Goy

A Goy is Yinglish for a non-Jew. It probably derives from the Hebrew phrase Goyei Haarotzos (Nations of the various lands) found in Aleinu (a prayer).

A Goy is the opposite of a Yid (Jew). He is an average law-abiding middle to upper class non-Jew.

This can be contrasted to Sheigetz which usually refers to a low class non-Jew, who is coarse, uses foul language, takes drugs, and is dishonest, or to a Yid who has abandoned his Yiddishkeit (Jewish Religion).

The difference between a Yid and a Goy is that a Yid is Shoimer Toireh uMitzvos (Keeps the Torah and its Commandments).

The worst thing that a Yid can do is behave like a Goy and not keep the Torah. If he associates with Goyim unnecessarily, he may come to behave like them. While it is not bad if a Goy doesn't keep the Torah, a Yid must keep the Torah, because the Yidden (Jews) were given the Torah by Hashem (God) on Har Sinai (Mount Sinai).

It is the responsibility of a Tati (father) to teach his kinderlach (children) how to behave like proper Yidden. If they do not behave like a Yid then he may scream at them, "Do you want to become a Goy?" Upon hearing such a cry, every Yiddish Kind (Jewish Child) knows that he is misbehaving and better shape up, because there is nothing worse than a Yid acting like a Goy.

A Yid who came from a Yiddishe Heim (Jewish home) and acts like a Goy by being a Mechalel Shabbos (violator of the laws of Shabbos) eating Treife (non-Kosher food) and ignoring the rest of the Mitzvos (Torah Laws) is a Sheigetz. He is much worse than a Goy who does the same, because a Goy is not required to keep the Torah.