8 | MAY 30 • 2024 
J
N

essay

What is a Mensch, 
and Who is a Mensch?
A

s a kid growing up in 
a Jewish community 
in Canton, Ohio, I 
heard the word mensch all the 
time. My dad was considered 
a mensch because he helped 
build the shul. Over the 
years, I have 
had several 
mensches in my 
life. 
But what is a 
mensch? What 
is the origin of 
the word? Do 
you have to 
be Jewish to be a mensch or 
can someone from another 
religion be a mensch? 
The Merriam-Webster 
Dictionary defines a mensch 
(spelled differently in various 
publications as mentsch, 
mentsh, mensch, etc.) coming 
from Middle High German, 
Old High German or Old 
English meaning a person of 
integrity and honor. Its first 
known use was in 1856 in 
Germany.
Wikipedia says during the 
Age of Enlightenment, in 
Germany the term Humanität, 
in the philosophical sense 
of compassion, was used in 
Humanism to describe what 
characterizes a better human 
being. The concept goes back 
to Cicero’s humanitas, which 
was literally translated as 
Menschlichkeit in German, 
from which the Yiddish word 
mensch derives.
Mensch is defined as a 
good person, someone to 
admire and emulate, someone 
of noble character, recitude, 

dignity, a sense of what’s 
right, responsible, implying 
the value of that individual’s 
qualities. 
One source says it’s small 
acts that make a better society. 
Another says a person of 
integrity and honor, someone 
who is empathetic and kind. 
One even says a person, 
especially a man, regarded 
as being honorable, decent, 
responsible and having 
strength of character. 
And the list goes on and on. 
So, a man can be a mensch. 
But can a woman be a 
mensch? How about a boy or 
girl? A dog? A cat? After all, 
dogs and cats have had bar 
and bat mitzvahs.
Carin Davis, a freelance 
writer for the Jewish Journal 
says a mensch is all the 
good stuff served up in one 
smoking-hot dish. She says 
a mensch is a kind, smart, 
funny, giving, inspiring, 
exciting guy who makes 
your heart smile. The term 
mensch is shorthand for a 
Jewish man with ineffacble 
qualities of intense goodness. 
Davis says that besides being a 
homemaker (better known as 
a balabusta), kick-tush women 
need their own tag. 
Davis thinks establishing 
women as mensches could 
be the single-greatest 
dating advancment of our 
generation. Suddently we’re 
classifying ourselves, she says, 
as the mind-blowing mates 
that men should crave. The 
ultimate partners! Incredible 
girlfriends that men should 

cherish, love and spoil. 

MENSCHES IN OUR 
POPULAR CULTURE
Wikipedia says the word 
mensch and the underlying 
concept have had an impact 
on popular culture. For 
example, the “Mensch on a 
Bench” is a Chanukah-themed 
book and doll set. A life-sized 
version of the doll has been 
adopted by Team Israel at the 
World Baseball Classic as their 
mascot. According to pitcher 
Gabe Cramer, “The Mensch is 
a great way to have fun in the 
dugout while reminding us of 
why we’re here and who we’re 
representing.” 
Some notable mensches 
include David Ben-Gurion, 
Niels Bohr, Elie Wiesel, 
Baruch de Spinoza, Sigmund 
Freud, Maimonides, Albert 
Einstein, Abraham, Moses 
and Jesus. But the question 
is, were they mensches or just 
key influencers? Is there a 
difference? 
And women certainly 
can be mensches. She’s a 
Mensch!: Jewish Women Who 
Rocked the World is a book 
by Rachelle Burk and Alana 

Barou. The book has five stars 
and is full of information 
and fun facts about Jewish 
women who will inspire 
any reader. The authors put 
together an impressive group 
of menschen: athletes, poets, 
scientists, actresses, social 
activists and even a spy. The 
bright skillful illustrations 
illuminate each mensch in a 
full elegant spread.
After scouring the internet, 
I’d say yes, a girl or a boy can 
be a mensch if they meet 
several or all of the above 
definitions. 
A dog, cat, bird or other pet 
leaves a big question. My gut 
says no. Even Lassie, Bingo, 
Bluey, Chill and others I leave 
for a later conversation. 
So, next time you see 
someone who you think 
meets all the criteria of being 
a mensch be it a man, woman, 
boy or girl, go ahead and 
say it. “You know, you’re a 
mensch!” And watch their 
face light up. Or they’ll ask 
you what that means. And 
now you can tell them! 
 

Sandy Hermanoff is a writer and area 

public relations consultant.

Sandy 
Hermanoff

PURELY COMMENTARY

Team Israel’s 
mascot — the 
“Mensch on 
the Bench”

 ISRAEL BASEBALL ASSOCIATION