Jewish English Lexicon

Adonai

"Literally, 'my Lord', another word for God." (JPS)

a piece of matzah from the Passover seder traditionally hidden by adults, found by the children (or vice versa), and then ransomed for gifts after the meal. "The last piece of matzoh...eaten at the meal." (Steinmetz)

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)

Aleph-bet

"A name for the Hebrew alphabet" (JPS)

Am Yisrael

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

amen

Agreed. "The word used at the end of prayer to signify affirmation." (Rosten)

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)

aron kodesh

"Literally, "holy ark"." (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.

b'vakasha

JPS: "Literally, 'please'. It can be used in various ways, including "please go ahead" and at the end of a sentence as 'you're welcome'."

babka

"A loaf type coffee cake" (JPS)

bagel

"A leavened, firm, doughnut shaped roll" (JPS)

balabos

Male head of a household

Proprietor

Bamidbar

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

baruch Hashem

"Thank God," "blessed is God"

fine

bashert

JPS: "Predestined, fated." Soul mate.

bat mitzvah

in gender egalitarian communities, the ceremony of a 13- (or 12-) year-old girl's first calling up to the Torah, symbolizing her adulthood in Jewish life. can also refer to the girl herself. In Orthodox communities, refers to celebration of girl turning 12. "Celebration of a Jewish girl's coming of age; a girl who has reached that age." (Glinert)

BCE

Before the Common Era (used in place of B.C.). Steinmetz: "...recently, a new awareness of the Christian character of these abbreviations have led many Jewish writers and editors to replace them with [C.E. And B.C.E.]"

bench

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)

bisl

"a little bit of something, a tiny piece" (JPS)

blech

an electric hot plate or "sheet of metal that can be placed over the burners on a stove to retain heat, so that precooked food...can be kept warm during the Sabbath." (JPS)

borscht

"Borshtsh" is the Russian word for beet soup. Among Jews soup made from beets is considered Polish borshtsh, while Russian borshtsh is made from cabbage.

"An Eastern European soup traditionally made with beets." (JPS)

boychick

"A young boy...equivalent of the American expression 'buddy'" (JPS)

bracha

blessing (in the technical or figurative sense)

bris

circumcision ceremony; the celebration surrounding it. Lit. covenant.

bubbe

grandmother

bupkis

Nothing

Something worthless

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)

challah

"The braided egg bread that traditionally is eaten on almost every Jewish holiday and [the Sabbath]" (JPS)

chalutzim

Pioneers in the building of the State of Israel.

chametz

Leavened food.

chanukiah

Nine-branched menorah / candelabrum used on Chanukah

charoses

Sweet, mushy mixture that represents mortar at the Passover seder.

chazan

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

chazer

"go over; review" (Weiser)

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

chillul Hashem

disgracing God's name; an action that might be looked down upon; an action that might make Jews look bad

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)

chuppah

"The Jewish wedding canopy; that is, the cloth under which the Jewish wedding ceremony is conducted." (JPS)

wedding ceremony (not including reception)

d'var torah

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

daven

pray; lead services

davka

"definitely or exactly stated; specifically" (Weiser)

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.)

just to annoy, just to be contrary

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

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

n. sermon, interpretation of text

dreck

"Trash, junk, garbage; cheap or worthlesss things." (Rosten), sh*t

dreidel

"A small, four-sided spinning top used in a game during Chanukah" (JPS); the top itself

dybbuk

a spirit, "often thought to be the soul of a dead person, that wanders the earth looking for a living body to inhabit" (JPS)

eema

mother

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).

emunah

"faith"; sometimes contrasted with practical striving in the material world

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

farbissiner

adj. embittered, sullen, mean

n. sourpuss, mean person

farblondzhet

Rosten: "Lost...mixed up, wandering about without any idea of where you are." Can refer to being physically or intellectually lost.

farbrengen

Noun: a gathering or celebration that includes a spiritual or religious component.

Verb: to hold such a gathering or celebration.

feh!

an expression of disgust; "portraying...negative feelings" (Rosten)

fleishig

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

forshpayz

"appetizers" (JPS)

freilach

adj: happy, merry

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

fress

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

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.

gefilte fish

minced sweet or sour fish, cooked in balls or a log and sliced. [lit., "stuffed fish"(JPS), since the chopped fish used to be placed back in the fish for cooking.]

gelt

Money (slang usage)

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

gemara

"A compilation of 300 years of rabbis' legal and ethical commentaries on the Mishnah...together, the Gemara and the Mishnah comprise the Talmud." (JPS)

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

geshmak

delicious, delightful

gesundheit

Health. (Bless you) - said in response to a sneeze.

glatt

Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).

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

golem

"A creature of Jewish medieval folklore, a golem is a figure made into the form of a human and given life." (JPS)

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

goy

a nation, but not the Jewish nation

"most often used among Jews to refer to someone who is not a Jew" (JPS)

goyish

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

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)

hachnasas orchim

hospitality (lit. "bringing in guests")

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)

HaKadosh Baruch Hu

God, lit. "The Holy One, Blessed Be He"

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.

Hashem

God, lit. "the name"

hatikvah

literally "the hope." "The Israeli national anthem." (Glinert)

havurah

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

hazarai

traif (non-kosher) food

"Junk, trash" (Rosten)

junk food

hechsher

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

heimish

3. at home, comfortable

1. familiar, homey, informal, cozy, warm

2. Haredi Orthodox

Jew by Choice

A convert to Judaism.

Kabbalah

a Jewish mystical work, sometimes used as a catch-all term for Jewish mysticism. "The Jewish mystical tradition" (JPS)

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

intent

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

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.

ketubah

"The Jewish marriage contract, traditionally written in Aramaic." (JPS)

kibbutz

"[Israeli agricultural] collective" (Glinert) Most settlements in Israeli which originally began as kibbutzim now function as regular municipalities.

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)

kiddush Hashem

the sanctification of God's name; "bringing honor to God" (Glinert)

martyrdom

kinder

"children" (Rosten)

kitniot

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

klal yisroel

"synonym for the Jewish people" (JPS)

klezmer

"Eastern European style of instrumental music" (JPS)

Knesset

Israel's parliament

kol hakavod

"well done" (Glinert)

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

kol tuv

"all the best" (JPS), a closing or farewell

Kotel

"The Western Wall"/wailing wall (Glinert)

koved

"honor, dignity, respect" (JPS)

kuntz

peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)

strategy (Weiser)

feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity

kvetch

"to chronically complain or gripe to others over minor issues" (JPS)

l'chaim

traditional toast. [lit. "to life" (Rosten)]

labriut

"bless you" (after someone sneezes) [lit., "to health"] (Glinert)

Ladino

Judeo-Spanish language

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)

latka

"a potato pancake [fried in oil traditionally eaten on Chanukah]" (Rosten)

lehitraot

"Goodbye for now, see you again soon" (JPS) "see you later."

lekvar

prune filling

lokh in cup

"hole in the head"(Rosten)

lokshen

noodles

lox

smoked salmon

lulav

palm branch used ritually on Sukkot

maariv

the evening prayer

macher

"1. Someone who arranges, fixes, has connections...someone who is [very] active in an organization" (Rosten) "important person", "hot shot"

machzor

High Holiday prayerbook, used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

magen david

"star of david", a symbol that has commonly been associated with Jews and Judaism; [lit. "shield of david"]

mamaleh

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

mame-loshn

"mother tongue", usually refers to Yiddish

mamzer

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

mannah

the food that fell from the sky to feed the wandering Israelites in the Bible

maror

bitter herbs placed on the seder place on Passover

matzah brei

fried matzah pieces mixed with eggs, usually eaten on Passover

matzoh

unleavened bread eaten on Passover

matzoh ball

dumpling made with matzah meal and eggs and generally served in chicken soup

mazel tov

congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]

mechitza

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

megillah

one of the five books that compose kethuvim--writings--in Tanakh; can also refer to the physical scroll on which one is written; a long, engrossing story or description

mesorah

tradition

mezuzah

a piece of parchment with the Shema written on it that is then placed in a case and mounted on doorways in keeping with the Biblical commandment mentioned in the Shema

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

mishegoss

"Foolishness, nonsense, craziness." (JPS)

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)

misnagdim

Non-Hasidim (literally "opponents.")

mitzvah

good deed

Literally, "commandment"

mohel

A person trained to perform Jewish ritual circumcision

muktzah

An object that it is forbidden to handle on the Sabbath and on certain holidays (generally because the object's primary purpose involves actions considered work and forbidden on those days).

musaf

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

narishkeit

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

nebbish

noun: nerdy, clumsy, awkward person. "An innocuous, ineffectual, weak, helpless, or hapless unfortunate" (Rosten)

neshama

soul

niddah

menstrual impurity; often used to refer to the entire body of Jewish law surrounding the practice of abstaining from intercourse during the menstrual cycle

nosh

to snack or eat; a snack

nu

so what?; so?; hurry up already

ongepotchket

overly elaborate, excessively decorated, slapped together senselessly

parasha

period of dating for marriage (Orthodox Jews)

conversation (Weiser)

general realm of feasibility, ballpark (Weiser)

Selection of the Pentateuch read publicly on the Sabbath.

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

parve

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

patsh

to give a light slap

a smack (playful)

payos

Sidelocks, sidecurls, or earlocks, common among Haredi boys and men.

Pesach

The Jewish Holiday of Passover

peshat

"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)

Justification

pidyon haben

ceremony of redemption of the first-born son; celebration surrounding this ceremony

pisher, little pisher

a diminutive that combines amusement, admiration and annoyance

plotz

"1. To split, to burst, to explode. 2. " To be aggravated beyond bearing" (Rosten) [lit. "to explode"]

Psukei d'Zimrah

the first part of morning services, after the morning blessings mostly comprised of Psalms [lit. "verses of praise"]

punim

face

pushke

"The little container...in which money to be donated to charity is accumulated." (Rosten)

rachmones

mercy

rebbe

the spiritual leader of a Hasidic sect

Rosh Chodesh

start of a new month in the Hebrew calendar

Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish new year

ruach

spirit, "spiritedness, morale" (JPS)

rugelach

"Bite-size crescent-shaped pastries, rolled around a variety of fillings, including chopped raisins and walnuts, apple, raspberry, [chocolate] or mun, topped with a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar" (JPS)

saba

grandfather

sabra

a prickly pear, "tough and prickly on the outside, tender and sweet on the inside--a description that many say fits citizens of the Jewish state." (JPS)

savta

grandmother

schlemiel

idiot; contemptible person. "Clumsy, bungling person." (Steinmetz)

schlemozel

The constant butt of idiotic or unfortunate happenings

schlep

To travel from one place to another when one would prefer not to

An annoyingly long journey

"To carry, lug" (JPS)

schmaltz

"Rendered chicken fat." (JPS)

schmaltzy

"Overly sentimental or romantic." (JPS)

schmear

to spread; cream cheese

schnapps

"A strong, dry liquor." (JPS)

schnorrer

a begger, a parasite. "A moocher" (JPS)

schvitz

sweat (v., n.)

steam bath (n.)

sechel

"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence

seder

The name for the six sections of the Mishnah.

period for Torah study

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.

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.

Sephardic

Jews whose ancestors came from the Iberian Peninsula before the Jewish expulsion

Shabbat

The Jewish Sabbath; Saturday

Shabbos

the Jewish Sabbath

Shabbos goy

"A non-Jew who by prearrangement performs chores [that are forbidden] for a Jew on the Sabbath or holidays." (Steinmetz)

shadchen

matchmaker

shalech manes

Gifts for friends, traditionally given on Purim. Typically, a basket with food requiring two separate brachas in it.

shalom

hello, goodbye, peace

shalom bayit

"Literally, 'peace in the home'. Contentment and harmony among family members." (JPS)

shana tova

happy new year, lit. 'good year'

shayna punim

pretty face

sheitel

wig; worn by some observant jewish women after marriage. "A wig worn by strictly Orthodox...women as a [hair] covering." (Steinberg)

Shemoneh Esrei

another name for the Amida, the central prayer during Jewish services. [lit. 'eighteen', the number of blessings it originally had]

Shemot

The Book of Exodus [lit. 'names']

Printed items containing the name of God in Hebrew letters (generally pronounced SHAY-miss)

sheva brachot

the seven blessings said after a jewish wedding and at a festive meal once a day for a week afterwards. the term can refer to the one week period after the wedding, the festive meal, or the blessings themselves.

shidduch

a date or match, often leading to marriage. "The matching up of a man and a woman for purposes of marriage; a match. In popular usage, any match or alliance, as in The shidduch between the two organization was a success." (Steinberg)

shidduch

arranged spousal match

mate

a date in the process of finding one's spouse

match

shiksa

"1. A non-Jewish girl. 2. A housemaid. 3. An irreligious or nonobservant Jewish girl. The term is often regarded as disparaging." (Steinmetz)

shivah

week-long period of mourning after the death of a relative, during which close relatives stay at home and greet visitors. mourners traditionally sit on low stools during this time, so someone in mourning is said to be 'sitting shiva'.