Glossary_final

G L O S S A R Y O F Y I D D I S H A N D H E B R E W
Bereishis: First book of the Torah. Called Genesis Admor: Hebrew initials for: Adonenu Morenu VeRabenu (Our master, Our teacher our Rabbi).
This is a title commonly used with Chassidic Rebbes. Admor of Ger, Admor of Satmer etc.
bucharim: Hebrew/Yiddish for young men who 1. Hebrew literally ‘binding’ Refers to the binding 2. Jewish scholarly book dealing with the funda- caftan: Type of long garment worn by Chasidim al Kiddish HaShem: Heb. for the sanctification Chas V’Shalom: Hebrew for ‘G-d forbid’ of HaShem. Refers to someone who is killed for chason: Hebrew/Yiddish for a man who is en- Alsheich: Jewish Biblical commentator Rabbi Chazal: Hebrew initials for: Chochmenu Zichrona Am HaAretz: Hebrew means ‘people of the land’ Levaracha (Our sages of Blessed memory) Used to and refers to those who are ignorant of the Torah. refer to Rabbis of the Talmud Amidah: Refers to the main silent prayer said Chesed: Hebrew word meaning acts of mercy Amora(Amoraim): Rabbis of the period of the Cheshvon: Eighth month of the hebrew calendar Chocham(Chochomim): Hebrew for ‘sage’ or Amorah: Biblical city filled with wicked people Chol HaMoed: Intermediate days of a holiday Apikorsim: Heretics who reject the teachings of Chovos HaLavavos: a moralistic and philosophi- Ari Z’L: Hebrew initials of the words: Adoni Chozeh: Hebrew for seer (prophet). Rebbe Yakov master Rabbi Yitzchok. Better known as Yitzchok Yitzchok of Lublin was called the Chozeh because Aron Kodesh: Hebrew for ‘the holy ark’ place in Chukos: Weekly portion where the Torah is read the synagogue where the Torah scrolls are kept.
avodah: Hebrew word meaning ‘service’. Refers Dayanim: Hebrew for judge. Refers to religious Days of Awe: The days around the holidays of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, so called because derech: Heb ‘way’ refers to a path in serving Baal(es) Tzaddakah: Hebrew word meaning a Devorim: Fifth book of the Torah. Called in Bamidbar: Fourth book of the Torah. Called in Drash: A method of Biblical interpretation ascrib- ing moral or ethical meaning to verses in the bechina(bechinos): a subdivision of an *Inyan.
Eliyahu HaNavi: Hebrew for the prophet Elijah Eruv: A legal act that causes different residences Kavanah(Kavanos): Hebrew word for ‘inten- Eyov: The Hebrew name for the book of Job Kesuvim: Third part of the Tenach. Lit. Writings Kiddish: Ceremony performed on Friday night Koheles: One of the books of the Tenach, called Kohen(Kohanim): Hebrew for ‘the Priest’ refers gematria: Numerical value of the letters of the to someone who is a direct paternal descendant Gemilos Chasadim: Hebrew word referring to kol v’chomer: Inference from a thing that is Ger Toshiv: A ‘partial’ convert who agrees not lesser/lighter to a thing which is greater/more kosel marovi: Hebrew for Western Wall, the only Gaon: Hebrew title of one who is an especially remaining standing part of the Temple.
kosher: Heb. fit. Refers to food that is permitted gehennim: Place where one is punished for one’s sins after death. The Talmud says that except for kvitel: A note with names given to a Rebbe for especially wicked souls, the normal stay is up to gematria: The numerical value of the Hebrew L’Chaim: Refers to a custom of drinking and wishing L’Chaim - to life one to the other Haftorah: A portion of the Tenach read after the Haggadah: Sefer that relates the story of the machiton: Yiddish word that refers to ones Exodus from Egypt and other things related to the child’s in-laws MaHarsha: Hebrew initials for : Moreinu HaRav HaKohen: Hebrew for ‘the Priest’ refers to Shmuel Eliezer (our teacher Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer) someone who is a direct paternal descendant from a famous Talmud commentator Maggid: In Europe this was a person who would give sermons on moral subjects. Many of the first Rebbes were Maggidim (pl. of Maggid).
Malachi: One of the books of the Tenach.
HaShem: Noun used in place of G-d. Lit. The Man: Hebrew for manna. The bread that fell from mazel tov: Hebrew for ‘good luck’. Used for a house of a Rebbe and took care of private matters wish of congratulations on various occasions matonos l’evyonim: Hebrew for gifts to the Hoshanah Rabbah: Last day of the intermediate poor. One of the mitzvos of Purim.
days of Succos. It is considered to be similar to Yom Kippur in that it is a time of repentance.
2. Another name for the Biblical book of Esther Megillas Esther: Hebrew for the book of Esther melamed: Hebrew for a teacher of young chil- Inyan: A spiritual concept or idea. A general idea mesiros nefesh: Hebrew for self sacrifice as opposed to specifics. The specifics would be mezuzah: parchment with various portions of the Torah which is hung on the side of the door.
Ivdah: A story that shows or teaches a specific midah(midos): A character trait, either good or Midrash: Rabbinical work with homiletic interpre- Parsha (Parshos): lit. ‘portion’ refers to the Midrash Pleah: A specific Midrash which con- portion of the Torah read each week.
tains Midrashic teachings that are difficult to Torah read on the Shabbos before the first of the mikdash: Hebrew of temple, lit. place of holiness mikvah:Hebrew word referring to a ritual bath Parshas Porah: Special Parsha of the Torah read payyut: A type of prayer similar to a poem said minyan: Group of Jewish men (at least ten) who Mishleh: One of the books of the Tenach, called Pesachim: One of the Tractates of the Talmud peshat: A method of Biblical interpretation based Mishloach Monos: Hebrew for the sending of on finding the simple meaning in the Torah.
delicacies. One of the mitzvos of Purim.
Mishnah: An ancient Jewish work made of spe- pilpul (pilpulim): Method of learning which Mispor Katon: Type of gematria where the value involves hair-splitting logic.
Mitzrayim: Hebrew name for the land of Egypt mitzvah(mitzvos): One of the commandments Rambam: Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon also called mohel: Hebrew/Yiddish word for the person who Ramban: Rabbi Nachman ben Moshe, also called Rashi: The primary commentary on the Tenach.
Rav: An official rabbi who renders legal decisions.
teacher. A common Jewish way of referring to Chasidim, and the Rov of the city in which they Motzeh Shabbos: Hebrew for Saturday night Reb: A title added to a persons name as a sign of musar: Hebrew for moral instruction.
Rebbe: Leader of a Chassidic group or a teacher Rebbe Reb: A title added to a few special Rebbes as a sign of their higher spiritual stature.
remez: A method of Biblical interpretation based Neviium: Second part of the Tenach. Lit. Proph- on finding hints in the Torah for various concepts.
niggunim: Hebrew for songs. Usually used to 1. Heb. New Year Holiday at the beginning refer to tunes composed and sung by Chasidim Nissan: First month of the Hebrew calendar Ruach HaKodesh: Heb spirit of holiness. Refers to one who can see events, and understand things O’H: Hebrew initials for the words: Olav HaShalom that are not apparent to the human eye.
Orach Chaim: One of 4 sections of the Shulchan Aruch. This deals with the laws that apply to each person on a daily basis, throughout the year.
traditional name of the angel also called Satan.
They are used instead of the name itself.
Seder: Meal eaten the night of Passover where Shofar: A ram’s horn blown on Rosh HaShanah the Exodus from Egypt is remembered.
shtender: A stand of lectern, where books were sefer(seforim): A Jewish religious book.
placed during learning, or where a prayer book was Sefer Yitzerah: Hebrew Kabbalistic work.
Seferah: The mitzvah of counting the days from Shulchan Aruch: 15th/16th century book of Segal: Hebrew for ‘Segan L’Kohen’ assistant to the priest. refers to one who is of the tribe of Simchas Torah: Second day of Shemini Atzeres (in Israel there is only a single day), where one Shabbos Chazon: Shabbos before Tisha B’Av celebrates the completion of the readings of the Shabbos Shekalim and Shabbos Zachor.
Slichos: Penitential prayers said on the days Shabbos Nachmu: Shabbos after Tisha B’Av Shabbos Shekalim: Shabbos before the 1st of sod: A method of Biblical interpretation based on describing secret teachings in the Torah.
Sodom: Biblical city filled with wicked people Shabbos Zachor: Shabbos before the holiday of strakes: Strips of velvet sown into the garments of some of the Rebbes, or great Rabbis.
Succos: Holiday after Yom Kippur where people peaceful relations between husband and wife Shechina: Hebrew word denoting the divine Sukkah: One of the tractates of the Talmud Taanis: One of the tractates of the Talmud.
sheiner yid: Yiddish phrase referring to a Jew Talis(talesim): A special garment that is used to who considers himself better then others.
Sheolos v’Tshuvos: Heb. Questions and An- swers. This refers to Jewish scholarly books which Talmid (Talmidim): Disciples of a Rebbe.
are based on legal questions asked of Rabbis and Talmud: An ancient work of Jewish law.
Shevous: Jewish holiday 50 days after Pesach Hebrew for Talmud sage, refers to one who is Shemini Atzeres: Eighth day of the holiday of Shema: Main Jewish prayer of the confession of faith. Contains 3 parshas. Devorim 6.5-9; 11.13- Targum Onkeles: Aramaic translation of the Shemos: The second book of the Torah. Called in Torah by Onkeles Taz: One of the major commentators on the Shevi’i Shel Pesach: Seventh day of the techalis: thread of blue wool attached to a talis Shir HaShirim: Hebrew name for the Song of Tekunei Zohar: The most esoteric section of Tenach: First letters from the three Hebrew Shlah: Jewish scholarly commentary on the words: Torah, Neviium, Kesuvim, which are the Torah, and Jewish holidays by Rabbi Isaiah divisions of the jewish Bible. Torah is the first five books, Neviium are the prophetic works and Shlita: Hebrew Initials for the words: Sh’Yichiya L’Aruch Yomim Tovim Amen. (He should have a tephilin: Special boxes that contain passages of the Torah which are worn by men in daily prayer.
Shmuel: Hebrew name of the book of Samuel shochet: Hebrew word for a person who per- Tisha B’Av: 9th day of the month of Av, a major tisch: Yiddish for ‘table’ Refers to a meal eaten Zohar: Hebrew/Aramaic Rabbinical Kabbalistical work that is one of the most important sources Tishrei: Seventh Month of the Hebrew calendar for Kabbalah, and was very influential with Zohar Chadash: Literally ‘new Zohar’. A section b. Also refers to the whole of Jewish law c. also common term for a chassidic teaching ZT’L: Hebrew initials of the words: Zechor Tosephos: commentary on the talmud by the Tzaddik LeVaracha (The memory of a Tzaddik - ZTvK’L: Hebrew initials of the words: Zechor Tzaddik veKadosh LeVaracha (The memory of a Tzaddik - Righteous man and a Kodosh - a holy ZY’A: Hebrew initials for Zechiso Yugan Aleini, His Tzaddik (Tzaddikim): lit. Righteous. Another tzitzis: Strands that hang from the corners of a V’yikra: Hebrew for the book of Leviticus Yakov Aveinu: Hebrew for ‘our father jacob’ Yavatz: Hebrew initials for Yaakov ben Tzvi.
Yechzkel: Hebrew name for the book of Ezekiel Yerushalmi: Talmud that was compiled in Pales- tine as opposed to the standard one that was Yetzer: lit. Inclination. It is Jewish belief that every Jew has both an evil and good inclination within him, that are at ‘war’ to see which of them Yetzer HaRah: Heb. Evil Inclination.
Yirmiya: Hebrew name for the book of Jeremiah YM’Sh: Heb. Yimach Shimoh V’Zichro : Their name should be erased Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement, the most holy day of the Jewish year.
Yortzheit: Yiddish for the day of the anniversary Z’L: Hebrew initials of the words: Zechorono Zemeros: sefer of songs sung on various occa-

Source: http://www.chassidus.net/glossary.pdf