You know what I think this old world needs? It needs a big ol' helping of firgun.
Uh, what, now? Firgun is a modern Hebrew term for experiencing true happiness for someone else's positive experiences or achievements.
Don't get it confused with Fahrvergnügen, the term used in Volkswagen ads in the 1990s to express the joy of driving a VW.
Think of it as the opposite of “Schadenfreude” – pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune. That's when you see your lifelong enemy slip on the ice and land on his asterisk* as he was getting in line to buy a lotto ticket.
Super Schadenfreude is when you find out that the guy who got ahead of your nemesis as he picked himself up got the ticket that was supposed to go to your scourge, so he won and your bum got the square root of sweet nada.
Today is National Firgun Day. I found this out by checking the day's events. I like to do that so that I don't miss National Hot Fudge Sundae Day. That's coming up on Friday the 25th of this month. Another favorite is the birthday celebration of Dennis Day, the great Irish tenor from the old Jack Benny Show. Dennis was born on May 21, which we mark annually as Dennis Day Day.
Being happy about Dennis's life and happy career and big family is an example of Firgun. We have firgun when we are happy for someone else, without looking for a personal gain from it, and without resentment or jealousy.
According to Wikipedia, "Firgun is a deeply ingrained concept in Israeli culture, often described as a generosity of spirit.
July 17 is celebrated as International Firgun Day, encouraging people to spread positivity by offering compliments and expressions of genuine pride in others.
I also learned that the word traces its lineage back to the Yiddish word "farginen," which came into use in the 1970s. There seems to be no exact English translation, but they use the word in Israel all the time.
With one exception, I celebrate the achievements and progress of all Americans, and for this very special Firgun Day, I hope you will join me.
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