Jewish English Lexicon

adon olam

a hymn in the traditional Jewish liturgy, usually recited before Shacharit and often sung after services in synagogue, made up of traits attributed to God

aliyah

immigration to Israel

"calling to the reading of the Torah" (Glinert)

ascent

ascent of the soul of a deceased person to a higher level, as is believed to happen on their yartzeit

amud

page (in a prayerbook)

one side of a page (of Talmud)

pulpit, lectern

apikoros

heretic, non-believer, especially one with great knowledge of Judaism

askan

A person who is influential in working for the community

Activist

A Jewish communal or social worker (Steinmetz)

Celebration when, traditionally, the groom, and as of recently in egalitarian communities, the engaged couple is called to the Torah the Shabbat before their wedding; that aliyah itself (aufruf means literally "to call up").

avodah

"A unique part of the Musaf service on Yom Kippur, the Avodah prayers describe the sacrificial ritual in the Temple in ancient Jerusalem on the Day of Atonement" (Eisenberg).

"Service and worship of God" (Eisenberg).

Work, generally.

baal koreh

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")

beit din

A rabbinical court of law that makes judgments on matters of Jewish religious life, especially conversion and divorce.

beit knesset

Jewish place of worship; "synagogue" (JPS)

Birkat Hamazon

The blessing after food, referring to the four blessing Grace After Meals said after consuming bread. Referred to in many communities as "bentching," or simply as "birkat" in some Jewish summer camps.

cheder

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

Cohen

"A made descendent of the family of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi. Aaron and his descendants were consecrated to the service of God... in the Tabernacle... in the desert and later the Holy Temple" (Steinmetz). Often poorly translated as "priest," though the term "Levite" or "Aaronite" is more accurate, especially due to Christian usage (Steinmetz).

duchen

A ritual where the kohanim recite the Priestly Blessing (Num. 6:24-26), blessing the rest of the congregation.

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]".

gmar tov

Greeting/closing used between Rosh Hashana and the end of Yom Kippur. Lit. 'good conclusion'

halevai

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

I wish!

If only

havdalah

"literally 'separation'. The ceremony that marks the end of [the Sabbath] on Saturday evening" (JPS)

keppy

head, little head (informal, diminutive, often in child-directed speech)

kippah

"small, round headcovering" (JPS)

kishkas

Intestines, gut

kittel

hite robe that is worn by religious Jews on Yom Kippur, when leading High Holiday services, when leading a Passover seder, by grooms at weddings, and as a burial shroud

kriah

Reading, especially Torah

Rending a garment (ritual of mourning)

marit ayin

suspicious-looking action; doing something that may cause an observer to think that one violated halachah and thus arouse suspicion, or alternatively, doing something that could mislead somebody to interpret than an action is permitted and then violate halachah him/herself

mazel

congratulations

luck (good)

mazume

"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)

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

mishkan

the tabernacle or temporary sanctuary in which the Divine Presence dwelled during the Jews’ journeys through the desert

the portion of the tabernacle and the Temple building before the Holy of Holies which contained the inner altar, the table for the showbread, and the menorah

Mishneh Torah

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

Moadim lesimcha

Happy holiday! Greeting used on the intermediate days of Pesach and Sukkot (known as chol ha-moed).

Modern Orthodox

'Modern Orthodox'. Observant, but open to the outside world, general culture and education; not 'Yeshivish' or 'Haredi'.

Mutar

Permitted for a Jew to do.

naches

"Proud pleasure, special joy--particularly from the achievements of a child... 2. Psychological reward or gratification." (Rosten)

nigun

"A wordless melody; a tune" (JPS)

Purim

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

rebetzin

wife of a rabbi

refua shlema

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

responsa

Written decisions and legal rulings by rabbis appointed to be legal deciders.

sandak

The person given the honor of assisting the mohel at the brit milah. The sandek may hold the child on his lap during the circumcision or, as is common today, just hold the baby for a moment in a symbolic fashion. The honor is often given to one of the baby's grandfathers or to another relative or close friend" (Eisenberg).

schnoder

"to pledge a donation" (Steinmetz).

Shabbat Shalom

Used as a greeting or departing line (hello or goodbye) on or before Shabbat. Literally "peaceful Sabbath."

shalom zachar

welcoming party to celebrate the birth of a son, usually held at the house of the child's parents on the first Friday night after his birth

shalosh regalim

The three major holidays in the Jewish calendar: Passover, Shavuot [Pentecost], and Sukkot [Tabernacles].

shamash

2. the caretaker of a synagogue.

1. candle lit first and then used to light other hanukah candles

3. personal assistant / aide / gofer, especially to a rabbi or in the Hollywood entertainment industry

shatnez

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

shehecheyanu

the blessing of thanksgiving that celebrates reaching a celebratory moment or marking a significant first

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

shemini atzeret

Holiday celebrated the day after the seven-day holiday of Sukkot.

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)

shmura

a type of matzah adhering to more stringent interpretations of permissible matzah for Passover

shomer

a chaperone, protector, or guard

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

a camp counselor on duty

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

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

Shulchan Aruch

a code of Jewish Law (halachah) written by Rabbi Joseph Caro in four sections, based on the Arba Turim (Tur); with its various commentaries, it is considered the central redaction of Jewish Law.

siyum

literally, "completion" traditionally means completing studying of a tractate of talmud, often with a ceremony and celebration following, but can be used for the completion of another course of study.

sofer

A scribe trained in transcribing the Torah, mezuzah, tefillin scriptures and other religious texts on parchment.

tachlis

purpose, aim

practical details of a matter, "brass tacks" (as in, "Let's get down to brass tacks.")

tefillah

prayer, services, or an individual prayer

teshuvah

repentance [lit. "return"]

trop

Series of traditional chanting/melodic patterns used in reading the Torah and other books of the Tanakh in communal prayer services.

Diacritic-like marks in printed editions of the Tanakh (and the tikkun, a book that enables people to learn to chant from the Torah, haftarah, etc.) that indicate the chanting/melodic pattern to be used with each word.

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).

Good job!