Jewish English Lexicon

a long life

Used to greet a mourner after someone has died.

antisemitism

Hatred against Jews.

"Prejudice or discrimination against Jews and the Jewish people" (JPS).

Ashkenazic

Adjectival form for 'Ashkenazim', "The name given to the group of Jews who were originally from Germany and France, and their descendants" (JPS)

Ashkenormative

Assuming that all Jews are Ashkenazi, not considering Jews with other backgrounds.

bageling

Inserting a Jewish phrase or concept into a conversation in order to indicate that one is Jewish or to determine whether the other person is Jewish.

Identifying another person as a Jew.

Before the Common Era (used in place of B.C.). Steinmetz: "...recently, a new awareness of the Christian character of these abbreviations have led many Jewish writers and editors to replace them with [C.E. And B.C.E.]"

Be well

Closing to a letter or conversation: Take care, be healthy

Birthright

A free 10-day trip to Israel for young Diaspora Jews ages 18-26. Over 400,000 Jews have been to Israel on Birthright.

black hat

Haredi; describing people or traditions of the right end of the Orthodox continuum, encompassing Hasidic and non-Hasidic (or just non-Hasidic) Orthodox Jews, of whom the men wear black hats

Bujew

a Jew who practices Buddhism; a Jew interested in Eastern spirituality

Chabad house

a synagogue/residence/outreach center operated by Chabad-Lubabvitch, usually run by a Rabbi and wife, and often their children.

Conservative Judaism

originally known as "historical positive Judaism," a denomination that combines observance with an idea of "halachic process." See further comments below.

continuity

An objective, often expressed in response to rising rates of interfaith marriage, to ensure that Judaism is transmitted from one generation to the next.

Diaspora

"The term for Jewish communities and their residents who live outside of the State of Israel" (JPS).

The extensive settlement of Jews outside the land of Israel after the Babylonian Exile in 586 BCE.

from your mouth to God's ears

response to a good wish or blessing that mentions future events: I want that to happen, but I'm not sure it will.

good for the Jews

an expression, often used ironically, to ask what the effect of a given event will be on the Jewish community.

good yom-tov

standard holiday greeting

JAP

Jewish American Princess

JDate

A popular dating site for Jewish singles.

Jew by Choice

A convert to Judaism.

Jewishness

Ethnic or cultural Jewish identity, as distinct from "Judaism"

The quality of being a Jew, not limited to (nor necessarily excluding) religion, ethnicity, biology, or nationality.

Jewy

Highly identified Jewishly, either outwardly in terms of actions and affiliations, or inwardly based on self-definition.

Demonstating stereotypical or conspicuous appearance or behaviors that identify one as a Jew.

Land of Israel

not just the state of Israel but the physical place

Maimonidean

Having to do with Maimonides, the Jewish rabbi, physician and scholar who lived in the 12th century

matzoh ball

dumpling made with matzah meal and eggs and generally served in chicken soup

nice Jewish boy

Jewish male, in pop culture it often indicates nebbishy traits and lack of traditional masculinity

no-goodnik

bad person, scoundrel (sometimes humorous or affectionate)

noodge

verb: bore, pester, nag

noun: pest, whiner

oirik

Derogatory reference to a non-Jewish male, especially a common labourer

Reform

a Jewish movement founded on principles of the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah), which rejected the binding nature of the Law and attempted to concentrate on the prophetic message; it is now the largest movement in the United States, and has an additional 1 million adherents worldwide.