Jewish English Lexicon

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. (Literally, "master of reading" or "one who reads")

balaboosta

1) Female head of household 2) Impressively competent homemaker

balabos

Male head of a household

Proprietor

balabotish

"Quiet; respectable; well mannered" (Rosten). "middle class"; normal

baruch Hashem

"Thank God," "blessed is God"

fine

bayis

ancient Temple

becher

2-handle cup for ritual washing of the hands before eating

kiddish cup (lit. "goblet")

bechina

examination, particularly for rabbinic ordination

bechira

free will

behema

a boor, an uncouth, unmannered individual

an animal, especially a large one

beis hamikdash

The Temple in Jerusalem

beiyun

"With depth and in detail: intensively"

bekies

"range of personal knowledge" (Weiser)

broad but not deep knowledge

bekishe

long black coat worn by Hasidic men

ben bayis

frequent guest at someone's home

ben torah

a Torah scholar or moral individual

bench gomel

to say the blessing (called Gomel) said after someone survives a life-threatening situation; often recited pro forma after surviving childbirth or trans-oceanic travel

bench licht

(light and) bless candles

benoni

spiritually average person

beys hakise

bathroom

bichlal

in any way, entirely, in general, altogether

Birkat Habayit

“blessing for the house,” usually refers to a decorative piece of calligraphy for the home

bitachon

security

faith, trust

black hat

Haredi; describing people or traditions of the right end of the Orthodox continuum, encompassing Hasidic and non-Hasidic (or just non-Hasidic) Orthodox Jews, of whom the men wear black hats

blech

an electric hot plate or "sheet of metal that can be placed over the burners on a stove to retain heat, so that precooked food...can be kept warm during the Sabbath." (JPS)

bli ayin hara

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

bochur

young unmarried male, especially a yeshiva student

bodek

also a brand of vegetables that has been checked for insects

check, especially looking for insects that would render produce non-kosher

bring down

cite or reference

broiges

a dispute (n)

angry, annoyed (adj.)

BT

ba'al teshuva, returnee to faith, Jew who chose to become Orthodox

bubbale

sweetie, darling [term of endearment]

by

at [a location], at the house of, with, among, according to the opinion of, at [an event, time of year] (in addition to Standard English near).

chabadsker

n., a follower of Chabad Lubavitch (i.e., a Lubavitcher Hasid), often pejorative

adj., of or relating to Chabad Lubavitch (i.e., Lubavitcher), often pejorative

chabura

study group

chacham

wise, learned person; genius

rabbi (Sephardi)

wiseguy

chakira

proposition, treatise, deliberation

chap

"to comprehend" (Weiser) (lit. "to grasp")

chas v'chalila

"heaven forbid" (Steinmetz's Yiddish and English dictionary)

chas v'sholom

"heaven forbid" (Glinert)

chashuv

Important; of high status

chassidish

Adhering to Hasidism, a mystical brand of Orthodox Judaism; having traits associated with Hasidim

chatuna

wedding

chatzos

halachic midday and midnight

chayav

Guilty of transgressing. Liable.

chazarah

(n.) review of material previously studied

chazer

"go over; review" (Weiser)

cherem

"excommunication; ostracism" (Yiddish)

chidush

innovative idea; an insight; discovery; novelty

chillul Hashem

disgracing God's name; an action that might be looked down upon; an action that might make Jews look bad

chiyuv

obligation

one who is in mourning and must say Kaddish

chrein

horseradish

chumradik

stringent, used to imply that a person is making the most strict halachic ruling, or follows additional restrictions in his or her practice

chumrah

a religious stringency

chutz la'aretz

Outside of Israel; the disapora, lit. "outside the land."

chutzpahdik

impertinent

collect

gather funds or fundraise for an institution.

da'as torah

Intuitive knowledge that comes from a lifetime of Torah study.

The authoritative wisdom of the tradition mediated by "gedolim" or great rabbis.

daf yomi

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

dan l'kaf zechus

give the benefit of the doubt

derech

(lit. "path") usually refers to an ethical lifestyle or the traditional, halachic Jewish lifestyle

derech eretz

Participating in modern society.

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

drasha

"Sermon, learned address." (Glinert)

dveykus

spiritual ecstasy; lit. "cleaving"

eats out

Describes willingness of otherwise kosher-observant person to eat in non-supervised restaurant; connotation is that they will not eat non-kosher food (meat, shellfish etc), but are not concerned about the status of food prepared in otherwise non-kosher kitchen.

ein hachi nami

"granted"; yes, that's how it is, that's certainly true

einikel

grandchild

emunah

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

erlech

honest, legitimate

religious

es shtayt geshribn

"It is written."

farbrengen

Noun: a gathering or celebration that includes a spiritual or religious component.

Verb: to hold such a gathering or celebration.

farher

verb: examine, test, quiz

noun: an oral examination, typically on one's understanding of Talmud

FFB

Short for "frum from birth." Refers to someone who grew up in a religious home, the opposite of a BT (ba'al teshuvah) who became religious as an adult.

FFT

'Frum from Tuesday' - a satire on 'FFB'. Denotes a very recent BT, usually someone who has not mastered the rituals / social cues of Orthodox practice.

freilach

adj: happy, merry

noun: (frailach or freylekhs) a lively song/dance performed at simchas

fress

To gobble up food; to gorge oneself. "To eat quickly or noisily, like an animal" (JPS)

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]".

gadol

literally "big," refers to particularly well respected rabbis; "luminary" (Weiser)

gashmiyus

materialism, in contrast with spiritual concerns; "indulgence in earthly pleasures" (Weiser)

gayve

pride; arrogance; obnoxiousness

gebrokts

(2) People who hold by the stringency against eating wetted matzah.

(1) Matzah that is mixed with liquid during cooking; avoided by scrupulously observant because of the possibility that unbaked flour in the matzah could be exposed to the liquid and thereby become chametz, forbidden during Passover.

gedolim

Important, influential people, especially renowned rabbis of the present or recent past. Luminaries (Weiser)

Secondary usage: feces or excrement.

geferlech

Dangerous, terrible

gehenom

Considered to be a temporary place one's soul goes after death, for atonement, before reuniting with God.

Hell (metaphoric)

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)

ger tzedek

A "righteous convert" to Judaism.

geshmak

delicious, delightful

get

a writ or deed of divorce

geulah

redemption

glatt

Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).

Super-kosher (not only of food), or acceptable to the Haredi community.

goyish

"in the manner or style of a non-Jewish person" (JPS), especially something WASPy or "white bread"

goyte

non-Jewish woman, especially domestic worker

gramen

rhymes; especially a rhyming poem or song

gurnisht

"nothing, zilch, zero" (JPS)

hachnasas orchim

hospitality (lit. "bringing in guests")

hachnosas kallah

charitable support for poor young women to get married

HaKadosh Baruch Hu

God, lit. "The Holy One, Blessed Be He"

hakafah

a go-around (similar to sivuv)

parade, processional with the Torah on Simchas Torah

halevai

I wish!

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

If only

Half Shabbas

Describes Sabbath observance by someone (usually a teenager) who observes Shabbat in every respect - except one: they text/SMS/tweet on Shabbat (or use other digital communication). May extend to using other electronic/digital devices as well (e.g. tablets).

hardal

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

Harry

A single, yeshivish male (see bochur) who is less culturally yeshivish than his peers.

Hashem

God, lit. "the name"

hashgacha

1. Divine providence, interference, attention 2. Rabbinic supervision designating food as kosher

hashkafah

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

Hashpa'ah

Motivating force, source for change in one's actions, influence

Influence, or effect, particularly on one's character, development, and/or behavior

hechsher

(Rabbinic) stamp or seal of approval-- typically designating a product as kosher

hefker

running wild, undisciplined

ownerless

heicha kedusha

abbreviated version of the repetition of the Shmona Esre / Amidah

heimish

3. at home, comfortable

1. familiar, homey, informal, cozy, warm

2. Haredi Orthodox

heter

rabbinic allowance

hitbodedut

solitary prayer

hold

agree with

to be on the verge of

to opine; to act in accordance with; to be of the opinion; to believe "maintain" (Weiser)

to maintain a degree of religious observance

im yirtzeh hashem

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

inside/outside

Dealing with a text directly (inside) or discussion about a text (outside) during different segments of a study session

isru chag

"The day after the end of Pesach, Sukkos, and Shavuos, regarded as a semi-holiday on which mourning is curbed and fasting prohibited" (Dictionary of Jewish Usage)

iyun

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

kaboles ponem

the reception before a wedding ceremony, consisting of a tish (for men) and a bedeken (for women). Lit. 'receiving the faces'.

kal v'chomer

by extrapolation we know; all the more so. "with assuredness of mind or action based on an earlier, more restrictive, premise; assuredly; certainly: indubitably." (Weiser)

kallah

Jewish communal gathering, conference

bride

kaparot

Ritual performed between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to remove sins carried out by swinging a chicken over ones head.

kapote

long black coat worn by Hasidic men

kedai

"worth it" (Weiser)

keinehora

"no evil eye" (Rosten). "An expression said to ward off the evil eye or bad luck in general; the verbal equivalent of knocking on wood." (JPS)

keitzed m'rakdim

dancing before the groom and bride at a wedding, more often called 'wedding shtick'

kesher

connection, relationship, link

kiddush Hashem

the sanctification of God's name; "bringing honor to God" (Glinert)

martyrdom

kiki riki

brand name of clothing shells (thin, simple shirts; worn by Orthodox women under more revealing ones to provide coverage)

kimat

"almost or nearly" (Weiser)

kiruv

outreach work meant to encourage non-religious Jews to become religious, [lit. "to bring closer"]

kishka

"Stuffed derma: a sausagelike comestible of meat, flour, and spices stuffed into intestine casing and baked" (Rosten) Also, "guts," literally, Slavic. (Wikipedia)

Kol ishah

lit. 'The voice of a woman'. Refers to the prohibition of men hearing the voice of a woman singing.

kollel

Institution where married men pursue advanced Talmudic study and, often in conjunction with their wives, offer classes and other rabbinic services to the Jewish community around them, especially in non-Orthodox neighborhoods.

kollel rabbi

A man who learns (studies traditional texts) - generally full-time - and offers classes and other services to the (non-Orthodox) Jewish community.

koppel

skullcap, kippah, yarmulke

Kratsmach

Tongue-in-cheek way of referring to "Christmas," especially among Jews who want to avoid uttering the name of Christ.

kriah

Reading, especially Torah

Rending a garment (ritual of mourning)

kuntz

peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)

feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity

strategy (Weiser)

l'hachis

spitefully; deliberately; literally "in order to anger"

la kashya

Not a problem, no difficulty. When two (Talmudic) opinions appear to contradict each other, "la kashya" signals that a resolution is at hand.

lamden

a proficient Talmudic scholar

learn

"To be involved in the acquisition of Torah knowledge through reading and reflection, or to do so as an occupation: STUDY" (Weiser)

lechoira

seemingly as such while allowing for the possibility of the opposite; apparently; ostensibly (Weiser)

Able to be taken for granted; assumed true in the absence of proof to the contrary; presumably (Weiser)

leibedik

lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt

leichter

a small candle holder used to light the Sabbath candles, or the candelabrum itself

levaye

funeral

leytsanus

silliness; buffoonery

limudei kodesh

"holy studies"; Jewish religious studies

Litvish

"Lithuanian"; associated with the rational, intellectual culture of Lithuanian Jewry; Yeshivish

lo aleynu

"I hope it won't happen to us"; "God forbid" lit. "not unto us"

loshn

language; jargon

LWMO

'Left wing Modern Orthodox'. The liberal wing of Modern Orthodoxy, in both attitude and observance.

maarich

to extend, talk/write at length

mabul

the Biblical Flood

a deluge; a torrent of rain

machmir

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

meticulous

maidel

girl

make

To urinate or defecate

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)

matzeivah

headstone

mazel

congratulations

luck (good)

meforshim

any set of commentaries on classic religious texts

the rabbis who wrote such commentaries

mekarev

Literally "bring closer", used in the sense of bringing closer to traditional Judaism A noun for one who brings people closer to traditional Judaism.

mekayam

to fulfill an obligation

meorer

to arouse an inappropriate impulse

mesameach

to gladden another person

mesiras nefesh

self-sacrifice

mevater

to nullify one's desires for the good of others

mezakeh

to acquire; strengthen

middos

character traits (singular: "middah")

midrasha

Co-ed supplementary Jewish religious school, usually Reform

Orthodox women's seminary, especially in Israel

misnagdim

Non-Hasidim (literally "opponents.")

moshiach

The Messiah

moshl

parable, example

muktzah

An object that it is forbidden to handle on the Sabbath and on certain holidays (generally because the object's primary purpose involves actions considered work and forbidden on those days).

nafke mine

practical difference

nebach

interjection, adverb: "unfortunately"; noun: an unfortunate person

negel vasser

literally "nail water"; refers to the practice of washing ones hands immediately after waking

negiah

"touching"; usually used in the phrase "shomer negiah", which is the custom of avoiding touch with members of the opposite sex outside of one's family

nekiyus hadibur

Literally "purity of one's speech"

neros

candles

nes

miracle

nicht shabbos geret

Not to speak of on Shabbat (used when a subject is not suitable for the Holy Shabbat, primarily business and money manners, to indicate that one shouldn't discuss it). Usually followed by a short comment about the "forbidden" subject.

niddah

menstrual impurity; often used to refer to the entire body of Jewish law surrounding the practice of abstaining from intercourse during the menstrual cycle

nifter

deceased

nisayon

trial and tribulation; a test of faith

nittel nacht

Christmas Eve

nogeia b'dovor

one who has a vested interest in something; not a disinterested party. "related in a way as would affect an opinion: associated." (Weiser)

Off the derech

No longer religious/observant; now following a non-religious/non-observant lifestyle.

ohel

tent (in a summer camp setting)

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

oilam

a group of people

the world; the public

okh un vey

"a pity on him"

an unenviable position

ongepotchket

overly elaborate, excessively decorated, slapped together senselessly

Open Orthodox

a breakaway movement to the left of Modern Orthodoxy, declared outside of acceptable Orthodox boundaries by most mainstream Orthodox rabbis

Ortho

shorthand, or slang term, for Orthodox

oso ha-Ish

literally "that man", an irreverent/euphemistic reference to Jesus of Nazereth

parasha

Selection of the Pentateuch read publicly on the Sabbath.

period of dating for marriage (Orthodox Jews)

conversation (Weiser)

general realm of feasibility, ballpark (Weiser)

a tedious, lengthy enumeration or account, litany (Weiser)

parnasa

livelihood, income

pasken

to rule halachically

patsh

to give a light slap

a smack (playful)

patur

not liable, exempt

pekel

little bundle

peshat

"The literal, obvious meaning scholars give to a Jewish text. It can also refer to the simple interpretation of any issue or question." (JPS)

"An explanation of the logic behind or the source of a passage, event, work, etc." (Weiser)

Justification

pidyon haben

ceremony of redemption of the first-born son; celebration surrounding this ceremony

pintele yid

"essential Jewishness"

pish

urinate

urine

posek

a rabbi/scholar who makes halachic decisions/rulings

poshet

simple

posl

invalid

pritse

an immodest woman

pritsus

immoral behavior

prost

coarse, base, not classy, vulgar, common

psak

rabbinic ruling

pshetl

subtle or hair-splitting argument about a Jewish text

dvar torah (Orthodox)

rachmones

mercy

reb

"sir"; "mister"

rebbeyish

pertaining to the Hasidic rebbe

reckel

long black coat worn by Yeshivish men

reid

n. "unofficial information spread through the grapevine" (Weiser), especially information related to Talmud study

v. refer someone for a marriage match; pronounce a match

n. speech, talk

rov

A particularly notable rabbi; a halachic decisor

ruchnies

spirituality

RWMO

'Right-wing Modern Orthodox' - often University-educated and open to (certain) professional training and education, but seriously committed to halakhic observance.

sakanah

danger

savtadik

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

schlissel

key

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))

seminary

Post-high school learning program for women; usually located in Jerusalem and associated with an Orthodox religious outlook

Shabbos elevator

elevator used on the Sabbath that stops automatically on each floor to allow religious Jews to use it without operating electric equipment

Shabbos goy

"A non-Jew who by prearrangement performs chores [that are forbidden] for a Jew on the Sabbath or holidays." (Steinmetz)

shana alef

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

shechita

Kosher animal slaughter.

shefele

sweety, Lit. "lamb"

Shemot

The Book of Exodus [lit. 'names']

Printed items containing the name of God in Hebrew letters (generally pronounced SHAY-miss)

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

mate

a date in the process of finding one's spouse

arranged spousal match

match

shlogn kapores

to make oneself feel guilty.

the custom of symbolically transferring one's sins to a chicken (or coins) before Yom Kippur, done by moving the chicken (or coins) in a circle around one's head.

shloshim

Thirty

The 30-day period after a deceased person's funeral, often marked with special remembrances such as family members studying religious texts in the person's honor.

shluffy

[to go] to sleep (child-directed speech)

shomer

a camp counselor on duty

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

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

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

a chaperone, protector, or guard

shpatzir

literally 'to walk, take a stroll'; figuratively 'to delay, tarry, procrastinate'

shtark

Adj: religiously intense. Literally "strong," generally used in reference to someone more religious than the speaker

Verb: "shtark out" - to identify oneself closer to the Black Hat end of the Modern Orthodox to Black Hat continuum, in comparison to one's previous location on that continuum.

Shtati

Cool, modern, cosmopolitan.

shteig

strive; study; lit. "rise"

shtender

lectern

shtim

(often with preposition "with") to jibe, gel, concur, harmonize; without prep., equivalent to colloquial English "to add up; make sense"

shtus

nonsense

shuckle

Literally, "to shake", to sway back and forth during prayer

shutim

responsa - rabbinic rulings

shvach

weak, pathetic, (a place or gathering that is) lacking in activity

shvartsa

black person, [lit. "black"]. Often considered offensive in English.

sidra

weekly Torah portion

simcha

"A joyous occasion; a celebration" (JPS); usually related to a lifecycle event

spodik

fur hat, similar to but taller (more cylindrical) than a shtreimel, worn by certain Chassidic groups

stam

That's it!

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

Just kidding!

sugya

passage from the Talmud

"A distinct matter for consideration in discussion, thought, or study" (Weiser)

svara

guess, hypothesis

justification, reason, plausible explanation

svive

environment, surroundings

group or get-together

tachrichim

burial shrouds

tafkid

assignment

divinely ordained purpose

task

taharas hamishpachah

the body of law surrounding menstruation, lit. "family purity"

taka

Is that so? Really, actually, indeed, "in consideration of all the information available" (Weiser)

(can also be used ironically)

tam

taste

tate

little boy; especially when using diminutive tatele / tattele / tattaleh / tattale / tateleh (in child-directed speech)

dad

tefach

A halachic unit of measure: four fingers (a palm's breadth) high.

tefillat haderech

the prayer for a safe journey

teiku

The question remains unanswered.

An unanswered question.

tell over

to repeat or teach a story heard elsewhere

teva

character (quality of a person or thing)

nature

tisch

a festive friday night gathering, often involving alcohol and singing [lit. "table"]. in hasidic circles, the rebbe often hosts a tisch with hundreds of hasidim at which he shares his teachings.

tsibur

The public.

The (Jewish) community.

A prayer group.

tsniusdik

modest, discrete, especially according to Orthodox norms of dress, comportment, and gender interaction

tuna bagel

a person (usually a young, Hasidic man) who appears to be religious but is in part or in whole not observant; OR who is observant and wears Hasidic garb, but otherwise behaves like non-Hasidic Orthodox Jews

tzadik

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

Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.

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

tzeit

nightfall; the time when three stars have appeared in the sky (short for tzeit hakochavim - stars coming out)

tznius

(adj.) modest, discrete, especially according to Orthodox norms of dress, comportment, and gender interaction

(n.) modesty, discretion, especially according to Orthodox norms of dress, comportment, and gender interaction

vort

a short lesson derived from the Torah; an engagement party, named after the short speech usually delivered in honor of the couple

vos

what

wash

To wash one's hands ritually before a meal.

yainee

other types of chassidim [i.e. non-Chabad] , especially youth

yasher koach

Thank you (used by Orthodox Jews)

Good job!

Congratulations!