Haredim, flyers have been see posted around town saying: “Wanted: Israel Police, Jerusalem’s Central Unit, seeks native Yiddish speakers for an interesting and challenging position. The position is open to men and women who are about to finish their studies. Position is not open to students.” In other words, there’s no moonlighting as a cop if you are still a yeshiva bocher.

Sources in Jerusalem’s police departments say that in the last year they have been recruiting officers from various sectors of society, including Ethiopians, Russians and Arabs. Given that there have been police investigations in the Haredi community recently, it would make sense to recruit individuals who have insight into this sector and can communicate effectively with its members.

The new Yiddish-speaking recruits would be involved in intelligence gathering, crime investigation and the handling of criminals.

For those of you Yiddish naysayers who insist the language is dead in every day life, we need only remind you that today, in 2012, cops are interrogating perps in Yiddish. If that isn’t everyday life, then what is? It’s Law and Order: SYU (Special Yiddish Unit).

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO