Jewish English Lexicon

achron

"Latter-day religious authorities... scholars of the Renaissance and later times" (Glinert).

Adar

The sixth month of the Jewish calendar year.

adon olam

a hymn in the traditional Jewish liturgy, usually recited before Shacharit and often sung after services in synagogue, made up of traits attributed to God

aggadah

Parts of the Talmud and Midrash that do not deal with law, including stories, fables, and sayings. "Talmudic stories or philosophical material" (Glinert).

al het

"A Yom Kippur prayer that asks forgiveness for a multitude of sins committed during the previous year" (JPS).

Aleinu

"A prayer in praise of God, Aleinu acknowledges the unique relationship between God and the Jewish people" (JPS)

aliyah

immigration to Israel

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

ascent

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

Amalek

The biblical name of the nomadic people descended from Esau who became the enemies of the people of Israel.

Any enemy of the Jewish people

amora

A Talmudic sage whose teachings comprise the Gemara. "Amoraim are contrasted with the tannaim, ancient rabbis who are quoted in the Mishnah" (JPS).

amud

one side of a page (of Talmud)

pulpit, lectern

page (in a prayerbook)

The thirteen articles of Jewish faith written by Maimonides, each beginning with the phrase "ani maamin" ("I believe"). "The twelfth of which says, I believe believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah. Even though he may tarry I will wait for him on any day that he may come'" (JPS).

Anim Zmirot

"A hymn composed of an alphabetic acrostic of 31 lines, generally sung in front of the open ark at the conclusion of the Musaf service on Shabbat." (JPS)

apikoros

heretic, non-believer, especially one with great knowledge of Judaism

Aramaic

Judeo-Aramaic, a northern Semitic language related to Hebrew.

aravot

"the branches of the willow that are part of the lulav used on Sukkot" (JPS).

arba kosot

"The four glasses of wine drunk on Passover" (Glinert).

arba minim

"The four plant species used on Sukkot" (Glinert).

arbes

Boiled chickpeas

Asara B'Tevet

"A minor fast day that falls on the 10th of Tevet. It commemorates the start of the siege of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia in 586 B.C.E., which is considered the beginning of the destruction of the First Temple" (JPS).

askan

A Jewish social worker.

aufruf

Celebration when, traditionally, the groom, and as of recently in egalitarian communities, the engaged couple is called to the Torah the Shabbat before their wedding; that aliyah itself (aufruf means literally "to call up").

Av

"The fifth month in the Jewish calendar, it usually corresponds to July or August" (JPS).

aveilus

Mourning (Glinert)

Avinu Malkeinu

"A High Holy Day prayer in which God is asked to 'be gracious to us and answer us, even though we have not done all the good that we might have'" (JPS).

avodah

"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

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

ba'al tekiah

"The title for the person who blows the shofar on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur" (JPS).

baal koreh

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.

baal-teshuva

A Jew from a secular background who chooses to become observant.

"Newly religious Jew; penitent" (Glinert)

baruch haba

"Welcome!"

baruch tihiyeh

"May you be blessed"

bashert

Predicate adj. "Predestined, fated" (JPS)

N. Predestined soul mate.

bedika

Inspection or search, especially with regard to preparations for Passover

bedikas chametz

"The ceremony immediately before Pesach in which family members conduct a ritual search of the home for hametz, pieces of bread or leavened food that are forbidden on Passover" (JPS).

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)

bekishe

A long satin cloak for men.

bencher

prayer booklet or card with the text of the blessings after meals, and often times including other meal-time blessings and songs

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

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.

chag sameach

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

cheder

Hebrew and religious classes (often on Sundays) for elementary school children.

chesed

an act of kindness

kindness

cheshbon hanefesh

"Soul-searching, self-accounting" (Glinert).

chrain

A spicy paste made from grated horseradish.

daf

A page of a Talmudic tractate.

duchen

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

emes

Truth, true

"In accordance with the truth: True" (Weiser)

eyd

A witness

eyer kichlech

Egg cookies, usually in the shape of bow ties.

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]".

gaon

"A title of honor for the rabbis and teachers who were the spiritual heads of the Babylonian yeshivot between the 6th and 11th centuries C.E." (JPS)

"A rabbi whose learning was so great that he was given the honorary title of gaon" (Rosten), e.g. the Vilna Gaon

Modern Hebrew: genius (JPS)

gemilas chesed

(pl. gemilas chasodim) A loan of money without interest to help a needy person.

genizah

A storage room in a synagogue where disused sacred books and often-sacred articles are kept, since bringing them or disposing of them otherwise is considered a sacrilege.

ger

(pl. gerim) A convert to Judaism.

gezerah

"An authoritative command either to perform or to refrain from performing a particular act" (Weiser)

"an addition to a previously existing precept" (Weiser)

In Jewish law, a prohibition enacted by the Sages as a measure to protect religious observance under changed conditions.

"evil decree" (Steinmetz)

gmar tov

Greeting/closing used between Rosh Hashana and the end of Yom Kippur. Lit. 'good conclusion'

gut chodesh

"Good month!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Chodesh.

gut moed

"Good festival season!" Used by Ashkenazim on Chol Hamoed.

gut voch

"Good week!" Ashkenazi greeting at the conclusion of the Sabbath.

gut yontef

"Happy holiday!" Ashkenazi greeting used on any of the holidays, including Rosh Hashanahh and Yom Kippur.

gut yor

"Good year!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Hashanah.

Hagiographa

The formal English name of the Ketuvim, usually translated as "the Writings."

halevai

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

I wish!

If only

hamentaschen

"Small, triangular-shaped cookies filled with fruit or jam that are eaten on Purim" (JPS)

Hashem imachem

"God be with you!" Sephardi greeting given by ice approaching the Torah-reading desk after being called up to the Torah.

havdalah

"literally 'separation'. The ceremony that marks the end of [the Sabbath] on Saturday evening" (JPS)

hiddur mitzvah

"Literally, 'beautifying the mitzvah.' The tradition of putting extra time, style, or resources into a mitzvah so that it is performed as beautifully as possible" (JPS).

kein yirbu

"So they may increase in number"

keppy

head, little head (informal, diminutive, often in child-directed speech)

kesiva vechasima tova

"A good writing and sealing (in the Book of Life)!" Formal Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Hashanah.

keva

fixed aspects of ritual/liturgy

kezayit

A halakhic measure for the minimum amount that may not be eaten of a prohibited substance or that must be eaten to fulfill a commandment.

kinyan

The act or manner of legally acquiring or agreeing to something.

"A groom's formal acceptance of the terms of the ketubbah. At a traditional wedding, this ritual takes place during the chossen's tish, when the rabbi or a witness, acting on behalf of the bride, offers the groom a handkerchief or some other object" (JPS).

kippah

"small, round headcovering" (JPS)

kishkas

Intestines, gut

kittel

hite robe that is worn by religious Jews on Yom Kippur, when leading High Holiday services, when leading a Passover seder, by grooms at weddings, and as a burial shroud

kriah

Reading, especially Torah

Rending a garment (ritual of mourning)

kulah

A lenient ruling or measure

"A leniency based on subtle legality: Loophole" (Weiser).

lekech

"Honey cake, traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah... made with honey, eggs, cinnamon, and, often, coffee" (JPS).

lemaan Hashem

"Definitely"

leshana tova tikateivu

"(May you) be inscribed for a good year (in the Book of Life)!" A formal greeting exchanged bu Ashkenazim on Rosh Hashanah.

mamaliga

A Romanian-Jewish dish of thick cornmeal mush.

mandelbrot

"Literally, 'almond bread.' A crunchy, dry cookie, similar to biscotti" (JPS).

marit ayin

suspicious-looking action; doing something that may cause an observer to think that one violated halachah and thus arouse suspicion, or alternatively, doing something that could mislead somebody to interpret than an action is permitted and then violate halachah him/herself

mazel

luck (good)

congratulations

mazume

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

"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)

melacha

"Art or skill: Trade" (Weiser).

"Work or actions forbidden on Shabbat" (JPS). Mostly applies on Yom Tov, as well, and often refers to creative work, or use of electronics.

"That which requires exertion or effort: Task" (Weiser).

meykil

A decisor who follows a lenient option and issues a kulah (lenient ruling).

"Yielding to wishes: Indulgent" (Weiser)

"Not harsh or strict: Easygoing" (Weiser)

"One who is not strict: Liberal, Latitudinarian" (Weiser)

"Taking the lenient position: Liberal" (Weiser)

meyzid

One who commits a sin consciously and deliberately.

mishkan

the tabernacle or temporary sanctuary in which the Divine Presence dwelled during the Jews’ journeys through the desert

the portion of the tabernacle and the Temple building before the Holy of Holies which contained the inner altar, the table for the showbread, and the menorah

Mishneh Torah

a 12th-century code of religious law in fourteen parts written by Moses Maimonides

Moadim lesimcha

Happy holiday! Greeting used on Pesach and Sukkot.

Modern Orthodox

'Modern Orthodox'. Observant, but open to the outside world, general culture and education; not 'Yeshivish' or 'Haredi'.

naches

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

nigun

"A wordless melody; a tune" (JPS)

pesadik

"Acceptable to be eaten on Pesach" (JPS), kosher for Passover.

petcha

Calves' foot jelly or jellied chicken served with garlic and spices as an appetizer.

pikuach nefesh

The principle that the law of saving a person's life takes precedence over all other laws, with the exception of the laws prohibiting idolatry, incestuous relations, and the murder of an innocent person.

Purim

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

rebetzin

wife of a rabbi

refua shlema

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

responsa

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

rishon

"Earlier rabbis and scholars, who lived from around the 11th to the mid-15th century C.E., before the Shulchan Arukh, the compilation of Jewish law, was written." (JPS)

safek

A doubt or doubtful case.

"Unresolved question: Uncertainty" (Weiser)

"Doubt in the integrity of: Suspicion" (Weiser)

sandak

The person given the honor of assisting the mohel at the brit milah. The sandek may hold the child on his lap during the circumcision or, as is common today, just hold the baby for a moment in a symbolic fashion. The honor is often given to one of the baby's grandfathers or to another relative or close friend" (Eisenberg).

schmegege

"silly or stupid person; simpleton; nitwit" (Steinmetz)

"An untalented loser; a whiner; a petty person" (JPS).

"An unadmirable, petty person" (Rosten)

schnoder

"to pledge a donation" (Steinmetz).

Shabbat Shalom

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

shalom uvrachah

"Peace and blessing!" A more emphatic greeting than "shalom."

shalom zachar

welcoming party to celebrate the birth of a son, usually held at the house of the child's parents on the first Friday night after his birth

shalosh regalim

The three major holidays in the Jewish calendar: Passover, Shavuot [Pentecost], and Sukkot [Tabernacles].

shamash

2. the caretaker of a synagogue.

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

shatnez

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

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.

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)

shmura

a type of matzah adhering to more stringent interpretations of permissible matzah for Passover

shogeg

One who commits a sin unintentionally.

shomer

one who keeps vigil over a dead body before it is buried

a chaperone, protector, or guard

adj. observant, observing the laws of kosher, shabbat, or negiya (not touching members of the opposite gender outside of family)

a camp counselor on duty

a member of Hashomer Hatzair or a camper or counselor at a Hashomer Hatzair camp

shtar

Any legal document or writ, such as a bill of sale or a promissory note.

Shulchan Aruch

a code of Jewish Law (halachah) written by Rabbi Joseph Caro in four sections, based on the Arba Turim (Tur); with its various commentaries, it is considered the central redaction of Jewish Law.

siman tov

A congratulatory term meaning "(may it be) a good omen!"

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.

sofer

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

tachlis

purpose, aim

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

tefillah

prayer, services, or an individual prayer

teshuvah

repentance [lit. "return"]

titchadesh

"Use it in good health" or "Enjoy your new item"

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.

tzadik

Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.

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).

tzimmes

"A prolonged procedure, and involved business, a mix-up" (Rosten).

"A sweet, baked dish of vegetables or fruit. Carrot tzimmes, a popular version, includes carrots, sweet potatoes, dried apricots, raisins, sugar, and cinnamon" (JPS).

"Troubles, difficulties, a contretemps" (Rosten).

Congratulations!