Jewish Word Glossary
Glossary Key
|
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 |
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
- aderabah
- "but, in actuality..."
- adom
- (Heb.) red
- 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]
- aidel
- (Yid.) refined, socially graceful
- ainikle
- (Yid.) grandchild
- aitzeh
- advice
- Aleinu
- "It is Upon Us," a concluding hymn
- aleph-bet
- the Hebrew alphabet
- al kiddush HaShem
- for the sanctification of G-d
- alav hashalom
- "(May he/she) rest in peace."
- aliyah
- lit.=ascent: immigration to Israel
- alrightnik
- (English+Yid.) social climber
- 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.)
- amud
- lit.=stander: lectern, podium
- Ani Ma’amin
- lit.=I believe: phrase that begins each of Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles of Faith
- Anglit
- (Heb.) English langauge
- apikoros
- lit.=Epicurean: unbeliever, skeptic; heretic
- aravot
- willow sprigs, used on Succot
- arba kanfos
- lit.=four corners: tzitzit
- Arba Kanfos
- The Four Corners of the Earth
- Aretz
- lit.=land: Israel
- aroisgevorfen
- (Yid) wasted
- aron (hakodesh)
- (the holy) cabinet for Sefer Torah
- Artzrot HaBrit
- lit.=Land of the Covenant (i.e. Constitution)=Israeli name for the U.S.A.
- 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
- asur
- prohobitted under halachah
- 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"
- aviron
- lit.=air-thing: airplane
- avodah
- work [n], esp. in service of G-d
- avodah zarah
- lit.=strange work: idolatry
- ayef
- (Heb.) tired, sleepy
- ayrusin
- marital engagement
- ayin
- (Heb.) eye
- ayin harah
- lit.= evil eye: hex, jinx
- 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"
- azoy
- lit.= thus: "Really?"
- azoy geyt doz
- lit.=thus goes this: "That's how it goes!"
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