Mar 13, 2025
INTRODUCTION
This February, Raphi Halff and Jonah Lubin added a new chain to the goldene keyt of Yiddish Wordle puzzles: Leksikon Shpil. The 1892 origins of Yiddish Wordle, and its subsequent variations are discussed in Malcom Marszmallow’s dynamic War of the Wordles. Since 2022 we have entered an era of relative Wordle peace, creating a welcoming landscape for an edition which leverages Josh Fogel’s translation of the Leksikon fun der nayer yidisher literature.
Explaining the game in Lubin’s own words, from his announcement of Leksikon Shpil for the Yidforsh Facebook Group: “Each day a random entry is selected, and you have to figure out whose biography the sentences given are from. Each wrong guess gives you another sentence and you have five chances to get the right person. Give it a try, if you’d like!”
Via Bluesky we found an extraordinary figure who heeded that call. Twenty-something year old Yiddish student Judith Lerner has just set the world record for “Continuous Streak of Leksikon Shpil Wins in One Guess”. She kindly agreed to talk with us after securing a third day one guess win, about her origins, process, and what she plans to do next.
The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
How did you get started playing the Leksikon Shpil?
Judith Lerner: Ever since my boyfriend and I went long distance — I’m in Chicago, he lives in the suburbs of Chicago — we’ve been playing a lot of these internet games to stay connected. Things like Wordle, Redactle, Tradle, and the New York Times Mini... Unfortunately, his superior puzzle skills were driving a wedge between us. When my Yiddish teacher told our class about the Leksikon Shpil I was pretty intrigued. I’ve been in Yiddish language and culture classes since the pandemic, while he’s been learning Simlish on Duolingo. I hoped Leksikon Shpil would be just the game to save my ego and therefore save our relationship. And I was right!
How does it feel to hold the world record for winning the Leksikon Shpil in one guess?
JL: This morning I couldn’t believe I’d actually broken the record. But I crawled through every Leksikon Shpil post on social media to confirm with my own two eyes. No one else had a public record like my own, with that beautiful singular green box.
I feel blessed. One of my favorite things about being a Yiddishist is that if you put in the work, it’s not too hard to push the envelope or become the world’s greatest expert in the x, y, z corner of Yiddishland. One day I’d love to translate a forgotten shund novel, but until then I’m quite happy with a world record as my contribution to the kehile.
And what do your parents think of this accomplishment?
JL: I was never able to make them proud with a stellar athletic performance at Maccabiah, nor the Sunday School Judaica Bowl. But they’re ecstatic to cheer me on for my successes now as a twenty something, especially since I could keep pushing the world record. My sister older sister Esti was an early AI pioneer and made it onto a Silicon Valley 20 under 20 list. Mom thinks I have a good shot at making the 120 under 120.
Where do you think your competitive advantage comes from?
JL: I’ve had some great Yiddish language and literature teachers over the years, but my main advantage has probably been possession by the dybbuk of Zalman Reyzen.
Pardon?
JL: Would you want to weigh in?
Zalman Reyzen: I must remark that even though I laid the foundation for the Leksikon, the Leksikon Shpil is no stroll in the park for me! Judith and I collaborate quite well. I start by crossing out the writers I indexed for the Leksikon fun der yidisher literatur, prese, un filologye, and Judith uses her knowledge of later writers and historical context to rule out the other options. She and I are usually able to narrow our guess to two options, and B”H we have guessed the correct answer each time!
Zalman what are you doing back as a dybbuk?
ZR: My work was continued, of course, by editors like Shmulik Charney and azoy vayter. But, I feel like my work on this plane will never be truly complete until we can fully lexicalize the contributors to Yiddish culture. There has been so much new work since I passed. Judith, we really ought to wrap up this interview so we can write today’s batch of biographies.
JL: What’s the rush? Zalman, with the way folks continue creating in Yiddish, you’re never going to feel like the work is complete.
ZR: You promised me we could work on three biographies today!
JL: And we will! After I finish my In Eynem heymarbet – it’s just a couple of exercises at the end of chapter 18.
Well, it has been such a pleasure speaking with you… both today.
JL: A pleasure talking to you as well! Keep an eye out for us as we push the “Continuous Streak of Leksikon Shpil Wins in One Guess” world record into the double digits!
