Showing 64 of 64 words, page 1 of 1
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aleph-bet
"A name for the Hebrew alphabet" (JPS)
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apikoros
heretic, non-believer, especially one with great knowledge of Judaism
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beit din
A rabbinical court of law that makes judgments on matters of Jewish religious life, especially conversion and divorce.
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bench
JPS: "To recite a blessing. It usually refers to Birkat ha-Mazon, the Grace after Meals... The word can also refer to the reciting of any blessing; for example, the expression bentsch licht means to light Shabbat [or Chanukah] candles."
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bracha
blessing (in the technical or figurative sense)
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chazan
The official at a synagogue who leads the congregation in prayer and song. (JPS)
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chazir
1. pork 2. a pig, greedy person (JPS)
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daven
pray; lead services
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Elohim/Elokim
"One of the many names used to refer to God" (JPS)
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fleishig
"The general term for food in the meat category, according to the Jewish dietary laws" (JPS)
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fresser
big eater, "pig". "A heavy eater." (JPS)
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frum
religious; observant; Orthodox
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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)
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gelt
Money (slang usage)
"The foil wrapped chocolate coins that are a traditional Hanukkah treat for children." (JPS)
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gematria
"An ancient system of Hebrew numerology," (JPS), in which each Hebrew letter possesses a numerical value, allowing words or phrases to express possible "hidden" meaning (when one adds up the letters' values)
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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)
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gonif
thief
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haftorah
"A reading from the biblical book of Prophets that is recited in synagogue immediately following the reading of the Torah" (JPS)
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haggadah
"The small book of liturgy, prayers, songs, and rituals used at a Pesach seder" (JPS)
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halacha
"Jewish law" (JPS)
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hamentaschen
"Small, triangular-shaped cookies filled with fruit or jam that are eaten on Purim" (JPS)
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havdalah
"literally 'separation'. The ceremony that marks the end of [the Sabbath] on Saturday evening" (JPS)
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kaddishl
A son who will say kaddish for a parent (literally, "little kaddish").
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kaparot
Ritual performed between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to remove sins carried out by swinging a chicken over ones head.
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kinder
"children" (Rosten)
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landsman
Someone who comes from the same or nearby hometown, especially if one or both of you no longer lives there and all the more so if one or both now live far away from home, in which case an entire region (e.g., metro NY) or country e.g., Poland) may be the point of connection.
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maariv
the evening prayer
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mamzer
bastard [see note]; "A detestable [person] like the colloquial English "He's a bastard"" (Rosten)
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mazume
"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)
"A group of three or more adult males who join together to recite the after-meal blessings..." (Steinmetz).
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midrash
stories or explanations that interpret or ellaborate on the Torah's text.
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mikvah
"Ritual bath" (JPS)
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milchig
"...food in the "dairy" category, according to the Jewish dietary laws...also refers to the utensils and dishes used for cooking, eating, and serving milk products." (JPS)
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Mishnah
an authoritative collection of exegetical material embodying the oral tradition of Jewish law and forming the first part of the Talmud.
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mishpacha
"Literally, "family". ...The word conveys a warm feeling of friendship." (JPS)
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nu
so what?; so?; hurry up already
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olav ha-sholom
"peace be upon him"; said of someone who is deceased
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parve
1. neither milk nor meat; 2. uninteresting, plain, generic
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Pesach
The Jewish Holiday of Passover
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Purim
A joyous holiday that takes place in February or March on the 14th of Adar, retelling the story of the Book of Esther.
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rebetzin
wife of a rabbi
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schach
branches or bamboo used to cover a sukkah
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schmegege
"silly or stupid person; simpleton; nitwit" (Steinmetz)
"An untalented loser; a whiner; a petty person" (JPS).
"An unadmirable, petty person" (Rosten)
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schnorrer
a begger, a parasite. "A moocher" (JPS)
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sechel
"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence
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Shabbos
the Jewish Sabbath
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shadchen
matchmaker
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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
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shehecheyanu
the blessing of thanksgiving that celebrates reaching a celebratory moment or marking a significant first
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sheitel
wig; worn by some observant jewish women after marriage. "A wig worn by strictly Orthodox...women as a [hair] covering." (Steinberg)
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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
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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)
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smichah
"Rabbinic ordination" (Steinmetz)
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Sukkot
The feast of the booths; a fall holiday when Jews live in makeshift huts to represent the time the Israelites spent wandering in the desert.
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tachlis
purpose, aim
practical details of a matter, "brass tacks" (as in, "Let's get down to brass tacks.")
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tefillin
Small black boxes containing sections of the shema attached to leather straps and worn around the head and arm during prayer.
"phylacteries"
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treif
(adj or noun) food prohibited by the jewish dietary laws
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tsorris
"Troubles, woes, worries, suffering." (Rosten)
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tzadik
Common name for the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet (tzadi / tzade).
A highly learned and esteemed rabbinic leader (sometimes used as an alternative name for a Hasidic rebbe).
Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.
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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).
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yahrzeit
The anniversary of a person's death, generally marked by relatives in some way.
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yeshiva
traditionally, an institution that focuses on teaching Talmud to boys and young men. Today yeshivas exist for men and women.
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yontif
a Jewish holiday, especially one on which work is prohibited (in contrast to chol hamoed)
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