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Homeless... at Home: Glossary

A glossary of Jewish and Hebrew terms

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Homeless... at Home
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Glossary of Jewish and Hebrew terms

These Jewish and Hebrew terms are used in this story.

abba

Daddy.  From "av" - father.

aliyah

'Going up' to live in Israel.

Anglo Saxon – Anglo

This term makes no logical sense at all, but when Israelis, even Anglo Saxon Israelis, use the term Anglo Saxon, they mean anybody from an English speaking country.  The US, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, ‘Rhodesia’, Australia, New Zealand, India.

Aramaic

The daily language of Talmudic times.  The Talmud is written in both Hebrew and Aramaic.  Biblical commentaries written in that period are written in the daily language of the people, Aramaic, rather than in the holy language, Hebrew.  As English speakers today might write commentaries in English.  Ironically, to my children, the original Hebrew text is easier to understand than the Aramaic discussions, explanations  and translations!

baal tschuvah

A Jew who 'returns' to being observant.  Jews do not look for converts among non-Jews, but observant Jews hope that non-observant Jews will become more observant.  This will hasten the coming of the messiah.

balagan

A mess.  Confusion and disorder.

brit milah

Circumcision.

bupkis

Literally, goat droppings.  Used to indicate something is worthless:  “It’s not worth bupkis!”

davka

Happening in just the most inconvenient way.  Following Murphy's Law.

Eshet Hayil

'Woman of Valor'.  Proverbs 31: 10-31.  An alphabetic acrostic song sung before the blessings over the wine and bread at the Friday night meal that begins the Sabbath. 

finjan

Small pot for making turkish coffee.

G-d

Jews make sure not to take the name of the Lord in vain.  So we write his name with a letter missing, or added, or just say, 'Hashem' which means, "The Name"

gan

Kindergarten.  (Literally, 'garden'.)

gett

Jewish bill of divorcement.

golem

A spiritless humanoid, several of which appear in Jewish folklore.

HaKadosh Boruch Hu

A name used to refer to G-d.  Literally, "The Holy One, Blessed Be He".

Hashem

Jews make sure not to take the name of the Lord in vain.  So we write his name with a letter missing, or added, or just say, 'Hashem' which means, "The Name"

haver

Friend or comrade.

Ima

Mommy.

ketubah

The Jewish marriage contract presented to the bride by the groom, to list and protect her rights.

kiddush

Sanctification.  Usually indicating the blessing said over wine, acknowledging the blessedness of G-d.  At the meals on the Sabbath, we ceremonially acknowledge G-d's blessedness in giving us the fruit of the vine, and bread from the earth.

Lag B'Omer

A holiday 33 days after Passover when children stay up all night messing with bonfires.

mensch

A proper person.  Who is respectable because s/he has good character traits. (Yiddish)

mezzuzah

Scroll of parchment with the shema inscribed on it, affixed to the door post of Jewish houses and rooms.

mitzvah (plural: mitzvot)

One of G-d's commandments.  There are 613 of them commanded in the Torah (first five books of the bible).  Also used more loosely to mean any good deed.

nudnik

An annoying person who constantly pesters.

Rashi script

A variation of Hebrew typeface used by Rashi – an eleventh century Talmudic commentator living in France. 

shabbat

The Jewish Sabbath.  From sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.  Religious Jews don't drive, cook, turn electrical appliances on and off, write, play musical instruments, handle money, etc.  It's a day to be with family and friends.  To talk and read and sing and rest and pray and walk in nature and reflect on the week.

shalom bait

Peace at home.  Harmony between husband and wife.

Shechina

G-d's presence among us.  The Shechina is everywhere, but is felt, and rests comfortably where people are praying or studying torah or doing good deeds.  The Shechina does not rest amidst gloom, laziness, frivolity, levity or idle talk.

Shehechianu!

The blessing for seeing fulfillment of a long awaited goal: "Blessed art thou, lord our g-d, king of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this time."

Shema

The verse, “Hear, o Israel, the lord our g-d is one!” recited before going to sleep and upon arising.  The verse in on a scroll in the mezuzah.

shevuah tov

“Have a good week!”  Said instead of ‘hi’ or ‘bye’ on Saturday night after Shabbat has gone out.

shanat shmita

The sabbatical year.  Biblical crop rotation.  Every seventh year, the land in Israel is to lie fallow.  The rabbis decide what produce can be bought by observant Jews.  Produce that comes from parts of Israel that are not within the biblical-era  borders.  Produce that meets other criterion.

stam

Happening for no particular reason.

tikun

Repentance.  Fixing you past misdeeds.

Tisha B'Av

The ninth of the Hebrew month of Av.  The date on which both temples were destroyed.  Other national calamities have occurred on that day as well: the fall of Bar Kochba’s fortress Bethar, and the expulsion from Spain in 1492. Commemerated with a twenty-five hour fast, and abstinence from bathing and wearing leather.  To show our grief, we don’t greet each other on Tisha B’Av.

treif

Non-kosher.

Woman of Valor

'Eshet Hayil'.  Proverbs 31: 10-31.  An alphabetic acrostic song sung before the blessings over the wine and bread at the Friday night meal that begins the Sabbath. 

z"l

Of blessed memory.  Said when mentioning a good person who has died.

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Copyright 2004 by Shlomit Weber

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Email: pamjjackel@netscape.net