Mick Jagger’s Top 12 Hebrew Phrases
June 5, 2014The Rolling Stones’ lead singer had done his Hebrew homework ahead of Wednesday night’s Tel Aviv concert. He could even ask his guitarist where he’d gone shopping

1. Erev Tov Tel Aviv (Good evening Tel Aviv). A modest opening foray, delivered two songs in. Quickly followed by…
2. Chag Shavuot Sameach, Yisrael (Happy Shavuot, Israel). Already impressive. A festive greeting. A mention of Israel. And those awkward guttural sounds mastered on CHag and SameaCH.
3. Anachnu HaAvanim Hamitgalgalot (Literally: We are the Rolling Stones). Yup, we knew that. We just didn’t know he knew how to say it in our language.
4. Todah. Shukran (Thank you, in Hebrew and Arabic). Delivered after an aching “Angie.” We were the thankful ones.
5. Hakol Sababa? (All good?). Excellent Arabic slang, invoked anxiously after “Paint It Black.” Reassured by a huge cheer that everything was indeed sababa, Jagger gave us a rich cockney “ohhhh kayy!”

6. Kanita Na’alayim Bashuk? (Did you buy shoes in the market?) The evening’s undoubted Hebrew highlight, asked of a presumably uncomprehending Ronnie Wood, who was wearing nifty orange sneakers. There was no audible reply, in Hebrew or any other language.
7. Lisa Fischer maksima (The lovely Lisa Fischer). Backing vocalist extraordinaire. One of only two musicians to merit a Jagger Hebrew introduction, the other being…
8. Al Hatupim (On the drums) Charlie Watts. Special treatment because, two days earlier, Jagger told us, it had been Charlie’s…
9. Yom Huledet (Birthday)! The audience responded with a raucous Hebrew rendition of “Happy Birthday” and the usually inscrutable drummer smiled, very broadly, like a bashful school kid. He’s 73, by the way.
10. Atem Nehenim? (Are you having a good time?) After a rousing “Gimme Shelter,” you betcha!
11. Atem Kahal Meturaf (You’re a Crazy Audience). A compliment as we neared the end, between “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Brown Sugar.”
12. Layla Tov, Ve’Shalom Tel Aviv (Goodnight and goodbye Tel Aviv). Mick’s final Hebrew utterances as the band disappeared. They reappeared for two encore songs, but the Jagger Hebrew vocabulary had been exhausted, leaving only the eternal question, Did Ronnie Wood buy his sneakers in the market?

Similar posts
-
Gal Gadot Teaches You Hebrew Slang
December 14, 2020Gal Gadot schools us in Hebrew slang. From "ma ani, ez?" to "tachles," Gal will leave you saying "or...
-
Arab Terrorist has a Secret on 'Get Smart'
December 14, 2020This 1 minute funny scene is from popular 60s comedy tv series 'Get Smart'. This is from a 1967 epis...
-
10 Things Israelis Will Never Say Sorry For
September 24, 2020Driving like a maniac, setting you up with a cousin and asking how much you earn are surely nothin...
-
Explore Tel-Aviv With Israel's Renny Grinshpan
September 3, 2020With Israel still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, comic Renny Grinshpan explores Tel Aviv - t...
-
Humor: Siri Trolls Israel's Haters
September 3, 2020In this hilarious clip, Palestinian comedian Amer Zahr provides “entertainment” by trying to get S...
-
Humor: Israeli Mom Rants About Homeschooling Her Kids
May 21, 2020An Israeli mom went viral this week with a video in which she railed against remote education after ...
-
Conan Trains with Israeli Female Soldiers
June 22, 2018Conan Trains with Israeli Female Soldiers Conan undergoes rigorous training with the IDF’s Karkl ...
-
Larry David's Guide to Judaism
June 22, 2018Larry lives the ins and outs of Judaism. L'chaim! Don't miss the Season 9 premiere of Curb Your Enth...
I’ve got the moves like Jagger!