Some terms will probably require explanation. Like everything else in this book, I have learned these not from scholarly sources but from conversation with my neighbors. Some of the terms, like berakha are Hebrew and some, like Shabbos or shul are Yiddish—the the blend of Hebrew, German and Polish that was the lingua franca of Eastern European Jews for centuries. Because the roots are all Hebrew, there is some variation in spelling; the ones I use are, again, approved by a neighbor. In the pronunciation guide, “kh” stands for a rough guttural throaty sound that I still can’t do properly, although my children can.
(A note on plurals: strictly speaking, the plural of mitzvah is mitzvot, and of berakha is berakhot. But my neighbors say “mitzvahs” and “berakhas,” so that is what I have done.)
Adonai (AH-doh-nye), Hebrew for “God,” used in prayer
Aron Kodesh (ERR-on KO-desh), a cabinet in the synagogue that holds the Torah scrolls
baal teshuvah (bahl ti-SHOO-vah) literally “master of repentance”—a Jew who is not raised Orthodox but voluntarily takes on Orthodox observance
bar mitzvah (bar MITS-veh), a celebration on a Hebrew boy’s thirteenth birthday, of his completing his Jewish study
Baruch Hashem (bar-OOKH ha-SHEM), “Thank God”—a frequent expression, as in, “How are you?” “Baruch Hashem, I’m well.”
berakha (BRA-khah), a blessing or benediction
B’nai B’rith (beh-nay BRITH), an international Jewish organization promoting the betterment of Jews and the public at large through culture, society, and education
bris pl. brissim (briss), the celebration upon the circumcision of a male child eight days old
Chumash (KHOO-mash), the Pentateuch
chuppah (KHOO-puh), a canopy under which the Jewish marriage ceremony is performed
dreidel (DRAY-dl), a four-sided top used in children’s games during Hanukkah
gefilte fish (guh-FILL-teh fish), freshwater fish, blended with eggs, matzoh meal, and seasoning, shaped into balls and simmered in vegetable broth, often served chilled
halakha (hall-LAH-khuh), the entire body of Jewish law and tradition, including Torah, Talmud, and oral law; halakhic adj.
Hanukkah (KHA-neh-kuh), an eight-day festival celebrating the Maccabean victory over the Syrians
Hashem (ha-SHEM), “the Name”—how Orthodox Jews refer to God in conversation
hashkafa (hash-KAH-fah), Jewish ethics or worldview
hasidei umos haolam (hah-SID-ay OO-mes hah-OH-lum), “the righteous among the nations”; virtuous Gentiles)
kabbalah (kuh-BAA-luh), the tradition of Jewish mysticism
kashruth (KASH-root), the body of Jewish dietary law
kibitz (KIB-its), to joke, wisecrack, or offer advice
knish (knish), a fried roll of dough with filling
kosher (KO-shur), fit to be eaten according to Jewish dietary law
loshon (LOW-shen), proper speech
matzoh ball (MAT-seh ball), a dumpling made from matzoh meal, usually served in soup
menorah (me-NOR-uh), a candelabra with nine branches for use during Hanukkah
mezuzah (meh-ZOO-zuh), a parchment scroll on which Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 are inscribed on one side and the word Shaddai on the other, kept in a small tube on the doorpost of Jewish homes
mikveh (MEHK-vah), a ritual bath Orthodox Jews are required to take on certain occasions, as before Shabbos and after each menstrual period
minyan (MIN-yan), the number of people required by Jewish law to be present to conduct a religious service (typically a minimum of ten Jewish males over thirteen years old)
mitzvah (MITS-vah), six hundred thirteen rules in the Bible and Talmud
Moshiach (ma-SHEE-akh),Messiah
Novi (NUH-vee), the Prophets
Pentateuch (PEN-tuh-too-k), the first five books of the Old Testament
Pesach (PAY-sahk), Passover
Purim (POOR-im), a festival celebrating the deliverance of the Jews from destruction in Persia
Rosh Hashanah (rosh ha-SHAH-nuh), a high holy day that marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year
Seder (SAY-duhr), the ceremonial dinner that commemorates the Jewish exodus from Egypt
Shabbos (SHA-bus), Hebrew term for “Sabbath”
Shabbos goy (SHA-bus goy), a gentile who performs tasks for Jews on Sabbath that are forbidden by Jewish law
shalom zachor (SHU-lem ZU-kher), a party on the first Friday evening of a baby boy’s life
Shavuos (shah-VOO-os), a festival commemorating God’s giving the Ten Commandments to Moses
shomrei negiyah (SHOME-ray neg-EE-yuh), to refrain from physical contact before marriage
shomrei yichud (SHOME-ray YI-khud), prohibition on males and females being alone together
shul (shool), Yiddish term for synagogue
Sukkot (soo-KOT), festival commemorating the harvest and period the Jews wandered in the wilderness
sukkah (SOO-kah), a booth or hut built with branches
Talmud (TAL-mood), collection of Jewish law
Tisha b’Av (TAY-shah beh-AV), a fast observed in memory of the destruction of the temples
Torah (TOR-uh), both the Pentateuch and the entire body of Jewish law
treif (trayf), non-kosher food, literally “torn”
Tu B’Shevat (too bi-sheh-VAT), the fifteenth day of Shevat, observed as a new year for trees
tzevuin (ze-VOO-in), “painted” or “shady”
tzitzis (tse-tset), the fringes or tassels worn at the corners of outer garments
tznius (ZNEE-yus), the Orthodox code of modesty in dress
yarmulke (YAH-mul-kuh), a skullcap worn by Orthodox men
yeshiva (yeh-SHIV-ah), a Hebrew school
Yeshua (YESH-oo-ah), Jesus
YHWH (not spoken aloud), the letters representing the most holy name for God
Yom Kippur (yom KIP-er), the Day of Atonement, a high holy day celebrated by fasting and the recitation of prayers