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

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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 in the Talmud
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
"Ad Mosai": "Until when?"; "How long until Moshiach arrives, and we must endure this suffering?"
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 (accent on last syllable); ascent on the bimah when called to have the Torah read in one's honor (accent on the second syllable).
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
Aninut: (Heb.) Period of intense mourning, until the funeral's conclusion
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; burial casket/coffin
Artzrot HaBrit: lit.=Land of the Covenant (i.e. Constitution): Israeli name for the U.S.A.
Aseret HaDibrot: lit.= The Ten Declarations: 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: event 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...
Av HaRachamin: (Heb. merciful Father) memorial prayer said on Shabbat, certain holidays, and as part of the Yizkor service.
avel/avelut: mourner/mourning
aveyra: sin; transgression of a "shalt not"
aviron: lit.=air-thing: airplane
avnet: belt for a burial sash
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, curse
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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Jewish Word Glossary

Glossary Key

A