Jewish English Lexicon

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.

aliyah

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

immigration to Israel

ascent

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

ayzeh bahsa

What a misfortune, how unfortunate, bummer

b'emet

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

b'sha'ah tovah

Literally "at a good hour." All in good time. Good luck. Response to a pregnancy announcement--meaning may all go well.

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'."

balagan

"a disorderly, confusing, and/or overwhelming situation" (Glinert)

beit knesset

Jewish place of worship; "synagogue" (JPS)

beseder

allright; fine. [lit. "in order"]; "OK" (Glinert)

beteavon

bon appetit; enjoy your meal; dig in. Glinert: "Literally, 'bon appetit!'"

bli ayin hara

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

boker or

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

Breslover

A follower of the Hasidic branch of Judaism that adheres to the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov.

bruchim haba'im

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

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.

chalutzim

Pioneers in the building of the State of Israel.

chanichim

campers; members of youth movement, as in Hashomer Hatzair

disciples (in a classroom)

chanukiah

Nine-branched menorah / candelabrum used on Chanukah

chaval al hazman

Wow! Expression of emphasis from Israeli slang. Original meaning is also used: "waste of time"

chaver

comrade, mister (in left-wing political organizations)

friend

chug

group, circle (of people)

elective class, group activity

chutzpah

guts (positive)

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

daf yomi

Lit. "page of the day", refers to the program of study of a page of Talmud every day

davka

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.)

just to annoy, just to be contrary

"definitely or exactly stated; specifically" (Weiser)

dos

A derogatory term for ultra-Orthodox/Haredi Jews, common in Israel.

ein

None; we / I / you don't have any; there is none.

emunah

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

A version of dodgeball played in a hexagonal or octagonal "pit," sometimes referred to as "Israeli dodgeball." Gaga is common in Jewish summer camps, schools, and community gatherings and has spread to non-Jewish settings as well.

gam ani

"me, too"

goy

a nation, but not the Jewish nation

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

hafsaka

break or interruption

halevai

I wish!

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

If only

Haredi

Adjective or noun referring to an individual, institution, or practice associated with strictly Orthodox (non-Modern) Jews.

hashkafah

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

hatikvah

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

havurah

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

hitbodedut

solitary prayer

hoda'ot

announcements

ichsa

an expression of disgust

iyun

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

kadima

a center-left political party in Israel

forward; onward; hurry up, quickly

Kahal

(the people of) a Jewish community

Synagogue, shul, congregation

kelev

dog

dude

ken

Yes

kesher

connection, relationship, link

kibbutz

"[Israeli agricultural] collective" (Glinert) Most settlements in Israeli which originally began as kibbutzim now function as regular municipalities.

Kinneret

the Sea of Galilee

kippah

"small, round headcovering" (JPS)

kitah aleph

level one; 1st. grade in primary school

Knesset

Israel's parliament

kol b'seder

"Everything's fine."

kol hakavod

"well done" (Glinert)

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

kova

hat

krav maga

A form of mixed martial arts developed in the Israeli Army but popularized worldwide. Literally means "contact combat"

kumkum

hot water urn

kumzits

sing-along; campfire gathering with singing

l'chaim

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

L'dor va'dor

Literally "from generation to generation"

l'shalom

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

labriut

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

laila tov

"good night"

lamah lo?

"why not?"; "there's no reason not to.

lehitraot

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

lo matim

Inappropriate

m'dor l'dor

from generation to generation

ma

What

ma la'asot

"what can you do?"

ma pitom

expression of surprise: What the heck?

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

maccabiah

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

color war / intra-camp competition in a Jewish summer camp

machal

a volunteer from outside Israel serving in the Israeli army

machloket

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

madrich

youth counselor or supervisor

mah nishmah?

how are you?

mahtomer / matomeret

What are you saying? or What did you say? or Really??

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)

maspik

enough

matzav

political, military situation in Israel/the Middle East

situation

mayim step

a dance move used in Israeli dance (also known as 'the grapevine')

mazel

luck (good)

congratulations

mazel tov

congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]

merkaz

central area (of a given space)

midrasha

Co-ed supplementary Jewish religious school, usually Reform

Orthodox women's seminary, especially in Israel

Mizrachi

adj. or noun describing a person or practice (including music and ritual) of Middle Eastern Jewish origin. Lit. "Eastern," "Oriental."

moadon

clubhouse, lounge

mora

Teacher - Female

nalashevet

Please sit.

nesiah tovah

"have a good trip"; bon voyage

nikayon

time set aside for cleaning / tidying up (at camp)

nu

so what?; so?; hurry up already

ohel

tent (in a summer camp setting)

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

oleh

Immigrant to Israel; a person who makes aliyah.

petek

note

peula

activity

peulat erev

evening program

plata

electric hotplate used on the Sabbath

rega

wait, hold on; lit. "an instant"

rikud

dancing, especially Israeli dancing (at camp)

rosh edah

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

sababa

Awesome. Cool.

sabra

a prickly pear, "tough and prickly on the outside, tender and sweet on the inside--a description that many say fits citizens of the Jewish state." (JPS)

savta

grandmother

savtadik

(1) something that reminds one favorably of one's savfta (grandmother); (2) something that meets with savta's approval

Shabbat

The Jewish Sabbath; Saturday

Shabbat Shalom

Used as a greeting or departing line (hello or goodbye) on or before Shabbat. Literally "peaceful Sabbath."

shalom

hello, goodbye, peace

shana alef

the post-high school gap year that young men and women spend studying at yeshivot and seminaries in Israel

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)