L'Havdil*

[gnomi]

Conversation in elevator between gnomi and coworker; another coworker looks on:

Coworker 1: Can you believe that "The Passion of the Christ" has made over $220 million in two weekends?
Gnomi: Well, it's all the hype. I've heard people say that the numbers will drop drastically after those going to see it because of the hype have seen it.
Coworker 1: Yeah, I figure so.
*Coworker 2 nods*
Gnomi *Thinks hard, thinks hard some more. Stumbles over shortcomings in her native language. Sighs.*: Well, l'havdil...
*Coworkers 1 and 2 give Gnomi blank look.*
Gnomi: Well, I can't think of a good English equivalent. Sort of, a comparison/contrast that is somewhat inappropriate.
*Coworkers nod*
Gnomi: So, l'havdil, as it were, the same thing happened with "The Phantom Menace."

*Coworkers 1 and 2 chuckle.*

Coworker 1: I'm not so sure Mel would appreciate the comparison.
Gnomi: Probably not.

*Gnomi contemplates the inappropriateness of using "l'havdil" in context of Jesus movie, shrugs, and heads for her train.*

*L'havdil - literally, "to separate." Frequently used when contrasting or comparing something non-religious to something religious.

Comments

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

That's not a word I've ever heard before. How very cool! My impression, based on your quoted usage, is that colloquially (as opposed to literally) it would mean "That's the difference." Would that be a correct interpretation? Or maybe, "So, without the sacred..." as in your example, "So, without the sacred, that's what happened with The Phantom Menace."

Hmmmm...must think about this. To quote Spock, "Fascinating!"

And you're right: for some things, we must go to Yiddish or Hebrew. English is, often, inadequate.