Yekke
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term yekke (adjective: yekkish) (alt: Jecke) is a generally jovial, mildly derogatory term used to refer to Jews originating from Germany or adhering to the Western-European minhag. The word itself stems from a coagulation of Hebrew and Yiddish, loosely meaning "jacket". (Note that the similar-sounding 'Jacke' does mean 'jacket' in standard German.)
The title originates from the cultural differences in dress that developed between the more westernized Western European Jews who traded in the more traditional long coats for shorter "jackets" while the outer clothing worn by the Eastern European Jews was typically "longer" (such as bekishes.). The term is often used in a slightly derogatory or cynical manner, although it is also used as a badge of honour. It is used mainly in reference to the German Jews' legendary attention to detail and punctuality. This sense for detail extends into the strict adherence to minhagim (religious customs, especially when pertaining to the synagogue service). Oberlanders, Jews originating from parts of Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are often confused with yekkes due to similar minhagim.
When Adam hid because of his nakedness, Genesis 3:9 states that God asked him "Ayekka?" (Where are you?) In the 1930s this question was used by Palestine's established eastern-european settlers, as a taunt, of the newly arrived German-Jewish immigrants, who generally were less knowledgeable of Jewish traditions and literature. The question meant: "Where is your jewishness? - A yekka!"
An alternative explanation for the origins of the word "Yecke" is it being an acronym for "Yehudi Kashe Havannah" [Jew with a slow understanding], referring to the hard time German Jews had acclimatizing in Israel