Have you ever used the name "Goy" or "Goyim" to describe a person who is a Gentile?

[Anonymous]

OP

Have you ever used the name "Goy" or "Goyim" to describe a person who is a Gentile? If you have used these terms did you say it in a way that describe true hate and contempt or was more like a passing gossipy insult among a closed circle of friends? Maybe I'm stupid, but I would guess the latter.

I'll look it up again, but it is my understanding that it is a very perjoative term. Many years ago, I asked a friend why Goy and Goyim are such a big deal. If it only means that the person is not Jewish . . . then what's the big deal. I'm not Jewish and you're not Catholic. Those are just facts, not insults. He said, no, you are not understanding me, it means that a Goy is not part of God's family. A Goy is nothing is God's eyes or in the eyes of the person making the statement. It was at that moment, I realized that if taken literally that it was a highly offensive insult.

People say it, I'm just wondering exactly how serious they are when they say it. It seems according to the dictionary to be a very seroius and highly offensive insult, but when it is used in common parlance is the true deepth of the dictionary version of the insult truly intended? I would guess not, but I'm wondering about people who are in a position to use those words, when they are used are they demostrating true hatred and contempt or is more like gossipy language that might be used within a closed circle of friends?

Sorry, I originally placed this post in the General Parenting Discussion section. I thought I was placing it in the General Discussion section. So, if Jeff wants to change it, it's fine with me.

[Anonymous]

I think nowdays it is just someone who is not Jewish. I do not use that word....I tend to use the term token Canadian (which is a whole other topic)

The word may have come from a bad place, but I think that has been long forgotten. A lot of words we use today have bad origins that no one knows about.

I do not hear a lot of people use that word....maybe my grandmother

[Anonymous]

Goy literally means "nation". Goyim is plural. Generally, it refers to someone who is of the nations of the world, as opposed to the Jewish nation. In fact, in the Torah/Bible, the Jewish people are given a blessing that they will be a "goy gadol" = "big/great nation". There is nothing pejorative about the word.

Jews do not believe that non-Jews are "nothing in g-d's eyes". Quite the contrary, judiasm believes strongly that non-Jews have a very specific role in the world and basic commandments to fulfill, just as Jews have their own roles and sets of commandments to fulfill.

The way your post is framed really sounds like you are itching for people to agree with you about how Jews think they superior and its a pathetic "I'm just wondering" way to spark a debate, which will likely lead to misinformation and possible anti-semetic remarks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP

Have you ever used the name "Goy" or "Goyim" to describe a person who is a Gentile? If you have used these terms did you say it in a way that describe true hate and contempt or was more like a passing gossipy insult among a closed circle of friends? Maybe I'm stupid, but I would guess the latter.

Neither of the above. And I don't like these choices.

It just means a non-believer. There are other insulting terms for Christians and non-Jews but I don't really understand where you are going or why you would be posting this. You sound tsedoodelt to me. Bye bye.

[Anonymous]

not a nice word to use, according to my pal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Goy literally means "nation". Goyim is plural. Generally, it refers to someone who is of the nations of the world, as opposed to the Jewish nation. In fact, in the Torah/Bible, the Jewish people are given a blessing that they will be a "goy gadol" = "big/great nation". There is nothing pejorative about the word.

Jews do not believe that non-Jews are "nothing in g-d's eyes". Quite the contrary, judiasm believes strongly that non-Jews have a very specific role in the world and basic commandments to fulfill, just as Jews have their own roles and sets of commandments to fulfill.

The way your post is framed really sounds like you are itching for people to agree with you about how Jews think they superior and its a pathetic "I'm just wondering" way to spark a debate, which will likely lead to misinformation and possible anti-semetic remarks.

Neither of the above. And I don't like these choices.

It just means a non-believer. There are other insulting terms for Christians and non-Jews but I don't really understand where you are going or why you would be posting this. You sound tsedoodelt to me. Bye bye.

Thank you for those facts. I was just asking a simple question about the things people say. I think that people of all ethnicities say things that they shouldn't. I explained what I believed the word Goy means. It seems that I was mistaken, but are you certain that it is never used in perjorative terms? I also said that I thought that it was probably used in closed circles as an inside joke and not as a deep-seeded hateful and permanent statement. Why is it that the mere suggestion that Jewish people like other human beings have the ability to have inside jokes and to gossip is pathetic? Why is it when anyone discusses any part of Jewish culture someone like you brings up the idea superiority, inferiority, and anti-semitism?

As these PPs suggest some Jewish people are hyper-sensitive about their ethnicity and clearly Jewish people have the ability to say shitty things about others also. I'm not sure exactly what a tsedoodelt is, but I'm pretty sure it's not good.

Thanks and be well friend

[Anonymous]

We definitely use this word in my family. While we don't mean anything negative or hurtful, it does correspond to certain stereotypes or at least examples of things that are not commonly done among the Jewish people we know. It's so hard to explain. My mom would say that Jewish boys don't play football buy goyim do. She would consider certain foods to be goyish (unrelated to kosher restrictions), such as deviled eggs and crockpot meals. It's goyish for a bride to throw her bouquet. Goyim are more likely to dress their children alike or have fake plants in their homes. Stuff like that. Not necessarily bad, but just different. Maybe with a tiny hint of superiority thrown in if I do admit it, but as the child of holocaust survivors I'm not going to hold it against my mom.

A similar word is shiksa. It refers to any non-Jewish girl but if you say the word I automatically picture a tall blonde with a sweater set and pearls. There are lots of wonderful women who are tall and blonde and wear sweater sets and pearls, but the majority of them are not Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for those facts. I was just asking a simple question about the things people say. I think that people of all ethnicities say things that they shouldn't. I explained what I believed the word Goy means. It seems that I was mistaken, but are you certain that it is never used in perjorative terms? quote]


OP, no Jewish person on this Board can possible reassure you that this term has never been used in perjorative terms. Why? Because no Jewish person can possibly speak for every Jewish person in the world! Your expectation that we do so is part of what bothers us....Don't you get it???? What if I asked you to represent every Christian on earth, or every white person on earth, and reassure me that there was no anti-Semitic intent in certain words and expressions I have heard? You couldn't possibly do it because you only represent only YOURSELF, not everyone else with your background.

I can only tell you my personal experience, and that's all. I'm sure it's quite possible that, somewhere, sometime, someone has meant something nasty. Can I speak for every Jew and his or her personal intent? Of course not! I can only try to explain the meaning of the term and its general intent. And I think you are making people pretty uncomfortable because you are stereotyping.

[Anonymous]

My DH is Jewish. I've never heard it used in a way that's not pejorative, or at the very least, intentionally exclusive.

[Anonymous]

I'm a "skiksa" and have called myself a goy (jokingly) many times. It certainly doesn't offend me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a "skiksa" and have called myself a goy (jokingly) many times. It certainly doesn't offend me.

I think you mean "shiksa" and there is not a shadow of a doubt that, regardless of whether you are offended by its use of not, the term is intended to offend/denigrate.

Good for you for having a thick skin though.

[Anonymous]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a "skiksa" and have called myself a goy (jokingly) many times. It certainly doesn't offend me.

I think you mean "shiksa" and there is not a shadow of a doubt that, regardless of whether you are offended by its use of not, the term is intended to offend/denigrate.

Good for you for having a thick skin though.

This is 100% not true. It is most often used lightheartedly. Ever heard of Shiksappeal?...Hardly an insult!

This thread is stupid. OP is just looking for a fight. Those Jews with their inside jokes and gossipy terms, always hating on non-jews....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a "skiksa" and have called myself a goy (jokingly) many times. It certainly doesn't offend me.

I think you mean "shiksa" and there is not a shadow of a doubt that, regardless of whether you are offended by its use of not, the term is intended to offend/denigrate.

Good for you for having a thick skin though.

Yes, spelling mistake on shiksa. Jewish people have had so many pejorative terms inflicted on them that I figure, whatever, I don't care if my college boyfriend's mom called me a goy. Didn't marry him anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This thread is stupid. OP is just looking for a fight. Those Jews with their inside jokes and gossipy terms, always hating on non-jews....

Exactly! The choices were "Do you insult non-jews with true hatred and contempt or light-hearted gossip?" Its a no-win posting desgined to inspire stereotypes and anti-jewish comments.