Showing 54 of 54 words, page 1 of 1
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Aleph-bet
"A name for the Hebrew alphabet" (JPS)
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bashert
JPS: "Predestined, fated." Soul mate.
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bench
JPS: "To recite a blessing. It usually refers to Birkat ha-Mazon, the Grace after Meals... The word can also refer to the reciting of any blessing; for example, the expression bentsch licht means to light Shabbat [or Chanukah] candles."
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bikur cholim
visiting the sick
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bracha
blessing (in the technical or figurative sense)
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chazan
The official at a synagogue who leads the congregation in prayer and song. (JPS)
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chazir
1. pork 2. a pig, greedy person (JPS)
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cholent
"A slow-cooked stew made of beef, beans, potatoes, and other vegetables. Cholent is a common Sabbath dish..." (JPS)
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daven
pray; lead services
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davka
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.)
"definitely or exactly stated; specifically" (Weiser)
just to annoy, just to be contrary
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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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fleishig
"The general term for food in the meat category, according to the Jewish dietary laws" (JPS)
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frum
religious; observant; Orthodox
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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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glatt
Super-kosher (not only of food), or acceptable to the Haredi community.
Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).
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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 Shabbos
Literally, "Good Sabbath" (JPS); standard Sabbath greeting
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grager
a noise maker used on Purim to drown out the name of Haman; something that makes a lot of noise
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gurnisht
"nothing, zilch, zero" (JPS)
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haftorah
"A reading from the biblical book of Prophets that is recited in synagogue immediately following the reading of the Torah" (JPS)
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halacha
"Jewish law" (JPS)
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hamentaschen
"Small, triangular-shaped cookies filled with fruit or jam that are eaten on Purim" (JPS)
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kehillah
"A Jewish community" (JPS)
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kinder
"children" (Rosten)
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koved
"honor, dignity, respect" (JPS)
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landsman
Someone who comes from the same or nearby hometown, especially if one or both of you no longer lives there and all the more so if one or both now live far away from home, in which case an entire region (e.g., metro NY) or country e.g., Poland) may be the point of connection.
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lashon hara
"gossip" (lit. "evil tongue") (JPS)
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mamaleh
diminutive term for a young girl [lit. 'little mama']
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mamzer
bastard [see note]; "A detestable [person] like the colloquial English "He's a bastard"" (Rosten)
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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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narishkeit
"1. Foolishness 2. A triviality" (Rosten)
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neshama
soul
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nu
so what?; so?; hurry up already
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parve
1. neither milk nor meat; 2. uninteresting, plain, generic
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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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Shabbos
the Jewish Sabbath
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shadchen
matchmaker
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shalech manes
Gifts for friends, traditionally given on Purim. Typically, a basket with food requiring two separate brachas in it.
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shayna punim
pretty face
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sheitel
wig; worn by some observant jewish women after marriage. "A wig worn by strictly Orthodox...women as a [hair] covering." (Steinberg)
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Shemoneh Esrei
another name for the Amida, the central prayer during Jewish services. [lit. 'eighteen', the number of blessings it originally had]
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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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treif
(adj or noun) food prohibited by the jewish dietary laws
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tsorris
"Troubles, woes, worries, suffering." (Rosten)
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upsherin
the first haircut of a 3 year old; [lit. 'cutting off']
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vilde chaye
a rambunctious or wild person [lit. 'wild animal']
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yahrzeit
The anniversary of a person's death, generally marked by relatives in some way.
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yontif
a Jewish holiday, especially one on which work is prohibited (in contrast to chol hamoed)
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