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
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