Oy vey

In response to John’s asking if I was from New York.


Wed Sep 28, 6:44 PM ET

In this Sept. 12, 2005, photo released by the Brooklyn borough president’s office, a sign on the Brooklyn side of the Williamsburg Bridge proclaims ‘Leaving Brooklyn: Oy Vey!’ The sign, bearing the Jewish expression of dismay or hurt, is intended as a way of acknowledging Brooklyn’s large Jewish population. Borough President Marty Markowitz says motorists seeing it know it means ‘Dear me, I’m so sad you’re leaving.’ (AP Photo/Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, Kathryn Kirk)

3 thoughts on “Oy vey”

  1. I interpret it to be more like an expression of frustration after an extremely stressful experience that can’t be expressed by words… In other words, it’s just what people are thinking as they leave Brooklyn.

    My assertion is supported by the fact that I drove through there once because I was lost on my way home from Newark Airport.. My sister refused to backtrack to get back on the highway so we spent SIX HOURS asking for directions.

    When we finally got out of Brooklyn after MIDNIGHT, all we could say on our way out was “Oy, vey.”

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