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
B
- Ba'al
- a pagan god Jews are told in the Torah not to worship
- ba'al
- (Heb.) master, owner; one who...
- ba'al(at) habayit
- lit.=master (mistress) of the house: host [n]
- ba'al koreh
- lit.=...who reads: Torah reader
- ba'al nais
- lit.=...of a miracle: miracle-worker (using prayer, not magic)
- ba'al shem
- lit.=... of The Name: mystic scholar
- ba’al simcha
- lit.=... of happiness: the celebrant, esp. the bar or bat mitzvah
- ba'al teshuva
- lit.=...who returns: newly observant Jew
- ba'al toke'a
- lit.=...of the sound: shofar blower
- ba'alabatish
- lit.=hostess-like: welcoming, hospitable in the warmest way
- ba'alabusta
- (Yid.) hostess; friendly woman (from the Heb. "ba'alat habayit")
- babka
- bread-like cake made with chocolate or cinnamon
- babushka
- kerchief worn as headcovering
- bachor
- first-born male child
- badchan
- jester-like emcee at Jewish weddings
- baheyma
- domesticated beast; "Animal!"
- Bamidbar
- Numbers (4th bk. of Torah)
- barimer
- (Yid.) braggart, egomaniac
- bar mitzva
- 13-year-old boy now responsible for fulfilling mitzvot; the ceremony at which this rite of passage occurs
- "Baruch dayan emes"
- lit.=blessed is the true Judge: said upon hearing of a death
- bat...
- daughter of...
- bat kama aht
- lit.=the daughter of how many (years) (are) you?: "How old are you?" (for females)
- bat mitzva
- 12-year-old girl now responsible for fulfilling mitzvot; the ceremony at which this rite of passage occurs
- batempte
- lit.=tempting: appetizing, delicious
- bayit
- (Heb.) house, home
- 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
- 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 HaT’futzot
- lit.=House of the Scattered Ones: The Diaspora Museum, in Tel Aviv
- Beit Lechem
- lit.=House of bread: (Heb.) Bethlehem, Rachel's burial place
- Beit (Ha)Midrash
- room, building for religious study
- ben...
- son of...
- ben kama atah
- lit.=the son of how many (years) (are) you?: "How old are you?" (for males)
- bentch
- (Yid.) say Grace After Meals
- bentch licht
- (Yid.) light and bless the Shabbat candles
- berye
- (Yid.) virtuoso; adept one, esp. a host
- Beth...
- pron. "bett": House of... [Ashkenazi pron.]
- bikur cholim
- visiting the sick
- bimah
- lit.=stage: 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]
- bisel
- (Yid.) small amount
- biterer tropn
- lit.= bitter drop: (Yid.) whiskey, liquor
- biz hundret un tzvensik yor
- lit.=to a hundred and twenty years: "(May you) live a long life." [Moses lived to 120]
- "B'li neder"
- lit.=without a vow: said upon making a promise, esp. of a favor
- blitzpost
- lit.=lightning mail: (Yid.) e-mail
- 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
- boreike
- perogie, sometimes with a phyllo crust
- 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
- "Broch!"
- lit= break(ing): (Yid.) past all repair; "Oh, no!"
- broyges
- lit.=angry: (Yid.) falling-out, grudge
- b'samim
- fragrant spices smelled during Havdala
- b'shert
- destined; one's destined mate/spouse
- b'tayavon
- lit.=in appetite: Bon Appetit!
- b'tzelem Elohim
- in God's image
- bubbe
- (Yid.) grandmother
- bubbeleh
- lit.=little doll: (Yid.) dear one, darling
- bubbe meiseh
- tall tale, urban legend (from a fictional character; no relation to the word "bubbe" or to grandmothers)
- bulvan
- (Yid.) ox-like person
- bupkes
- lit.=beans: (Yid.) nothing; something worthless
- butchkeh
- (Yid.) chit-chat, relate anecdotes (v)
- b'vakasha
- "Please"; "You're welcome."