Showing 273 of 273 words, page 1 of 1
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achron
"Latter-day religious authorities... scholars of the Renaissance and later times" (Glinert).
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adafina
The Ladino/Judezmo term for a slowly cooked stew of meat and vegetables, similar to the Ashkenazi cholent.
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Adar
The sixth month of the Jewish calendar year.
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adloyada
A Purim carnival.
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admor
A Hassidic spiritual leader.
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aggadah
Parts of the Talmud and Midrash that do not deal with law, including stories, fables, and sayings. "Talmudic stories or philosophical material" (Glinert).
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ahavas yisroel
"Love of one's fellow Jew" (Glinert)
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akum
A Talmudic term for a heathen.
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al het
"A Yom Kippur prayer that asks forgiveness for a multitude of sins committed during the previous year" (JPS).
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Aleinu
"A prayer in praise of God, Aleinu acknowledges the unique relationship between God and the Jewish people" (JPS)
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aleph-bet
"A name for the Hebrew alphabet" (JPS)
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aliyah
"calling to the reading of the Torah" (Glinert)
ascent
ascent of the soul of a deceased person to a higher level, as is believed to happen on their yartzeit
immigration to Israel
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almemar
the platform on which the Torah is read in synagogue; the bima
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alte kaker
elderly person, old-timer [literally "old shitter"] "A crotchety, fussy, ineffectual old man." (Rosten)
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Amalek
The biblical name of the nomadic people descended from Esau who became the enemies of the people of Israel.
Any enemy of the Jewish people
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amora
A Talmudic sage whose teachings comprise the Gemara. "Amoraim are contrasted with the tannaim, ancient rabbis who are quoted in the Mishnah" (JPS).
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ani maamin
The thirteen articles of Jewish faith written by Maimonides, each beginning with the phrase "ani maamin" ("I believe"). "The twelfth of which says, I believe believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah. Even though he may tarry I will wait for him on any day that he may come'" (JPS).
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Anim Zmirot
"A hymn composed of an alphabetic acrostic of 31 lines, generally sung in front of the open ark at the conclusion of the Musaf service on Shabbat." (JPS)
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annos
Anniversary of someone's death
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antisemitism
"Prejudice or discrimination against Jews and the Jewish people" (JPS).
Hatred against Jews.
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apikoros
heretic, non-believer, especially one with great knowledge of Judaism
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Aramaic
Judeo-Aramaic, a northern Semitic language related to Hebrew.
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Arava
"The dry lowland area of the eastern Negev, often called the Aravah Vallet" (JPS)
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aravot
"the branches of the willow that are part of the lulav used on Sukkot" (JPS).
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arba kanfot
A tallit katan (see tzitzit)
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arba kosot
"The four glasses of wine drunk on Passover" (Glinert).
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arba minim
"The four plant species used on Sukkot" (Glinert).
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arbes
Boiled chickpeas
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Asara B'Tevet
"A minor fast day that falls on the 10th of Tevet. It commemorates the start of the siege of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia in 586 B.C.E., which is considered the beginning of the destruction of the First Temple" (JPS).
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Ashkenazi
pl. Ashkenazim. "The name given to the group of Jews who were originally from Germany and France (and their descendants)... The Ashkenazim migrated to Central and Eastern Europe during times of oppression" (JPS).
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Ashkenazic
Adjectival form for 'Ashkenazim', "The name given to the group of Jews who were originally from Germany and France, and their descendants" (JPS)
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askan
A person who is influential in working for the community
A Jewish communal or social worker (Steinmetz)
Activist
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aufruf
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").
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Av
"The fifth month in the Jewish calendar, it usually corresponds to July or August" (JPS).
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aveilus
Mourning (Glinert)
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Avinu Malkeinu
"A High Holy Day prayer in which God is asked to 'be gracious to us and answer us, even though we have not done all the good that we might have'" (JPS).
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avodah
"Service and worship of God" (Eisenberg)
"A unique part of the Musaf service on Yom Kippur, the Avodah prayers describe the sacrificial ritual in the Temple in ancient Jerusalem on the Day of Atonement" (Eisenberg).
"Literally, 'divine service'" (Eisenberg)
work, generally
the name for a unit at camp in which campers help with such duties as service in the dining hall, laundry, etc.
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ba'al tekiah
"The title for the person who blows the shofar on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur" (JPS).
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ba'al tshuvah
a Jew raised non-religious who becomes Orthodox, [lit. 'one who returns/repents']
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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.
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baal-teshuva
A Jew from a secular background who chooses to become observant.
"Newly religious Jew; penitent" (Glinert)
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balaboosta
1) Female head of household 2) Impressively competent homemaker
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bar mitzvah
Jewish coming-of-age ceremony/celebration for a 13-year-old boy; the boy who has come of age.
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baruch haba
"Welcome!"
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baruch tihiyeh
"May you be blessed"
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bedieved
"done just well enough to fulfill a need or duty; perfunctorily" (Weiser, Frumspeak)
"under duress, or done when no options are available; as a last resort" (Weiser, Frumspeak)
done after the fact (in an acceptable, but still not ideal, manner); ex post facto
"resentfully; without enthusiasm; begrudgingly" (Weiser, Frumspeak)
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bedika
Inspection or search, especially with regard to preparations for Passover
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bedikas chametz
"The ceremony immediately before Pesach in which family members conduct a ritual search of the home for hametz, pieces of bread or leavened food that are forbidden on Passover" (JPS).
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beit din
A rabbinical court of law that makes judgments on matters of Jewish religious life, especially conversion and divorce.
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beit knesset
Jewish place of worship; "synagogue" (JPS)
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bencher
prayer booklet or card with the text of the blessings after meals, and often times including other meal-time blessings and songs
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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)
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besamim
"Modern Israeli slang for illegal drugs" (JPS).
Spices
"Literally, 'spices.' It almost always refers to the spices in the spice box used for the Havdalah ceremony" (JPS).
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bialy
A flat breakfast roll, shaped like a round wading pool, sometimes sprinkled with onion. (Rosten)
A round, crusty chewy bread roll with an indented center well, the bialy is usually topped with toasted onions—and—at its most authentic—with poppy seeds. (JPS)
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Birkat Hamazon
The blessing after food, referring to the four blessing Grace After Meals said after consuming bread. Referred to in many communities as "bentching," or simply as "birkat" in some Jewish summer camps.
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blintz
A folded thin pancake filled with cheese, fruit, or potatoes.
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bokser
The fruit of the carob tree, traditionally eaten on Tu Bishvat.
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BT
ba'al teshuva, returnee to faith, Jew who chose to become Orthodox
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bubbale
sweetie, darling [term of endearment]
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bubbe
grandmother
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bubbe meise
"Something of little importance, an inconsequential thing or minor happening." (JPS)
"old wive's tale"; an untrue story, sometimes related to superstition
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burekas
A Turkish pastry filled with potatoes, other vegetables, and sometimes cheese.
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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.
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chad gadya
The name of a song sung at the end of the Passover seder.
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chag sameach
"Literally, 'Happy Holiday.' The traditional, all-purpose greeting exchanged on almost any Jewish holiday" (JPS).
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chazak veematz
"Be very strong and courageous!"
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chazan
The official at a synagogue who leads the congregation in prayer and song. (JPS)
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cheshbon hanefesh
"Soul-searching, self-accounting" (Glinert).
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chrain
A spicy paste made from grated horseradish.
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chumrah
a religious stringency
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chutzpah
guts (positive)
nerve, audacity, the quality of over-stepping boundries with no shame (negative)
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Cohen
"A made descendent of the family of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi. Aaron and his descendants were consecrated to the service of God... in the Tabernacle... in the desert and later the Holy Temple" (Steinmetz). Often poorly translated as "priest," though the term "Levite" or "Aaronite" is more accurate, especially due to Christian usage (Steinmetz).
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Conservative Judaism
originally known as "historical positive Judaism," a denomination that combines observance with an idea of "halachic process." See further comments below.
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daf
A page of a Talmudic tractate.
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duchen
A ritual where the kohanim recite the Priestly Blessing (Num. 6:24-26), blessing the rest of the congregation.
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dveykus
spiritual ecstasy; lit. "cleaving"
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eyd
A witness
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eyer kichlech
Egg cookies, usually in the shape of bow ties.
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farchadat
"Confused, distracted, mixed up." (JPS)
"confused; dazed; stunned" (Steinmetz)
"Dizzy, confused, dopey, 'punchy.'" (Rosten)
"Having a headache." (Rosten)
"Smitten, charmed, beguiled." (Rosten)
"Surprised, stunned, shocked." (Rosten)
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farfel
a side dish including bits of noodle, often sauteed with vegetables and beef or chicken stock
noodle pellets
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farkakte
"lousy, messed up, ridiculous" (JPS) Shitty, full of crap.
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farmisht
mixed up, confused, crazy
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forshpil
An Ashkenazi custom of entertaining the bride on the Sabbath afternoon or evening preceding the wedding.
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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]".
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gaon
"A rabbi whose learning was so great that he was given the honorary title of gaon" (Rosten), e.g. the Vilna Gaon
Modern Hebrew: genius (JPS)
"A title of honor for the rabbis and teachers who were the spiritual heads of the Babylonian yeshivot between the 6th and 11th centuries C.E." (JPS)
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gemilas chesed
(pl. gemilas chasodim) A loan of money without interest to help a needy person.
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genizah
A storage room in a synagogue where disused sacred books and often-sacred articles are kept, since bringing them or disposing of them otherwise is considered a sacrilege.
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ger
(pl. gerim) A convert to Judaism.
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get
a writ or deed of divorce
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gevald
an interjection of alarm
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gezerah
"an addition to a previously existing precept" (Weiser)
In Jewish law, a prohibition enacted by the Sages as a measure to protect religious observance under changed conditions.
"evil decree" (Steinmetz)
"An authoritative command either to perform or to refrain from performing a particular act" (Weiser)
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gmar tov
Greeting/closing used between Rosh Hashana and the end of Yom Kippur. Lit. 'good conclusion'
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gribines
Deep-fried skin of chicken or goose, often prepared with onion and schmatlz. Also called cracklings.
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gut chodesh
"Good month!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Chodesh.
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gut moed
"Good festival season!" Used by Ashkenazim on Chol Hamoed.
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gut voch
"Good week!" Ashkenazi greeting at the conclusion of the Sabbath.
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gut yontef
"Happy holiday!" Ashkenazi greeting used on any of the holidays, including Rosh Hashanahh and Yom Kippur.
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gut yor
"Good year!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Hashanah.
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Hagiographa
The formal English name of the Ketuvim, usually translated as "the Writings."
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hamentaschen
"Small, triangular-shaped cookies filled with fruit or jam that are eaten on Purim" (JPS)
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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")
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Hashem
God, lit. "the name"
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Hashem imachem
"God be with you!" Sephardi greeting given by ice approaching the Torah-reading desk after being called up to the Torah.
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hasraah
A formal warning given to a person who is about to commit a sin.
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havdalah
"literally 'separation'. The ceremony that marks the end of [the Sabbath] on Saturday evening" (JPS)
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hesped
eulogy, funeral oration
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hiddur mitzvah
"Literally, 'beautifying the mitzvah.' The tradition of putting extra time, style, or resources into a mitzvah so that it is performed as beautifully as possible" (JPS).
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holishkes
Sweet-and-sour cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and ground meat.
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hummus
A purée of ground chickpeas and sesame seeds.
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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)
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kein yirbu
"So they may increase in number"
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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)
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kenas
A fine paid as a penalty for wrongdoing.
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keppy
head, little head (informal, diminutive, often in child-directed speech)
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kesiva vechasima tova
"A good writing and sealing (in the Book of Life)!" Formal Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Hashanah.
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keva
fixed aspects of ritual/liturgy
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kezayit
A halakhic measure for the minimum amount that may not be eaten of a prohibited substance or that must be eaten to fulfill a commandment.
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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)
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kibbitz
"To socialize aimlessly...To carry on a running commentary" (Rosten)
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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.
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kinyan
The act or manner of legally acquiring or agreeing to something.
"A groom's formal acceptance of the terms of the ketubbah. At a traditional wedding, this ritual takes place during the chossen's tish, when the rabbi or a witness, acting on behalf of the bride, offers the groom a handkerchief or some other object" (JPS).
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kippah
"small, round headcovering" (JPS)
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kishka
"Stuffed derma: a sausagelike comestible of meat, flour, and spices stuffed into intestine casing and baked" (Rosten) Also, "guts," literally, Slavic. (Wikipedia)
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kishkas
Intestines, gut
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kivyakhol
Substitute or euphemism for God's name, similar to Hashem
"As if", "so to speak," can be used to refer to anthropomorphic language about God
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klutz
"clumsy, slow-witted...person" (Rosten)
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knaidel
matzah ball; "a dumpling made of matzah meal meal and beaten eggs, usually served in chicken broth, often at the Pesach seder" (JPS)
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knish
Eastern European dumpling with thin dough filled with potato, kasha, onion, meat, and/or other ingredients
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kosher
"acceptable according to Jewish [ritual] law" (JPS); "trustworthy, reliable" (Rosten); acceptable according to dietary laws
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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"
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kvell
feel or express pride, "to be extraordinarily pleased" (JPS)
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lav
לאו A scriptural prohibition
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leibedik
lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt
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lekech
"Honey cake, traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah... made with honey, eggs, cinnamon, and, often, coffee" (JPS).
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lemaan Hashem
"Definitely"
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leshana tova tikateivu
"(May you) be inscribed for a good year (in the Book of Life)!" A formal greeting exchanged bu Ashkenazim on Rosh Hashanah.
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lokh in cup
"hole in the head" (Rosten)
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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
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mamaliga
A Romanian-Jewish dish of thick cornmeal mush.
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mandelbrot
"Literally, 'almond bread.' A crunchy, dry cookie, similar to biscotti" (JPS).
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marit ayin
suspicious-looking action; doing something that may cause an observer to think that one violated halachah and thus arouse suspicion, or alternatively, doing something that could mislead somebody to interpret than an action is permitted and then violate halachah him/herself
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maven
"An expert or connoisseur; a specialist" (JPS)
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mazel tov
congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]
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mazume
"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)
"A group of three or more adult males who join together to recite the after-meal blessings..." (Steinmetz).
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mechaye
"Pleasure, enjoyment, a real joy" (Rosten); something that gives great joy
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mechuten
the father of one's child's spouse, though can sometimes be used to refer to the grandfather of one's grandchild's spouse.
In laws, more generally (http://www.pass.to/glossary/gloz2.htm#letm).
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melacha
"Art or skill: Trade" (Weiser).
"Work or actions forbidden on Shabbat" (JPS). Mostly applies on Yom Tov, as well, and often refers to creative work, or use of electronics.
"That which requires exertion or effort: Task" (Weiser).
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meldado
anniversary of someone's death; the study session done in honor of that person
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menorah
candelabrum, especially for Chanukah
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mensch
"An upright, honorable, a decent person." (Rosten)
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meshuga
crazy
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meykil
"One who is not strict: Liberal, Latitudinarian" (Weiser)
"Taking the lenient position: Liberal" (Weiser)
A decisor who follows a lenient option and issues a kulah (lenient ruling).
"Yielding to wishes: Indulgent" (Weiser)
"Not harsh or strict: Easygoing" (Weiser)
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meyzid
One who commits a sin consciously and deliberately.
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Mishneh Torah
a 12th-century code of religious law in fourteen parts written by Moses Maimonides
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Moadim lesimcha
Happy holiday! Greeting used on Pesach and Sukkot.
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moadon
clubhouse, lounge
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Modern Orthodox
'Modern Orthodox'. Observant, but open to the outside world, general culture and education; not 'Yeshivish' or 'Haredi'.
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naches
"Proud pleasure, special joy--particularly from the achievements of a child... 2. Psychological reward or gratification." (Rosten)
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nigun
"A wordless melody; a tune" (JPS)
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nittel nacht
Christmas Eve
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onesh
Punishment
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ongepotchket
"Excessively and unaesthetically decorated; overly baroque." (Rosten)
overly elaborate, excessively decorated, slapped together senselessly, overdone, tacky, ostentatious, overcomplicated.
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oy
exclamation of dismay, exasperation, or surprise
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oy vey
exclamation of dismay, exasperation, or surprise
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patshke
"1. To fuss or "mess around" inefficiently and inexpertly. 2. To dawdle, to waste time." (Rosten)
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pesadik
"Acceptable to be eaten on Pesach" (JPS), kosher for Passover.
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petcha
Calves' foot jelly or jellied chicken served with garlic and spices as an appetizer.
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pikuach nefesh
The principle that the law of saving a person's life takes precedence over all other laws, with the exception of the laws prohibiting idolatry, incestuous relations, and the murder of an innocent person.
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pirog
(pl. pirogen, pirogn) A small dumpling filed with meat or vegetables.
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pisk
(vulgar) snout, grimace (Steinmetz)
Colloquialism: an eloquent or garrulous speaker. (Rosten)
mouth, loud-mouth, similar to English slang "trap" for mouth.
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pita
A round, thin bread with a pocket, eaten plain or with filling as a sandwich.
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pletzl
"A thin, flat, crisp roll, often garnished with poppy seeds or onion" (Rosten)
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plotz
"1. To split, to burst, to explode. 2. " To be aggravated beyond bearing" (Rosten) [lit. "to explode"]
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pupik
Navel, belly button
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Purim
A joyous holiday that takes place in February or March on the 14th of Adar, retelling the story of the Book of Esther.
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putz
"A fool, an ass, a jerk." (Rosten) [lit. "penis"]
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rachmones
mercy, pity, empathy
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rebetzin
wife of a rabbi
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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.
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Reform Judaism
A liberal, progressive branch of Judaism that emphasizes choice through knowledge.
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refua shlema
"Get well soon." Lit. "full recovery"
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refusenik
Term for Soviet Jews who were not allowed to openly practice Judaism or emigrate from Soviet Union.
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responsa
Written decisions and legal rulings by rabbis appointed to be legal deciders.
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rishon
"Earlier rabbis and scholars, who lived from around the 11th to the mid-15th century C.E., before the Shulchan Arukh, the compilation of Jewish law, was written." (JPS)
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safek
"Unresolved question: Uncertainty" (Weiser)
"Doubt in the integrity of: Suspicion" (Weiser)
A doubt or doubtful case.
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schav
A cold cream-of-sorrel soup.
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schlimazel
Unlucky person; the constant butt of idiotic or unfortunate happenings
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schmatta
rag, old/ragged piece of clothing, garment
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schmegege
"An unadmirable, petty person" (Rosten)
"silly or stupid person; simpleton; nitwit" (Steinmetz)
"An untalented loser; a whiner; a petty person" (JPS).
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schmooze
to make small talk or informally chat; to network, kiss up
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schnoder
"to pledge a donation" (Steinmetz).
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Shabbat Shalom
Used as a greeting or departing line (hello or goodbye) on or before Shabbat. Literally "peaceful Sabbath."
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Shabbos
the Jewish Sabbath
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shalom uvrachah
"Peace and blessing!" A more emphatic greeting than "shalom."
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shalosh regalim
The three major holidays in the Jewish calendar: Passover, Shavuot [Pentecost], and Sukkot [Tabernacles].
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shamash
1. candle lit first and then used to light other hanukah candles
2. the caretaker of a synagogue.
3. personal assistant / aide / gofer, especially to a rabbi or in the Hollywood entertainment industry
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shanda
"Scandal, shame." (JPS)
Misbehavior by a particular Jew or Jewish group that leads to embarrassment among the broader Jewish community.
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shashlik
A dish of skewered and grilled lamb of beef meat.
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shatnez
mixture of wool and linen in a garment, which is prohibited by Jewish law
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Shechinah
divine presence
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shechita
Kosher animal slaughter.
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shehecheyanu
the blessing of thanksgiving that celebrates reaching a celebratory moment or marking a significant first
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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)
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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
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shemini atzeret
Holiday celebrated the day after the seven-day holiday of Sukkot.
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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)
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shidduch
"In popular usage, any match or alliance, as in The shidduch between the two organization was a success." (Steinberg)
a date in the process of finding one's spouse
an arranged spousal match
a mate
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shlump
an unkempt person, a loser
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shmuck
annoying, irritating person (lit. penis)
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shochet
ritual slaughterer in the system of kashrut
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shogeg
One who commits a sin unintentionally.
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shomer
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
a chaperone, protector, or guard
a camp counselor on duty
one who keeps vigil over a dead body before it is buried
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shtar
Any legal document or writ, such as a bill of sale or a promissory note.
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shtetl
"A town or village with...Jewish inhabitants, commonly found in Eastern Europe before World War II." (Steinmetz)
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shtrayml
A hat trimmed with fur pieces, typically worn by Hassidim on Shabbat.
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sidra
weekly Torah portion
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siman tov
A congratulatory term meaning "(may it be) a good omen!"
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siyum
literally, "completion" traditionally means completing studying of a tractate of talmud, often with a ceremony and celebration following, but can be used for the completion of another course of study.
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sofer
A scribe trained in transcribing the Torah, mezuzah, tefillin scriptures and other religious texts on parchment.
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spiel
play, performance, speech. "A long, involved story or tale." (JPS)
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strudel
A pastry made by rolling up a thin sheet of dough with a fruit or cheese filling and baking it.
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tachlis
practical details of a matter, "brass tacks" (as in, "Let's get down to brass tacks.")
purpose, aim
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tahini
"A creamy paste made from ground sesame seeds" (JPS)
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takkanah
A rabbinical decree or ordinance, issued to improve religious life.
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tatala
"'Little papa.' A term of endearment for a little boy. Old-fashioned usage." (Eisenberg)
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tate
dad
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tchotchke
trinket, knicknack
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tefillah
prayer, services, or an individual prayer
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tehina
A paste made from ground sesame seeds, used as a dip or spread.
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teiglach
a confection of dough balls dipped in honey/syrup and eaten at Rosh Hashanah
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tenai
"A condition of circumstance upon which a certain effect is predicated: Stipulation" (Weiser).
(pl. form tenaim only, used as sg.) "The original prenuptial contract, the tenaim dates from the 12th century. It is the detailed dowry and other financial arrangements, the date of the wedding, and the penalty if anyone backed out. Some traditional and Hasidic Jews still prepare a tenaim and read it aloud at an engagement party or sign it before the wedding ceremony, at the same time the ketubbah is signed" (JPS).
A condition, especially one made as part of an agreement.
(pl. form tenaim only, used as sg) "A traditional name for an engagement party" (JPS)
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teshuvah
repentance [lit. "return"]
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tichel
headscarf worn by Orthodox women
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titchadesh
"Use it in good health" or "Enjoy your new item"
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trop
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.
Series of traditional chanting/melodic patterns used in reading the Torah and other books of the Tanakh in communal prayer services.
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tsedreyt
mixed up, twisted, distorted, turned around
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tzadik
Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.
Common name for the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet (tzadi / tzade).
A highly learned and esteemed rabbinic leader (sometimes used as an alternative name for a Hasidic rebbe).
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tzimmes
"A prolonged procedure, and involved business, a mix-up" (Rosten).
"A sweet, baked dish of vegetables or fruit. Carrot tzimmes, a popular version, includes carrots, sweet potatoes, dried apricots, raisins, sugar, and cinnamon" (JPS).
"Troubles, difficulties, a contretemps" (Rosten).
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tzimmes
A sweet, fruit-and-vegetable stew made usually with carrots, plums, apples, and sweet potatoes.
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tzitzit
A garment worn under the shirt by Orthodox men and boys, with a tassel hanging down from each of the four corners.
The fringes on a tallit (tallis) prayer shawl or on a tallit katan.
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tznius
(adj.) modest, discrete, especially according to Orthodox norms of dress, comportment, and gender interaction
(n.) modesty, discretion, especially according to Orthodox norms of dress, comportment, and gender interaction
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va'ad
"committee or council" (Steinmetz), group convened for a particular purpose, including rabbinical council, kashrut supervisory council, youth group/synagogue board of directors, study group, etc.
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verklempt
overly emotional, choked up; speechless; unable to express one's feelings/emotions
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wimpel
a long, linen sash used as a binding for the Sefer Torah by Jews of German (Yekke) origin
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yamim noraim
high holy days, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
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yarmulke
religious skullcap
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yeshiva
traditionally, an institution that focuses on teaching Talmud to boys and young men. Today yeshivas exist for men and women.
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yichus
"Pedigree, lineage, family background." (JPS)
Bragging rights based on respected family history
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yid
A derogatory term used by non-Jews for a Jewish person (particularly so in Great Britain).
a Jewish person
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yiddishkeit
"Jewishness"; sometimes used interchangeably with 'Judaism' or 'Jewish culture'
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yigdal
hymn often sung at the end of a prayer service, based on Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith
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zaidie
grandpa, grandfather
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zichrono livracha
may his memory be for a blessing (often abbreviated 'z"l')
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zivug
(n.) mate, predestined match
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