Jewish Learning

Shabbat Guide

Shabbat Guide

JUF is pleased to provide this basic guide to celebrating Shabbat.

The Holocaust Project

Encyclopedia Britannica Holocaust Project

JUF partners with Encyclopedia Britannica to bring you their collection of Britannica's Holocaust Project resources.

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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

N

na'areshkeit
lit.=adolescent stuff: worthless things or activities
nachas
pride, esp. parental pride for children
nais
(Heb.) miracle
nasi
lit.=prince: head of Biblical tribe or Sanhedrin
navi
prophet
nazir
ascetic abstainer from wine, haircuts, and contact with death
nebach
(Yid.) "(Such) a pity!"
nebbish
pitiful person
nechomah
(Heb.) pity
nechtiker tog
lit.=yesterday's-day: "Forget it! It's history."
nefesh
(Heb.) soul (as it interacts with the physical realm)
Negev
the southern, desert part of Israel
Ne'ilah
lit.=closing (of the gates): final prayer on Yom Kippur
ner tamid
lit.=forever candle: eternal flame, esp. in shul
neshoma
(Heb.) soul (as it interacts with the DIvine)
netilat yadayim
the washing of the hands, esp. before eating bread
Nevi'im
biblical writings and stories of Prophets
nevua
prophecy; prophetic ability
nifter
lit.=exempt: deceased
niggun
tune to which liturgy is sung; wordless melody sung by chasidim
Nine Days
days of mourning leading up to Tisha B'Av
Nisan
7th Jewish month (Mar-Apr), 15th starts Pesach, 27th is Yom HaShoah
nisht geshtoygen und nisht gefloygen
lit.= (it) doesn't climb and (it) doesn't fly: "Your idea is unsupported"; "Nonsense!"
nishgutgnik
lit.= not good: (Yid.) a good-for-nothing person
nisht-koshe
lit.= not hard: "So-so", "Not bad"
nisht gerferalach
lit.= not dangerous: "Don't worry about it; it's nothing"
nit gedeiget 
lit.= not to worry: "No worries! Everything's great."
noch
after, still; even
noch-amol
lit.= another time: "Again!"; "Encore!"
noch-shlepper
lit.=again-dragger: follower; hanger-on, coat-tail rider
no-goodnik
a good-for-nothing person
nomen
(Yid.) name [n]
nosh
snack [n,v]
nosherai
snack foods; silly, time-wasting stuff
nu
(Yid.) "So?"
nudge
pest [n], to pester [v]
nudnik
lit.=nausea-maker: (Yid.) unthinking, inconsiderate person
nusach
version of liturgy-- wording, melody, or both