Jewish Word Glossary

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."