Jewish Word Glossary

M

Ma'arat HaMachpela

Tomb of the Patriarchs, in Chevron (Hebron)

ma'ariv

evening prayer

ma'aseh 

lit.=action: anecdote

Maccabi

follower of Judah of the Maccabis

maccabiah

Jewish Olympics-style competition (cap. if official version)

machotin

child's father-in-law

machatonim

child's spouse's parents, co-in-laws

machatonista

child's mother-in-law

macher

lit.=maker: mover-and-shaker

machmir

strict, esp. with regard to observance of halachah

machsheifeh

witch, harpy

machzor

holiday prayerbook, esp. for High Holidays

madrich

camp counselor; youth-group leader; tour guide

mafte'ach

lit.=opener: key

maidel

lit.=maiden: (Yid.) young woman

maikel

permissive, esp. with regard to observance of halachah

makos

(Heb.) whip-lashes; plagues

Mama Loshon

lit.=mother tongue: Yiddish

mamosh 

definitive(ly)

mandel brot

almond pastry

makol

permissive, esp. with regard to observance of halachah

makpid

rigorous, esp. with regard to details of halachah

malon

(Heb.) hotel

mahair

(Heb.) hurry, "Hurry up!"

ma hasha'ah

lit.=what's the hour?: "What time is it?"

ma koreh

lit.=what happens?: "What's hapening? What's up?"

ma nishma

lit.=what will we hear?: "What's going on? What's new?"

Ma Nishtanah

"What Distinguishes?" set of children's questions in Haggadah, the "Four Questions"

maot chitim

lit.=wheat money: charity given for poor to buy matzah

Marrano

lit.=pig: derogatory name for Converso

marror

bitter herb eaten on Pesach

mashgiach 

kashrut consultant

masmid

full-time student

matzah (pl. matzot)

unleavened, or yeast-free, bread, esp. eaten on Pesach

matzah brei

French-toasted matzah

matzav

lit.=situation: state of terror, terrorism

matzevah

tombstone

matzlema

lit.=image-maker: camera

mayveen

(Heb.) understand; speak a language

mayven

lit.=understander: expert; know-it-all

mazel

lit.=constellation: luck

"Mazel Tov!"

lit.= (a) good constellation: "Congratulations!"

mazik

impish person, esp. a child

mechaya

lit.= which makes live: relief; joy (said of a person, thing, or situation)

mechilah 

forgiveness, esp. of sin or personal slight

mechitza

partition between men and women in shul

medina

country (the actual territory)

Medinat Yisrael

(Heb.) The State of Israel (as a political entity)

megillah

(Heb.) Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations; (Yid.) any long, drawn-out story

Megillah

The Book of Esther

mekabel 

lit.=accepting: embracing a concept or interpretation [adj.]

melamed

religious teacher, esp. a non-rabbi

melaveh malkeh

Shabbat party

melech/Melech

king/ capitalize in reference to G-d

meltzar(eet) 

waiter (waitress)

menachem avel

lit.=comforting a mourner: paying a condolence call

menorah

candelabra, esp. for Chanukah

mensch (pl. menschen)

(Yid.) upstanding person

menschlach

decent, morally upright, polite

menuvl 

detestable person

me'od

(Heb.) very; much

meshulach

lit.=sent one: messenger, esp. one seeking funding for an organization

meshuge

(Yid). crazy

meshugene

(Yid.) crazy person

metziah

lit.=a find: a bargain

mezeg avir

lit.=condition of (the) air: the weather

mezuma

lit.=ready: ready money, esp. cash

mezuman

lit.=ready: quorum of three adults needed for pre-Birkat HaMazon blessing

mezuzah

biblical passage on a parchment scroll, placed in an ornamental case and affixed to a doorpost

midot

lit.=measures: manners, behavior, conduct

Midrash

collection of extra-biblical stories

Mikros Gedolos/ Mikraot Gedolot

lit.=great readings: an edition of the Tanakh that includes its major commentaries

mikvah

ritual bath

milchamah

war

milchig

dairy

mincha

afternoon prayer

minyan

quorum of 10 required for certain prayers

mishalach manot

gifts of food given on Purim

misheberach

blessing of healing given during kriyat haTorah

mishegas

(Yid). craziness, nonsense, absurdity; eccentricity

mishpacha

(Heb.) family

Mishkan

portable Holy Temple used during Exodus

mishmash

eclectic collection or arrangement

Mishnah

oral law, parallel to Torah. Written down circa 200 C.E.

"Mitn derinnin...!"

lit.=in the middle of it: (Yid.) "All of a sudden..!"

mitzvah (pl. mitzvot)

religious commandment; (slang) favor, good deed

Mizbe'ach

altar used in Holy Temple

mizrach

east, dir. American Jews face when praying

Mizrachi

Orthodox Zionist movement

mochel 

forgiving [adj.]

Mogen David

lit.=Shield of David: Jewish star

mohel

one who performs circumcisions

Mordechai

hero of Book of Esther

morah/ moreh

(Heb.) teacher (female/ male)

moshav

kibbutz, but with more private property

Moshe Kapoyer

one who does everything backward (from a fictional character)

Moshiach

the Messiah

moshol

parable, fable, usu. with a moral

motzo'ei Shabbat

lit.=(the) leaving of Shabbat: Saturday night, after the end of Shabbat

motzi

see "HaMotzi"

muktzah

forbidden on Shabbat, said esp. of an object

musaf

lit.=gathered: additional post-shacharit prayers on holidays

mussar

constructive criticism