askan

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Pronunciations

asken (AHS-ken) listen

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Definitions

  • n. A Jewish communal or social worker (Steinmetz).

  • n. A person who is influential in working for the community.

  • n. Activist.

Example Sentences

  • "To an Askon such as you, it is unnecessary to elaborate on the fact that time is especially of the essence in such a case." (Menachem Mendel S Schneerson)

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • Yiddish

Etymology

  • Yiddish עסקן asken, which is from the Hebrew עסקן askan, derived from esek, meaning business.

      • Who Uses This

      • Orthodox: Jews who identify as Orthodox and observe halacha (Jewish law)
      • Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

      Regions

      • North America

      Dictionaries

      • Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Popular Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).

      Alternative Spellings

      asqon, askon, asqen, asqn, asqan, askn, asken

Notes

  • Plural is עסקנים askonim in Yiddish (Hebrew plural askanim).

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