Aleph-bet

"A name for the Hebrew alphabet" (JPS)

bashert

JPS: "Predestined, fated." Soul mate.

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."

bikur cholim

visiting the sick

bracha

blessing (in the technical or figurative sense)

chazan

The official at a synagogue who leads the congregation in prayer and song. (JPS)

chazir

1. pork 2. a pig, greedy person (JPS)

cholent

"A slow-cooked stew made of beef, beans, potatoes, and other vegetables. Cholent is a common Sabbath dish..." (JPS)

daven

pray; lead services

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

derech eretz

Participating in modern society.

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

drash

n. sermon, interpretation of text

v. give a sermon, discuss an interpretation of the text

fleishig

"The general term for food in the meat category, according to the Jewish dietary laws" (JPS)

freilach

adj: happy, merry

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

frum

religious; observant; Orthodox

gelt

Money (slang usage)

"The foil wrapped chocolate coins that are a traditional Hanukkah treat for children." (JPS)

glatt

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

Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).

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)

gonif

thief

good Shabbos

Literally, "Good Sabbath" (JPS); standard Sabbath greeting

grager

a noise maker used on Purim to drown out the name of Haman; something that makes a lot of noise

gurnisht

"nothing, zilch, zero" (JPS)

haftorah

"A reading from the biblical book of Prophets that is recited in synagogue immediately following the reading of the Torah" (JPS)

halacha

"Jewish law" (JPS)

hamentaschen

"Small, triangular-shaped cookies filled with fruit or jam that are eaten on Purim" (JPS)

kavanah

intent

"Attention to the meaning, spirit, and purpose of words" (Weiser)

kehillah

"A Jewish community" (JPS)

kinder

"children" (Rosten)

koved

"honor, dignity, respect" (JPS)

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.

lashon hara

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

mamaleh

diminutive term for a young girl [lit. 'little mama']

mamzer

bastard [see note]; "A detestable [person] like the colloquial English "He's a bastard"" (Rosten)

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)

mishpacha

"Literally, "family". ...The word conveys a warm feeling of friendship." (JPS)

narishkeit

"1. Foolishness 2. A triviality" (Rosten)

neshama

soul

nu

so what?; so?; hurry up already

parve

1. neither milk nor meat; 2. uninteresting, plain, generic

schnorrer

a begger, a parasite. "A moocher" (JPS)

sechel

"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence

Shabbos

the Jewish Sabbath

shadchen

matchmaker

shalech manes

Gifts for friends, traditionally given on Purim. Typically, a basket with food requiring two separate brachas in it.

shayna punim

pretty face

sheitel

wig; worn by some observant jewish women after marriage. "A wig worn by strictly Orthodox...women as a [hair] covering." (Steinberg)

Shemoneh Esrei

another name for the Amida, the central prayer during Jewish services. [lit. 'eighteen', the number of blessings it originally had]

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)

treif

(adj or noun) food prohibited by the jewish dietary laws

tsorris

"Troubles, woes, worries, suffering." (Rosten)

upsherin

the first haircut of a 3 year old; [lit. 'cutting off']

vilde chaye

a rambunctious or wild person [lit. 'wild animal']

yahrzeit

The anniversary of a person's death, generally marked by relatives in some way.

yontif

a Jewish holiday, especially one on which work is prohibited (in contrast to chol hamoed)