Learn the meanings of many Jewish, Hebrew and Yiddish words!

Jewish Word Spelling Guide abbr.=abbreviated esp.=especially Heb.=Hebrew lit.=literally n=noun pl.=plural pron.=pronounced usu.=usually v=verb Yid.=Yiddish

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A abba (Heb.) father Acharonim lit.=the last ones: post-Rishonim commentators Achashverosh Persian king in Book of Esther Adar 6th Jewish month (Feb-Mar), 14th is Purim Adon Olam "Master of the World," a concluding hymn afikomen last bit of matzah, eaten at end of Seder Agadah non-legal rabbinic writings agunah lit.=chained one: wife of an M.I.A.; woman whose husband refuses to grant a divorce ahava (Heb.) love [n] ainikle (Yid.) grandchild Aleinu "It is Upon Us," a concluding hymn al kiddush HaShem for the sanctification of G-d alav hashalom "(May he/she) rest in peace." aliyah lit.=ascent: immigration to Israel am ha'aretz lit.=nation of the land: ignorant person Amidah lit.=standing: long prayer said while standing Amora'im lit.=explainers: Gemarah-era commentators (200-500 C.E.) Ani Ma’amin lit.=I believe: phrase that begins each of Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles of Faith aravot willow sprigs, used on Succot arba kanfos lit.=four corners: tzitzit Arba Kanfos The Four Corners of the Earth Aretz lit.=land: Israel aron (hakodesh) (the holy) cabinet for Sefer Torah Aseret HaDibrot The Ten Commandments Aseret Yimei Teshuva The Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, a time of introspection and semi-mourning Ashkenazi of Eastern European Jewish tradition Ashrei "Fortunate Are," a popular alphabetic prayer (Psalm 145) Asoroh B'Tevet winter fast for Babylonian siege of Jerusalem aufruf held the Shabbat before a wedding, the throwing of candy, etc. at a groom after he reads the Haftorah Av 11th Jewish month (Jul-Aug), 9th is Tisha B'Av av (Heb.) father of... avel/avelut mourner/mourning aveyra sin; transgression of a "shalt not" avodah work [n], esp. in service of G-d avodah zarah lit.=strange work: idolatry ayrusin marital engagement ayshet chayil a woman of valor Ayshet Chayil the entire last chapter of Proverbs, sung on Erev Shabbat and at weddings, describing a "woman of valor" Top

B A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ba'al a pagan god Jews are told in the Torah not to worship ba'al (Heb.) master, owner; one who... ba'al habayis (...of the house) host [n] ba'al koreh (...who reads) Torah reader ba’al simcha (... of happiness) the celebrant, esp. the bar or bat mitzvah ba'al teshuva (...who returns) newly observant Jew ba'al toke'a (...of the sound) shofar blower ba'alabusta (Yid.) hostess; friendly woman babushka kerchief worn as headcovering bachor first-born male child baheyma domesticated beast; "Animal!" Bamidbar Numbers (4th bk. of Torah) bar mitzva 13-year-old boy now responsible for fulfilling mitzvot; the ceremony at which this rite of passage occurs bat... daughter of... bat mitzva 12-year-old girl now responsible for fulfilling mitzvot; the ceremony at which this rite of passage occurs B.C.E/C.E. Before the Common Era/Common Era b'dikat chametz the ceremonial, pre-Pesach search for chametz becher (Yid.) wine goblet bedecken the veiling of the bride Beit HaT’futzot The Diaspora Museum, in Tel Aviv b'emet lit.= in truth: "Really?"; "Really!" Be'ersheva lit.=well of the oath: Israeli city in the Negev Beit... pron."bate": House of... [Sefardi pron.] Beit Din lit.=house of law: rabbinical court Beit HaMikdash Holy Temple, twice destroyed Beit Lechem lit.=House of bread (Heb.) Bethlehem, Rachel's burial place Beit (Ha)Midrash room, building for religious study ben... son of... bentch (Yid.) say Grace After Meals bentch licht (Yid.) light and bless the Shabbat candles Beth... pron. "bett": House of... [Ashkenazi pron.] biblical of the Five Books of Moses, the Prophets, or the Writings bikur cholim visiting the sick bimah Torah-reading table in synagogue Birkat HaMazon lit.=blessing of the food: Grace After Meals Birkat Kohanim the blessing of the kohanim (see "duchan") bitachon (Heb.) trust [n] biz hundret un tzvensik yor lit.=to a hundred and twenty years: "(May you) live a long life." [Moses lived to 120] blood libel the pernicious libel that the blood of Christian children is used to make kosher wine or matzah b’nai mitzvah more than one bar/bat mitzvah celebrant boch'r yeshiva student borscht cold beet soup Boruch Atoh "Blessed are You..." boruch haboh lit.=bless the arrivers: "Welcome!" boychik (Yid.) boy, term of endearment bracha blessing B'reshit Genesis brit (mila) lit.=covenant: circumcision b'samim fragrant spices smelled during Havdala b'shert destined; one's destined mate/spouse b'tayavon lit.=in appetite: Bon Appetit! bubbe (Yid.) grandmother bubbe meiseh lit.=grandmother's story: old-wive's tale bulvan (Yid.) ox-like person bupkes (Yid.) nothing; something worthless b'vakasha "Please"; "You're welcome." Top

C A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

cacamamie half-baked, silly calla (Heb.) bride C.E. Common Era Chabad see "Lubavitch" chag holiday, esp. a religious one chai (Heb.) life challah braided egg bread for Shabbat and holidays chaloshes (Yid.) disgusting chalutz pioneer; early Israeli settler, esp. on kibbutz chamalyeh (Yid.) punch, hard hit [n] chametz leavened products forbidden on Pesach Chanukah winter holiday for defeating the Syrian Hellenists chanukia Chanukah menorah charoset Seder condiment of chopped apples, walnuts, and wine; recalls mortar made by Hebrew slaves in Egypt chas v'sholom lit.=mercy and peace: "G-d forbid!" chasana wedding chasid (pl. chasidim) member of an Orthodox Jewish sect chatchke(s) knick-knack(s) chaver (Heb.) friend chavruta study partner or group chaya (ruah) (wicked) wild animal chayrem state of excommunication, shunning Chazal abbr. of Chachomim, Zichronom L'Vracha: our Sages, may their Memories (be) for a Blessing. chazan cantor chazer pig chazerai (Yid.) disgusting stuff, trash chazuka claim of ownership based on repeated use cheder religious lesson, or where it's held chesed (Heb.) kindness Cheshvan 2nd Jewish month (Oct-Nov) chevra kadisha lit.=holy association: burial society chidush innovation; revelation chilul HaShem lit.=defamation of the Name: a scandalous act or statement chinuch early childhood education chiyuv lit.=obligated: one to whom an honor is due in shul chochma (Heb.) wisdom chochom (pl. chochomim) sage; wise one chodesh lit.=new (moon): month Chol HaMo'ed middle 4 days of 8-day holidays, esp. Pesach and Sukkot. rules of the holiday apply, but work is permitted. cholent 24-hour stew for Shabbat, holidays, etc. choson (Heb.) groom chrain (Yid.) horseradish chug activity group Chumash lit.=five: The Five Books of Moses chuppah wedding canopy churban destruction, ruin [n] chutzpah sass, moxy; nerve, gall chiloni Israeli non-affiliated Jew Converso Jew forced to convert under the Inquistion; a modern descendant living in the southwest U.S. Top

D A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

daf yomi lit.=page of the day: practice of learning a page of Gemara each day darshen to interpret, esp. in religious issues daven (Yid.) pray Dayenu "It Would Have Sufficed," a Seder song; "Enough already!" dayun (Heb.) judge [n] derech eretz lit.=the way of the land: courtesy Diaspora those Jews not living in Israel din (Heb.) law drasha sermon dreidel toy top used on Chanukah duchan blessing the congregation [v], done by kohanim D'varim Deuteronomy dvar Torah lit.=word of Torah: speech on enlightening biblical passage or any aspect of religious thought dybbuk (Yid.) dead person's soul inhabiting a living person Top E A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Eicha Lamentations Einsatzgruppen Special Forces of the Nazi Army El Al lit.=to above: Israel's airline Elul 12th Jewish month (Aug-Sept) emunah (Heb.) faith eppis something undefinable, a "you-know-what" Eretz Yisrael (Heb.) The Land of Israel Erev... lit.=evening: the night before, esp. Shabbat or yom tov; like New Year's Eve eruv series of posts connected with string that fence in an area, making it permissible to carry on Shabbat in that area etrog citron, used on Sukkot ezra (Heb.) help [n] Top F A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Falasha lit.=wanderer: derogatory name for Ethiopian Jews far vus (Yid.) for what, why farblonget (Yid.) lost farbrengen (Yid.) party [n], esp. religious or family farbrent (Yid.) burning; zealous farfallen (Yid.) collapsed, fallen in felafel pita sandwich with fried chick-pea balls ferdrimmeled (Yid.) dreaming, daydreaming ferklempt (Yid.) clenched fermished (Yid.) mixed up, messed up ferpitzed (Yid.) dressed up fershtays (Yid.) understand fershimmeled (Yid.) moldy ferschnoshked (Yid.) drunk fertootsed (Yid.) over-dressed, overdone fleischig containing or relating to meat fress (Yid.) gobble fresser (Yid.) glutton freylach (Yid.) festive frosk (Yid.) slap fumfer (Yid.) mumble Top G A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z gaon head of a Babylonian yeshiva; composer of the Talmud gabbai rabbi's synagogue assistant Gallil lit= rolling: the northern, grassy, hilly part of Israel Galut lit.=exile: where the Diaspora lives Gan Aiden The Garden of Eden ganev thief; clever person gan k’tanim lit.=garden of (the) small (ones): kindergarten gantze megilla (Yid.) the whole story gantze mishpocha (Yid.) the whole family gartl (Yid.) belt, sash gefilt croht stuffed cabbage gefilte fish fish cakes gelilah rolling and re-clothing of Torah scroll after hagbah gelt (Yid.) money, esp. as Chanukah gift Gemara commentary on the Mishna gemilut chasadim acts of kindness genizah storage/burial for worn-out, but holy, papers, books, etc. ger convert [n] geshmackt (Yid.) delicious, lip-smacking geshrai (Yid.) cry, shout, yell [n] get divorce document gezunt (Yid.) healthy gezuntheit (Yid.) good health glatt lit.=smooth: highest level of fleishig kashrut glick (Yid.) good fortune Goldena Medina lit.=Golden Country: the United States golem automaton; mindless person gomel one who has just undergone a dangerous experience gorgl (Yid.) neck gornisht (Yid.) nothing, emptiness gottenyu "Dear G-d!" grogger Purim noisemaker Top H A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z HaAretz lit.=the land: The Land of Israel hachnasat orchim the welcoming of guests; hospitality hader (Heb.) pride hadasim myrtle leaves, used on Succot Haftorah after Torah reading, a reading from Prophets, usu. related in content or theme to parsha just read hagbah raising and display of the Torah scroll after reading Hadassah U.S.-based Jewish women's organization Haggadah Pesach guidebook, used during Seder hakafot dances around bimah on Succot [n] hak'n a chainik lit.=banging a kettle: annoying [v] halachah Jewish law ha-levai (Yid.) "If only!" Hallel holiday prayer of thanks-giving Psalms halvah sesame candy hamentash(en) Purim cookie(s), filled with fruit or poppyseeds HaMotzi the blessing over bread HaShem The Name (in place of G-d's actual Name) Haskala 19th cent. European Jewish "Enlightenment" HaTikvah lit.=The Hope: Israel's anthem Havdala prayer bidding farewell to Shabbat haymish lit.=home-like: friendly, joyous hefker abandoned, ownerless Herzl, Theodore early Zionist, Hebrew-language proponent Holocaust always capitalized hora fast, festive circle-dance hoshanah prayer for hakafot Hoshanah Rabbah holiday at end of Succot hummus chick-pea paste, a Mid-Eastern dish Top I A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ikor core, essence im yirtza HaShem "G-d willing." ima (Heb.) mother Iyar 8th Jewish month (May), 5th is Yom HaAtzma'ut, 18th is Lag BaOmer. Top J A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Judenrat council of ghetto Jews charged with picking Jews to give to Nazis for delivery to concentration/death camps Top K A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Kabalah lit.=acceptance: Jewish mysticism Kaddish mourner's prayer kallah study session kapo head of a Judenrat kaporah atonement karpas vegetables (usu. parsley, celery, potato) dipped in salt water and eaten at Seder kasha couscous-like dish made of buckwheat kashe question, esp. on ritual observance kasher to make kosher, esp. meat or dishes kashrut the laws of kosher-ness kapoteh long, black coat worn by chasidim kedoshim lit.=holy ones: martyrs kedushin the marriage ceremony kehilla congregation; community ken ayina hora lit.=without the evil eye: "Not to jinx it" (said after complimenting) keter Torah ornamental crown placed on Sefer Torah ketubah lit.=writ: marriage contract khap grab, snatch; understand [v]; insight [n] kibbitz (Yid.) chitchat kibbutz (pl. kibbutzim) Israeli collective farm kichel air-filled cookies kiddish celebratory meal after synagogue services Kiddush prayer/blessing for wine kiddush HaShem lit.=sanctification of the Name: selfless act, esp. martyrdom Kiddush Lavona prayer for the new moon kinder(lach) (small) children kipah (pl. kipot) (Heb.) skullcap kiruv lit.=closeness: outreach kishka seasoned mashed potatoes in a casing kishkas (Yid.) innards; "guts" ("She's got..."; "I feel it in my...") Kislev 3rd Jewish month (Nov-Dec), 25th is Chanukah kitel white robe, esp. for Pesach and Yom Kippur Klal Yisrael (Heb.) The Jewish People klezmer Yiddish music: part Jewish, part big-band klutz (Yid.) clumsy one Knesset Israel's Parliament k'neidlach thin noodles, esp. for soup k'nish puff pastry filled with meat or potatoes ko'ach strength; endurance, energy kodesh (Heb.) holy kohen (pl. kohanim) descendant of Moses, Aaron; thus, a member of the priest class Kol Nidre "All Vows," key prayer, by chazan on Erev Yom Kippur korban (Heb.) holy sacrifice; (Yid.) scapegoat kos (Heb.) wine goblet kosher permissible to eat under Jewish law Kotel (HaMa'aravi) The (Western) Wall kovod (Heb.) honor [n] kreplach won tons Kristallnacht "Night of Broken Glass," Nazi pogrom on Nov.9-10, 1938; the worst pogrom ever, it marked the Holocaust's start kriyah lit.=rip: the tearing of one’s clothes to signify mourning kriyat haTorah the reading of the Torah kugel casserole, usu. of potatoes or noodles; tease [v, slang] kvell derive deep pride or intense satisfaction kvetch whine(r), complain(er) Top L A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Ladino the Jewish-Spanish language Lag BaOmer the thirty-third day of the Omer, minor spring holiday landsman fellow native (usu. of place in Old Country) landsmanshaft(en) organization(s) of fellow natives lashon harah lit.=bad language: slander, gossip Lashon HaKodesh lit.=holy tongue: Hebrew latke potato pancake, esp. for Chanukah lavayah lit.=procession: funeral layn read from the Torah, etc., with trop l'chaim "To Life!" lechem (Heb.) bread lev (Heb.) heart levi (pl. leviim) member of the tribe of Levi, but not a descendant of Moses or Aaron; thus, a member of the priest-assistant class licht lit.=light: Shabbat or yom tov candles Likud Israeli conservative political party loch in kopf lit.=a hole in (the) head: "the last thing I need" lochshen wide noodles, esp. for kugel l'shanah tova lit.=for a good year: Rosh HaShanah greeting Lubavitch large and influential chaisidic group focusing on outreach luftmensch lit=air man: one without visible means of (monetary) support lulav palm frond. used on Succot Top M A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Ma'arat HaMachpela Tomb of the Patriarchs ma'ariv evening prayer Maccabi follower of Judah of the Maccabis maccabiah Jewish preteen mini-Olympics (cap. if official version) machotin child's father-in-law machatonim child's spouse's parents, co-in-laws machatonista child's mother-in-law macher lit.=maker: mover-and-shaker machzor holiday prayerbook, esp. for High Holidays madrich camp counselor; youth-group leader; tour guide makos (Heb.) whip-lashes; plagues Mama Loshon lit.=mother tongue: Yiddish mandel brot almond pastry Ma Nishtanah "What Distinguishes?" set of children's questions in Haggadah, the "Four Questions" maot chitim lit.=wheat money: charity given for poor to buy matzah Marrano lit.=pig: derogatory name for Converso marror bitter herb eaten on Pesach matzah (pl. matzot) unleavened bread, esp. eaten on Pesach matzah brei French-toasted matzah matzevah tombstone mayven expert; know-it-all mazel lit.=constellation: luck Mazel Tov lit.= (a) good star: "Congratulations!" mazik impish person, esp. a child mechaya lit.= which makes live: relief; joy (said of a person, thing, or situation) mechitza partition between men and women in shul medina country (the actual territory) Medinat Yisrael (Heb.) The State of Israel megillah (Heb.) Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations (Yid.) any long, drawn-out story Megillah The Book of Esther melamed religious teacher, esp. a non-rabbi melaveh malkeh Shabbat party melech/Melech king/ capitalize in reference to G-d menachem avel lit.=comforting a mourner: paying a condolence call menorah candelabra, esp. for Chanukah mensch (pl. menschen) (Yid.) upstanding person menschlach decent, morally upright, polite meshuge (Yid). crazy meshugene (Yid.) crazy one metziah lit.=a find: a bargain mezuzah biblical passage on a parchment scroll, placed in an ornamental case and affixed to a doorpost Midrash collection of extra-biblical stories mikvah ritual bath milchig dairy mincha afternoon prayer minyan quorum of 10 required for certain prayers mishalach manot gifts of food given on Purim misheberach blessing of healing given during kriyat haTorah mishpacha (Heb.) family Mishkan portable Holy Temple used during Exodus mishmash eclectic collection or arrangement Mishnah oral law, parallel to Torah. Written down circa 200 C.E. mitzvah (pl. mitzvot) religious commandment Mizbe'ach altar used in Holy Temple mizrach east, dir. American Jews face when praying Mizrachi Orthodox Zionist movement Mogen David lit.=Shield of David: Jewish star mohel one who performs circumcisions Mordechai hero of Book of Esther moshav kibbutz, but with more private property Moshiach the Messiah moshol parable, fable, usu. with a moral motzi see "HaMotzi" muktzah forbidden on Shabbat, said esp. of an object musaf lit.=gathered: additional post-shacharit prayers on holidays mussar constructive criticism Top N A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z na'areshkeit lit.=adolescent stuff: worthless things or activities nachas pride, esp. parental pride for children nais (Heb.) miracle ner tamid lit.=forever candle: eternal flame, esp. in shul nasi lit.=prince: head of Biblical tribe or Sanhedrin navi prophet nazir ascetic abstainer from wine, haircuts, and contact with death Nevi'im biblical writings and stories of Prophets nebach (Yid.) "(Such) a pity!" nebbish pitiful person nechomah (Heb.) pity Negev the southern, desert part of Israel Ne'ilah flnal prayer on Yom Kippur neshoma (Heb.) soul netilat yadayim the washing of the hands, esp. before eating bread niggun tune to which liturgy is sung; wordless melody sung by chasidim Nisan 7th Jewish month (Mar-Apr), 15th starts Pesach, 27th is Yom HaShoah Nine Days days of mourning leading up to Tisha B'Av nisht gerferalach lit.=not important: "Don't worry." no-goodnick a good-for-nothing person nosh snack [n,v] nosherai snack foods; silly, time-wasting stuff nu (Yid.) "So?" nudge pest [n], to pester [v] nudnick unthinking, inconsiderate person Top O A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z olam world; universe; everything; forever Olam HaBah The World to Come oleh (pl. olim) lit.=ascender: immigrant to Israel Omer period of 49 days between the second night of Pesach and the first night of Shavuot; first 33 are period of national mourning oneg party, usu. on Shabbat (The) O.U. The Orthodox Union (full name: Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America), or its kashrut insignia. Oy, gevalt "Oh, drat!"; "Quick, help!" Oy, gottenyu "Oh, G-d!" Oy, vey lit.=(it) hurts: "Oh, no!" Oy, vey is mir "Oh, woe is me." oysvorf (Yid.) layabout, ne'er-do-well Top P A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z parnasah livelihood parsha chapter, esp. of Torah parshat hashavua weekly parsha read in shul; the parsha for a given week parve status of food containing neither dairy nor meat ingredients; wishy-washy [slang] paskin to answer a question on religious practice pe'ah li.=corner: section of field left for poor to glean perek paragraph, esp. in Torah perochet ornamental curtain in front of aron Pesach Passover, in spring pesachdik legal for Passover use or consumption Petach Tikva Israeli city, east of Tel Aviv-- Chicago's Israeli "sister city" peyis sideburns, esp. long ones worn by chasidim pidyon haben the redemption of the bachor from Temple service; still done ceremoniously pidyon shvuyim lit.=the redeption of captives: the rescue of refugees Pirkei Avot "Ethics of the Fathers," a Mishnaic book of sages' sayings pikuach nefesh the tenet of violating Jewish law to save a life pintele (Yid.) lit.=the point of a Jew: the "spark" of Jewishness within all Jews pisk (Yid.) mouth; loudmouth pits'l (Yid.) tiny bit; very young or small child plotz (Yid.) explode, esp. with intense emotion pogrom violent, anti-Semitic attack of a Jewish village or area posek one trusted to made halachic decisions potch (Yid.) spank potchkied (Yid.) overdone, overwrought prust rough, coarse; socially unrefined pupik (Yid.) navel, belly button Purim spring holiday for Book of Esther events punim (Yid.) face pushka box or canister for collecting tzedakah Top R A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z rachmanut (Heb.) mercy rav term of endearment for rabbi reb/rebbe/rebbie terms of endearment for rabbi rebbetzin wife of a rabbi refusenik one refused an exit visa from the Soviet Union regah (Heb.) minute; "One minute!" rimon (Heb.) pomegranate; grenade rimonim ornamental cylinders placed on Sefer Torah Rishonim post-Gemarah-era commentators, incl. Rashi & Maimonides Rosh Chodesh first day of the new month Rosh HaShanah lit.=head of the year: Jewish New Year, autumn holiday ruach (Heb.) spirit; enthusiasm ruggelach croissant-like pastries, usu. w/ chocolate or cinnamon Top S A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z saba (Heb.) grandfather sabra (Heb.) prickly-pear fruit Sabra native Israeli sakanot nefashot life-endangerment same'ach (Heb.) happy savta (Heb.) grandmother Sanhedrin ancient rabbinical council of 70 sages saychel (Yid.) common sense s'chach loose thatch used for succah roof, must be from plants schav cold soup of leafy vegetables schlaf (Yid.) sleep [v] schlemazel luckless one schlemiel bumbler, one who "can't do anything right" schlep carry; drag, lug; drag one's feet; travel a great distance [v], lazy one; unkempt person [n] schlump (Yid.) flop [v]; stoop-shouldered person [n] schmaltz (Yid.) fat, grease, oil; maudlin sentimentality schmateh (Yid.) rag; cheap piece of clothing schmeggege disorganized one, one who "doesn't have it together" schmeichl (Yid.) smile; smooth-talk schmooze (Yid.) intimate chat [n]; persuade [v] schmutz (Yid.) filth, scum schnook unscrupulous one; cheater, crook schpiel (Yid.) story; sales pitch schpilkes lit.=pins: anxiousness schtick bit, piece; comic act; eccentricity schtickl(ach) little bit(s) or piece(s) schtiebl small synagogue, often a storefront or private home schtreiml round, fur-edged hat worn by chasidim seder Pesach ceremonial meal sedrah reading from Tanach sefer (Heb.) book, esp. of religious topic Sefer Torah the Torah scroll itself sefirat haOmer counting of the days of the Omer Sephardi of Mediterranean Jewish tradition se'udah feast [n], esp. for Shabbat or holiday sha "Shh! Quiet!" Shabbat the Sabbath shacharit morning prayer shadchan matchmaker shailah question, esp. on religious matters shaliach messenger; representative; ambassador; Israeli delegate to community, youth group, synagogue, etc. shaliach tzibur (abbr. shatz) lit.=messenger of (the) congregation: cantor shalom peace; "Hello/Goodbye" shalom aleichem lit.=peace to you: "Hello" (response is "aleichem, shalom") shalom bayit lit.=peace of the house: domestic harmony shalosh se'udot third and last meal of Shabbat shamos assistant synagogue manager shamosh candle that kindles the Chanukah candles shanda (Yid.) disgrace, scandal Shavuot holiday for receiving the Torah, in autumn shayna maideleh (Yid.) beautiful girl Sh'china G-d's presence shchita kosher slaughtering shecht slaughter, esp. in a kosher manner; to defeat soundly, as in sports [slang] Shehecheyanu blessing for annual, lifetime, or historic events sheket (Heb.) quiet, silence Shema lit.=Hear (O, Israel): a key Jewish prayer Sheva B'rachot set of seven blessings said at weddings and at parties for one week after sheytl (Yid.) wig, esp. for married women shidduch match (see shadchan) shira (pl. shirim) (Heb.) song shiva period of mourning observed for seven days after a family member's funeral Shiv-asor B'Tamuz 17th of Tamuz, summer fast day for destruction of Holy Temple shloshim period of mourning observed for thirty days after a family member's funeral Sh'mini Atzeret eighth day of Succot, a holiday shmita Shabbat of the land: every seventh year, when Israeli land lies fallow Shmonah Esrei lit.=18: 19-blessing (1 was added later) shacharit Amidah Shmot Exodus (2nd bk. of Torah) Shoah lit.=destruction: The Holocaust shochet slaughterer who slaughters in the kosher manner shofar ram's horn, blown like a bugle on holidays shok’l sway meditatively during prayers shul synagogue shtetl Eastern European Jewish village Shulchan Aruch lit.=set table: Code of Jewish Law shvach (Yid.) weak; tepid, unsubstantial sh'varim shofar blast of three short sounds Shvat 5th Jewish month (Jan-Feb), 15th is Tu B'Shvat shvitz sweat [v]; sauna [n] siddur daily prayerbook simcha happiness; special happy occasion, esp. bris, wedding, etc. Simchat Torah holiday celebrating the Torah, in autumn Sivan 9th Jewish month (May-Jun), 5th and 6th are Shavuot sivivon (Heb.) dreidle, esp. in Israel siyum completion of the study of a section of scripture; a celebration thereupon slicha forgiveness; "Forgive me/Pardon me" Slichot prayers of repentance said around High Holidays smicha rabbinic ordination sofer scribe; author S.S. the Nazi infantry, "Brownshirts" succah (pl. succot) outdoor booth lived in on Succot Succot harvest holiday, in autumn Top T A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z tachlis (Yid.) essence, substance; worth; basics, "brass tacks" takkah (Yid.) really talit (pl. taliot) prayer shawl Talmud Mishna with its relevant Gemara, bound together Tamuz 10th Jewish month (Jun-Jul), 17th is Shiv-asor B'Tamuz Tana'im lit.=teachers: compilers of Mishna tante (Yid.) aunt tarfos that which is trayf Tashlich Rosh HaShanah practice of throwing bread, etc. into water, symbolically casting away our sins techina sesame paste, a Mid-Eastern food tefillah prayer tefillin biblical passages on parchment scrolls, placed in small boxes and affixed with leather straps, worn during prayer Tehillim Psalms teiglach small, fruit- or nut-filled pastries, dipped in honey teretz reason, explanation Tevet 4th Jewish month (Jan), 10th is Asoroh B'Tevet Three Weeks period of mourning from Shiv-asor B'Tamuz to Tisha B'Av thirty-nine melochot 39 categories of "work" prohibitted on Shabbat tichel kerchief; headcovering, esp. for married women tikun study book for layning tikun layl Shavuot all-night study session on the eve of Shavuot tikun olam the repair or completion of the world tikva (Heb.) hope Tisha B'Av the 9th of Av, a major fast day for the destruction of the Holy Temples, in summer Tishrei 1st Jewish month (Sep-Oct), 1st is Rosh HaShanah, 10th is Yom Kippur, 15th is Succot, 22nd is Sh'mimi Atzeret, 23rd is Simchat Torah t'kia shofar blast of one long sound todah (rabbah) "Thank you (very much)" Torah the written Jewish law tractate section of the Talmud trayf lit.=torn: not kosher trop marks indicating musical notes for chanting the Torah, etc. tru'a shofar blast of nine staccato sounds truma tenth of a crop, given to kohanim Tu B'Shvat the 15th of Shvat, Jewish Arbor Day tuchus lit.=under: buttocks tzadik righteous person, esp. a rabbi. tzadreit (Yid.) mixed up tzar ba'aleh chaim the suffering of living things tzedakah lit.=justice: charity tzibur congregation tzimis carrot/pineapple compote, usu. with raisins or prunes; a hullabaloo [slang] tzitzit fringes worn on the corners of a four-cornered garment; the garment and fringes together tzniut modesty, esp. of dress tzom day of fasting tzuros (Yid.) pains; troubles, problems, distresses tzutzik (Yid.) ambitious or energetic person Tzvah Haganah L'Yisrael (Tzahal) Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel's army Top U A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ulpan Hebrew-language course, esp. in Israel ungebloozen (Yid.) surly Top V A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Vaad... Committee (or Council) of... Vayikra Leviticus viduy confession to G-d of a sin vilde chaya (Yid.) wild animal; uncontrolled person Top Y A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z yad (pl. yaddayim) lit.=hand: Torah pointer Yad VaShem lit.=hand and name: Israeli Holocaust Museum yam pron. "yom": (Heb.) sea Yam HaMelech (...of salt) the Dead Sea Yam HaGadol (...the large one) the Mediterranean Sea Yam Kinneret (...shaped like a harp) Sea of Galilee Yam Suf (...the final one) the Red Sea yarmulke pron. "yamaka": (Yid.) skullcap yartzeit anniversary of a death yasher ko'ach lit.=(go) straight, (as) strong: "Good job! Keep up the good work!" yente gossipy one [n] yerusha inheritance; heritage Yerushalayim (Heb.) Jerusalem yeshiva (pl. yeshivot) Talmudic seminary yeshiva boch'r seminary student yeshuv Israeli town yetzer tov/harah good/evil impulse Yetziat Mitzrayim (Heb.) Exodus from Egypt Yiddishkeit Jewishness yisrael member of a tribe other than Levi; thus a member of the nonpriest class Yisrael (Heb.) Israel Yizkor communal service for personal mourning yom pron. "yome": (Heb.) day Yom HaAtzma'ut Israel Independence Day Yom HaShoah Holocaust Memorial Day Yom HaZikaron Israel Memorial Day Yom Kippur Day of Atonement, in autumn yom tov lit.=good day: holiday Yom Yerushalayim Jerusalem Reunification Day Yomim Nora'im High Holidays, Rosh HaShanah & Yom Kippur yored (pl. yordim) lit.=descender: emigrant from Israel (considered impolite) Yovel every 50th yr.; see shmita (trans. Jubilee) Top Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z za'atar an Israeli spice zachor remember zecher in remembrance of zecher tzadik livracha (abbr. zt"l) "(May) the memory of the righteous (be) for a blessing." Said of deceased rabbis zechut merit, worth zeide (Yid.) grandfather zhlub (Yid.) slob zichrono livracha (abbr. z"l) "(May) his/her memory (be) for a blessing." Said of the deceased zmirah (pl. zmirot) Shabbat song Zohar major tract of Kabbalah Top

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