Jewish English Lexicon

belt, which varies in width, but is worn over the outside of the pants or coat and often tied in a symbolic way, as to differentiate it from a regular belt. It is primarily used by Chassidic Jews (and a growing number of Litvaks) for prayer, or may be used for everyday wear over a long frock coat. It symbolically differentiates the heart from the loins.

gayve

pride; arrogance; obnoxiousness

geferlech

Dangerous, terrible

gehenom

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

Hell (metaphoric)

gemilas chesed

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

ger

(pl. gerim) A convert to Judaism.

geshmak

delicious, delightful

get

a writ or deed of divorce

geulah

redemption

gezerah

"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)

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

glatt

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

Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).

goyish

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

gramen

rhymes; especially a rhyming poem or song

gurnisht

"nothing, zilch, zero" (JPS)

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.

hachnasas orchim

hospitality (lit. "bringing in guests")

halevai

If only

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

I wish!

hashgacha

Divine providence, interference, attention

Rabbinic supervision designating food as kosher

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

heimish

2. Haredi Orthodox

3. at home, comfortable

1. familiar, homey, informal, cozy, warm

heter

rabbinic allowance

inyan

topic [of conversation] (Weiser, Glinert).

matter (Steinmetz)

significance within Jewish law.

kaboles ponem

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

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.

kashe

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

Question, difficulty (Steinmetz), challenge, objection.

kedai

"worth it" (Weiser)

kein yirbu

"So they may increase in number"

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)

khnyok

a mean or bigoted person

a sanctimonious, holier-than-thou religious person

an unkempt or slovenly person

kimat

"almost or nearly" (Weiser)

kishka

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

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

kuntz

peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)

strategy (Weiser)

feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity

l'hachis

spitefully; deliberately; literally "in order to anger"

lamden

a proficient Talmudic scholar

leibedik

lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt

lekech

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

levaye

funeral

leytsanus

silliness; buffoonery

lo aleynu

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

mabul

the Biblical Flood

a deluge; a torrent of rain

madrega

level, especially spiritual level

maidel

girl

matzeivah

headstone

mazel

congratulations

luck (good)

mazik

a mischievous person, often a child

(with verb "to be") to ruin partially; damage (Yeshivish usage)

mazume

"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)

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

mesiras nefesh

self-sacrifice

mise meshune

horrible, violent, or unnatural death, often used as a curse

moshl

parable, example

musar

reproof; system of ethics; discipline

a Jewish ethical movement that crystallized among non-Hasidic Orthodox Jews in Lithuania in the 19th century, led by Israel Salanter, focusing on character development.

nafke mine

practical difference

nebach

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

nes

miracle

nifter

deceased

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

pasken

to rule halachically

patsh

to give a light slap

a smack (playful)

patur

not liable, exempt

pekel

little bundle

pintele yid

"essential Jewishness"

poshet

simple

posl

invalid

pritse

an immodest woman

prost

coarse, base, not classy, vulgar, common

psak

rabbinic ruling

rachmones

mercy, pity, empathy

ruchnies

spirituality

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.

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))

shaila

a question, usually while looking for a halachic ruling

Shayach

Pertinent, relevant (Steinmetz).

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

shidduch

match

arranged spousal match

mate

a date in the process of finding one's spouse

shpatzir

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

shvach

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

shver

difficult, onerous, complex

svara

justification, reason, plausible explanation

guess, hypothesis

svive

group or get-together

environment, surroundings

tachrichim

burial shrouds

tate

dad

titchadesh

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

tzadik

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).

Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.

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).

veiter

"Further; next." (Steinmetz)

"More distant: Farther." (Weiser)

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

vort

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

yasher koach

Thank you (used by Orthodox Jews)

Good job!

Congratulations!