Glossary
Aliyot : Plural of aliyah; being called up to the Torah during a service to recite a blessing or read.
Bar/Bat mitzvah: literally translates to "son/daughter of the commandment"
Baruch atah Adonai: "Praised By Thou Oh Lord our God" - every Jewish prayer pretty much begins with this
Bashert: "meant to be" - especially for relationships, soul-mates etc
Bialy/Bialys: (some regions drop the “s” from the plural)originally from the city of Bia?ystok in Poland, is a traditional bread roll in Polish Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine.
Bimah: raised platform in a temple where the Torah is read
Bubbe: Grandmother
Cantor : A clergy member trained in leading prayers and chanting liturgical music in the synagogue.
Chai: Hebrew word for "life", very recognizable 2-letter symbol for luck
Daven/Davening: Yiddish for praying, especially in a traditional or Orthodox manner.
Dreck: Trash, junk, or something of poor quality.
Erev: Hebrew for "evening," often used to refer to the evening before a holiday or Sabbath (e.g., Erev Shabbat).
Farkakteh: Slang for something messed up, ridiculous, or absurd.
Frum: Yiddish term for devout or religiously observant, often within Judaism, frum fashion would be modest coverings
Haftarah: A selection from the Prophets read during Shabbat and holiday services, thematically linked to the weekly Torah portion.
Hadassah: A Jewish women's organization focused on community and philanthropic work.
Hashem: A reverent way to refer to God, literally meaning "The Name."
Havdalah: A ritual that marks the end of Shabbat or a Jewish holiday, using wine, spices, and a braided candle.
Hazarai: Slang for junk (in this case, all the gooey, sinful stuff inside rugelach!)
Huzzan: Another term for cantor.
Kaddish: A prayer in praise of God, recited during services and by mourners to honor the deceased.
Kashrut: The set of Jewish dietary laws, determining what is kosher.
Kibbitz: To chat, gossip, or offer unsolicited advice, often in a lighthearted way.
Kippah: Hebrew word for the skullcap worn as a sign of respect and reverence.
Kismet: Destiny or fate; often used to imply a sense of serendipity.
Kosher: Food prepared under Jewish dietary laws; also used to mean acceptable or legitimate.
Kreplach: a noodle dumpling in soup, usually stuffed with meat
Magen David: The Star of David, a symbol of Judaism.
Mahjong/Mahj: A traditional Chinese tile game popular in Jewish communities, especially among women.
Mazel tov: A congratulatory phrase meaning "good luck" or "congratulations."
Mensch: Yiddish for a person of integrity, honor, and kindness.
Meshugana: A crazy or eccentric person; can be used humorously or critically.
Milchig: Yiddish for dairy, referring to kosher dietary rules distinguishing meat and dairy.
Minyan: A quorum of 10 Jewish adults required for communal prayers.
Misheyakir: A specific time in the morning when there is enough light to distinguish between blue and white; marks when certain prayers can be said.
Mishpacha: Family or close-knit community.
Mourner’s Kaddish: A special version of the Kaddish prayer recited by mourners to honor loved ones.
Mussar: A Jewish spiritual practice focused on personal ethics and character development.
Oneg: A joyous gathering or celebration, often held after Shabbat services, featuring refreshments and community fellowship.
Parve/pareve: food prepared without milk or meat and therefore permissible to be eaten with either type of dish according to Kosher dietary laws.
Rugelach: A Jewish pastry filled with ingredients like nuts, chocolate, or fruit, sometimes rolled into a crescent or rolled and cut into a pillow shape.
Schmatta: A rag or an old, worn-out piece of clothing; sometimes used figuratively to mean low-quality or disrespected.
Seder: A ceremonial meal that marks the beginning of Passover, including prayers, stories, and traditional foods.
Shabbat: sundown Friday until sundown Saturday, the Jewish sabbath
Shalom: peace but can be used idiomatically as a greeting to mean hello.
Shidduch: A match or arranged introduction for the purpose of marriage.
Siddur: A Jewish prayer book containing daily, Sabbath, and holiday prayers.
Shofar: A ram’s horn blown during certain Jewish religious occasions, such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Shul: temple
Tallis/Tallit: A fringed prayer shawl worn during religious services, symbolizing the commandments.
Tefillin: Small black leather boxes containing scrolls of Torah verses, worn during weekday morning prayers.
Torah: The central text of Judaism, including the first five books of the Bible, considered sacred and authoritative.
Tuchus/Tuchuses: Yiddish for buttocks; can be used literally or humorously.
Tzedakah: a moral obligation of charitable giving, although the word actually means "justice" - doing the right thing by helping people in need.
Tzitzit: Fringes attached to the corners of a tallit or other garments as a reminder of the commandments.