Showing 323 of 323 words, page 1 of 1
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aba
father, dad, daddy
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abi gezunt
"As long as you're healthy [you can be happy]."
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acharon acharon chaviv
"The very last one is beloved."; "Last but not least."
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al regel achat
lit. "on one foot"; off-the-cuff; "To answer a question or deal with a query very briefly and cursorily." (Glinert)
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aleph-bet
"A name for the Hebrew alphabet" (JPS)
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aliyah
ascent of the soul of a deceased person to a higher level, as is believed to happen on their yartzeit
ascent
immigration to Israel
"calling to the reading of the Torah" (Glinert)
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apikoros
heretic, non-believer, especially one with great knowledge of Judaism
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arbes
Boiled chickpeas
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aroisgevorfene gelt
"a waste of money"; lit., thrown out money.
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aveil
pl. aveilim. "Someone who is in mourning" (Glinert).
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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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ayin hara
The evil eye
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b'vakasha
JPS: "Literally, 'please'. It can be used in various ways, including "please go ahead" and at the end of a sentence as 'you're welcome'."
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ba'al tshuvah
a Jew raised non-religious who becomes Orthodox, [lit. 'one who returns/repents']
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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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baruch haba
"Welcome!"
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batlan
"naive, impractical person" (Steinmetz)
"Someone with intellectual pretensions and half-baked ideas" (Rosten).
"Someone without a trade or regular means of livelihood" (Rosten).
"Layabout" (Glinert)
"An unemployed or lazy man" (Rosten).
"One who consistently wastes time: Bum, FaineĢant" (Weiser).
"A misfit, such as a Talmud student of no promise" (Rosten).
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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.]"
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bechina
examination, particularly for rabbinic ordination
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bechira
free will
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bekitzur
"Briefly or concisely: succinctly" (Weiser)
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berya
"Complimentary term for a talented, competent, energetic woman, especially one who gets a lot done - and does it well - around the house." (JPS Dictionary of Words)
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bikur cholim
visiting the sick
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bisl
"a little bit of something, a tiny piece" (JPS)
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biz hundert un tsvantsik
[may you/he/she live] "until a hundred and twenty [years]" -- often used as a birthday wish for long life, or when mentioning a person who is getting on in years.
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bli neder
"Literally, 'without vowing', this is added to any casual promise to avoid it being taken as an absolute undertaking." (Glinert)
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bochur
young unmarried male, especially a yeshiva student
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boychick
"A young boy...equivalent of the American expression 'buddy'" (JPS)
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boydem
attic
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bracha
blessing (in the technical or figurative sense)
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broch
curse
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bubbale
sweetie, darling [term of endearment]
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bubbe
grandmother
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bubbe meise
"Something of little importance, an inconsequential thing or minor happening." (JPS)
"old wive's tale"; an untrue story, sometimes related to superstition
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bulvan
loud mouth know-it-all; "a boorish, brutish person" (Steinmetz)
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chag sameach
"Literally, 'Happy Holiday.' The traditional, all-purpose greeting exchanged on almost any Jewish holiday" (JPS).
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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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chatuna
wedding
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chayav
Guilty of transgressing. Liable.
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chazir
1. pork 2. a pig, greedy person (JPS)
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cherem
"excommunication; ostracism" (Yiddish)
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chevra
"society; close-knit group" (Yiddish)
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chrain
A spicy paste made from grated horseradish.
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chrein
horseradish
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chuppah
"The Jewish wedding canopy; that is, the cloth under which the Jewish wedding ceremony is conducted." (JPS)
wedding ceremony (not including reception)
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chutzpah
nerve, audacity, the quality of over-stepping boundries with no shame (negative)
guts (positive)
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chutzpahdik
impertinent
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davka
"definitely or exactly stated; specifically" (Weiser)
even; despite expectations to the contrary -- often with a slightly amused or ironic feeling of "wouldn't you know it?" or "of all things" ("of all people" ... etc.)
just to annoy, just to be contrary
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drasha
"Sermon, learned address." (Glinert)
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dveykus
spiritual ecstasy; lit. "cleaving"
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dybbuk
a spirit, "often thought to be the soul of a dead person, that wanders the earth looking for a living body to inhabit" (JPS)
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eema
mother
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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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erev
"Eve of." (Glinert) Evening, or the day before a Jewish holiday
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ess
Eat
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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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farbrente
fiery, devout, fervent [lit. 'burning']
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farchadat
"Dizzy, confused, dopey, 'punchy.'" (Rosten)
"Having a headache." (Rosten)
"Smitten, charmed, beguiled." (Rosten)
"Surprised, stunned, shocked." (Rosten)
"Confused, distracted, mixed up." (JPS)
"confused; dazed; stunned" (Steinmetz)
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farfel
a side dish including bits of noodle, often sauteed with vegetables and beef or chicken stock
noodle pellets
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farher
noun: an oral examination, typically on one's understanding of Talmud
verb: examine, test, quiz
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farmisht
mixed up, confused, crazy
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farshteyst? (farshteyt)
literally 'do you understand?'
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feh!
an expression of disgust; "portraying...negative feelings" (Rosten)
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fleishig
"The general term for food in the meat category, according to the Jewish dietary laws" (JPS)
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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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fresser
big eater, "pig". "A heavy eater." (JPS)
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frosk
a slap
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frum
religious; observant; Orthodox
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gadol
literally "big," refers to particularly well respected rabbis; "luminary" (Weiser)
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gam zu l'toyve
"This too is for the best."
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gantseh
entire, complete
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gaon
Modern Hebrew: genius (JPS)
"A title of honor for the rabbis and teachers who were the spiritual heads of the Babylonian yeshivot between the 6th and 11th centuries C.E." (JPS)
"A rabbi whose learning was so great that he was given the honorary title of gaon" (Rosten), e.g. the Vilna Gaon
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gayve
pride; arrogance; obnoxiousness
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geferlech
Dangerous, terrible
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gehenom
Considered to be a temporary place one's soul goes after death, for atonement, before reuniting with God.
Hell (metaphoric)
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gelt
Money (slang usage)
"The foil wrapped chocolate coins that are a traditional Hanukkah treat for children." (JPS)
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gemilas chesed
(pl. gemilas chasodim) A loan of money without interest to help a needy person.
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genug
enough
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ger
(pl. gerim) A convert to Judaism.
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geschrei
yell, shout
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gesheft
business
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geshmak
delicious, delightful
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gesundheit
Health. (Bless you) - said in response to a sneeze.
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get
a writ or deed of divorce
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geulah
redemption
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gevald
an interjection of alarm
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gey avek
"Go away!"
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gezerah
"An authoritative command either to perform or to refrain from performing a particular act" (Weiser)
"an addition to a previously existing precept" (Weiser)
In Jewish law, a prohibition enacted by the Sages as a measure to protect religious observance under changed conditions.
"evil decree" (Steinmetz)
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glatt
Super-kosher (not only of food), or acceptable to the Haredi community.
Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).
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glitch
flaw; slight problem in a process
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golem
"A creature of Jewish medieval folklore, a golem is a figure made into the form of a human and given life." (JPS)
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golus
literally "exile" (JPS); outside of the Land of Israel; away from a vibrant Jewish community; the time period since the destruction of the Second Temple at Jerusalem (Glinert)
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gonif
thief
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good yom-tov
standard holiday greeting
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gorgel
neck, throat (generally of poultry)
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goy
a nation, but not the Jewish nation
"most often used among Jews to refer to someone who is not a Jew" (JPS)
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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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gramen
rhymes; especially a rhyming poem or song
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gurnisht
"nothing, zilch, zero" (JPS)
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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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hachnasas orchim
hospitality (lit. "bringing in guests")
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hafsaka
break or interruption
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Hak mir nisht keyn tshaynik
Don't bother me
Literally, don't knock a teakettle at me
Stop annoying me
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handl
to bargain, do business
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hashgacha
Rabbinic supervision designating food as kosher
Divine providence, interference, attention
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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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hechsher
(Rabbinic) stamp or seal of approval-- typically designating a product as kosher
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hesped
eulogy, funeral oration
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heter
rabbinic allowance
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hock
"to bother incessantly: ANNOY" (Weiser)
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iser
prohibition
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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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kaparot
Ritual performed between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to remove sins carried out by swinging a chicken over ones head.
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kashe
A question posing some difficulty because of apparent inconsistencies with accepted premises: problem. A tough, perplexing question.
Question, difficulty (Steinmetz), challenge, objection.
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kedai
"worth it" (Weiser)
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kein yirbu
"So they may increase in number"
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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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kibbitz
"To socialize aimlessly...To carry on a running commentary" (Rosten)
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kimat
"almost or nearly" (Weiser)
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kinder
"children" (Rosten)
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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
"As if", "so to speak," can be used to refer to anthropomorphic language about God
Substitute or euphemism for God's name, similar to Hashem
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klezmer
"Eastern European style of instrumental music" (JPS)
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kochleffel
A cooking spoon, as for soup. By extension, a person who stirs up trouble; meddler, busybody.
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kol tuv
"all the best" (JPS), a closing or farewell
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kreplach
(meat-) stuffed dumplings usually served in soup; Jewish wontons
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krovim
relatives
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kumzits
sing-along; campfire gathering with singing
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kuntz
strategy (Weiser)
feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity
peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)
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kvater
one of the people honored to hold the baby at a circumcision ceremony; godfather
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kvell
feel or express pride, "to be extraordinarily pleased" (JPS)
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kvetch
"to chronically complain or gripe to others over minor issues" (JPS)
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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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lashon hara
"gossip" (lit. "evil tongue") (JPS)
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leibedik
lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt
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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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leytsanus
silliness; buffoonery
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ligner
liar
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linker
leftist, socialist, secularist
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lo aleynu
"I hope it won't happen to us"; "God forbid" lit. "not unto us"
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lokshen
noodles
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luftmensch
"an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income" (Merriam-Webster)
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macher
"1. Someone who arranges, fixes, has connections...someone who is [very] active in an organization" (Rosten) "important person", "hot shot"
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machloket
disagreement, dispute, argument, conflict, especially one about a halachic issue
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madrega
level, especially spiritual level
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madrich
1. Youth counselor or supervisor 2. A teacher's assistant for elementary and middle schoolers during classes in religious schools.
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maidel
girl
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mame-loshn
"mother tongue", usually refers to Yiddish
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mamzer
bastard [see note]; "A detestable [person] like the colloquial English "He's a bastard"" (Rosten)
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matzeivah
headstone
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mazel tov
congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]
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mazume
"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)
"A group of three or more adult males who join together to recite the after-meal blessings..." (Steinmetz).
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mechuten
In laws, more generally (http://www.pass.to/glossary/gloz2.htm#letm).
the father of one's child's spouse, though can sometimes be used to refer to the grandfather of one's grandchild's spouse.
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mechuteneste
the mother of one's child's spouse
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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
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mensch
"An upright, honorable, a decent person." (Rosten)
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meshuga
crazy
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mesiras nefesh
self-sacrifice
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milchig
"...food in the "dairy" category, according to the Jewish dietary laws...also refers to the utensils and dishes used for cooking, eating, and serving milk products." (JPS)
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mishpacha
"Literally, "family". ...The word conveys a warm feeling of friendship." (JPS)
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moadon
clubhouse, lounge
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moshl
parable, example
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musar
a Jewish ethical movement that crystallized among non-Hasidic Orthodox Jews in Lithuania in the 19th century, led by Israel Salanter, focusing on character development.
reproof; system of ethics; discipline
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naches
"Proud pleasure, special joy--particularly from the achievements of a child... 2. Psychological reward or gratification." (Rosten)
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nafke mine
practical difference
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navi
prophet; class on Prophets
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nebach
interjection, adverb: "unfortunately"; noun: an unfortunate person
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nebbish
noun: nerdy, clumsy, awkward person. "An innocuous, ineffectual, weak, helpless, or hapless unfortunate" (Rosten)
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neder
a vow
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nes
miracle
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nifter
deceased
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noch
still, yet, moreover
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nosherai
snacks
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olam habah
"The world to come"; the messianic age; Heaven
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olav ha-sholom
"peace be upon him"; said of someone who is deceased
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oleh
Immigrant to Israel; a person who makes aliyah.
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ongepotchket
overly elaborate, excessively decorated, slapped together senselessly, overdone, tacky, ostentatious, overcomplicated. "Excessively and unaesthetically decorated; overly baroque." (Rosten)
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oy vey
exclamation of dismay, exasperation, or surprise
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oysgeputst
dressed-up, decked out in finery (Steinmetz), overembellished.
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pasken
to rule halachically
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patshke
"1. To fuss or "mess around" inefficiently and inexpertly. 2. To dawdle, to waste time." (Rosten)
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patur
not liable, exempt
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pekel
little bundle
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pintele yid
"essential Jewishness"
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pisk
(vulgar) snout, grimace (Steinmetz)
Colloquialism: an eloquent or garrulous speaker. (Rosten)
mouth, loud-mouth, similar to English slang "trap" for mouth.
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pitseleh
little one, dear
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poshet
simple
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posl
invalid
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pritse
an immodest woman
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prost
coarse, base, not classy, vulgar, common
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psak
rabbinic ruling
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pupik
Navel, belly button
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pushke
"The little container...in which money to be donated to charity is accumulated." (Rosten)
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rachmones
mercy, pity, empathy
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refua shlema
"Get well soon." Lit. "full recovery"
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ruach
spirit, "spiritedness, morale" (JPS)
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ruchnies
spirituality
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saba
grandfather
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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)
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safek
A doubt or doubtful case.
"Unresolved question: Uncertainty" (Weiser)
"Doubt in the integrity of: Suspicion" (Weiser)
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savta
grandmother
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schlemiel
idiot; contemptible person. "Clumsy, bungling person." (Steinmetz)
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schlep
To travel from one place to another when one would prefer not to
An annoyingly long journey
"To carry, lug" (JPS)
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schlimazel
Unlucky person; the constant butt of idiotic or unfortunate happenings
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schmatta
rag, old/ragged piece of clothing, garment
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schmegege
"An untalented loser; a whiner; a petty person" (JPS).
"An unadmirable, petty person" (Rosten)
"silly or stupid person; simpleton; nitwit" (Steinmetz)
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schnapps
"A strong, dry liquor." (JPS)
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schnorrer
a begger, a parasite. "A moocher" (JPS)
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sechel
"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence
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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
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))
Folk remedy, safeguard, superstitious action, talisman
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shadchen
matchmaker
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shalom
hello, goodbye, peace
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shalom bayit
"Literally, 'peace in the home'. Contentment and harmony among family members." (JPS)
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shanda
"Scandal, shame." (JPS)
Misbehavior by a particular Jew or Jewish group that leads to embarrassment among the broader Jewish community.
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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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sherut
Lit. "service"; specifically a shared taxi used in israeli transportation
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shicker
tipsy/drunk
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shidduch
a date or match, often leading to marriage. "The matching up of a man and a woman for purposes of marriage; a match. In popular usage, any match or alliance, as in The shidduch between the two organization was a success." (Steinberg)
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shiksa
"1. A non-Jewish girl. 2. A housemaid. 3. An irreligious or nonobservant Jewish girl. The term is often regarded as disparaging." (Steinmetz)
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shlump
an unkempt person, a loser
-
shnook
"An incompetent person who is deserving of pity but also likable" (JPS); "A customer easily persuaded, a sucker." (H.L. Mencken, American Language)
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shpatzir
literally 'to walk, take a stroll'; figuratively 'to delay, tarry, procrastinate'
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shpilkes
nervous energy, anxiousness, restlessness. Lit. 'pins'
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shtetl
"A town or village with...Jewish inhabitants, commonly found in Eastern Europe before World War II." (Steinmetz)
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shuk
Open air market in Israel
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shul
synagogue
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shvach
weak, pathetic, (a place or gathering that is) lacking in activity
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siddur
Jewish prayer book
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slicha
"Excuse me", "Sorry"
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sofer
A scribe trained in transcribing the Torah, mezuzah, tefillin scriptures and other religious texts on parchment.
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tachlis
practical details of a matter, "brass tacks" (as in, "Let's get down to brass tacks.")
purpose, aim
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tachrichim
burial shrouds
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tate
dad
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teshuvah
repentance [lit. "return"]
-
titchadesh
"Use it in good health" or "Enjoy your new item"
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toda
"thank you"
-
toyve
A favor
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treif
(adj or noun) food prohibited by the jewish dietary laws
-
tsedreyt
mixed up, twisted, distorted, turned around
-
tuches
buttocks
-
tumler
"A funmaker, a 'live wire,' a clown, a prankster, the 'life of the party." (Rosten)
-
tza'ar ba'alei chayim
pity for living creatures (Steinmetz), or compassion for animals.
-
tzadik
Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.
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).
-
tzimmes
"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).
"Troubles, difficulties, a contretemps" (Rosten).
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va'ad
"committee or council" (Steinmetz), group convened for a particular purpose, including rabbinical council, kashrut supervisory council, youth group/synagogue board of directors, study group, etc.
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veiter
"At a more advanced point: Further." (Weiser)
"Further; next." (Steinmetz)
"More distant: Farther." (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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Yekke
A Jew who behaves according to the stereotype of Jews of German heritage: punctual and concerned with details.
A Jew of German heritage
-
yemach shemo
"may his name be erased", appended to the names of evil people such as Haman and Hitler
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yerida
emigration from Israel
-
yetzer hara
Lit. 'the evil inclination'
-
yichus
"Pedigree, lineage, family background." (JPS)
Bragging rights based on respected family history
-
yid
A derogatory term used by non-Jews for a Jewish person (particularly so in Great Britain).
a Jewish person
-
yiddishkeit
"Jewishness"; sometimes used interchangeably with 'Judaism' or 'Jewish culture'
-
yiras shamayim
"awe of heaven"
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yold
fool, dupe
-
yontefdik
festive; related to or appropriate for a holiday
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yontif
a Jewish holiday, especially one on which work is prohibited (in contrast to chol hamoed)
-
yosem
orphan
-
zaftig
pleasantly plump, buxom, lit. "juicy"
-
zaidie
grandpa, grandfather
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zichrona livracha
May her memory be blessed.
-
zichrono livracha
may his memory be for a blessing (often abbreviated 'z"l')
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zivug
(n.) mate, predestined match
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zoykhe
to merit
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