Jewish English Lexicon

ad kdei kach

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

b'emet

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

balabotish

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

batlan

"Someone with intellectual pretensions and half-baked ideas" (Rosten).

"One who consistently wastes time: Bum, Fainéant" (Weiser).

"An unemployed or lazy man" (Rosten).

"naive, impractical person" (Steinmetz)

"Someone without a trade or regular means of livelihood" (Rosten).

"A misfit, such as a Talmud student of no promise" (Rosten).

"Layabout" (Glinert)

bedieved

"done just well enough to fulfill a need or duty; perfunctorily" (Weiser, Frumspeak)

"under duress, or done when no options are available; as a last resort" (Weiser, Frumspeak)

done after the fact (in an acceptable, but still not ideal, manner); ex post facto

"resentfully; without enthusiasm; begrudgingly" (Weiser, Frumspeak)

bekies

"range of personal knowledge" (Weiser)

broad but not deep knowledge

bichlal

in any way, entirely, in general, altogether

bochur

young unmarried male, especially a yeshiva student

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).

chacham

wise, learned person; genius

rabbi (Sephardi)

wiseguy

chap

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

chazarah

(n.) review of material previously studied

chidush

innovative idea; an insight; discovery; novelty

ein hachi nami

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

emes

Truth, true

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

emesdik

"Truthful, genuine" (Steinmetz)

"As a matter of fact: Genuinely" (Weiser)

farher

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

verb: examine, test, quiz

fress

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

gadol

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

gashmiyus

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

gedolim

Secondary usage: feces or excrement.

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

gezerah

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

"evil decree" (Steinmetz)

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

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

glatt

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

Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).

halevai

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

I wish!

If only

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

heimish

3. at home, comfortable

1. familiar, homey, informal, cozy, warm

2. Haredi Orthodox

hold

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

agree with

inyan

significance within Jewish law.

topic [of conversation] (Weiser, Glinert).

matter (Steinmetz)

iyun

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

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)

kashe

A question posing some difficulty because of apparent inconsistencies with accepted premises: problem. A tough, perplexing question.

Question, difficulty (Steinmetz), challenge, objection.

kenas

A fine paid as a penalty for wrongdoing.

kiruv

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

kivyakhol

Substitute or euphemism for God's name, similar to Hashem

"As if", "so to speak," can be used to refer to anthropomorphic language about God

kulah

A lenient ruling or measure

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

kuntz

peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)

strategy (Weiser)

feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity

l'hachis

spitefully; deliberately; literally "in order to anger"

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)

machmir

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

meticulous

mamish

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

matzliach

"To thrive: Prosper" (Weiser)

"Accomplishing a mission or an attempt: Successful" (Weiser)

mefunak

luxurious, elaborate, pampering

being particularly concerned about cleanliness, appearance, and the way things are prepared: finicky, spoiled.

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.

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

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

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

"Taking the lenient position: Liberal" (Weiser)

"Yielding to wishes: Indulgent" (Weiser)

"Not harsh or strict: Easygoing" (Weiser)

nebach

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

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)

parasha

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

Selection of the Pentateuch read publicly on the Sabbath.

period of dating for marriage (Orthodox Jews)

conversation (Weiser)

general realm of feasibility, ballpark (Weiser)

peshat

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

Justification

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

prost

coarse, base, not classy, vulgar, common

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

safek

A doubt or doubtful case.

"Unresolved question: Uncertainty" (Weiser)

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

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.

Shayach

1. Capable of being true or believable: Conceivable. / 2. Capable of being done: Surmountable / 3. Practical, reasonable, or possible: Feasible. (Weiser)

Pertinent, relevant (Steinmetz).

shidduch

match

mate

a date in the process of finding one's spouse

arranged spousal match

shluffy

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

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.

shvach

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

simcha

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

stam

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

Just kidding!

That's it!

sugya

passage from the Talmud

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

svara

guess, hypothesis

justification, reason, plausible explanation

svive

group or get-together

environment, surroundings

taka

(can also be used ironically)

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

tell over

to repeat or teach a story heard elsewhere

tenai

A condition, especially one made as part of an agreement.

(pl. form tenaim only, used as sg) "A traditional name for an engagement party" (JPS)

"A condition of circumstance upon which a certain effect is predicated: Stipulation" (Weiser).

(pl. form tenaim only, used as sg.) "The original prenuptial contract, the tenaim dates from the 12th century. It is the detailed dowry and other financial arrangements, the date of the wedding, and the penalty if anyone backed out. Some traditional and Hasidic Jews still prepare a tenaim and read it aloud at an engagement party or sign it before the wedding ceremony, at the same time the ketubbah is signed" (JPS).

teva

character (quality of a person or thing)

nature

veiter

"More distant: Farther." (Weiser)

"At a more advanced point: Further." (Weiser)

"Further; next." (Steinmetz)

yeshivish

Litvish; Lithuanian; associated with the rationalistic Lithuanian tradition; associated with non-Hasidic Black Hat communities