Title: Enemy’s Downfall

General Information about Item: 

• Verbal Lore, proverb
• Language: Hebrew
• Informant: Shoshana Zohar
• Date Collected: 1 November 2018

Informant Data

• Shoshana Zohar was born 13 November 1988 in Elko, Nevada to a Jewish mother and Jewish, Israeli father. Shoshana was raised Jewish and after visiting Israel as a young adult, decided she felt safer there than in her home country. She moved to Israel in January 2013. Shoshana speaks fluent Hebrew and English.

Contextual Data

• Culture Context: Shoshana was often taught this proverb, which is biblical in nature, growing up. She did not recall a time when someone told this proverb to her, but imagines she would likely feel ashamed if someone had to point out her improper behavior towards someone else’s pain.
• Social Context: Although she doesn’t recall any of the specific instances when it was told to her, she indicated that she would likely use this proverb to remind someone to be kind or a gracious winner. For instance, Shoshana expressed that the proverb should be used as a reprimand when a lack of respect or humbleness is demonstrated when someone else, even if it is someone you do not like, is suffering.

Item

The piece was recited by Shoshana Zohar over a phone call and then repeated in Hebrew, followed by English translation for Hannah to record. Shoshana kindly provided the Hebrew text.

בנפול אויבך אל תשמח

Translation word for word:

“Downfall your enemy unto rejoice.”

Translation general:

“Do not rejoice at your enemy’s downfall.”

Collector’s notes

• This piece is a typical example of a Jewish Biblical  proverb in that it acts as a commandment, has serious imagery, and does not match any of Dundes’ suggested structures. Importantly, this was the first proverb I collected that was intended to elicit a negative emotion in the receiver. Among the proverbs my group collected, it was far more common for the proverb to serve as a way to dispel tension or add humor to a serious situation. However, this proverb clearly violates that usual function in providing a rather harsh reprimand. Therefore, we see that while this proverb does not serve the usual function of dispelling tension, it clearly teaches social norms and cultural expectations, which is another important function of proverbs. I am particularly interested in analyzing this proverb as it relates to its more casual and  humorous  counterpart. Please see this link.

Collector’s Name: Hannah Margolis

Hannah Margolis, 20

Hinman Box 2464

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH 03755

Russian 13

Fall 2018

Tags/Keywords 

• Verbal Lore
• Proverbs
• Hebrew Proverb
• Relationships
• Enemy