Jewish English Lexicon

ad me'ah v'esrim

[may you/he/she live] "until a hundred and twenty" -- often used as a birthday wish for long life, or when mentioning a person who is getting on in years.

al regel achat

lit. "on one foot"; off-the-cuff; "To answer a question or deal with a query very briefly and cursorily." (Glinert)

aliyah

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

ascent

immigration to Israel

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

amud

pulpit, lectern

page (in a prayerbook)

one side of a page (of Talmud)

ayzeh bahsa

What a misfortune, how unfortunate, bummer

b'emet

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

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)

beit knesset

Jewish place of worship; "synagogue" (JPS)

bekitzur

"Briefly or concisely: succinctly" (Weiser)

beseder

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

beteavon

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

boker or

literally, "morning light". said in response to "boker tov."

Breslover

A follower of the Hasidic branch of Judaism that adheres to the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov.

chalutzim

Pioneers in the building of the State of Israel.

chanichim

campers; members of youth movement, as in Hashomer Hatzair

disciples (in a classroom)

chanukiah

Nine-branched menorah / candelabrum used on Chanukah

chas v'chalila

"heaven forbid" (Steinmetz's Yiddish and English dictionary)

chaval al hazman

Wow! Expression of emphasis from Israeli slang. Original meaning is also used: "waste of time"

chaver

friend

comrade, mister (in left-wing political organizations)

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

dos

A derogatory term for ultra-Orthodox/Haredi Jews, common in Israel.

ein

None; we / I / you don't have any; there is none.

giyur

The act of converting to Judaism.

Conversion ceremony

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)

hamsa

a hand-shaped amulet (often a wall-hanging or jewelry) conferring good luck or protection, popular in Israel and originally from the Middle East / North Africa

hardal

a label for Israeli Jews who lean towards Haredi (non-modern, strictly Orthodox) and also very nationalistic / Zionist.

hatikvah

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

inyan

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)

Significance within Jewish law.

kadima

a center-left political party in Israel

forward; onward; hurry up, quickly

kelev

dude

dog

ken

Yes

Kinneret

the Sea of Galilee

kippah

"small, round headcovering" (JPS)

kitah aleph

level one; 1st. grade in primary school

kol b'seder

"Everything's fine."

Kotel

"The Western Wall"/wailing wall (Glinert)

kova

hat

kumkum

hot water urn

labriut

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

laila tov

"good night"

lamah lo?

"why not?"; "there's no reason not to.

lehitraot

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

lo matim

Inappropriate

m'dor l'dor

from generation to generation

ma

What

ma la'asot

"what can you do?"

ma pitom

expression of surprise: What the heck?

maapilim

Jews who immigrated illegally to Palestine during British control in the 1930s and 1940s - Aliyah Bet

Biblical: the group of the Children of Israel that went, unauthorized, to the Land of Israel after the episode with the spies

mabrouk

an expression of joyous congratulation used by Sephardi Jews equivalent to "Mazal tov!"

machal

a volunteer from outside Israel serving in the Israeli army

madrich

youth counselor or supervisor

mah nishmah?

how are you?

mahtomer / matomeret

What are you saying? or What did you say? or Really??

malshin

noun: One who slanders, especially one who turns over a Jew to non-Jewish authorities; informer, stool pigeon, snitch

verb: To slander, malign, speak loshon hara about somebody.

maspik

enough

matzav

situation

political, military situation in Israel/the Middle East

mayim step

a dance move used in Israeli dance (also known as 'the grapevine')

mefanek

luxurious, elaborate, pampering

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

menucha

Rest or rest time

Mizrachi

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

Moadim lesimcha

Happy holiday! Greeting used on the intermediate days of Pesach and Sukkot (known as chol ha-moed).

nachon

correct, right

nalashevet

Please sit.

nesiah tovah

"have a good trip"; bon voyage

nu

so what?; so?; hurry up already

oleh

Immigrant to Israel; a person who makes aliyah.

petek

note

plata

electric hotplate used on the Sabbath

rega

wait, hold on; lit. "an instant"

saba

grandfather

sababa

Awesome. Cool.

savlanut

patience

savta

grandmother

shana alef

the post-high school gap year that young men and women spend studying at yeshivot and seminaries in Israel

shawarma

Thinly cut meat (usually lamb, but may be chicken, beef, or other meat) cooked on a vertical rotating spit. Often served on a laffa (large pita type bread, but flat like a pizza dough and without a pocket) and with French fries ("chips" in Israel). Sometimes served on pita.

That's it!

tafkid

divinely ordained purpose

task

assignment