ad kdei kach

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

adloyada

A Purim carnival.

avodah

the name for a unit at camp in which campers help with such duties as service in the dining hall, laundry, etc.

"Service and worship of God" (Eisenberg)

"A unique part of the Musaf service on Yom Kippur, the Avodah prayers describe the sacrificial ritual in the Temple in ancient Jerusalem on the Day of Atonement" (Eisenberg).

"Literally, 'divine service'" (Eisenberg)

work, generally

b'emet

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

besamim

"Literally, 'spices.' It almost always refers to the spices in the spice box used for the Havdalah ceremony" (JPS).

"Modern Israeli slang for illegal drugs" (JPS).

Spices

bitachon

faith, trust

security

bli ayin hara

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

chag sameach

"Literally, 'Happy Holiday.' The traditional, all-purpose greeting exchanged on almost any Jewish holiday" (JPS).

chakira

proposition, treatise, deliberation

chidon

A bible quiz in Orthodox camps and schools.

daf yomi

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

dati

Modern Orthodox

religious

emunah

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

halevai

If only

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

I wish!

hardal

a label for Israeli Jews who lean towards Haredi (non-modern, strictly Orthodox) and also very nationalistic / Zionist

hashkafah

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

hitbodedut

solitary prayer

iyun

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

kesher

connection, relationship, link

khurbn

the Holocaust

"Destruction of the Temple" (Glinert)

Destruction, generally

lo matim

Inappropriate

madrega

level, especially spiritual level

malshin

verb: To slander, malign, speak loshon hara about somebody.

noun: One who slanders, especially one who turns over a Jew to non-Jewish authorities; informer, stool pigeon, snitch

mamish

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

mazel

luck (good)

congratulations

midrasha

Co-ed supplementary Jewish religious school, usually Reform

Orthodox women's seminary, especially in Israel

mitpachat

headscarf worn by Orthodox Jews

ohel

tent (in a summer camp setting)

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

savtadik

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

sgan rosh

The assistant head of a division or area of camp (e.g. age group, sport, art, education).

principal of a school, assistant head

shana alef

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

shidduch

match

arranged spousal match

mate

a date in the process of finding one's spouse

shomu shomayim

woe is me!

heaven forbid!

sidra

weekly Torah portion

stam

Just kidding!

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

That's it!

svara

guess, hypothesis

justification, reason, plausible explanation

teiku

The question remains unanswered.

An unanswered question.

teva

character (quality of a person or thing)

nature

tzadik

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

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

Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.