acharon acharon chaviv

"The very last one is beloved."; "Last but not least."

ad kdei kach

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

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.

adon olam

a hymn in the traditional Jewish liturgy, usually recited before Shacharit and often sung after services in synagogue, made up of traits attributed to God

Adonai

"Literally, 'my Lord', another word for God." (JPS)

Adoshem

God

afikomen

a piece of matzah from the Passover seder traditionally hidden by adults, found by the children (or vice versa), and then ransomed for gifts after the meal. "The last piece of matzoh...eaten at the meal." (Steinmetz)

agunah

A woman whose husband has refused her a Jewish divorce.

A woman who is unable to remarry, due to the fact that her husband is missing and it is not known whether her husband is alive or dead.

Akedah

The binding of Isaac (episode in the Torah)

al regel achat

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

aleichem sholom

Peace be upon you. Response to "sholom aleichem"

Aleph-bet

"A name for the Hebrew alphabet" (JPS)

aliyah

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

ascent

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

immigration to Israel

am haaretz

Bumpkin, ignoramus, uneducated person

Vulgar, boorish person

People of the land

Am Yisrael

"Literally, The People of Israel." (JPS)

amcha

the every-man, everyday people; the folk (as opposed to the elite)

amen

Agreed. "The word used at the end of prayer to signify affirmation." (Rosten)

Amida

The Shemoneh Esrei prayer, which is said while standing [Amida, lit. "standing".]

amud

page (in a prayerbook)

one side of a page (of Talmud)

pulpit, lectern

aniyim

Poor people

aron kodesh

"Literally, "holy ark"." (JPS)

Ashkenazic

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

Ashki

nickname for Ashkenazi Jews

assur

forbidden

averah

religious transgression (Glinert: "An aveirah is an infringement on the Torah, the opposite of a mitzvah.")

avoda

"Literally, 'divine service'" (JPS) Also, "work" or "service" and sometimes used as the name for a unit at camp in which campers help with such duties as service in the dining hall, laundry, etc.

Avodah b'gashmiut

serving God through the physical / material world (Hasidic concept)

avodah zarah

a tractate of the Talmud

idolatry

avrech

A yeshiva student, or a young man who learns in a kollel.

A working person (non full time learner) who supports or is associated with Torah institutions

A young married male.

b'al pe

learned by heart, from memory

b'emet

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

b'ezras hashem

With God's help.

b'laz

Abbreviation for "B'loshn am zar", "in a foreign language"; usually used by the commentator Rashi when using a Middle French expression

b'shalom

"in peace" (used to sign off in written correspondence)

b'tzelem Elohim

lit. "in God's image"

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")

baitsim

balls, testicles, lit. 'eggs'

bal tashchit

Do not be wasteful, do not destroy.

balaboosta

1) Female head of household 2) Impressively competent homemaker

balabos

Male head of a household

Proprietor

Bamidbar

The Book of Numbers, [lit. "in the wilderness"] (Glinert)

bar mitzvah

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

baruch Hashem

"Thank God," "blessed is God"

fine

bat mitzvah

in gender egalitarian communities, the ceremony of a 13- (or 12-) year-old girl's first calling up to the Torah, symbolizing her adulthood in Jewish life. can also refer to the girl herself. In Orthodox communities, refers to celebration of girl turning 12. "Celebration of a Jewish girl's coming of age; a girl who has reached that age." (Glinert)

bayis

ancient Temple

Bayit Sheni

Second Temple, period of the Second Temple

A place one repairs to for debauchery after being expelled from one's initial location.

bechina

examination, particularly for rabbinic ordination

bechira

free will

behatzlacha

good luck (a wish)

go with success

behema

a boor, an uncouth, unmannered individual

an animal, especially a large one

beis hamikdash

The Temple in Jerusalem

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)

beiyun

"With depth and in detail: intensively"

bekies

"range of personal knowledge" (Weiser)

broad but not deep knowledge

bekitzur

"Briefly or concisely: succinctly" (Weiser)

ben adam

a human being

ben bayis

frequent guest at someone's home

ben torah

a Torah scholar or moral individual

bench gomel

to say the blessing (called Gomel) said after someone survives a life-threatening situation; often recited pro forma after surviving childbirth or trans-oceanic travel

benoni

spiritually average person

bereshit

The Book of Genesis [lit. "in the beginning"]

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)

Beta Israel

Ethiopian Jewish community

bichlal

in any way, entirely, in general, altogether

bikur cholim

visiting the sick

bimah

pulpit; "A raised platform or stage in a synagogue from which the Torah is read and services are led." (JPS)

Birkat Habayit

“blessing for the house,” usually refers to a decorative piece of calligraphy for the home

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."

Birkot HaShachar

The first section of the morning prayers, which contains several individual blessings. (JPS)

bitachon

security

faith, trust

bli ayin hara

Formula said in conjunction with a positive statement to ward off the evil eye. Lit. "without the evil eye."

bli neder

"Literally, 'without vowing', this is added to any casual promise to avoid it being taken as an absolute undertaking." (Glinert)

bochur

young unmarried male, especially a yeshiva student

bodek

also a brand of vegetables that has been checked for insects

check, especially looking for insects that would render produce non-kosher

boker or

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

bond of life

Common translation of the Hebrew "tzror ha-hayim," referring to a transcendent realm where the souls of righteous are kept in safekeeping. Part of a phrase often inscribed on headstones or said in reference to the dead, meaning "may their soul be bound in the bond of eternal life."

bracha

blessing (in the technical or figurative sense)

bris

circumcision ceremony; the celebration surrounding it. Lit. covenant.

broiges

a dispute (n)

angry, annoyed (adj.)

bruchim haba'im

welcome! [lit. "blessed are those who come"]

BT

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

bubbe meise

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

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

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.

Chabad house

a synagogue/residence/outreach center operated by Chabad-Lubabvitch, usually run by a Rabbi and wife, and often their children.

chabura

study group

chacham

rabbi (Sephardi)

wiseguy

wise, learned person; genius

chag

"Festival" (Glinert)

chai

"Literally, 'life'" (JPS); 18 (see note)

chakira

proposition, treatise, deliberation

challah

"The braided egg bread that traditionally is eaten on almost every Jewish holiday and [the Sabbath]" (JPS)

chametz

Leavened food.

chanichim

disciples (in a classroom)

campers; members of youth movement, as in Hashomer Hatzair

charoses

Sweet, mushy mixture that represents mortar at the Passover seder.

chas v'chalila

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

chas v'sholom

"heaven forbid" (Glinert)

chashuv

Important; of high status

chassidish

Adhering to Hasidism, a mystical brand of Orthodox Judaism; having traits associated with Hasidim

chatuna

wedding

chatzi kaddish

half kaddish: prayer that praises God and occurs several times during services, marking the separation between different parts of the service.

chatzos

halachic midday and midnight

chaver

friend

comrade, mister (in left-wing political organizations)

chaverim

members, friends

chayav

Guilty of transgressing. Liable.

chazak u'baruch

"be strong and be blessed," usually said to someone who participated in a religious service in some way (for example, has an aliyah, makes a donation, opens the ark, etc.)

Chazal

a collective term that refers to all Jewish sages of the Mishna, Tosefta and Talmud eras

chazan

The official at a synagogue who leads the congregation in prayer and song. (JPS)

chazarah

(n.) review of material previously studied

chazer

"go over; review" (Weiser)

chazir

1. pork 2. a pig, greedy person (JPS)

cheder

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

cherem

"excommunication; ostracism" (Yiddish)

chesed

an act of kindness

chesedik

kind

chevra

"society; close-knit group" (Yiddish)

chevra kedisha

burial society - volunteers who sit with the dead and prepare their bodies for burial

chidush

innovative idea; an insight; discovery; novelty

chillul Hashem

disgracing God's name; an action that might be looked down upon; an action that might make Jews look bad

chiyuv

obligation

one who is in mourning and must say Kaddish

chol hamoed

"the intermediate days of the weeklong holidays of Pesach and Sukkot" (JPS)

choleh

A person who is ill (fem. cholah; masc. pl. cholim; fem. pl. cholot)

chozer b'teshuva

a returnee to the faith

chozer be-sheelah

someone raised Orthodox who chooses not to be aligned with the practice or ideology of Orthodox Judaism

Chrismukkah

"Chrismukkah is a pop-culture portmanteau neologism referring to the merging of the holidays of Christianity's Christmas and Judaism's Hanukkah." (Wikipedia)

chumash

"A bound book containing the Five Books of Moses that is used in synagogue or for study." (JPS)

chumradik

stringent, used to imply that a person is making the most strict halachic ruling, or follows additional restrictions in his or her practice

chumrah

a religious stringency

chuppah

"The Jewish wedding canopy; that is, the cloth under which the Jewish wedding ceremony is conducted." (JPS)

wedding ceremony (not including reception)

chutzpah

guts (positive)

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

counting the omer

counting of each of the forty-nine days between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuos

d'var torah

a brief teaching from Jewish sources [lit. "a word of torah"], "A short speech" (JPS)

da'as torah

The authoritative wisdom of the tradition mediated by "gedolim" or great rabbis.

Intuitive knowledge that comes from a lifetime of Torah study.

dan l'kaf zechus

give the benefit of the doubt

dayan

a rabbinic judge who may directly question and cross-examine witnesses

a judge who sits and adjudicates cases involving religious practices or spiritual matters

dayenu

"Literally, "it would have been enough."" (JPS)

derech

(lit. "path") usually refers to an ethical lifestyle or the traditional, halachic Jewish lifestyle

derech eretz

Participating in modern society.

"Good conduct; normal, polite behavior in a social setting." (JPS). Manners, respect.

Devarim

"the Book of Deuteronomy", [lit. "words"] (JPS)

drash

n. sermon, interpretation of text

v. give a sermon, discuss an interpretation of the text

drasha

"Sermon, learned address." (Glinert)

dugma

example

dveykus

spiritual ecstasy; lit. "cleaving"

dybbuk

a spirit, "often thought to be the soul of a dead person, that wanders the earth looking for a living body to inhabit" (JPS)

Eichah

"The Book of Lamentations" (JPS)

Elohim/Elokim

"One of the many names used to refer to God" (JPS)

Elul

The twelfth month of the Jewish calendar, just before the High Holidays season (or sixth, if one starts counting at Nissan).

emes hatorah

the truth

an exclamation of veracity, with the connotation of an oath on the Torah

emunah

"faith"; sometimes contrasted with practical striving in the material world

erev

"Eve of." (Glinert) Evening, or the day before a Jewish holiday

eruv

area in which a token enclosure enables one to carry on the Sabbath [without breaking the prohibition against carrying in a public space]." (Glinert)

eshet chayil

"woman of valor" (JPS); poem about such a woman in Proverbs 31.

etrog

Citron (lemon-like fruit) used ritually on Sukkot

etz chaim

tree of life

from strength to strength

phrase of blessing used on momentous occasions

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]".

gabai

verb: to serve as gabai

noun: The officer of the synagogue who determines which congregants are to receive Torah honors at the service.

noun: The (lay) person who calls Jews to say blessings over the Torah reading and follows along with the Torah reading to correct any mistakes.

gadol

literally "big," refers to particularly well respected rabbis; "luminary" (Weiser)

gashmiyus

materialism, in contrast with spiritual concerns; "indulgence in earthly pleasures" (Weiser)

gayve

pride; arrogance; obnoxiousness

gedolim

Important, influential people, especially renowned rabbis of the present or recent past. Luminaries (Weiser)

Secondary usage: feces or excrement.

gehenom

Hell (metaphoric)

gemara

"A compilation of 300 years of rabbis' legal and ethical commentaries on the Mishnah...together, the Gemara and the Mishnah comprise the Talmud." (JPS)

gematria

"An ancient system of Hebrew numerology," (JPS), in which each Hebrew letter possesses a numerical value, allowing words or phrases to express possible "hidden" meaning (when one adds up the letters' values)

gemilut chasadim

"Literally, "acts of loving kindness"", (JPS) often used in reference to charitable activities

ger tzedek

A "righteous convert" to Judaism.

get

a writ or deed of divorce

geulah

redemption

geza

n. good lineage, adj. having good lineage. people from the right families that go back generations within a given Orthodox community

ghattis

derogatory term for working-class or boorish Afrikaaner person

giyur

The act of converting to Judaism.

Conversion ceremony

glatt

Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).

Super-kosher (not only of food), or acceptable to the Haredi community.

gmar tov

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

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)

gonif

thief

goy

"most often used among Jews to refer to someone who is not a Jew" (JPS)

a nation, but not the Jewish nation

goyish

"in the manner or style of a non-Jewish person" (JPS), especially something WASPy or "white bread"

goyte

non-Jewish woman, especially domestic worker

hachnasas orchim

hospitality (lit. "bringing in guests")

hachnosas kallah

charitable support for poor young women to get married

hafsaka

break or interruption

haftorah

"A reading from the biblical book of Prophets that is recited in synagogue immediately following the reading of the Torah" (JPS)

haggadah

"The small book of liturgy, prayers, songs, and rituals used at a Pesach seder" (JPS)

Hagim u'zmanim lesasson

Holidays and seasons for rejoicing!

HaKadosh Baruch Hu

God, lit. "The Holy One, Blessed Be He"

hakafah

a go-around (similar to sivuv)

parade, processional with the Torah on Simchas Torah

hakdama

introduction or preface (to a book)

halacha

"Jewish law" (JPS)

Half Shabbas

Describes Sabbath observance by someone (usually a teenager) who observes Shabbat in every respect - except one: they text/SMS/tweet on Shabbat (or use other digital communication). May extend to using other electronic/digital devices as well (e.g. tablets).

halleluyah

praise God

hamevin yavin

"those who understand will understand." "You know what I'm talking about."

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")

Hanukkah Alegre

Happy hannukah!

Hashem

God, lit. "the name"

hashgacha

1. Divine providence, interference, attention 2. Rabbinic supervision designating food as kosher

hashkafah

ideological outlook; point of view; "philosophy" (Weiser)

Hasid

Pious person

Adherent of a Hasidic Jewish group ("A mystical religious movement founded in Poland" (JPS)

A disciple of a rabbi, not only a member of a Hasidic group.

A follower in a non-religious sense (ironic).

Haskalah

19th century Jewish Enlightenment, in which modern philosophy and literature entered Jewish consciousness

havdalah

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

havurah

A group of friends, frequently a social or religious group, either within a synagogue or apart from one.

hazarai

"Junk, trash" (Rosten)

junk food

traif (non-kosher) food

hechsher

(Rabbinic) stamp or seal of approval-- typically designating a product as kosher

hefker

ownerless

running wild, undisciplined

heicha kedusha

abbreviated version of the repetition of the Shmona Esre / Amidah

heter

rabbinic allowance

Hillel

a rabbi often quoted in Pirkei Avot and the Talmud who was martyred by the Romans, famous for his disputations with Shammai

an organization for Jewish college life, especially in North America

hitbodedut

solitary prayer

im yirtzeh hashem

if God wills it, God willing (used when making plans for or describing the future)

iser

prohibition

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)

iyun

study, "examination of sources to develop a coherent, educated opinion" (Weiser)

Kab Shab

Abbreviated form of Kabalat Shabbat (the Friday night prayer service).

Kabbalah

a Jewish mystical work, sometimes used as a catch-all term for Jewish mysticism. "The Jewish mystical tradition" (JPS)

Kabbalat Shabbat

"Special prayers and songs included as part of Friday night services to welcome in Shabbat."

kaboles ponem

the reception before a wedding ceremony, consisting of a tish (for men) and a bedeken (for women). Lit. 'receiving the faces'.

kaddish

Prayer of mourning; prayer separating parts of the service; lit. "sanctification"

kaddishl

A son who will say kaddish for a parent (literally, "little kaddish").

kadosh

holy

Kahal

(the people of) a Jewish community

Synagogue, shul, congregation

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)

kallah

Jewish communal gathering, conference

bride

kapara!

[the relatively minor mishap should be] an Atonement [for my/our/your sins, rather than something more serious]

kaparot

Ritual performed between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to remove sins carried out by swinging a chicken over ones head.

kashrut

"The body of Jewish dietary laws and regulations that specify what and how a Jew who keeps kosher can eat." (JPS)

kavanah

intent

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

kedai

"worth it" (Weiser)

kedusha

holiness, sanctity

a responsive prayer sung/recited by the shaliach tzibbur (prayer leader) and congregation as part of the Amidah in a minyan

kehillah

"A Jewish community" (JPS)

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)

keitzed m'rakdim

dancing before the groom and bride at a wedding, more often called 'wedding shtick'

kesher

connection, relationship, link

Keter

Crown, especially the crown decorating a Torah scroll.

KFP

An abbreviation "kosher for Passover," meaning that the food fulfills the religious requirements to be eaten during Passover.

khamer

jackass, donkey

kiddush

"blessing recited over wine" (JPS) on Sabbath or holidays at the beginning of the meal or ceremony. Reception after services. "The refreshments, usually including wine, juice, and pastries, that are offered after [the Sabbath] and holiday services in the synagogue." (JPS)

kiddush Hashem

the sanctification of God's name; "bringing honor to God" (Glinert)

martyrdom

kimat

"almost or nearly" (Weiser)

Kinneret

the Sea of Galilee

kiruv

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

kitniot

"Literally, 'legumes'...certain foods that are restricted during Pesach in some Jewish communities." (JPS)

klaf

the specially prepared skin of a kosher animal, often used as parchment for kosher Torah scrolls or mezuzot

klal yisroel

"synonym for the Jewish people" (JPS)

klezmer

"Eastern European style of instrumental music" (JPS)

kol hakavod

Literally, "All the honor", as in "More honor to you!"

"well done" (Glinert)

Kol ishah

lit. 'The voice of a woman'. Refers to the prohibition of men hearing the voice of a woman singing.

kol tuv

"all the best" (JPS), a closing or farewell

kollel

Institution where married men pursue advanced Talmudic study and, often in conjunction with their wives, offer classes and other rabbinic services to the Jewish community around them, especially in non-Orthodox neighborhoods.

kollel rabbi

A man who learns (studies traditional texts) - generally full-time - and offers classes and other services to the (non-Orthodox) Jewish community.

kosher

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

Kotel

"The Western Wall"/wailing wall (Glinert)

koved

"honor, dignity, respect" (JPS)

kriah

Reading, especially Torah

Rending a garment (ritual of mourning)

krovim

relatives

l'chaim

traditional toast. [lit. "to life" (Rosten)]

L'dor va'dor

Literally "from generation to generation"

l'hachis

spitefully; deliberately; literally "in order to anger"

l'havdil

to make a distinction (between two very different things)

l'shalom

"in peace," lit. "to (or toward) peace"

lamden

a proficient Talmudic scholar

lashon hara

"gossip" (lit. "evil tongue") (JPS)

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)

levaye

funeral

leytsanus

silliness; buffoonery

limudei kodesh

"holy studies"; Jewish religious studies

lo aleynu

"I hope it won't happen to us"; "God forbid" lit. "not unto us"

loshn

language; jargon

lulav

palm branch used ritually on Sukkot

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

maarich

to extend, talk/write at length

maariv

the evening prayer

mabul

the Biblical Flood

a deluge; a torrent of rain

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

machane

Summer camp [lit. "camp"]

machloket

disagreement, dispute, argument, conflict, especially one about a halachic issue

machmir

stringent, "taking the stricter position on an issue" (Weiser)

meticulous

machzor

High Holiday prayerbook, used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

magen david

"star of david", a symbol that has commonly been associated with Jews and Judaism; [lit. "shield of david"]

maimouna

a celebration, traditionally among Moroccan Jews, right after Passover ends, marking the springtime and the return to eating chametz (leavened foods which are forbidden on Passover)

makpid

Particular, conscientious, especially in relation to Jewish law.

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.

mamish

"1. As though true to fact...2. Surely or certainly...3. Actually, genuinely...4. To a high degree...5. Enthusiastic response: WOW." (Weiser)

mamzer

bastard [see note]; "A detestable [person] like the colloquial English "He's a bastard"" (Rosten)

mannah

the food that fell from the sky to feed the wandering Israelites in the Bible

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

maror

bitter herbs placed on the seder place on Passover

masechta

Talmudic tractate

matbea

blueprint, structure, form

matzah pizza

A nickname for Massapequa, a Long Island, NY, suburb with sizable Jewish and Italian populations.

a dish eaten by American Jews during Passover, where a piece of matzah is covered with tomato sauce and cheese, and placed in the oven.

matzav

situation

political, military situation in Israel/the Middle East

matzeivah

headstone

matzoh

unleavened bread eaten on Passover

matzoh ball

dumpling made with matzah meal and eggs and generally served in chicken soup

maven

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

mayim achronim

ritual hand-washing before saying the prayer after a meal

mayofes

a servile person (see note below)

mazel

congratulations

luck (good)

mazel tov

congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]

mechayil el chayil

"from strength to strength"

mechitza

the separation between men and women in Orthodox prayer spaces [lit. "separation"]

mechula

broke, bust, bankrupt, spoiled

mechuten

the father of one's child's spouse

mechuteneste

the mother of one's child's spouse

medakdeik

"Thorough or painstaking; avoiding error by virtue of the care exercised: CAREFUL." (Weiser) exacting, precise

meforshim

any set of commentaries on classic religious texts

the rabbis who wrote such commentaries

megillah

one of the five books that compose kethuvim--writings--in Tanakh; can also refer to the physical scroll on which one is written; a long, engrossing story or description

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.

mekayam

to fulfill an obligation

mekayim

to fulfill, perform, carry out, realize (e.g., a great mitzvah, prophecy, goal)

menorah

candelabrum, especially for Chanukah

menucha

Rest or rest time

meorer

to arouse an inappropriate impulse

mesameach

to gladden another person

meshichist

someone who believes that Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Rebbe of Chabad Hasidism, is the Messiah

meshuga

crazy

mesiras nefesh

self-sacrifice

mesorah

tradition

mevater

to nullify one's desires for the good of others

mezakeh

to acquire; strengthen

mezuzah

a piece of parchment with the Shema written on it that is then placed in a case and mounted on doorways in keeping with the Biblical commandment mentioned in the Shema

Mi Shebeirach

the prayer for healing said during a Torah service; [lit. "He who blesses"]

middos

character traits (singular: "middah")

midrash

stories or explanations that interpret or ellaborate on the Torah's text.

mieskeit

ugliness

someone/something ugly

mikvah

"Ritual bath" (JPS)

milah

ritual circumcision

minhag

custom; "A tradition that is not mentioned in the Torah or mandated by law but nonetheless is followed." (JPS)

minhag hamakom

local custom

minyan

prayer quorum of 10 Jews age 13 or older (traditionally male; in some communities male or female)

religious community

small service

mise meshune

horrible, violent, or unnatural death, often used as a curse

mishkan

the tabernacle or temporary sanctuary in which the Divine Presence dwelled during the Jews’ journeys through the desert

the portion of the tabernacle and the Temple building before the Holy of Holies which contained the inner altar, the table for the showbread, and the menorah

Mishnah

an authoritative collection of exegetical material embodying the oral tradition of Jewish law and forming the first part of the Talmud.

Mishnah Berurah

commentary on Shulchan Aruch Orech Chaim by Israel Meir of Radin, aka the Chofetz Chaim

Mishneh Torah

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

mishpacha

"Literally, "family". ...The word conveys a warm feeling of friendship." (JPS)

misnagdim

Non-Hasidim (literally "opponents.")

mitzvah

good deed

Literally, "commandment"

mitzvot aseh

affirmative commandments (of the 613 commandments of the Torah)

Moadim lesimcha

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

mohel

A person trained to perform Jewish ritual circumcision

mora

Teacher - Female

moserim

informers

moshiach

The Messiah

moshl

parable, example

muktzah

An object that it is forbidden to handle on the Sabbath and on certain holidays (generally because the object's primary purpose involves actions considered work and forbidden on those days).

musaf

The additional service added to the morning services on the Sabbath and holidays.

musar

reproof; system of ethics; discipline

muvan me'elav

self-evident

naches

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

Nachshon

Trailblazer. Initiator. Someone who takes a risk when others are not willing to.

navi

prophet; class on Prophets

neder

a vow

negiah

"touching"; usually used in the phrase "shomer negiah", which is the custom of avoiding touch with members of the opposite sex outside of one's family

nekiyus hadibur

Literally "purity of one's speech"

neros

candles

nes

miracle

neshama

soul

niddah

menstrual impurity; often used to refer to the entire body of Jewish law surrounding the practice of abstaining from intercourse during the menstrual cycle

nifter

deceased

nigun

"A wordless melody; a tune" (JPS)

nisayon

trial and tribulation; a test of faith

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)

OB"M

"of blessed memory"

Off the derech

No longer religious/observant; now following a non-religious/non-observant lifestyle.

ohel

tent (in a summer camp setting)

structure built over a grave, especially that of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

oilam

the world; the public

a group of people

olam habah

"The world to come"; the messianic age; Heaven

olav ha-sholom

"peace be upon him"; said of someone who is deceased

on one foot

translation of Hebrew "al regel achat" or Yiddish "af eyn fus": off-the-cuff; quick, quickly, quick answer (from a Talmudic story about Rabbi Hillel summarizing the Torah to a potential convert while standing on one foot)

oneg

a informal, festive gathering Friday night involving food, casual Torah study, Jewish songs, etc.

oso ha-Ish

literally "that man", an irreverent/euphemistic reference to Jesus of Nazereth

parasha

general realm of feasibility, ballpark (Weiser)

Selection of the Pentateuch read publicly on the Sabbath.

a tedious, lengthy enumeration or account, litany (Weiser)

period of dating for marriage (Orthodox Jews)

conversation (Weiser)

parnasa

livelihood, income

parve

1. neither milk nor meat; 2. uninteresting, plain, generic

pasken

to rule halachically

pasuk

a verse, usually from the Torah

patur

not liable, exempt

payos

Sidelocks, sidecurls, or earlocks, common among Haredi boys and men.

perush

A commentary on a text, something that makes the meaning clear.

Pesach

The Jewish Holiday of Passover

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

pidyon haben

ceremony of redemption of the first-born son; celebration surrounding this ceremony

posek

a rabbi/scholar who makes halachic decisions/rulings

poshet

simple

posl

invalid

pritse

an immodest woman

pritsus

immoral behavior

psak

rabbinic ruling

pshetl

subtle or hair-splitting argument about a Jewish text

dvar torah (Orthodox)

punim

face

Purim

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

rachmones

mercy

refua shlema

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

Rema

an Ashkenazi gloss on the Shulchan Aruch written by Moshe Isserles (known as the "Rema") in Poland; it applies the essentially Sephardi oriented Shulchan Aruch to Ashkenazi communities

responsa

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

Rosh Chodesh

start of a new month in the Hebrew calendar

rosh edah

supervisor of staff member responsible for a particular age group at summer camp

Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish new year

rov

A particularly notable rabbi; a halachic decisor

ruach

spirit, "spiritedness, morale" (JPS)

ruchnies

spirituality

saba

grandfather

sakanah

danger

savlanut

patience

schach

branches or bamboo used to cover a sukkah

sechel

"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence

seder

period for Torah study

A ceremony involving recitations, singing, food, and drink typically associated with Passover, but also with Tu B'shvat and Rosh Hashanah.

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.

segula

Folk remedy, safeguard, superstitious action, talisman

divinely bestowed reward as a result of an individual's participation in a minhag or mitzvah

"procedure that is not based on medical or scientific logic yet is efficacious in improving a situation or protecting a person from harm" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segula_(Kabbalah))

Sephardic

Jews whose ancestors came from the Iberian Peninsula before the Jewish expulsion

Shabbat

The Jewish Sabbath; Saturday

Shabbos

the Jewish Sabbath

Shabbos elevator

elevator used on the Sabbath that stops automatically on each floor to allow religious Jews to use it without operating electric equipment

Shabbos goy

"A non-Jew who by prearrangement performs chores [that are forbidden] for a Jew on the Sabbath or holidays." (Steinmetz)

shadchen

matchmaker

shaila

a question, usually while looking for a halachic ruling

shalech manes

Gifts for friends, traditionally given on Purim. Typically, a basket with food requiring two separate brachas in it.

shalom

hello, goodbye, peace

shalom bayit

"Literally, 'peace in the home'. Contentment and harmony among family members." (JPS)

shalom zachar

welcoming party to celebrate the birth of a son, usually held at the house of the child's parents on the first Friday night after his birth

shalosh regalim

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

shaloshudes

the traditional third meal of the sabbath, eaten saturday afternoon or evening beginning before the sabbath has ended. [lit. "three meals"]

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

shana tova

happy new year, lit. 'good year'

shatnez

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

shechita

Kosher animal slaughter.

shecht

to slaughter meat according to the rituals of kashrut

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.

Shemoneh Esrei

another name for the Amida, the central prayer during Jewish services. [lit. 'eighteen', the number of blessings it originally had]

Shemot

Printed items containing the name of God in Hebrew letters (generally pronounced SHAY-miss)

The Book of Exodus [lit. 'names']

sheva brachot

the seven blessings said after a jewish wedding and at a festive meal once a day for a week afterwards. the term can refer to the one week period after the wedding, the festive meal, or the blessings themselves.

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)

sheymes

n., such content

adj., of or relating to printed material, such as a book or even an audio recording, that contains the name of God, and therefore must not be erased, put on the floor, etc., out of respect for the Divine Name

shicker

tipsy/drunk

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

shiksa

"1. A non-Jewish girl. 2. A housemaid. 3. An irreligious or nonobservant Jewish girl. The term is often regarded as disparaging." (Steinmetz)

shir

song

shira

singing session

shiur

"1. A lesson, lecture, or discourse on the Torah, Mishnah, or Gemara...(2. A measure, size, or rate)." (JPS)

shivah

week-long period of mourning after the death of a relative, during which close relatives stay at home and greet visitors. mourners traditionally sit on low stools during this time, so someone in mourning is said to be 'sitting shiva'.

shkotz

berating term for a mischievous Jewish boy

shlogn kapores

to make oneself feel guilty.

the custom of symbolically transferring one's sins to a chicken (or coins) before Yom Kippur, done by moving the chicken (or coins) in a circle around one's head.

shloshim

Thirty

The 30-day period after a deceased person's funeral, often marked with special remembrances such as family members studying religious texts in the person's honor.

shmira

"guard duty"

"watching over the body of a dead person prior to burial"

shmura

a type of matzah adhering to more stringent interpretations of permissible matzah for Passover

shofar

ram's horn sounded during the month of elul, especially associated with rosh hashanah

shomer

literally, to guard. can be short for "shomer shabbat" (keeps the laws of sabbath); for "shomer negia" (keeps the laws prohibiting members of the opposite sex from touching before marriage)

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

shomu shomayim

woe is me!

heaven forbid!

shtadlan

an intercessor

an elected or self-appointed Jewish emissary pleading the cause of his people before the authorities

shtus

nonsense

Shulchan Aruch

a code of Jewish Law (halachah) written by Rabbi Joseph Caro in four sections, based on the Arba Turim (Tur); with its various commentaries, it is considered the central redaction of Jewish Law.

Shulchan Aruch haRav

the Chabad/Lubavitch redaction of the Shulchan Aruch as written by Shneur Zalman of Liadi, notable for its application of Chassidic principles to halachah and codification of differences between Lubavitch Jews and others

shutim

responsa - rabbinic rulings

siddur

Jewish prayer book

sikkum

summarize, usually at the end of a session

a summary

simcha

"A joyous occasion; a celebration" (JPS); usually related to a lifecycle event

siyum

literally, "completion" 1) traditionally means a ceremony and celebration that takes place at the end of a study of a tractate of talmud, but can be used for the completion of another course of study.

smichah

"Rabbinic ordination" (Steinmetz)

snag

Misnaged (non-Hasidic Orthodox Jew)

sofer

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

stam

That's it!

only, simply, just for fun, not for a specific purpose

Just kidding!

sukkah

A temporary dwelling used during the holiday of Sukkot

Sukkot

The feast of the booths; a fall holiday when Jews live in makeshift huts to represent the time the Israelites spent wandering in the desert.

svara

guess, hypothesis

justification, reason, plausible explanation

svive

environment, surroundings

group or get-together

tachlis

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

purpose, aim

tachrichim

burial shrouds

tafkid

divinely ordained purpose

task

assignment

taharas hamishpachah

the body of law surrounding menstruation, lit. "family purity"

taiva

lust, desire

tallis

prayer shawl

Talmud

"The body of Jewish law and tradition comprising the Mishnah and the Gemara, compiled from about 30 B.C.E to about 500 C.E." (Steinmetz)

talmudic

1. literally, having to do with the talmud 2. a debate that was complex and had many sides

tam

taste

Tanach

the entire Jewish bible including the Torah, Prophets, Writings. ['tanakh' is an acronym of the names of the three sections of the bible: torah, nevi'im and kethuvim.]

tashlich

"The custom of going to a...body of running water on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah...and reciting certain penitential verses [and throwing breadcrumbs, symbolizing sins, in to the water.]" (Steinmetz)

tefach

A halachic unit of measure: four fingers (a palm's breadth) high.

tefillah

prayer, services, or an individual prayer

tefillat haderech

the prayer for a safe journey

tefillin

"phylacteries"

Small black boxes containing sections of the shema attached to leather straps and worn around the head and arm during prayer.

Tefillin date

A date on which the male brings along his tefillin, in the expectation that he may spend the night with his date (because he is conscientious about the mitzvah of tefillin and the need to put on his tefillin the following morning).

teshuvah

repentance [lit. "return"]

teva

character (quality of a person or thing)

nature

Thanksgivukkah

"Thanksgivukkah is a pop-culture portmanteau neologism given to the convergence of the American holiday of Thanksgiving and the first day of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah on Thursday, November 28, 2013" (Wikipedia)

The Chosen People

refers to the jewish people as a whole having a unique relationship with god; (translation of hebrew phrase "am nivchar")

tikkun olam

kabbalistic concept of mystically repairing the fabric of the world through the performance of mitzvot

"repairing (the) world," making the world a better place through volunteering, social justice work, and philanthropy

Tizke vetichye vita'arich yamim

May you have the fortune to have a long and good life!

Tizku Leshanim rabot

Wishing you many, many years!

toivel

to immerse dishes in a ritual bath (mikvah) to render them usable in a kosher kitchen

Torah

Literally, "teaching". 1. The five books of moses. 2. Jewish law and values in general.

Tot Shabbat

A synagogue-based service or play group for young children on Shabbat.

treif

(adj or noun) food prohibited by the jewish dietary laws

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.

tsibur

The public.

The (Jewish) community.

A prayer group.

tsniusdik

modest, discrete, especially according to Orthodox norms of dress, comportment, and gender interaction

tsorris

"Troubles, woes, worries, suffering." (Rosten)

Tu b'Av

the 15th of Av, sometimes associated with romantic love and jokingly called 'Jewish Valentine's Day'.

Tu Bishvat

Jewish Arbor Day, the New Year for Trees, literally 'the 15th day of Shevat'.

tuches

buttocks

tzadik

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

Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.

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

tzedakah

charity, money given to charity

tzedek, tzedek tirdof

"justice, justice, you will pursue." (Deuteronomy 16:20)

tzitzit

The fringes on a tallit (tallis) prayer shawl or on a tallit katan.

A garment worn under the shirt by Orthodox men and boys, with a tassel hanging down from each of the four corners.

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

tzom kal

"have an easy fast"; used as a greeting on Jewish fast days, especially Yom Kippur

unetaneh tokef

a particular High Holiday prayer recited on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

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.

Vayikra

the book of Leviticus

vilde chaye

a rambunctious or wild person [lit. 'wild animal']

yad

the metal or wooden pointer used to follow the text when reading Torah; lit. "hand"

yamim noraim

high holy days, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

yasher koach

Good job!

Congratulations!

Thank you (used by Orthodox Jews)

yeladim

children

yemach shemo

"may his name be erased", appended to the names of evil people such as Haman and Hitler

Yerushalayim

Jerusalem

yeshiva

traditionally, an institution that focuses on teaching Talmud to boys and young men. Today yeshivas exist for men and women.

yetzer hara

Lit. 'the evil inclination'

yichus

"Pedigree, lineage, family background." (JPS)

Bragging rights based on respected family history

yigdal

hymn often sung at the end of a prayer service, based on Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith

yiras shamayim

"awe of heaven"

Yom Kippur

day of atonement, arguably the most important day on the Jewish calendar

yontif

a Jewish holiday, especially one on which work is prohibited (in contrast to chol hamoed)

yosem

orphan

yotzei

released from a religious obligation by dint of completion or fulfillment; "to have done what's required" (Glinert)

(with the helping verb "to be," and an object where required) to fulfill, as a mitzvah or some figurative obligation

z"l

'of blessed memory', appended to the name of a dead person

zichrona livracha

May her memory be blessed.

zichrono livracha

may his memory be for a blessing (often abbreviated 'z"l')

zivug

(n.) mate, predestined match

zoykhe

to merit