Jewish English Lexicon

acharon acharon chaviv

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

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.

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)

aliyah

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

ascent

immigration to Israel

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

Am Yisrael

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

amcha

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

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

askan

A Jewish communal or social worker (Steinmetz)

A person who is influential in working for the community

Activist

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.

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.

Bamidbar

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

behatzlacha

good luck (a wish)

go with success

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)

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

bereshit

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

beys hakise

bathroom

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 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.

Birkot HaShachar

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

bli neder

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

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)

bruchim haba'im

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

chag

"Festival" (Glinert)

chai

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

chametz

Leavened food.

chashuv

Important; of high status

chatzi kaddish

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

chaverim

members, friends

chazan

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

chazarah

(n.) review of material previously studied

chazir

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

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

chiyuv

one who is in mourning and must say Kaddish

obligation

chol hamoed

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

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

chumash

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

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)

dayenu

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

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

dugma

example

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).

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.

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.

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'

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

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!

hakafah

a go-around (similar to sivuv)

parade, processional with the Torah on Simchas Torah

halacha

"Jewish law" (JPS)

hamevin yavin

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

hashgacha

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

Hashpa'ah

Influence, or effect, particularly on one's character, development, and/or behavior

Motivating force, source for change in one's actions, influence

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.

hechsher

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

heicha kedusha

abbreviated version of the repetition of the Shmona Esre / Amidah

iser

prohibition

Kabbalat Shabbat

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

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

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

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

intent

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)

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.

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)

kitniot

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

klal yisroel

"synonym for the Jewish people" (JPS)

kol hakavod

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

"well done" (Glinert)

kol tuv

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

Kotel

"The Western Wall"/wailing wall (Glinert)

koved

"honor, dignity, respect" (JPS)

kriah

Rending a garment (ritual of mourning)

Reading, especially Torah

krovim

relatives

L'dor va'dor

Literally "from generation to generation"

l'shalom

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

lashon hara

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

lulav

palm branch used ritually on Sukkot

maariv

the evening prayer

machloket

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

machzor

High Holiday prayerbook, used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

makpid

Particular, conscientious, especially in relation to Jewish law.

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)

maror

bitter herbs placed on the seder place on Passover

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

mazel

congratulations

luck (good)

mechayil el chayil

"from strength to strength"

mechitza

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

medakdeik

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

mesorah

tradition

Mi Shebeirach

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

midrash

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

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

small service

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

religious community

Mishnah

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

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)

Moadim lesimcha

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

mora

Teacher - Female

musaf

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

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

neshama

soul

nigun

"A wordless melody; a tune" (JPS)

OB"M

"of blessed memory"

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.

parasha

Selection of the Pentateuch read publicly on the Sabbath.

period of dating for marriage (Orthodox Jews)

conversation (Weiser)

general realm of feasibility, ballpark (Weiser)

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

parve

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

perush

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

Pesach

The Jewish Holiday of Passover

peshat

Justification

"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)

Purim

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

refua shlema

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

responsa

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

Rosh Chodesh

start of a new month in the Hebrew calendar

ruach

spirit, "spiritedness, morale" (JPS)

schach

branches or bamboo used to cover a sukkah

sechel

"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence

Shabbos

the Jewish Sabbath

shadchen

matchmaker

shalech manes

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

shalom bayit

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

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

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

2. the caretaker of a synagogue.

shatnez

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

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

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

The Book of Exodus [lit. 'names']

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

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)

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)

shiur

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

shmira

"guard duty"

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

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

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

a chaperone, protector, or guard

a camp counselor on duty

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.

smichah

"Rabbinic ordination" (Steinmetz)

sofer

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

stam

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

That's it!

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.

tachlis

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

purpose, aim

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)

tefillah

prayer, services, or an individual prayer

tefillin

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

"phylacteries"

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"]

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

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

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.

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'.

tza'ar ba'alei chayim

pity for living creatures (Steinmetz), or compassion for animals.

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).

tzedek, tzedek tirdof

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

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

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']

yamim noraim

high holy days, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

yasher koach

Thank you (used by Orthodox Jews)

Good job!

Congratulations!