alte kaker

elderly person, old-timer [literally "old shitter"] "A crotchety, fussy, ineffectual old man." (Rosten)

askan

A Jewish communal or social worker (Steinmetz)

A person who is influential in working for the community

Activist

balaboosta

1) Female head of household 2) Impressively competent homemaker

broiges

angry, annoyed (adj.)

a dispute (n)

bubbale

sweetie, darling [term of endearment]

bubbe meise

"Something of little importance, an inconsequential thing or minor happening." (JPS)

"old wive's tale"; an untrue story, sometimes related to superstition

cheder

Hebrew and religious classes (often on Sundays) for elementary school children.

farfel

a side dish including bits of noodle, often sauteed with vegetables and beef or chicken stock

noodle pellets

farkakte

"lousy, messed up, ridiculous" (JPS) Shitty, full of crap.

farmisht

mixed up, confused, crazy

gevald

an interjection of alarm

gezunterheyt

lit., while in good health

"Fine, go ahead" (ironic).

gribines

Deep-fried skin of chicken or goose, often prepared with onion and schmatlz. Also called cracklings.

kasha

buckwheat groats, commonly served with bowtie noodles ('kasha varnishkes'); porridge

kasha varnishkes

kasha (buckwheat groats) with bowtie noodles

keinehora

"no evil eye" (Rosten). "An expression said to ward off the evil eye or bad luck in general; the verbal equivalent of knocking on wood." (JPS)

keppy

head, little head (informal, diminutive, often in child-directed speech)

khremzl

"A fried fritter or latke, made of matzah meal and eggs, that may be stuffed with ground meat, nuts, or fruit. An old-fashioned Pesach recipe." (JPS Dictionary)

kishka

"Stuffed derma: a sausagelike comestible of meat, flour, and spices stuffed into intestine casing and baked" (Rosten) Also, "guts," literally, Slavic. (Wikipedia)

kishkas

Intestines, gut

knaidel

matzah ball; "a dumpling made of matzah meal meal and beaten eggs, usually served in chicken broth, often at the Pesach seder" (JPS)

kugel

Baked pudding or casserole made with eggs and various ingredients, including noodles, potatoes, or spinach

The South African equivalent of a "Jewish American Princess"

kvell

feel or express pride, "to be extraordinarily pleased" (JPS)

leibedik

lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt

mayofes

a servile person (see note below)

mechuten

In laws, more generally (http://www.pass.to/glossary/gloz2.htm#letm).

the father of one's child's spouse, though can sometimes be used to refer to the grandfather of one's grandchild's spouse.

mutche

(obsolete) to struggle financially

harass, torment, bother, annoy, nag

naches

"Proud pleasure, special joy--particularly from the achievements of a child... 2. Psychological reward or gratification." (Rosten)

ongeblozzen

puffed-up; haughty; conceited

pouting (can have a sense of about to cry)

oy vey iz mir

woe is me

patshke

"1. To fuss or "mess around" inefficiently and inexpertly. 2. To dawdle, to waste time." (Rosten)

pisk

Colloquialism: an eloquent or garrulous speaker. (Rosten)

(vulgar) snout, grimace (Steinmetz)

mouth, loud-mouth, similar to English slang "trap" for mouth.

plotz

"1. To split, to burst, to explode. 2. " To be aggravated beyond bearing" (Rosten) [lit. "to explode"]

schlemozel

The constant butt of idiotic or unfortunate happenings

schmonzes

small pieces of valueless decorative bric-a-brac

idle talk

schnoder

"to pledge a donation" (Steinmetz).

shlump

an unkempt person, a loser

tate

dad

little boy; especially when using diminutive tatele / tattele / tattaleh / tattale / tateleh (in child-directed speech)

teiglach

a confection of dough balls dipped in honey/syrup and eaten at Rosh Hashanah

tsedreyt

mixed up, twisted, distorted, turned around

tsu gezunt

a response after another person sneezes (analogous to "bless you")

verklempt

choked up; speechless; unable to express one's feelings/emotions overly emotional