Jewish English Lexicon

"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).

davka

"definitely or exactly stated; specifically" (Weiser)

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.)

derech eretz

Participating in modern society.

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

drasha

"Sermon, learned address." (Glinert)

duchen

A ritual where the kohanim recite the Priestly Blessing (Num. 6:24-26), blessing the rest of the congregation.

dveykus

spiritual ecstasy; lit. "cleaving"

emunah

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

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)

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

a nation, but not the Jewish nation

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

haftorah

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

halacha

"Jewish law" (JPS)

halevai

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

I wish!

If only

Hasid

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

Pious person

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

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

im yirtzeh hashem

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

kallah

Jewish communal gathering, conference

bride

kavanah

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

intent

kehillah

"A Jewish community" (JPS)

khurbn

"Destruction of the Temple" (Glinert)

Destruction, generally

the Holocaust

kosher

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

koved

"honor, dignity, respect" (JPS)

l'chaim

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

machloket

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

machmir

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

meticulous

madrega

level, especially spiritual level

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)

matzeivah

headstone

mazel

luck (good)

congratulations

mazel tov

congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]

mazume

"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)

"A group of three or more adult males who join together to recite the after-meal blessings..." (Steinmetz).

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).

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

meshuga

crazy

middos

character traits (singular: "middah")

mishpacha

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

naches

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

neshama

soul

nifter

deceased

nigun

"A wordless melody; a tune" (JPS)

nu

so what?; so?; hurry up already

olav ha-sholom

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

oy

exclamation of dismay, exasperation, or surprise

parnasa

livelihood, income

parve

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

payos

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

rachmones

mercy, pity, empathy

refua shlema

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

sechel

"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence

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))

shadchen

matchmaker

shalech manes

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

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

Shemoneh Esrei

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

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

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)