shelita

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Pronunciations

shelita (SHLEE-tah) listen

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Definitions

  • n. An honorific appended after naming an important person, usually an Orthodox rabbi.

  • interj. 'May he live long and well'.

  • n. Authority, control.

Example Sentences

  • "Rav Asher Weiss shlita is among the most renowned and respected halachic authorities of the current period." (source)

  • "I heard your zaidie turned 90 last week." "Yes--shelita."

  • “That teacher really enjoys the shlita he has over the bochrim during class.” (Weiser)

  • “My father has incredible shlita over his car, even at night or in the rain.” (Weiser)

  • "The photo on the wall is of Rabbi Ovadya Yosef, Shlita." (Glinert)

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew

Etymology

  • former two senses: שליט"א (acronym of שיחיה לאורך ימים טובים אמן sheyichye l'orech yamim tovim amen, lit. 'may he live long for good days amen')

    latter two senses: TH שליטה > Y שליטה shlite

      • Who Uses This

      • Orthodox: Jews who identify as Orthodox and observe halacha (Jewish law)

      Regions

      • North America

      Dictionaries

      • Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Popular Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).
      • Frumspeak: The First Dictionary of Yeshivish, by Chaim Weiser (Northvale, 1995).
      • The Joys of Hebrew, by Lewis Glinert (New York, 1992).

      Alternative Spellings

      sh'lita, shlita

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