Jewish English Lexicon

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

ein hachi nami

"granted"; yes, that's how it is, that's certainly true

farher

noun: an oral examination, typically on one's understanding of Talmud

verb: examine, test, quiz

farshtunken(e)

literally 'stinking' (Rosten); contemptible

frei

(with the particle "out") to become non-religious, "go off the derekh"

free; liberal, non-religious, the opposite of frum

fress

To gobble up food; to gorge oneself. "To eat quickly or noisily, like an animal" (JPS)

gadol

literally "big," refers to particularly well respected rabbis; "luminary" (Weiser)

gashmiyus

materialism, in contrast with spiritual concerns; "indulgence in earthly pleasures" (Weiser)

gedolim

Important, influential people, especially renowned rabbis of the present or recent past. Luminaries (Weiser)

Secondary usage: feces or excrement.

gezinta

a big healthy girl (or the adjective denoting such)

a sexy lady

glatt

Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).

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

golem

"A creature of Jewish medieval folklore, a golem is a figure made into the form of a human and given life." (JPS)

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)

gradeh

as an aside, parenthetically; "it so happens that"

in reality, as a matter of fact

halevai

If only

"Would that it be so" (Steinmetz, Yiddish and English)

I wish!

hashkafah

ideological outlook; point of view; "philosophy" (Weiser)

heimish

2. Haredi Orthodox

3. at home, comfortable

1. familiar, homey, informal, cozy, warm

hold

to be on the verge of

to opine; to act in accordance with; to be of the opinion; to believe "maintain" (Weiser)

to maintain a degree of religious observance

agree with

iyun

study, "examination of sources to develop a coherent, educated opinion" (Weiser)

kal v'chomer

by extrapolation we know; all the more so. "with assuredness of mind or action based on an earlier, more restrictive, premise; assuredly; certainly: indubitably." (Weiser)

kavanah

intent

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

kiruv

outreach work meant to encourage non-religious Jews to become religious, [lit. "to bring closer"]

krum

lit. "crooked"; used by Yeshivish speakers to denote views ("hashkafos") that do not fall entirely within the bounds of traditional Orthodox thought

kuntz

peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)

strategy (Weiser)

feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity

l'hachis

spitefully; deliberately; literally "in order to anger"

learn

"To be involved in the acquisition of Torah knowledge through reading and reflection, or to do so as an occupation: STUDY" (Weiser)

lechatchila

"done in the best possible way; optimally" (Weiser, Frumspeak)

"occurring at the beginning; at first; initially" (Weiser, Frumspeak)

"to begin with; altogether" (Weiser, Frumspeak)

lechoira

Able to be taken for granted; assumed true in the absence of proof to the contrary; presumably (Weiser)

seemingly as such while allowing for the possibility of the opposite; apparently; ostensibly (Weiser)

macher

"1. Someone who arranges, fixes, has connections...someone who is [very] active in an organization" (Rosten) "important person", "hot shot"

machmir

stringent, "taking the stricter position on an issue" (Weiser)

meticulous

makpid

Particular, conscientious, especially in relation to Jewish law.

mamish

"1. As though true to fact...2. Surely or certainly...3. Actually, genuinely...4. To a high degree...5. Enthusiastic response: WOW." (Weiser)

mazik

a mischievous person, often a child

(with verb "to be") to ruin partially; damage (Yeshivish usage)

medakdeik

"Thorough or painstaking; avoiding error by virtue of the care exercised: CAREFUL." (Weiser) exacting, precise

mefanek

luxurious, elaborate, pampering

being particularly concerned about cleanliness, appearance, and the way things are prepared: finicky, spoiled.

mekarev

Literally "bring closer", used in the sense of bringing closer to traditional Judaism A noun for one who brings people closer to traditional Judaism.

mensch

"An upright, honorable, a decent person." (Rosten)

nebach

interjection, adverb: "unfortunately"; noun: an unfortunate person

nogeia b'dovor

one who has a vested interest in something; not a disinterested party. "related in a way as would affect an opinion: associated." (Weiser)

parasha

period of dating for marriage (Orthodox Jews)

conversation (Weiser)

general realm of feasibility, ballpark (Weiser)

Selection of the Pentateuch read publicly on the Sabbath.

a tedious, lengthy enumeration or account, litany (Weiser)

peshat

"The literal, obvious meaning scholars give to a Jewish text. It can also refer to the simple interpretation of any issue or question." (JPS)

"An explanation of the logic behind or the source of a passage, event, work, etc." (Weiser)

Justification

prost

coarse, base, not classy, vulgar, common

reid

n. "unofficial information spread through the grapevine" (Weiser), especially information related to Talmud study

v. refer someone for a marriage match; pronounce a match

n. speech, talk

schlep

To travel from one place to another when one would prefer not to

An annoyingly long journey

"To carry, lug" (JPS)

seder

A ceremony involving recitations, singing, food, and drink typically associated with Passover, but also with Tu B'shvat and Rosh Hashanah.

period for Torah study

The name for the six sections of the Mishnah.

order, orderliness, system, routine

sefer

Hebrew or Aramaic book

"A literary composition written particularly of, on, or about the Torah" (Weiser)

seforim

Religious books written in Hebrew or Aramaic.

shaila

a question, usually while looking for a halachic ruling

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)

shidduch

mate

a date in the process of finding one's spouse

match

arranged spousal match

shiur

"1. A lesson, lecture, or discourse on the Torah, Mishnah, or Gemara...(2. A measure, size, or rate)." (JPS)

shluffy

[to go] to sleep (child-directed speech)

shlug up

to "shlug (someone) up" is to annihilate his argument, typically in such fashion as to demonstrate a superiority of knowledge

shmutz

"Dirt, stain, or filth." (JPS)

shpitz

typical, classic, a perfect example of; definitively

top or extreme part

the ultimate, the best of, "cool"

shtark

Adj: religiously intense. Literally "strong," generally used in reference to someone more religious than the speaker

Verb: "shtark out" - to identify oneself closer to the Black Hat end of the Modern Orthodox to Black Hat continuum, in comparison to one's previous location on that continuum.