Jewish English Lexicon

agunah

A woman whose husband has refused her a Jewish divorce.

A woman who is unable to remarry, due to the fact that her husband is missing and it is not known whether her husband is alive or dead.

Akedah

The binding of Isaac (episode in the Torah)

Am Yisrael

"Literally, The People of Israel." (JPS)

Amida

The Shemoneh Esrei prayer, which is said while standing [Amida, lit. "standing".]

ark

"the cabinet at the front of an Ashkenazic synagogue that houses the Torah scroll." (JPS)

avoda

"Literally, 'divine service'" (JPS) Also, "work" or "service" and sometimes used as the name for a unit at camp in which campers help with such duties as service in the dining hall, laundry, etc.

Bamidbar

The Book of Numbers, [lit. "in the wilderness"] (Glinert)

JPS: "To recite a blessing. It usually refers to Birkat ha-Mazon, the Grace after Meals... The word can also refer to the reciting of any blessing; for example, the expression bentsch licht means to light Shabbat [or Chanukah] candles."

bereshit

The Book of Genesis [lit. "in the beginning"]

bikur cholim

visiting the sick

bimah

pulpit; "A raised platform or stage in a synagogue from which the Torah is read and services are led." (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."

Birkot HaShachar

The first section of the morning prayers, which contains several individual blessings. (JPS)

bracha

blessing (in the technical or figurative sense)

candle lighting

"the custom of lighting candles to welcome the Sabbath" (JPS); the exact time at which holiday and Shabbos candles are supposed to be lit by according to Jewish law.

chai

"Literally, 'life'" (JPS); 18 (see note)

chametz

Leavened food.

chanukiah

Nine-branched menorah / candelabrum used on Chanukah

chazan

The official at a synagogue who leads the congregation in prayer and song. (JPS)

chazir

1. pork 2. a pig, greedy person (JPS)

chevra kedisha

burial society - volunteers who sit with the dead and prepare their bodies for burial

chol hamoed

"the intermediate days of the weeklong holidays of Pesach and Sukkot" (JPS)

cholent

"A slow-cooked stew made of beef, beans, potatoes, and other vegetables. Cholent is a common Sabbath dish..." (JPS)

chumash

"A bound book containing the Five Books of Moses that is used in synagogue or for study." (JPS)

d'var torah

a brief teaching from Jewish sources [lit. "a word of torah"], "A short speech" (JPS)

daven

pray; lead services

davka

just to annoy, just to be contrary

even; despite expectations to the contrary -- often with a slightly amused or ironic feeling of "wouldn't you know it?" or "of all things" ("of all people" ... etc.)

"definitely or exactly stated; specifically" (Weiser)

day school

Jewish grade school, where students learn both Jewish and secular subjects. "The general name given to private Jewish schools" in the United States and Canada (JPS)

dayenu

"Literally, "it would have been enough."" (JPS)

derech eretz

Participating in modern society.

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

Devarim

"the Book of Deuteronomy", [lit. "words"] (JPS)

drash

n. sermon, interpretation of text

v. give a sermon, discuss an interpretation of the text

Eichah

"The Book of Lamentations" (JPS)

Elohim/Elokim

"One of the many names used to refer to God" (JPS)

Elul

The twelfth month of the Jewish calendar, just before the High Holidays season (or sixth, if one starts counting at Nissan).

erev

"Eve of." (Glinert) Evening, or the day before a Jewish holiday

eruv

area in which a token enclosure enables one to carry on the Sabbath [without breaking the prohibition against carrying in a public space]." (Glinert)

eshet chayil

"woman of valor" (JPS); poem about such a woman in Proverbs 31.

etrog

Citron (lemon-like fruit) used ritually on Sukkot

fleishig

"The general term for food in the meat category, according to the Jewish dietary laws" (JPS)

freilach

adj: happy, merry

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

frum

religious; observant; Orthodox

gabai

verb: to serve as gabai

noun: The officer of the synagogue who determines which congregants are to receive Torah honors at the service.

noun: The (lay) person who calls Jews to say blessings over the Torah reading and follows along with the Torah reading to correct any mistakes.

gelt

"The foil wrapped chocolate coins that are a traditional Hanukkah treat for children." (JPS)

Money (slang usage)

gematria

"An ancient system of Hebrew numerology," (JPS), in which each Hebrew letter possesses a numerical value, allowing words or phrases to express possible "hidden" meaning (when one adds up the letters' values)

gemilut chasadim

"Literally, "acts of loving kindness"", (JPS) often used in reference to charitable activities

glatt

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

Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).

golus

literally "exile" (JPS); outside of the Land of Israel; away from a vibrant Jewish community; the time period since the destruction of the Second Temple at Jerusalem (Glinert)

gonif

thief

good Shabbos

Literally, "Good Sabbath" (JPS); standard Sabbath greeting

grager

a noise maker used on Purim to drown out the name of Haman; something that makes a lot of noise

gurnisht

"nothing, zilch, zero" (JPS)

haftorah

"A reading from the biblical book of Prophets that is recited in synagogue immediately following the reading of the Torah" (JPS)

haggadah

"The small book of liturgy, prayers, songs, and rituals used at a Pesach seder" (JPS)

hakafah

a go-around (similar to sivuv)

parade, processional with the Torah on Simchas Torah

halacha

"Jewish law" (JPS)

hamentaschen

"Small, triangular-shaped cookies filled with fruit or jam that are eaten on Purim" (JPS)

hamsa

a hand-shaped amulet (often a wall-hanging or jewelry) conferring good luck or protection, popular in Israel and originally from the Middle East / North Africa

Haredi

Adjective or noun referring to an individual, institution, or practice associated with strictly Orthodox (non-Modern) Jews.

havurah

A group of friends, frequently a social or religious group, either within a synagogue or apart from one.

hechsher

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

Jew by Choice

A convert to Judaism.

Kabbalat Shabbat

"Special prayers and songs included as part of Friday night services to welcome in Shabbat."

kaddish

Prayer of mourning; prayer separating parts of the service; lit. "sanctification"

kaparot

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

kashrut

"The body of Jewish dietary laws and regulations that specify what and how a Jew who keeps kosher can eat." (JPS)

kavanah

"Attention to the meaning, spirit, and purpose of words" (Weiser)

intent

kedusha

holiness, sanctity

a responsive prayer sung/recited by the shaliach tzibbur (prayer leader) and congregation as part of the Amidah in a minyan

kehillah

"A Jewish community" (JPS)

Keter

Crown, especially the crown decorating a Torah scroll.

kiddush

"blessing recited over wine" (JPS) on Sabbath or holidays at the beginning of the meal or ceremony. Reception after services. "The refreshments, usually including wine, juice, and pastries, that are offered after [the Sabbath] and holiday services in the synagogue." (JPS)

kinder

"children" (Rosten)

kippah

"small, round headcovering" (JPS)

kitniot

"Literally, 'legumes'...certain foods that are restricted during Pesach in some Jewish communities." (JPS)

klal yisroel

"synonym for the Jewish people" (JPS)

kol hakavod

Literally, "All the honor", as in "More honor to you!"

"well done" (Glinert)

kol tuv

"all the best" (JPS)

Kotel

"The Western Wall"/wailing wall (Glinert)

koved

"honor, dignity, respect" (JPS)

kriyah

Rending a garment (ritual of mourning)

Reading, especially Torah

landsman

Someone who comes from the same or nearby hometown, especially if one or both of you no longer lives there and all the more so if one or both now live far away from home, in which case an entire region (e.g., metro NY) or country e.g., Poland) may be the point of connection.

lashon hara

"gossip" (lit. "evil tongue") (JPS)

lulav

palm branch used ritually on Sukkot

M O

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

maariv

the evening prayer

machzor

High Holiday prayerbook, used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

mamaleh

diminutive term for a young girl [lit. 'little mama']

mamzer

bastard [see note]; "A detestable [person] like the colloquial English "He's a bastard"" (Rosten)

maror

bitter herbs placed on the seder place on Passover

mechitza

the separation between men and women in Orthodox prayer spaces [lit. "separation"]

mesorah

tradition

midrash

stories or explanations that interpret or ellaborate on the Torah's text.

mikvah

"Ritual bath" (JPS)

milchig

"...food in the "dairy" category, according to the Jewish dietary laws...also refers to the utensils and dishes used for cooking, eating, and serving milk products." (JPS)

minhag

custom; "A tradition that is not mentioned in the Torah or mandated by law but nonetheless is followed." (JPS)

minyan

prayer quorum of 10 Jews age 13 or older (traditionally male; in some communities male or female)

religious community

small service

Mishnah

an authoritative collection of exegetical material embodying the oral tradition of Jewish law and forming the first part of the Talmud.

mishpacha

"Literally, "family". ...The word conveys a warm feeling of friendship." (JPS)

musaf

The additional service added to the morning services on the Sabbath and holidays.

narishkeit

"1. Foolishness 2. A triviality" (Rosten)

neshama

soul

nu

so what?; so?; hurry up already

parasha

period of dating for marriage (Orthodox Jews)

Selection of the Pentateuch read publicly on the Sabbath.

conversation (Weiser)

general realm of feasibility, ballpark (Weiser)

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

parve

1. neither milk nor meat; 2. uninteresting, plain, generic

Pesach

The Jewish Holiday of Passover

peshat

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)

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