Jewish English Lexicon

a long life

Used to greet a mourner after someone has died.

Adonai

"Literally, 'my Lord', another word for God." (JPS)

a piece of matzah from the Passover seder traditionally hidden by adults, found by the children (or vice versa), and then ransomed for gifts after the meal. "The last piece of matzoh...eaten at the meal." (Steinmetz)

alte kaker

elderly person, old-timer [literally "old shitter"] "A crotchety, fussy, ineffectual old man." (Rosten)

Am Yisrael

"Literally, The People of Israel." (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)

babka

"A loaf type coffee cake" (JPS)

bagel

"A leavened, firm, doughnut shaped roll" (JPS)

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.

bakbuk mayim

water bottle

banot

girls

bar mitzvah

Jewish coming-of-age ceremony/celebration for a 13-year-old boy; the boy who has come of age.

barmy

Bar mitzvah

bat mitzvah

in gender egalitarian communities, the ceremony of a 13- (or 12-) year-old girl's first calling up to the Torah, symbolizing her adulthood in Jewish life. can also refer to the girl herself. In Orthodox communities, refers to celebration of girl turning 12. "Celebration of a Jewish girl's coming of age; a girl who has reached that age." (Glinert)

BCE

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

boydem

attic

bris

circumcision ceremony; the celebration surrounding it. Lit. covenant.

Bujew

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

bupkis

Something worthless

Nothing

Chabad

an outreach-oriented branch of Hasidic Judaism that follows the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Chabad has thousands of branches around the world, including at many college campuses.

Chabad house

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

challah

"The braided egg bread that traditionally is eaten on almost every Jewish holiday and [the Sabbath]" (JPS)

charoses

Sweet, mushy mixture that represents mortar at the Passover seder.

chuppah

"The Jewish wedding canopy; that is, the cloth under which the Jewish wedding ceremony is conducted." (JPS)

wedding ceremony (not including reception)

chutzpah

guts (positive)

nerve, audacity, the quality of over-stepping boundries with no shame (negative)

Cohen

"A made descendent of the family of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi. Aaron and his descendants were consecrated to the service of God... in the Tabernacle... in the desert and later the Holy Temple" (Steinmetz). Often poorly translated as "priest," though the term "Levite" or "Aaronite" is more accurate, especially due to Christian usage (Steinmetz).

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.

dreidel

"A small, four-sided spinning top used in a game during Chanukah" (JPS); the top itself

falafel

a Middle Eastern sandwich featuring a deep-fried ball made of chick peas and spices inside pita bread, often served with other vegetables, hummus, and techina

the deep-fried chick pea ball itself

farkakte

"lousy, messed up, ridiculous" (JPS) Shitty, full of crap.

farmisht

mixed up, confused, crazy

feigele

gay man

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.

futz

tinker with; make small changes

waste time (usually "futz around")

gefilte fish

minced sweet or sour fish, cooked in balls or a log and sliced. [lit., "stuffed fish"(JPS), since the chopped fish used to be placed back in the fish for cooking.]

gefrunzled

slighted, insulted, feeling unappreciated

gesheft

business

gesundheit

Health. (Bless you) - said in response to a sneeze.

gey schluffen

Go to sleep!

gezunterheyt

"Fine, go ahead" (ironic).

lit., while in good health

glitch

flaw; slight problem in a process

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

goy

a nation, but not the Jewish nation

"most often used among Jews to refer to someone who is not a Jew" (JPS)

halleluyah

praise God

hamsa

a hand-shaped amulet (often a wall-hanging or jewelry) conferring good luck or protection, popular in Israel and originally from the Middle East / North Africa

hanukkah

The winter-time festival that commemorates the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt in the second century B.C.E. (lit. "dedication")

Hasid

A follower in a non-religious sense (ironic).

Pious person

A disciple of a rabbi, not only a member of a Hasidic group.

Adherent of a Hasidic Jewish group ("A mystical religious movement founded in Poland" (JPS)

Haskalah

19th century Jewish Enlightenment, in which modern philosophy and literature entered Jewish consciousness

heimish

3. at home, comfortable

1. familiar, homey, informal, cozy, warm

2. Haredi Orthodox

Hillel

a rabbi often quoted in Pirkei Avot and the Talmud who was martyred by the Romans, famous for his disputations with Shammai

an organization for Jewish college life, especially in North America

Jalapeño Bagel

A person of Hispanic (non-Jewish) and Jewish origins.

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

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

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

Kabbalah

a Jewish mystical work, sometimes used as a catch-all term for Jewish mysticism. "The Jewish mystical tradition" (JPS)

kasha varnishkes

kasha (buckwheat groats) with bowtie noodles

ketubah

"The Jewish marriage contract, traditionally written in Aramaic." (JPS)

kibbitz

"To socialize aimlessly...To carry on a running commentary" (Rosten)

kibbitzer

Someone who "gives unasked-for advice ... especially as a bystander-observer at a game (bridge, poker, checkers, chess)." (Rosten)

Someone who jokes, fools around.

kibbutz

"[Israeli agricultural] collective" (Glinert) Most settlements in Israeli which originally began as kibbutzim now function as regular municipalities.

kitke

braided egg-bread eaten on the Sabbath (known as challah elsewhere)

klezmer

"Eastern European style of instrumental music" (JPS)

klutz

"clumsy, slow-witted...person" (Rosten)

knaidel

matzah ball; "a dumpling made of matzah meal meal and beaten eggs, usually served in chicken broth, often at the Pesach seder" (JPS)

Knesset

Israel's parliament

knish

Eastern European dumpling with thin dough filled with potato, kasha, onion, meat, and/or other ingredients

kollel

Institution where married men pursue advanced Talmudic study and, often in conjunction with their wives, offer classes and other rabbinic services to the Jewish community around them, especially in non-Orthodox neighborhoods.

kosher

"acceptable according to Jewish [ritual] law" (JPS); "trustworthy, reliable" (Rosten); acceptable according to dietary laws

krav maga

A form of mixed martial arts developed in the Israeli Army but popularized worldwide. Literally means "contact combat"

kvell

feel or express pride, "to be extraordinarily pleased" (JPS)

kvetch

"to chronically complain or gripe to others over minor issues" (JPS)

l'chaim

traditional toast. [lit. "to life" (Rosten)]

Ladino

Judeo-Spanish language

Land of Israel

not just the state of Israel but the physical place

lashon hara

"gossip" (lit. "evil tongue") (JPS)

latka

"a potato pancake [fried in oil traditionally eaten on Chanukah]" (Rosten)

lo matim

Inappropriate

lobbus

a rascal, mischievous or cheeky child (usually a boy)

a young mischievous person with a lot of chutzpah

lox

smoked salmon

maccabiah

international Jewish sports competition, known as the Jewish Olympics, held (mostly) every four years since 1932; smaller regional competitions held in Jewish community centers around the world

color war / intra-camp competition in a Jewish summer camp

machane

Summer camp [lit. "camp"]

macher

"1. Someone who arranges, fixes, has connections...someone who is [very] active in an organization" (Rosten) "important person", "hot shot"

magen david

"star of david", a symbol that has commonly been associated with Jews and Judaism; [lit. "shield of david"]

Maimonidean

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

Manischewitz

sweet brand of wine often used by American Jews for ritual purposes

mannah

the food that fell from the sky to feed the wandering Israelites in the Bible

matzah brei

fried matzah pieces mixed with eggs, usually eaten on Passover

matzoh

unleavened bread eaten on Passover

matzoh ball

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

maven

"An expert or connoisseur; a specialist" (JPS)

mazel

congratulations

luck (good)

mazel tov

congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]

mazume

"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)

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

mechula

broke, bust, bankrupt, spoiled

megillah

one of the five books that compose kethuvim--writings--in Tanakh; can also refer to the physical scroll on which one is written; a long, engrossing story or description

meldado

anniversary of someone's death; the study session done in honor of that person

menorah

candelabrum, especially for Chanukah

mensch

"An upright, honorable, a decent person." (Rosten)

meshuga

crazy

mezuzah

a piece of parchment with the Shema written on it that is then placed in a case and mounted on doorways in keeping with the Biblical commandment mentioned in the Shema

mishegoss

"Foolishness, nonsense, craziness." (JPS)

mitzvah

good deed

Literally, "commandment"

mohel

A person trained to perform Jewish ritual circumcision

nebbish

noun: nerdy, clumsy, awkward person. "An innocuous, ineffectual, weak, helpless, or hapless unfortunate" (Rosten)

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

nosh

to snack or eat; a snack

nudnik

"A pest, a nag, an annoyer, a monumental bore." (Rosten)

oirik

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

oy

exclamation of dismay, exasperation, or surprise

oy vey

exclamation of dismay, exasperation, or surprise

pastrami

Smoked, seasoned deli meat

payos

Sidelocks, sidecurls, or earlocks, common among Haredi boys and men.

pish

urinate

urine

pisk

Colloquialism: an eloquent or garrulous speaker. (Rosten)

(vulgar) snout, grimace (Steinmetz)

mouth, loud-mouth, similar to English slang "trap" for mouth.

Pitseleh

Little one, dear

plotz

"1. To split, to burst, to explode. 2. " To be aggravated beyond bearing" (Rosten) [lit. "to explode"]

prakes

Stuffed cabbage, also known by holiptshes, goluptshes, and golomkes, among other names

punim

face

putz

"A fool, an ass, a jerk." (Rosten) [lit. "penis"]

putzing, putzed

wasting time [offensive]

rebbe

the spiritual leader of a Hasidic sect

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.

Reform Judaism

A liberal, progressive branch of Judaism that emphasizes choice through knowledge.

refusenik

Term for Soviet Jews who were not allowed to openly practice Judaism or emigrate from Soviet Union.

renewal

An alternative stream of rabbis and congregations, independent of the "mainstream" denominations, that fosters an open and experimental approach to Judaism, often drawing from the Jewish mystical tradition and non-Jewish spiritual traditions.

Practices and beliefs in keeping with the philosphy of the renewal movement.

Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish new year

rugelach

"Bite-size crescent-shaped pastries, rolled around a variety of fillings, including chopped raisins and walnuts, apple, raspberry, [chocolate] or mun, topped with a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar" (JPS)

sabra

a prickly pear, "tough and prickly on the outside, tender and sweet on the inside--a description that many say fits citizens of the Jewish state." (JPS)

sandak

The person given the honor of assisting the mohel at the brit milah. The sandek may hold the child on his lap during the circumcision or, as is common today, just hold the baby for a moment in a symbolic fashion. The honor is often given to one of the baby's grandfathers or to another relative or close friend" (Eisenberg).

schlemiel

idiot; contemptible person. "Clumsy, bungling person." (Steinmetz)

schlemozel

The constant butt of idiotic or unfortunate happenings

schlep

To travel from one place to another when one would prefer not to

An annoyingly long journey

"To carry, lug" (JPS)

schlong

a penis

schmaltzy

"Overly sentimental or romantic." (JPS)

schmatta

rag, old/ragged piece of clothing, garment

schmear

to spread; cream cheese

schmo

a fool; a jerk

schmooze

to make small talk or informally chat; to network, kiss up

schnapps

"A strong, dry liquor." (JPS)

schvitz

sweat (v., n.)

steam bath (n.)

seder

order, orderliness, system, routine

The name for the six sections of the Mishnah.

A ceremony involving recitations, singing, food, and drink typically associated with Passover, but also with Tu B'shvat and Rosh Hashanah.

period for Torah study

Sephardic

Jews whose ancestors came from the Iberian Peninsula before the Jewish expulsion

Shabbat

The Jewish Sabbath; Saturday

Shabbos goy

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

shalom

hello, goodbye, peace

shamash

2. the caretaker of a synagogue.

1. candle lit first and then used to light other hanukah candles

3. personal assistant / aide / gofer, especially to a rabbi or in the Hollywood entertainment industry

shana tova

happy new year, lit. 'good year'

shanda

"Scandal, shame." (JPS)

Misbehavior by a particular Jew or Jewish group that leads to embarrassment among the broader Jewish community.

Sheket

Quiet!

shiksa

"1. A non-Jewish girl. 2. A housemaid. 3. An irreligious or nonobservant Jewish girl. The term is often regarded as disparaging." (Steinmetz)

shivah

week-long period of mourning after the death of a relative, during which close relatives stay at home and greet visitors. mourners traditionally sit on low stools during this time, so someone in mourning is said to be 'sitting shiva'.