Jewish English Lexicon

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

bencher

prayer booklet or card with the text of the blessings after meals, and often times including other meal-time blessings and songs

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).

biberhit

A man's black hat with beaver fur, worn on weekdays.

bichlal

in any way, entirely, in general, altogether

blat

a page of Talmud (equivalent of Hebrew דף daf)

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)

bochur

young unmarried male, especially a yeshiva student

bodek

also a brand of vegetables that has been checked for insects

check, especially looking for insects that would render produce non-kosher

bokser

The fruit of the carob tree, traditionally eaten on Tu Bishvat.

busha

"Disgrace" (Glinert), shame, embarrassment

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).

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

chacham

wiseguy

wise, learned person; genius

rabbi (Sephardi)

chalat

A man's silk robe for indoor use, usually on Shabbat or holidays.

chap

"to comprehend" (Weiser) (lit. "to grasp")

chas v'chalila

"heaven forbid" (Steinmetz's Yiddish and English dictionary)

chassidish

Adhering to Hasidism, a mystical brand of Orthodox Judaism; having traits associated with Hasidim

cheder

Hebrew and religious classes (often on Sundays) for elementary school children.

chidush

innovative idea; an insight; discovery; novelty

chiyuv

obligation

one who is in mourning and must say Kaddish

chochmah

"Brains; wisdom; a brilliant idea" (Glinert)

chrain

A spicy paste made from grated horseradish.

chumradik

stringent, used to imply that a person is making the most strict halachic ruling, or follows additional restrictions in his or her practice

collect

gather funds or fundraise for an institution.

derech eretz

Participating in modern society.

"Good conduct; normal, polite behavior in a social setting." (JPS). Manners, respect.

duchen

A ritual where the kohanim recite the Priestly Blessing (Num. 6:24-26), blessing the rest of the congregation.

emesdik

"Truthful, genuine" (Steinmetz)

"As a matter of fact: Genuinely" (Weiser)

emunah

"faith"; sometimes contrasted with practical striving in the material world

eyer kichlech

Egg cookies, usually in the shape of bow ties.

farbrengen

Noun: a gathering or celebration that includes a spiritual or religious component.

Verb: to hold such a gathering or celebration.

farher

noun: an oral examination, typically on one's understanding of Talmud

verb: examine, test, quiz

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.

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.

frei

(with the particle "out") to become non-religious, "go off the derekh"

free; liberal, non-religious, the opposite of frum

freilach

adj: happy, merry

noun: (frailach or freylekhs) a lively song/dance performed at simchas

fress

To gobble up food; to gorge oneself. "To eat quickly or noisily, like an animal" (JPS)

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.

gayve

pride; arrogance; obnoxiousness

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.

gedolim

Important, influential people, especially renowned rabbis of the present or recent past. Luminaries (Weiser)

Secondary usage: feces or excrement.

geferlech

Dangerous, terrible

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)

geshmak

delicious, delightful

geulah

redemption

glatt

Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).

Super-kosher (not only of food), or acceptable to the Haredi community.

goyish

"in the manner or style of a non-Jewish person" (JPS), especially something WASPy or "white bread"

goyte

non-Jewish woman, especially domestic worker

gradeh

as an aside, parenthetically; "it so happens that"

in reality, as a matter of fact

gramen

rhymes; especially a rhyming poem or song

gurnisht

"nothing, zilch, zero" (JPS)

gut chodesh

"Good month!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Chodesh.

gut moed

"Good festival season!" Used by Ashkenazim on Chol Hamoed.

gut voch

"Good week!" Ashkenazi greeting at the conclusion of the Sabbath.

gut yontef

"Happy holiday!" Ashkenazi greeting used on any of the holidays, including Rosh Hashanahh and Yom Kippur.

gut yor

"Good year!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Hashanah.

halevai

"Would that it be so" (Steinmetz, Yiddish and English)

I wish!

If only

hashpa'ah

motivating force, source for change in one's actions, influence

influence, or effect, particularly on one's character, development, and/or behavior

hefker

running wild, undisciplined

ownerless

heicha kedusha

abbreviated version of the repetition of the Shmona Esre / Amidah

heimish

3. at home, comfortable

2. Haredi Orthodox

1. familiar, homey, informal, cozy, warm

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

im yirtzeh hashem

if God wills it, God willing (used when making plans for or describing the future)

iyun

study, "examination of sources to develop a coherent, educated opinion" (Weiser)

kaboles ponem

the reception before a wedding ceremony, consisting of a tish (for men) and a bedeken (for women). Lit. 'receiving the faces'.

kaftan

A man's long black overcoat.

kallah

bride

Jewish communal gathering, conference

kapote

long black coat worn by Hasidic men

kashe

Question, difficulty (Steinmetz), challenge, objection.

A question posing some difficulty because of apparent inconsistencies with accepted premises: problem. A tough, perplexing question.

kedai

"worth it" (Weiser)

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)

khnyok

a mean or bigoted person

a sanctimonious, holier-than-thou religious person

an unkempt or slovenly person

khurbn

"Destruction of the Temple" (Glinert)

Destruction, generally

the Holocaust

kimat

"almost or nearly" (Weiser)

kishka

"Stuffed derma: a sausagelike comestible of meat, flour, and spices stuffed into intestine casing and baked" (Rosten) Also, "guts," literally, Slavic. (Wikipedia)

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

koppel

skullcap, kippah, yarmulke

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.

Kratsmach

Tongue-in-cheek way of referring to "Christmas," especially among Jews who want to avoid uttering the name of Christ.

krotzer

One who is confused, literally "scratching their head"

krum

lit. "crooked"; used by Yeshivish speakers to denote views ("hashkafos") that do not fall entirely within the bounds of traditional Orthodox thought

kuntz

peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)

strategy (Weiser)

feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity

l'hachis

spitefully; deliberately; literally "in order to anger"

lamden

a proficient Talmudic scholar

learn

"To be involved in the acquisition of Torah knowledge through reading and reflection, or to do so as an occupation: STUDY" (Weiser)

leibedik

lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt

leichter

a small candle holder used to light the Sabbath candles, or the candelabrum itself

lekech

"Honey cake, traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah... made with honey, eggs, cinnamon, and, often, coffee" (JPS).

levaye

funeral

Litvish

"Lithuanian"; associated with the rational, intellectual culture of Lithuanian Jewry; Yeshivish

loshn

language; jargon

maarich

to extend, talk/write at length

mabul

the Biblical Flood

a deluge; a torrent of rain

machmir

stringent, "taking the stricter position on an issue" (Weiser)

meticulous

madrega

level, especially spiritual level

maidel

girl

make

To urinate or defecate

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.

mamish

"1. As though true to fact...2. Surely or certainly...3. Actually, genuinely...4. To a high degree...5. Enthusiastic response: WOW." (Weiser)

mandelbrot

"Literally, 'almond bread.' A crunchy, dry cookie, similar to biscotti" (JPS).

matzeivah

headstone

matzliach

"To thrive: Prosper" (Weiser)

"Accomplishing a mission or an attempt: Successful" (Weiser)

mazel

luck (good)

congratulations

mazik

a mischievous person, often a child

(with verb "to be") to ruin partially; damage (Yeshivish usage)

mazume

"A group of three or more adult males who join together to recite the after-meal blessings..." (Steinmetz).

"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)

meaty

Food in the meat category, according to the Jewish dietary laws

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.

mekayam

to fulfill an obligation

mekayim

to fulfill, perform, carry out, realize (e.g., a great mitzvah, prophecy, goal)

meorer

to arouse an inappropriate impulse

mesameach

to gladden another person

meshichist

someone who believes that Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Rebbe of Chabad Hasidism, is the Messiah

mevater

to nullify one's desires for the good of others

mezakeh

to acquire; strengthen

middos

character traits (singular: "middah")

milky

Dairy

moshl

parable, example

nafke mine

practical difference

nebach

interjection, adverb: "unfortunately"; noun: an unfortunate person

negel vasser

literally "nail water"; refers to the practice of washing ones hands immediately after waking

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.

nifter

deceased

nisayon

trial and tribulation; a test of faith

nittel nacht

Christmas Eve

oilam

a group of people

the world; the public

okh un vey

"a pity on him"

an unenviable position

ongepotchket

overly elaborate, excessively decorated, slapped together senselessly

oso ha-Ish

literally "that man", an irreverent/euphemistic reference to Jesus of Nazereth

parnasa

livelihood, income

pasken

to rule halachically

patsh

to give a light slap

a smack (playful)

patur

not liable, exempt

pekel

little bundle

pesadik

"Acceptable to be eaten on Pesach" (JPS), kosher for Passover.

pintele yid

"essential Jewishness"

pish

urinate

urine

poshet

simple

posl

invalid

pritse

an immodest woman

pritsus

immoral behavior

prost

coarse, base, not classy, vulgar, common

pshetl

subtle or hair-splitting argument about a Jewish text

dvar torah (Orthodox)

rachmones

mercy, pity, empathy

reb

"sir"; "mister"

rebbeyish

pertaining to the Hasidic rebbe

reckel

long black coat worn by Yeshivish men

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

savtadik

(1) something that reminds one favorably of one's savfta (grandmother); (2) something that meets with savta's approval

schlissel

key

sefer

"A literary composition written particularly of, on, or about the Torah" (Weiser)

Hebrew or Aramaic book

seforim

Religious books written in Hebrew or Aramaic.

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))

Shabbos goy

"A non-Jew who by prearrangement performs chores [that are forbidden] for a Jew on the Sabbath or holidays." (Steinmetz)

shaila

a question, usually while looking for a halachic ruling

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)

shefele

sweety, Lit. "lamb"

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

shidduch

match

mate

arranged spousal match

a date in the process of finding one's spouse

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.

shluffy

[to go] to sleep (child-directed speech)

shlug up

to "shlug (someone) up" is to annihilate his argument, typically in such fashion as to demonstrate a superiority of knowledge

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

shpatzir

literally 'to walk, take a stroll'; figuratively 'to delay, tarry, procrastinate'

shpitz

top or extreme part

the ultimate, the best of, "cool"

typical, classic, a perfect example of; definitively

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.

Shtati

Cool, modern, cosmopolitan.

shteig

strive; study; lit. "rise"

shtender

lectern

shtim

(often with preposition "with") to jibe, gel, concur, harmonize; without prep., equivalent to colloquial English "to add up; make sense"

shtrayml

A hat trimmed with fur pieces, typically worn by Hassidim on Shabbat.

shtus

nonsense

shuckle

Literally, "to shake", to sway back and forth during prayer

shvach

weak, pathetic, (a place or gathering that is) lacking in activity

shvartsa

black person, [lit. "black"]. Often considered offensive in English.

shver

difficult, onerous, complex

sidra

weekly Torah portion

simcha

"A joyous occasion; a celebration" (JPS); usually related to a lifecycle event

spodik

fur hat, similar to but taller (more cylindrical) than a shtreimel, worn by certain Chassidic groups

stam

Just kidding!

only, simply, just for fun, not for a specific purpose

That's it!

svara

guess, hypothesis

justification, reason, plausible explanation

svive

environment, surroundings

group or get-together

taka

(can also be used ironically)

Is that so? Really, actually, indeed, "in consideration of all the information available" (Weiser)

tam

taste

tate

dad

teiku

The question remains unanswered.

An unanswered question.

tell over

to repeat or teach a story heard elsewhere

teva

character (quality of a person or thing)

nature

tichel

headscarf worn by Orthodox women

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.

toivel

to immerse dishes in a ritual bath (mikvah) to render them usable in a kosher kitchen

truntor

old broken down car/ jalopy

tsibur

The public.

The (Jewish) community.

A prayer group.

tsniusdik

modest, discrete, especially according to Orthodox norms of dress, comportment, and gender interaction

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

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.

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).