Jewish Word Glossary

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

D

daf yomi: lit.=page of the day: practice of learning a page of Gemara each day
daled amos: lit.=four cubits: personal space
dan l'chaf zechut: lit.=judge to the side of merit: give the benefit of the doubt
darkon: lit.=way-thing: passport
darshen: to interpret, esp. in religious issues
daven: (Yid.) pray
Dayenu: "It Would Have Sufficed," a Seder song; "Enough already!"
dayun: (Heb.) judge [n]
derech eretz: lit.=the way of the land: courtesy
Diaspora: those Jews not living in Israel
din: (Heb.) law
drasha: sermon
dreidel: toy top used on Chanukah
"Drei mir nisht kain kop": lit.="Don't spin my head": "Don't distract me!"
driml: lit.= a little dream: (Yid.) nap [n]
duchan: blessing the congregation [v], done by kohanim
D'varim: Deuteronomy
dvar Torah: lit.=word of Torah: speech on enlightening biblical passage or any aspect of religious thought
dybbuk: (Yid.) dead person's soul inhabiting a living person