Jewish English Lexicon

aseret y'mei teshuvah

"Ten Days of Penitence" (Glinert), the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

b'shalom

"in peace" (used to sign off in written correspondence)

ba'al tekiah

"The title for the person who blows the shofar on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur" (JPS).

bencher

prayer booklet or card with the text of the blessings after meals, and often times including other meal-time blessings and songs

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.

bruchim haba'im

welcome! [lit. "blessed are those who come"]

CCAR

a union of Reform Rabbis that determines pay and benefits, as well as who can work at Reform movement-affiliated synagogues

chag sameach

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

chanichim

campers; members of youth movement, as in Hashomer Hatzair

disciples (in a classroom)

"Bridegroom of Genesis" (Glinert), an honor given to an important member of the community on the holiday of Simchat Torah where the honoree is called up to the Torah for the last reading, which contains the first lines of the Torah.

chatan torah

"Bridegroom of the Torah" (Glinert), an honor given to an important member of the community on the holiday of Simchat Torah where the honoree is called up to the Torah for the penultimate reading, which contains the last lines of the Torah.

chaver

comrade, mister (in left-wing political organizations)

friend

chavruta

learning partnership; joint study session. "The person with whom one studies religious texts" (Weiser)

CJLS

a committee of Conservative Rabbis that meets semi-yearly to review t'shuvot (halachic proposals)

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.

convener

an organization that brings people or organizations together

day school

Jewish grade school, where students learn both Jewish and secular subjects. "The general name given to private Jewish schools" in the United States and Canada (JPS)

engagement

The degree to which an individual is active in or affiliated with a Jewish communal activity or organization, or to which a Jewish institution encourages such activity

ever-dying people

reference to Simon Rawidowicz quote that Jews have long seen themselves in danger of decline

federation

A local Jewish philanthropy which raises and distributes funds for social welfare, social services and educational needs in local communities and overseas, especially Israel.

give/get

The amount of money that a board member of an organization is responsible to contribute, either by a personal donation ("give") or by the member's individual fundraising ("get").

hachnosas kallah

charitable support for poor young women to get married

Hafgana

Demonstration, protest.

hafsaka

break or interruption

harbotzas hatorah

spreading of Torah knowledge

Jew Bub

"Jewish Bubble"; the network of Jewish organizations and social circles in which Jews interact mostly with other Jews

Jewish geography

a "game" in which Jews attempt to identify common friends or acquaintances

Jewish professional

An employee, excluding support staff, of an institution, including a synagogue, non-profit organization, and school, specifically or largely devoted to a Jewish cause or agenda.

Kab Shab

Abbreviated form of Kabalat Shabbat (the Friday night prayer service).

kallah

Jewish communal gathering, conference

bride

kavanah

intent

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

kesiva vechasima tova

"A good writing and sealing (in the Book of Life)!" Formal Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Hashanah.

L'dor va'dor

from generation to generation

l'shalom

"in peace," lit. "to (or toward) peace"

lay leader

a member of the board of directors for a Jewish non-profit organization

an adult who helps coordinate programs of a Jewish organization in a volunteer capacity

leshana tova tikateivu

"(May you) be inscribed for a good year (in the Book of Life)!" A formal greeting exchanged bu Ashkenazim on Rosh Hashanah.

marbitz torah

one who spreads Torah knowledge

to spread Torah knowledge

mission

An organized trip meant to expose participants to the work of a nonprofit organization, raise awareness of a cause, and/or deliver supplies or services to a deserving population. Unlike the Christian use of the word "mission," Jewish missions do not signify a proselytizing motive.

Mizrachi

adj. or noun describing a person or practice (including music and ritual) of Middle Eastern Jewish origin. Lit. "Eastern," "Oriental."

OO

Abbreviation for Open Orthodoxy or Open Orthodox.

Open Orthodox

a breakaway movement to the left of Modern Orthodoxy, declared outside of acceptable Orthodox boundaries by most mainstream Orthodox rabbis

peoplehood

sense of belonging to the world Jewish people

Pew

Shorthand reference to “A Portrait of Jewish Americans,” a comprehensive survey, released in October 2013 by the Pew Research Center’s Religion and Public Life Project. Upon its release, the survey's findings on population, Jewish identity, and interfaith marriage seemed likely to play a central role in determining priorities for myriad Jewish institutions.

pikuach nefesh

The principle that the law of saving a person's life takes precedence over all other laws, with the exception of the laws prohibiting idolatry, incestuous relations, and the murder of an innocent person.