Jewish English Lexicon

aliyah

immigration to Israel

ascent

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

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

almemar

the platform on which the Torah is read in synagogue; the bima

alte kaker

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

amud

page (in a prayerbook)

one side of a page (of Talmud)

pulpit, lectern

apikoros

heretic, non-believer, especially one with great knowledge of Judaism

Ashkenazic

Adjectival form for 'Ashkenazim', "The name given to the group of Jews who were originally from Germany and France, and their descendants" (JPS)

Celebration when, traditionally, the groom, and as of recently in egalitarian communities, the engaged couple is called to the Torah the Shabbat before their wedding; that aliyah itself (aufruf means literally "to call up").

avade

Of course. / Obviously!

And how!

ba'al tshuvah

a Jew raised non-religious who becomes Orthodox, [lit. 'one who returns/repents']

baal koreh

The individual who chants Torah from the scroll at a synagogue. Sometimes used to refer specifically to a person capable of learning and chanting an entire parsha, or to a professional/paid reader as opposed to an amateur. (Literally, "master of reading" or "one who reads")

bar mitzvah

Jewish coming-of-age ceremony/celebration for a 13-year-old boy; the boy who has come of age.

bedieved

done after the fact; ex post facto

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

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

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

beit din

A rabbinical court of law that makes judgments on matters of Jewish religious life, especially conversion and divorce.

beit knesset

Jewish place of worship; "synagogue" (JPS)

berya

"Complimentary term for a talented, competent, energetic woman, especially one who gets a lot done - and does it well - around the house." (JPS Dictionary of Words)

broiges

angry, annoyed (adj.)

a dispute (n)

BT

ba'al teshuva, returnee to faith, Jew who chose to become Orthodox

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

Chabad

an outreach-oriented branch of Hasidic Judaism that follows the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Chabad has thousands of branches around the world, including at many college campuses.

chug

elective class, group activity

group, circle (of people)

chumrah

a religious stringency

chutzpah

guts (positive)

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

Conservative Judaism

originally known as "historical positive Judaism," a denomination that combines observance with an idea of "halachic process." See further comments below.

farkakte

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

farmisht

mixed up, confused, crazy

g'mar chatima tova

"A customary greeting among Jews on Yom Kippur [and the period between Yom Kippur and Rosh haShanah]" (JPS). lit. "a good end of [the process of] sealing [in the Book of Life]".

get

a writ or deed of divorce

gevald

an interjection of alarm

gezunterheyt

"Fine, go ahead" (ironic).

lit., while in good health

gmar tov

Greeting/closing used between Rosh Hashana and the end of Yom Kippur. Lit. 'good conclusion'

gribines

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

halevai

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

If only

I wish!

hanukkah

The winter-time festival that commemorates the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt in the second century B.C.E. (lit. "dedication")

havdalah

"literally 'separation'. The ceremony that marks the end of [the Sabbath] on Saturday evening" (JPS)

isru chag

"The day after the end of Pesach, Sukkos, and Shavuos, regarded as a semi-holiday on which mourning is curbed and fasting prohibited" (Dictionary of Jewish Usage)

kallah

Jewish communal gathering, conference

bride

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)

kibbitz

"To socialize aimlessly...To carry on a running commentary" (Rosten)

kibbitzer

Someone who "gives unasked-for advice ... especially as a bystander-observer at a game (bridge, poker, checkers, chess)." (Rosten)

Someone who jokes, fools around.

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

klutz

"clumsy, slow-witted...person" (Rosten)

knaidel

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

knish

Eastern European dumpling with thin dough filled with potato, kasha, onion, meat, and/or other ingredients

kosher

"acceptable according to Jewish [ritual] law" (JPS); "trustworthy, reliable" (Rosten); acceptable according to dietary laws

kriah

Reading, especially Torah

Rending a garment (ritual of mourning)

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

maccabiah

color war / intra-camp competition in a Jewish summer camp

international Jewish sports competition, known as the Jewish Olympics, held (mostly) every four years since 1932; smaller regional competitions held in Jewish community centers around the world

maven

"An expert or connoisseur; a specialist" (JPS)

mazel

congratulations

luck (good)

mechaye

"Pleasure, enjoyment, a real joy" (Rosten); something that gives great joy

mechuten

the father of one's child's spouse

menorah

candelabrum, especially for Chanukah

mensch

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

meshuga

crazy

Mishneh Torah

a 12th-century code of religious law in fourteen parts written by Moses Maimonides

Moadim lesimcha

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

moadon

clubhouse, lounge

naches

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

nigun

"A wordless melody; a tune" (JPS)

nittel nacht

Christmas Eve

oy

exclamation of dismay, exasperation, or surprise

oy vey

exclamation of dismay, exasperation, or surprise

patshke

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

pupik

Navel, belly button

Purim

A joyous holiday that takes place in February or March on the 14th of Adar, retelling the story of the Book of Esther.

putz

"A fool, an ass, a jerk." (Rosten) [lit. "penis"]

rebetzin

wife of a rabbi

Reform

a Jewish movement founded on principles of the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah), which rejected the binding nature of the Law and attempted to concentrate on the prophetic message; it is now the largest movement in the United States, and has an additional 1 million adherents worldwide.

Reform Judaism

A liberal, progressive branch of Judaism that emphasizes choice through knowledge.

refua shlema

"Get well soon." Lit. "full recovery"

refusenik

Term for Soviet Jews who were not allowed to openly practice Judaism or emigrate from Soviet Union.

responsa

Written decisions and legal rulings by rabbis appointed to be legal deciders.

schmatta

rag, old/ragged piece of clothing, garment

schmooze

to make small talk or informally chat; to network, kiss up

Shabbat Shalom

Used as a greeting or departing line (hello or goodbye) on or before Shabbat. Literally "peaceful Sabbath."

shalosh regalim

The three major holidays in the Jewish calendar: Passover, Shavuot [Pentecost], and Sukkot [Tabernacles].

shamash

2. the caretaker of a synagogue.

3. personal assistant / aide / gofer, especially to a rabbi or in the Hollywood entertainment industry

1. candle lit first and then used to light other hanukah candles

shanda

"Scandal, shame." (JPS)

Misbehavior by a particular Jew or Jewish group that leads to embarrassment among the broader Jewish community.

shatnez

mixture of wool and linen in a garment, which is prohibited by Jewish law

shechita

Kosher animal slaughter.

shehecheyanu

the blessing of thanksgiving that celebrates reaching a celebratory moment or marking a significant first

shekel

"1. The silver coin...used by the Jews in Biblical times...Today, it is the name for the monetary unit in the State of Israel. 2. Slang for cash or money." (JPS)

shema

prayer recited in most services as well as at bedtime, and when death is imminent; one of the most important and well-known prayers in Judaism

shemini atzeret

Holiday celebrated the day after the seven-day holiday of Sukkot.

sheygets

"1. A non-Jewish boy. 2. An impudent youth or man. 3. An irreligious or nonobservant Jew. The term is often regarded as disparaging." (Steinmetz)

shlump

an unkempt person, a loser

shomer

a chaperone, protector, or guard

a camp counselor on duty

one who keeps vigil over a dead body before it is buried

adj. observant, observing the laws of kosher, shabbat, or negiya (not touching members of the opposite gender outside of family)

a member of Hashomer Hatzair or a camper or counselor at a Hashomer Hatzair camp

sidra

weekly Torah portion

sofer

A scribe trained in transcribing the Torah, mezuzah, tefillin scriptures and other religious texts on parchment.

tachlis

practical details of a matter, "brass tacks" (as in, "Let's get down to brass tacks.")

purpose, aim

tchotchke

trinket, knicknack

tefillah

prayer, services, or an individual prayer

teiglach

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

trop

Series of traditional chanting/melodic patterns used in reading the Torah and other books of the Tanakh in communal prayer services.

Diacritic-like marks in printed editions of the Tanakh (and the tikkun, a book that enables people to learn to chant from the Torah, haftarah, etc.) that indicate the chanting/melodic pattern to be used with each word.

tzadik

A highly learned and esteemed rabbinic leader (sometimes used as an alternative name for a Hasidic rebbe).

Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.

Common name for the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet (tzadi / tzade).

Thank you (used by Orthodox Jews)