Jewish English Lexicon

anticirc

Growing movement of Jews and non-Jews who are opposed to circumcision.

Ashkenormative

Assuming that all Jews are Ashkenazi, not considering Jews with other backgrounds.

either trying to guess whether someone in your presence is Jewish or letting someone in your presence who appears to be Jewish know that you are too in such a way that will avoid embarrassment if you’re wrong

inserting a Jewish phrase or concept into a conversation in order to indicate that one is Jewish or to determine whether the other person is Jewish

barmy

bar mitzvah

beck

young, materialistic, shallow person

Bujew

a Jew who practices Buddhism; a Jew interested in Eastern spirituality

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).

cashew

a person of Catholic and Jewish heritage

dos

A derogatory term for ultra-Orthodox/Haredi Jews, common in Israel.

egal

adj. describing a non-Orthodox Jewish prayer group or service in which men and women can participate equally and a mechitzah (boundary separating women from men) is not used.

farmisht

mixed up, confused, crazy

stressed out, overly concerned, worked up

flip out

When a Modern Orthodox post-high-school student becomes more religiously observant during or after a gap year at a yeshiva/seminary.

halakhic-egalitarian

A type of prayer group, service, community, or personal practice where people of all genders participate fully and equally in prayer services or other ritual functions (particularly women also performing rituals traditionally ascribed to men), while maintaining an adherence to traditional halachic practice, and seeing the egalitarian aspects of practice as harmonious with halacha.

heeb

slang term used to describe a Jewish person

Hinjew

a Jewish person of Indian origin or a person with mixed Jewish and Indian ancestry

J.E.R.K

Jewish Educated Religious Kid

Jalapeño Bagel

A person of Hispanic (non-Jewish) and Jewish origins.

JBA

Jew by Association

Jew Bub

"Jewish Bubble"; the network of Jewish organizations and social circles in which Jews interact mostly with other Jews

Jew crew

group of Jews who hang out together

Jewdar

ability to detect individuals' Jewishness (on analogy with "gaydar" and ultimately "radar")

Jewfro

a large, frizzy hairstyle, sported by Jewish men (on analogy with "afro")

Jewitch

A Jew who is a witch or pagan.

Jews of Color

A pan-ethnic term that identifies Jews who are not white. It generally includes Jews who are Black, Asian, Latino/a/x, Native American, mixed race, and it sometimes also includes Jews with ancestry in the Middle East and North Africa.

Kab Shab

Abbreviated form of Kabalat Shabbat (the Friday night prayer service).

kelev

dude

dog

krav maga

A form of mixed martial arts developed in the Israeli Army but popularized worldwide. Literally means "contact combat"

M.O.T.

"member of the tribe;" a Jew

mazel

congratulations

luck (good)

member of the tribe

non-derogitory slang term used to identify a Jewish person

Mizrachi

adj. or noun describing a person or practice (including music and ritual) of Middle Eastern Jewish origin. Lit. "Eastern," "Oriental."

Modern Orthodox

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

Ortho

shorthand, or slang term, for Orthodox

sheket bevakasha

"Quiet please."

shpitz

top or extreme part

the ultimate, the best of, "cool"

typical, classic, a perfect example of; definitively

sikkum

summarize, usually at the end of a session

a summary

tochacha

The portions of the Torah containing the curses the Israelites will incur if they do not follow the commandments (Lev. 26 and Deut. 28)

Rebuke, or corrections, for one's behavior, particularly as it pertains to Jewish practice.

traditional-egalitarian

A type of prayer group, service, community, or personal practice where people of all genders participate fully and equally in prayer services or other ritual functions (particularly women also performing rituals traditionally ascribed to men), while maintaining an adherence to traditional halachic practice.