Jewish English Lexicon

ad kdei kach

so much. has it gone this far? (Weiser: "expression of wonder regarding the extent or intensity of something.")

b'emet

"As a matter of fact." (Weiser); "Really?"

balabotish

"Quiet; respectable; well mannered" (Rosten). "middle class"; normal

bedieved

"done just well enough to fulfill a need or duty; perfunctorily" (Weiser, Frumspeak)

done after the fact (in an acceptable, but still not ideal, manner); ex post facto

"under duress, or done when no options are available; as a last resort" (Weiser, Frumspeak)

"resentfully; without enthusiasm; begrudgingly" (Weiser, Frumspeak)

bekies

broad but not deep knowledge

"range of personal knowledge" (Weiser)

bekitzur

"Briefly or concisely: succinctly" (Weiser)

bichlal

in any way, entirely, in general, altogether

bochur

young unmarried male, especially a yeshiva student

by

at [a location], at the house of, with, among, according to the opinion of, at [an event, time of year] (in addition to Standard English near).

chacham

rabbi (Sephardi)

wiseguy

wise, learned person; genius

chap

"to comprehend" (Weiser) (lit. "to grasp")

chazarah

(n.) review of material previously studied

chidush

innovative idea; an insight; discovery; novelty

chutzpah

guts (positive)

nerve, audacity, the quality of over-stepping boundries with no shame (negative)

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

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

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

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

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)

Hashpa'ah

Motivating force, source for change in one's actions, influence

Influence, or effect, particularly on one's character, development, and/or behavior

heimish

3. at home, comfortable

1. familiar, homey, informal, cozy, warm

2. Haredi Orthodox

hold

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

to be on the verge of

inyan

Significance within Jewish law.

Topic [of conversation] (Weiser, Glinert).

matter (Steinmetz)

Modern Hebrew: matter. Used in phrases such as, "ma ha'inyan", what's the matter; "ze lo inyankha", that's none of your business; or "inyani," practical. (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/improving-your-hebrew-is-a-matter-of-inyan-1.5434244)

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)

kashe

Question, difficulty (Steinmetz), challenge, objection.

A question posing some difficulty because of apparent inconsistencies with accepted premises: problem. A tough, perplexing question.

kavanah

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

intent

kedai

"worth it" (Weiser)

kesher

connection, relationship, link

kimat

"almost or nearly" (Weiser)

kiruv

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

koved

"honor, dignity, respect" (JPS)

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

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

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

"occurring at the beginning; at first; initially" (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)

leibedik

lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt

loshn

language; jargon

maarich

to extend, talk/write at length

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)

mazel

luck (good)

congratulations

mazel tov

congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]

mazik

a mischievous person, often a child

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

mechayil el chayil

"from strength to strength"

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)

meshuga

crazy

mitzvah

Literally, "commandment"

good deed

Mutar

Permitted for a Jew to do.

nafke mine

practical difference

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)

oilam

the world; the public

a group of people

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)

pasken

to rule halachically

patur

not liable, exempt

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

rachmones

mercy

rega

wait, hold on; lit. "an instant"

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

ruach

spirit, "spiritedness, morale" (JPS)

sakanah

danger

schlep

An annoyingly long journey

"To carry, lug" (JPS)

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

schnorrer

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

sechel

"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence

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

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

Hebrew or Aramaic book

seforim

Religious books written in Hebrew or Aramaic.

shaila

a question, usually while looking for a halachic ruling

Shayach

Pertinent, relevant (Steinmetz).

1. Capable of being true or believable: Conceivable. / 2. Capable of being done: Surmountable / 3. Practical, reasonable, or possible: Feasible. (Weiser)

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)

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

top or extreme part

the ultimate, the best of, "cool"

typical, classic, a perfect example of; definitively

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.