aliyah

immigration to Israel

"calling to the reading of the Torah" (Glinert)

ascent

ascent of the soul of a deceased person to a higher level, as is believed to happen on their yartzeit

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'."

balagan

"a disorderly, confusing, and/or overwhelming situation" (Glinert)

besamim

Spices

"Modern Israeli slang for illegal drugs" (JPS).

"Literally, 'spices.' It almost always refers to the spices in the spice box used for the Havdalah ceremony" (JPS).

beseder

allright; fine. [lit. "in order"]; "OK" (Glinert)

beteavon

bon appetit; enjoy your meal; dig in. Glinert: "Literally, 'bon appetit!'"

bitachon

faith, trust

security

chag sameach

"Literally, 'Happy Holiday.' The traditional, all-purpose greeting exchanged on almost any Jewish holiday" (JPS).

chalutzim

Pioneers in the building of the State of Israel.

chanukiah

Nine-branched menorah / candelabrum used on Chanukah

chutz la'aretz

Outside of Israel; the disapora, lit. "outside the land."

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

eema

mother

ein breira

"there is no alternative." (Glinert)

hatikvah

literally "the hope." "The Israeli national anthem." (Glinert)

hummus

A purée of ground chickpeas and sesame seeds.

kippah

"small, round headcovering" (JPS)

labriut

"bless you" (after someone sneezes) [lit., "to health"] (Glinert)

lehitraot

"Goodbye for now, see you again soon" (JPS) "see you later."

ma pitom

expression of surprise: What the heck?

madrega

level, especially spiritual level

madrich

1. Youth counselor or supervisor 2. A teacher's assistant for elementary and middle schoolers during classes in religious schools.

nesiah tovah

"have a good trip"; bon voyage

nu

so what?; so?; hurry up already

oleh

Immigrant to Israel; a person who makes aliyah.

pita

A round, thin bread with a pocket, eaten plain or with filling as a sandwich.

rega

wait, hold on; lit. "an instant"

Sheket

Quiet!

sherut

Lit. "service"; specifically a shared taxi used in israeli transportation

Shoah

Eastern European Holocaust (of World War II)

shuk

Open air market in Israel

stam

That's it!

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

Just kidding!

yerida

emigration from Israel