Jewish English Lexicon

a long life

Used to greet a mourner after someone has died.

almemar

the platform on which the Torah is read in synagogue; the bima

antisemitism

Hatred against Jews.

"Prejudice or discrimination against Jews and the Jewish people" (JPS).

atzilut

"the world of divine emanations" (Eisenberg & Scolnic)

the highest spiritual universe in Lurianic Kabbalah

bat chayil

Bat mitzvah, particularly a celebration in Orthodox communities that does not include services or reading from the Torah.

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)

bekitzur

"Briefly or concisely: succinctly" (Weiser)

Birthright

A free 10-day trip to Israel for young Diaspora Jews ages 18-26. Over 400,000 Jews have been to Israel on Birthright.

bitul

self-abnegation

"contempt, disparagement" (Steinmetz)

bsari

refers to foods that contain meat as well as utensils and dishes used to cook, serve, and eat meat

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).

Chabad

an outreach-oriented branch of Hasidic Judaism that follows the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Chabad has thousands of branches around the world, including at many college campuses.

chalavi

refers to dairy foods as well as utensils and dishes used to cook, serve, and eat dairy products

chatzi kaddish

half kaddish: a prayer that praises God and occurs several times during services, marking the separation between different parts of the service.

cheder

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

Chitas

a daily study practice by Chabad including daily selections from the Chumash, Psalms, and the Tanya

chumradik

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

chutz la'aretz

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

daled amos

"four cubits", a unit of measurement in halacha in ritual and property law

personal space, personal or local boundaries, personal expertise

Daled Bavos

a traditional song composed by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (the founder of Chabad) played at Chabad weddings and holidays

dira betachtonim

"dwelling in the lower realms"--a theological argument for why G-d created the world (because He longed for an abode below in addition to one up high)

farbreng

to hold a farbrengen or take part in one

to spend or pass time

farbrengen

"a gathering of Hasidic men [which] might include study, lessons, or a d'var torah" (Eisenberg & Scolnic)

"an informal gathering for camaraderie and refreshments" (Eisenberg & Scolnic)

"a women's gathering that features topics of interest to them" (Eisenberg & Scolnic)

a gathering or celebration that includes a spiritual or religious component

faribel

to have a grievance, to be aggrieved

grievance

fatootsed

enervated, played out, knackered, terminally fatigued

bewildered, disoriented, discombobulated

distracted, frustrated (New York Stagehand Glossary)

frumkeit

Jewish religiosity, frumness

"observance of the Torah's precepts: orthodoxy" (Weiser)

"an observance considered stricter than normal" (Weiser)

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]".

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.

gefrunzled

slighted, insulted, feeling unappreciated

gesheft

business

get

a writ or deed of divorce

geza

adj. having good lineage. people from the right families that go back generations within a given Orthodox community

n. good lineage

gezinta

a big healthy girl (or the adjective denoting such)

a sexy lady

gezunterheyt

lit., while in good health

"Fine, go ahead" (ironic).

goyishe kop

Someone who fails to use his/her head; a dull mind. Someone who thinks like a non-Jew. Lit. "non-Jewish head."

hachlata

resolution, decision

hakarat hatov

acknowledgement of support

hashgacha pratis

divine providence in everyday life

havayah

an alternate pronounciation of G-d's name

hesped

eulogy, funeral oration

Hillel

an organization for Jewish college life, especially in North America

a rabbi often quoted in Pirkei Avot and the Talmud, famous for his disputations with Shammai

hisbonenus

contemplation, reflection

hishapcha

transformation to good

hiskafya

self-control

hiskashrus

devotion to a Chasidic rebbe

hoo-ha

hullabaloo, commotion

vagina

interjection of admiration or astonishment

I wish you well to wear it

A saying uttered on seeing a friend or relative wearing a new garment or accessory. It is value-neutral, not implying that the garment is nice, just that it is new.

igros

the multi-volume collection of letters by the Lubavitcher Rebbe that is often used as a kind of an oracle

keli

vessel to receive a blessing

ken

Yes

kimat

"almost or nearly" (Weiser)

kinus

gathering

Kippur

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

kishkas

Intestines, gut

Knesset

Israel's parliament

koppel

skullcap, kippah, yarmulke

kosher

"acceptable according to Jewish [ritual] law" (JPS); "trustworthy, reliable" (Rosten); acceptable according to dietary laws

leibedik

lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt

limudei kodesh

"holy studies"; Jewish religious studies

lobbus

a young mischievous person with a lot of chutzpah

a rascal, mischievous or cheeky child (usually a boy)

maccabiah

color war / intra-camp competition in a Jewish summer camp

international Jewish sports competition, known as the Jewish Olympics, held (mostly) every four years since 1932; smaller regional competitions held in Jewish community centers around the world

madrich

1. Youth counselor or supervisor 2. A teacher's assistant for elementary and middle schoolers during classes in religious schools.

mashke

alcoholic beverage (typically vodka or whiskey)

mashpia

adj. (with 'on') influential

n. spiritual mentor

matzah meal

"finely crumbled, crushed matzah used as a flour substitute in cooking during Pesach" (Eisenberg & Scolnic)

meaty

Food in the meat category, according to the Jewish dietary laws

mechaye

"Pleasure, enjoyment, a real joy" (Rosten); something that gives great joy

mechula

broke, bust, bankrupt, spoiled

mekurav

non-Orthodox congregants and supporters of Chabad houses

mekushar

a devotee of a Chasidic rebbe

meshulach

a rabbinical emissary sent to collect charity funds

"a collector of funds for a yeshiva, kolel, or other religious instituton" (Steinmetz)

milky

Dairy

Mishneh Torah

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

mivtza

a campaign run by Chabad to encourage Jewish observance

mushpa

a mentee of a mashpia

mushroom

A Chabad Rabbi engaged in outreach independent of the central Chabad outreach organization

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.

oirik

Derogatory reference to a non-Jewish male, especially a common labourer

oleh

Immigrant to Israel; a person who makes aliyah.

or ein sof

G-dliness (in Kabbalah)

oros bekeilim

lofty ideas made practical and achievable

oysgezoomt

worn out / tired from too many Zoom meetings / gatherings

pan

petition for a blessing from a Chasidic rebbe

pish

urinate

urine

pnimi

a sincere Chasidic Jew

prutah

two cents (fig.)

small change

Purim

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

Rabbeinu Tam

a second pair of tefillin worn by some Orthodox and Chasidic men, especially Chabad

refua shlema

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

remez

"a mark or detail that suggests the existence of implicit information, a trace, an allusion" (Weiser)

interpretation/analysis of Torah (or other texts) on a symbolic level, taking it as an allegory, seeing what is implied

revi'i

the fourth aliyah

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)

the first aliyah

schmatta

rag, old/ragged piece of clothing, garment

schnoder

"to pledge a donation" (Steinmetz).

seder

order, orderliness, system, routine

A ceremony involving recitations, singing, food, and drink typically associated with Passover, but also with Tu B'shvat and Rosh Hashanah.

period for Torah study

The name for the six sections of the Mishnah.

shabash

Money thrown on bride and groom at a wedding (Mountain Jews).

Well done!

Shabbat

The Jewish Sabbath; Saturday

Shabbat Shalom

Greeting or departing line (hello or goodbye) used on or during the few days leading up to Shabbat. Literally "peaceful Sabbath."

Shabbos

the Jewish Sabbath

shaliach tzibbur

Jewish prayer leader

shatnez

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

shchuna

"the religious neighborhood" (often referring to Crown Heights)

shechita

Kosher animal slaughter.

shekel

"1. The silver coin...used by the Jews in Biblical times...Today, it is the name for the monetary unit in the State of Israel. 2. Slang for cash or money." (JPS)

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

sheni

the second aliyah

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