aba

father, dad, daddy

b'vakasha

JPS: "Literally, 'please'. It can be used in various ways, including "please go ahead" and at the end of a sentence as 'you're welcome'."

chalutzim

Pioneers in the building of the State of Israel.

chanukiah

Nine-branched menorah / candelabrum used on Chanukah

davka

just to annoy, just to be contrary

even; despite expectations to the contrary -- often with a slightly amused or ironic feeling of "wouldn't you know it?" or "of all things" ("of all people" ... etc.)

"definitely or exactly stated; specifically" (Weiser)

eema

mother

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)

hamsa

a hand-shaped amulet (often a wall-hanging or jewelry) conferring good luck or protection, popular in Israel and originally from the Middle East / North Africa

hatikvah

literally "the hope." "The Israeli national anthem." (Glinert)

Kotel

"The Western Wall"/wailing wall (Glinert)

labriut

"bless you" (after someone sneezes) [lit., "to health"] (Glinert)

lehitraot

"Goodbye for now, see you again soon" (JPS) "see you later."

nu

so what?; so?; hurry up already

saba

grandfather

savta

grandmother

Shoah

Eastern European Holocaust (of World War II)

TzaHaL

acronym for: ts'va ha-haganah le-yisrael, the Israeli defense force (IDF)