Glossary
The Yiddish, Hebrew, and shul English you will hit in the newsletter, and what each word actually means.
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KaddishAramaic
the mourner's prayer, said by those in mourning
kashrut / kosherHebrew
Jewish dietary law, and food that complies with it
ketubahAramaic
the Jewish marriage contract, read at the wedding
kibitzYiddish
to chat idly, especially with unsolicited advice
kippahHebrew
the head covering worn as a sign of respect for God
kishkesYiddish
guts, intestines, or gut instinct
knessetHebrew
Israel's 120-seat parliament
kvellYiddish
to glow with pride, usually about your kids
kvetchYiddish
to complain, at length, with feeling
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macherYiddish
a big shot, someone who gets things done
mazel tovHebrew
congratulations, good fortune
menschYiddish
a genuinely decent, honorable person
meshugenehYiddish
crazy, foolish, off their rocker
mezuzahHebrew
the case with a parchment scroll on a doorframe
mikvehHebrew
a ritual immersion bath
minyanHebrew
a quorum of ten needed for certain prayers
mishegasYiddish
craziness, nonsense, a chaotic situation
MizrahiHebrew
Jews from the Middle East and North Africa
Modern OrthodoxEnglish
Orthodox observance combined with secular life
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sabraHebrew
a native-born Israeli
schlepYiddish
to carry or drag something heavy, tediously
schmearYiddish
the cream cheese on a bagel, or the whole works
schmutzYiddish
dirt, grime, a smudge
schvitzYiddish
to sweat, or a steam bath itself
SephardiHebrew
descended from Jews of Spain and Portugal before 1492
shabbatHebrew
the weekly Jewish Sabbath, sundown Friday to nightfall Saturday
shabbosYiddish
the Yiddish pronunciation of Shabbat, the Sabbath
shandaYiddish
a shame, a public embarrassment
ShavuotHebrew
the holiday marking the giving of the Torah at Sinai
shivaHebrew
the seven-day mourning period after a burial
shofarHebrew
a ram's horn, blown at Rosh Hashanah
shomer ShabbosHebrew
observant of the Sabbath laws
shpielYiddish
a long rehearsed pitch or story, someone's whole routine
shulYiddish
synagogue
siddurHebrew
the Jewish prayer book used for daily and Shabbat services
Simchat TorahHebrew
marks finishing and restarting the Torah reading cycle
SukkotHebrew
the fall harvest festival, marked by a temporary hut
T
tallitHebrew
the fringed prayer shawl worn during prayer
TalmudHebrew
the central text of rabbinic law and commentary
tchotchkeYiddish
a small trinket or knickknack
tefillinHebrew
small leather boxes worn on the arm and head for prayer
tikkun olamHebrew
repairing the world, social responsibility
Tisha B'AvHebrew
the fast day mourning the destruction of both Temples
TorahHebrew
the Five Books of Moses, also Jewish teaching broadly
treyfYiddish
not kosher
tushYiddish
backside, buttocks
tzedakahHebrew
obligatory giving, rooted in justice
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