Showing 51 of 51 words, page 1 of 1
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bagel
"A leavened, firm, doughnut shaped roll" (JPS)
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Borscht Belt
region in the Catskill Mountains with many summer resorts frequented by Jews, especially in the mid twentieth century
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challah
"The braided egg bread that traditionally is eaten on almost every Jewish holiday and [the Sabbath]" (JPS)
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chutzpah
guts (positive)
nerve, audacity, the quality of over-stepping boundries with no shame (negative)
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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).
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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.]
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glitch
flaw; slight problem in a process
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goy
"most often used among Jews to refer to someone who is not a Jew" (JPS)
a nation, but not the Jewish nation
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Hasid
A follower in a non-religious sense (ironic).
Pious person
A disciple of a rabbi, not only a member of a Hasidic group.
Adherent of a Hasidic Jewish group ("A mystical religious movement founded in Poland" (JPS)
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kibbitz
"To socialize aimlessly...To carry on a running commentary" (Rosten)
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kibbitzer
Someone who "gives unasked-for advice ... especially as a bystander-observer at a game (bridge, poker, checkers, chess)." (Rosten)
Someone who jokes, fools around.
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klezmer
"Eastern European style of instrumental music" (JPS)
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klutz
"clumsy, slow-witted...person" (Rosten)
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knish
Eastern European dumpling with thin dough filled with potato, kasha, onion, meat, and/or other ingredients
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kosher
"acceptable according to Jewish [ritual] law" (JPS); "trustworthy, reliable" (Rosten); acceptable according to dietary laws
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kugel
Baked pudding or casserole made with eggs and various ingredients, including noodles, potatoes, or spinach
The South African equivalent of a "Jewish American Princess"
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kvell
feel or express pride, "to be extraordinarily pleased" (JPS)
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kvetch
"to chronically complain or gripe to others over minor issues" (JPS)
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l'chaim
traditional toast. [lit. "to life" (Rosten)]
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lox
smoked salmon
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maven
"An expert or connoisseur; a specialist" (JPS)
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mazel tov
congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]
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mazume
"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)
"A group of three or more adult males who join together to recite the after-meal blessings..." (Steinmetz).
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mensch
"An upright, honorable, a decent person." (Rosten)
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meshuga
crazy
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nebbish
noun: nerdy, clumsy, awkward person. "An innocuous, ineffectual, weak, helpless, or hapless unfortunate" (Rosten)
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no-goodnik
bad person, scoundrel (sometimes humorous or affectionate)
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nosh
to snack or eat; a snack
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nudnik
"A pest, a nag, an annoyer, a monumental bore." (Rosten)
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putz
"A fool, an ass, a jerk." (Rosten) [lit. "penis"]
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schlemiel
idiot; contemptible person. "Clumsy, bungling person." (Steinmetz)
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schlemozel
The constant butt of idiotic or unfortunate happenings
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schlep
"To carry, lug" (JPS)
To travel from one place to another when one would prefer not to
An annoyingly long journey
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schmaltzy
"Overly sentimental or romantic." (JPS)
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schmear
to spread; cream cheese
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schmo
a fool; a jerk
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schmooze
to make small talk or informally chat; to network, kiss up
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schnapps
"A strong, dry liquor." (JPS)
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Shabbos goy
"A non-Jew who by prearrangement performs chores [that are forbidden] for a Jew on the Sabbath or holidays." (Steinmetz)
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shiksa
"1. A non-Jewish girl. 2. A housemaid. 3. An irreligious or nonobservant Jewish girl. The term is often regarded as disparaging." (Steinmetz)
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shlock
something cheap or inferior. "A shoddy, cheaply made article." (Rosten)
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shmendrik
jerk, stupid person
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shmuck
annoying, irritating person (lit. penis)
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shmutz
"Dirt, stain, or filth." (JPS)
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shtetl
"A town or village with...Jewish inhabitants, commonly found in Eastern Europe before World War II." (Steinmetz)
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tchotchke
trinket, knicknack
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yarmulke
religious skullcap
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yid
A derogatory term used by non-Jews for a Jewish person (particularly so in Great Britain).
a Jewish person
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Yiddish
Traditional language of Ashkenazic Jewry. A descendant of High German, its vocabulary is roughly 80% Germanic, 10% Hebrew and 10% Slavic (depending on author/speaker and setting/genre)
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