Showing 266 of 266 words, page 1 of 1
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Aibishter
God, lit. "supreme one" or "the one above"
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aleichem sholom
Peace be upon you. Response to "sholom aleichem"
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alte bubby
old woman, great-grandmother
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alte haym
Eastern Europe (lit. "the old home")
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alter bocher
a man that is too old not to be married
an old yeshiva student who really should have been married off by now
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answer up
counter, retort
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apikorsus
heresy
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arba kanfot
A tallit katan (see tzitzit)
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arba kosot
"The four glasses of wine drunk on Passover" (Glinert).
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arbes
Boiled chickpeas
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askan
A person who is influential in working for the community
A Jewish communal or social worker (Steinmetz)
Activist
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averah
religious transgression (Glinert: "An aveirah is an infringement on the Torah, the opposite of a mitzvah.")
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b'emet
"As a matter of fact." (Weiser); "Really?"
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b'laz
Abbreviation for "B'loshn am zar", "in a foreign language"; usually used by the commentator Rashi when using a Middle French expression
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balaboosta
1) Female head of household 2) Impressively competent homemaker
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balabotish
"Quiet; respectable; well mannered" (Rosten). "middle class"; normal
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batlan
"Someone with intellectual pretensions and half-baked ideas" (Rosten).
"Layabout" (Glinert)
"An unemployed or lazy man" (Rosten).
"One who consistently wastes time: Bum, Fainéant" (Weiser).
"Someone without a trade or regular means of livelihood" (Rosten).
"A misfit, such as a Talmud student of no promise" (Rosten).
"naive, impractical person" (Steinmetz)
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bekishe
long black coat worn by Hasidic men
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belfer
assistant teacher of children in a Hebrew school or cheyder
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ben bayis
frequent guest at someone's home
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bench gomel
to say the blessing (called Gomel) said after someone survives a life-threatening situation; often recited pro forma after surviving childbirth or trans-oceanic travel
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bench licht
(light and) bless candles
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bencher
prayer booklet or card with the text of the blessings after meals, and often times including other meal-time blessings and songs
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besamim
"Modern Israeli slang for illegal drugs" (JPS).
Spices
"Literally, 'spices.' It almost always refers to the spices in the spice box used for the Havdalah ceremony" (JPS).
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besorot tovot
good tidings, good news
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beys hakise
bathroom
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biberhit
A man's black hat with beaver fur, worn on weekdays.
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bichlal
in any way, entirely, in general, altogether
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blat
a page of Talmud (equivalent of Hebrew דף daf)
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blech
an electric hot plate or "sheet of metal that can be placed over the burners on a stove to retain heat, so that precooked food...can be kept warm during the Sabbath." (JPS)
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bochur
young unmarried male, especially a yeshiva student
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bodek
also a brand of vegetables that has been checked for insects
check, especially looking for insects that would render produce non-kosher
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bokser
The fruit of the carob tree, traditionally eaten on Tu Bishvat.
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bring down
cite or reference
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bubbale
sweetie, darling [term of endearment]
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busha
"Disgrace" (Glinert), shame, embarrassment
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by
at [a location], at the house of, with, among, according to the opinion of, at [an event, time of year] (in addition to Standard English near).
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chabadsker
n., a follower of Chabad Lubavitch (i.e., a Lubavitcher Hasid), often pejorative
adj., of or relating to Chabad Lubavitch (i.e., Lubavitcher), often pejorative
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chalat
A man's silk robe for indoor use, usually on Shabbat or holidays.
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chap
"to comprehend" (Weiser) (lit. "to grasp")
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chas v'chalila
"heaven forbid" (Steinmetz's Yiddish and English dictionary)
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chas v'sholom
"heaven forbid" (Glinert)
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chashuv
Important; of high status
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chassidish
Adhering to Hasidism, a mystical brand of Orthodox Judaism; having traits associated with Hasidim
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chassidus
"Chasidism" (Glinert)
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chatan
Bridegroom
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chatuna
wedding
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chayav
Guilty of transgressing. Liable.
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chazer
"go over; review" (Weiser)
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cheder
Hebrew and religious classes (often on Sundays) for elementary school children.
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cherem
"excommunication; ostracism" (Yiddish)
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chevreman
"One of the guys" (Glinert)
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chidush
innovative idea; an insight; discovery; novelty
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chochmah
"Brains; wisdom; a brilliant idea" (Glinert)
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chrain
A spicy paste made from grated horseradish.
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chrein
horseradish
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chumradik
stringent, used to imply that a person is making the most strict halachic ruling, or follows additional restrictions in his or her practice
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chutzpahdik
impertinent
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collect
gather funds or fundraise for an institution.
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dan l'kaf zechus
give the benefit of the doubt
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derech eretz
Participating in modern society.
"Good conduct; normal, polite behavior in a social setting." (JPS). Manners, respect.
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drasha
"Sermon, learned address." (Glinert)
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duchen
A ritual where the kohanim recite the Priestly Blessing (Num. 6:24-26), blessing the rest of the congregation.
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dveykus
spiritual ecstasy; lit. "cleaving"
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einikel
grandchild
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emunah
"faith"; sometimes contrasted with practical striving in the material world
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es shtayt geshribn
"It is written."
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eyer kichlech
Egg cookies, usually in the shape of bow ties.
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farbrengen
Noun: a gathering or celebration that includes a spiritual or religious component.
Verb: to hold such a gathering or celebration.
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farher
noun: an oral examination, typically on one's understanding of Talmud
verb: examine, test, quiz
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FFB
Short for "frum from birth." Refers to someone who grew up in a religious home, the opposite of a BT (ba'al teshuvah) who became religious as an adult.
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FFT
'Frum from Tuesday' - a satire on 'FFB'. Denotes a very recent BT, usually someone who has not mastered the rituals / social cues of Orthodox practice.
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frei
(with the particle "out") to become non-religious, "go off the derekh"
free; liberal, non-religious, the opposite of frum
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fress
To gobble up food; to gorge oneself. "To eat quickly or noisily, like an animal" (JPS)
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gartel
belt, which varies in width, but is worn over the outside of the pants or coat and often tied in a symbolic way, as to differentiate it from a regular belt. It is primarily used by Chassidic Jews (and a growing number of Litvaks) for prayer, or may be used for everyday wear over a long frock coat. It symbolically differentiates the heart from the loins.
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gayve
pride; arrogance; obnoxiousness
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gebrokts
(2) People who hold by the stringency against eating wetted matzah.
(1) Matzah that is mixed with liquid during cooking; avoided by scrupulously observant because of the possibility that unbaked flour in the matzah could be exposed to the liquid and thereby become chametz, forbidden during Passover.
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gedolim
Important, influential people, especially renowned rabbis of the present or recent past. Luminaries (Weiser)
Secondary usage: feces or excrement.
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geferlech
Dangerous, terrible
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gemara
"A compilation of 300 years of rabbis' legal and ethical commentaries on the Mishnah...together, the Gemara and the Mishnah comprise the Talmud." (JPS)
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geshmak
delicious, delightful
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geulah
redemption
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glatt
Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).
Super-kosher (not only of food), or acceptable to the Haredi community.
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goyish
"in the manner or style of a non-Jewish person" (JPS), especially something WASPy or "white bread"
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goyte
non-Jewish woman, especially domestic worker
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gramen
rhymes; especially a rhyming poem or song
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gurnisht
"nothing, zilch, zero" (JPS)
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gut chodesh
"Good month!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Chodesh.
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gut moed
"Good festival season!" Used by Ashkenazim on Chol Hamoed.
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gut voch
"Good week!" Ashkenazi greeting at the conclusion of the Sabbath.
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gut yontef
"Happy holiday!" Ashkenazi greeting used on any of the holidays, including Rosh Hashanahh and Yom Kippur.
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gut yor
"Good year!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Hashanah.
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hashpa'ah
motivating force, source for change in one's actions, influence
influence, or effect, particularly on one's character, development, and/or behavior
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heicha kedusha
abbreviated version of the repetition of the Shmona Esre / Amidah
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hold
to be on the verge of
to opine; to act in accordance with; to be of the opinion; to believe "maintain" (Weiser)
to maintain a degree of religious observance
agree with
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im yirtzeh hashem
if God wills it, God willing (used when making plans for or describing the future)
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iyun
study, "examination of sources to develop a coherent, educated opinion" (Weiser)
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kaboles ponem
the reception before a wedding ceremony, consisting of a tish (for men) and a bedeken (for women). Lit. 'receiving the faces'.
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kaftan
A man's long black overcoat.
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kapote
long black coat worn by Hasidic men
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kashe
Question, difficulty (Steinmetz), challenge, objection.
A question posing some difficulty because of apparent inconsistencies with accepted premises: problem. A tough, perplexing question.
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kedai
"worth it" (Weiser)
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keinehora
"no evil eye" (Rosten). "An expression said to ward off the evil eye or bad luck in general; the verbal equivalent of knocking on wood." (JPS)
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khnyok
a mean or bigoted person
a sanctimonious, holier-than-thou religious person
an unkempt or slovenly person
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kimat
"almost or nearly" (Weiser)
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kishka
"Stuffed derma: a sausagelike comestible of meat, flour, and spices stuffed into intestine casing and baked" (Rosten) Also, "guts," literally, Slavic. (Wikipedia)
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kivyakhol
Substitute or euphemism for God's name, similar to Hashem
"As if", "so to speak," can be used to refer to anthropomorphic language about God
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koppel
skullcap, kippah, yarmulke
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kosher chazer fissel
One who appears to be religious, but is in fact, not, either wholly or in part; religious in appearance, non-religious in essence.
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Kratsmach
Tongue-in-cheek way of referring to "Christmas," especially among Jews who want to avoid uttering the name of Christ.
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krotzer
One who is confused, literally "scratching their head"
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krum
lit. "crooked"; used by Yeshivish speakers to denote views ("hashkafos") that do not fall entirely within the bounds of traditional Orthodox thought
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kuntz
peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)
strategy (Weiser)
feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity
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l'hachis
spitefully; deliberately; literally "in order to anger"
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lamden
a proficient Talmudic scholar
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learn
"To be involved in the acquisition of Torah knowledge through reading and reflection, or to do so as an occupation: STUDY" (Weiser)
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leibedik
lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt
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leichter
a small candle holder used to light the Sabbath candles, or the candelabrum itself
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lekech
"Honey cake, traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah... made with honey, eggs, cinnamon, and, often, coffee" (JPS).
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levaye
funeral
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Litvish
"Lithuanian"; associated with the rational, intellectual culture of Lithuanian Jewry; Yeshivish
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loshn
language; jargon
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maarich
to extend, talk/write at length
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madrega
level, especially spiritual level
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maidel
girl
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make
To urinate or defecate
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malshin
noun: One who slanders, especially one who turns over a Jew to non-Jewish authorities; informer, stool pigeon, snitch
verb: To slander, malign, speak loshon hara about somebody.
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mamish
"1. As though true to fact...2. Surely or certainly...3. Actually, genuinely...4. To a high degree...5. Enthusiastic response: WOW." (Weiser)
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mandelbrot
"Literally, 'almond bread.' A crunchy, dry cookie, similar to biscotti" (JPS).
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matzeivah
headstone
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matzliach
"To thrive: Prosper" (Weiser)
"Accomplishing a mission or an attempt: Successful" (Weiser)
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mazik
a mischievous person, often a child
(with verb "to be") to ruin partially; damage (Yeshivish usage)
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mazume
"A group of three or more adult males who join together to recite the after-meal blessings..." (Steinmetz).
"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)
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meaty
Food in the meat category, according to the Jewish dietary laws
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mekarev
Literally "bring closer", used in the sense of bringing closer to traditional Judaism A noun for one who brings people closer to traditional Judaism.
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mekayam
to fulfill an obligation
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mekayim
to fulfill, perform, carry out, realize (e.g., a great mitzvah, prophecy, goal)
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meorer
to arouse an inappropriate impulse
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mesameach
to gladden another person
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meshichist
someone who believes that Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Rebbe of Chabad Hasidism, is the Messiah
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mevater
to nullify one's desires for the good of others
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mezakeh
to acquire; strengthen
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middos
character traits (singular: "middah")
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milky
Dairy
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moshl
parable, example
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nafke mine
practical difference
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nebach
interjection, adverb: "unfortunately"; noun: an unfortunate person
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negel vasser
literally "nail water"; refers to the practice of washing ones hands immediately after waking
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nicht shabbos geret
Not to speak of on Shabbat (used when a subject is not suitable for the Holy Shabbat, primarily business and money manners, to indicate that one shouldn't discuss it). Usually followed by a short comment about the "forbidden" subject.
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nifter
deceased
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nisayon
trial and tribulation; a test of faith
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nittel nacht
Christmas Eve
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ongepotchket
overly elaborate, excessively decorated, slapped together senselessly
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oso ha-Ish
literally "that man", an irreverent/euphemistic reference to Jesus of Nazereth
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parnasa
livelihood, income
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pasken
to rule halachically
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patur
not liable, exempt
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pekel
little bundle
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pesadik
"Acceptable to be eaten on Pesach" (JPS), kosher for Passover.
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pintele yid
"essential Jewishness"
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poshet
simple
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posl
invalid
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pritse
an immodest woman
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pritsus
immoral behavior
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prost
coarse, base, not classy, vulgar, common
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rachmones
mercy, pity, empathy
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reb
"sir"; "mister"
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rebbeyish
pertaining to the Hasidic rebbe
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reckel
long black coat worn by Yeshivish men
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reid
n. "unofficial information spread through the grapevine" (Weiser), especially information related to Talmud study
v. refer someone for a marriage match; pronounce a match
n. speech, talk
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savtadik
(1) something that reminds one favorably of one's savfta (grandmother); (2) something that meets with savta's approval
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schlissel
key
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sefer
"A literary composition written particularly of, on, or about the Torah" (Weiser)
Hebrew or Aramaic book
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seforim
Religious books written in Hebrew or Aramaic.
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segula
Folk remedy, safeguard, superstitious action, talisman
divinely bestowed reward as a result of an individual's participation in a minhag or mitzvah
"procedure that is not based on medical or scientific logic yet is efficacious in improving a situation or protecting a person from harm" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segula_(Kabbalah))
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Shabbos goy
"A non-Jew who by prearrangement performs chores [that are forbidden] for a Jew on the Sabbath or holidays." (Steinmetz)
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shaila
a question, usually while looking for a halachic ruling
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Shayach
Pertinent, relevant (Steinmetz).
1. Capable of being true or believable: Conceivable. / 2. Capable of being done: Surmountable / 3. Practical, reasonable, or possible: Feasible. (Weiser)
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shefele
sweety, Lit. "lamb"
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sheymes
n., such content
adj., of or relating to printed material, such as a book or even an audio recording, that contains the name of God, and therefore must not be erased, put on the floor, etc., out of respect for the Divine Name
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shlogn kapores
to make oneself feel guilty.
the custom of symbolically transferring one's sins to a chicken (or coins) before Yom Kippur, done by moving the chicken (or coins) in a circle around one's head.
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shluffy
[to go] to sleep (child-directed speech)
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shlug up
to "shlug (someone) up" is to annihilate his argument, typically in such fashion as to demonstrate a superiority of knowledge
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shomer
a camp counselor on duty
one who keeps vigil over a dead body before it is buried
adj. observant, observing the laws of kosher, shabbat, or negiya (not touching members of the opposite gender outside of family)
a member of Hashomer Hatzair or a camper or counselor at a Hashomer Hatzair camp
a chaperone, protector, or guard
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shpatzir
literally 'to walk, take a stroll'; figuratively 'to delay, tarry, procrastinate'
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shpitz
top or extreme part
the ultimate, the best of, "cool"
typical, classic, a perfect example of; definitively
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shtark
Adj: religiously intense. Literally "strong," generally used in reference to someone more religious than the speaker
Verb: "shtark out" - to identify oneself closer to the Black Hat end of the Modern Orthodox to Black Hat continuum, in comparison to one's previous location on that continuum.
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Shtati
Cool, modern, cosmopolitan.
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shteig
strive; study; lit. "rise"
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shtender
lectern
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shtim
(often with preposition "with") to jibe, gel, concur, harmonize; without prep., equivalent to colloquial English "to add up; make sense"
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shtrayml
A hat trimmed with fur pieces, typically worn by Hassidim on Shabbat.
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shtus
nonsense
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shuckle
Literally, "to shake", to sway back and forth during prayer
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shvach
weak, pathetic, (a place or gathering that is) lacking in activity
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shvartsa
black person, [lit. "black"]. Often considered offensive in English.
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shver
difficult, onerous, complex
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sidra
weekly Torah portion
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simcha
"A joyous occasion; a celebration" (JPS); usually related to a lifecycle event
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spodik
fur hat, similar to but taller (more cylindrical) than a shtreimel, worn by certain Chassidic groups
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taka
(can also be used ironically)
Is that so? Really, actually, indeed, "in consideration of all the information available" (Weiser)
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tam
taste
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tate
dad
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tell over
to repeat or teach a story heard elsewhere
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tichel
headscarf worn by Orthodox women
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tisch
a festive friday night gathering, often involving alcohol and singing [lit. "table"]. in hasidic circles, the rebbe often hosts a tisch with hundreds of hasidim at which he shares his teachings.
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toivel
to immerse dishes in a ritual bath (mikvah) to render them usable in a kosher kitchen
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truntor
old broken down car/ jalopy
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tsniusdik
modest, discrete, especially according to Orthodox norms of dress, comportment, and gender interaction
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tuna bagel
a person (usually a young, Hasidic man) who appears to be religious but is in part or in whole not observant; OR who is observant and wears Hasidic garb, but otherwise behaves like non-Hasidic Orthodox Jews
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tzadik
A highly learned and esteemed rabbinic leader (sometimes used as an alternative name for a Hasidic rebbe).
Common name for the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet (tzadi / tzade).
Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.
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tzimmes
"Troubles, difficulties, a contretemps" (Rosten).
"A prolonged procedure, and involved business, a mix-up" (Rosten).
"A sweet, baked dish of vegetables or fruit. Carrot tzimmes, a popular version, includes carrots, sweet potatoes, dried apricots, raisins, sugar, and cinnamon" (JPS).
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tznius
(adj.) modest, discrete, especially according to Orthodox norms of dress, comportment, and gender interaction
(n.) modesty, discretion, especially according to Orthodox norms of dress, comportment, and gender interaction
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veiter
"Further; next." (Steinmetz)
"More distant: Farther." (Weiser)
"At a more advanced point: Further." (Weiser)
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vort
a short lesson derived from the Torah; an engagement party, named after the short speech usually delivered in honor of the couple
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vos
what
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wash
To wash one's hands ritually before a meal.
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yainee
other types of chassidim [i.e. non-Chabad] , especially youth
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yechinik
a Lubavicher (a Hasidic group, Chabad) who believes that Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavicher rebbe, is the Moshiach.
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yeshivish
Litvish; Lithuanian; associated with the rationalistic Lithuanian tradition; associated with non-Hasidic Black Hat communities
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yichus
"Pedigree, lineage, family background." (JPS)
Bragging rights based on respected family history
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yid
A derogatory term used by non-Jews for a Jewish person (particularly so in Great Britain).
a Jewish person
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yiddishkeit
"Jewishness"; sometimes used interchangeably with 'Judaism' or 'Jewish culture'
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yosem
orphan
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Yoshke
an irreverent or derogatory name for Jesus Christ
a nickname for Yosef or Yehoshua (archaic Yiddish form)
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yotzei
released from a religious obligation by dint of completion or fulfillment; "to have done what's required" (Glinert)
(with the helping verb "to be," and an object where required) to fulfill, as a mitzvah or some figurative obligation
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zall
study hall; beis medrash (lit. "hall")
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zivug
(n.) mate, predestined match
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