[PULLED FROM THE DRAFT ARCHIVE] Lubab No More's Jewish-English Glossary

I often use Jewish words (Hebrew, Yiddish, Yinglish) or abbreviations that may not be understood or recognized by readers of this blog. I have also been inconsistent about including a translation for these words when I use them. Sometimes this is deliberate. I often find adding a translation in parentheses after a poetic Jewish term can kill a joke. So, to remedy this problem I have added this glossary which I will link to from my posts. I hope you find this useful.

Lubab No More

P.S. Feel free to link to this post from your blog. To link to a specific letter simply add a pound sign and then the letter you want to link to after the url for this post. For example:
To link to the letter M use the URL: http://lubabnomore.blogspot.com/2007/10/glossary.html#m


A

Avodah Zarah

Idol worship. Hebrew for "other worship."

B

Baal Teshuva

A person who has repented. Often used to refer to Jews who adopt Orthodoxy later in life.

Bais Medrash

"House of Learning"
a) study hall at a yeshiva
b) the highest level of study for a yeshiva student

BT

abbreviation for: Baal Teshuva

C

Chabad-Lubavitch

a) acronym for Chochma, Bina and Daat, meaning “wisdom, understanding and knowledge” denoting the three intellectual faculties spoken of in Jewish mystical thought;
(b) the Chassidic movement, synonymous with Lubavitch and founded by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, which focuses on incorporating Godliness into our lives through intellectual study of God (utilizing the Chabad faculties to govern the midot), joy, love of God, and love of fellow man (chabad.org)

Chabad messianism

A spectrum of beliefs within the Chabad movement regarding their late leader Menachem Mendel Schneerson and his purported position as the Messiah. While some believe that he died but will return as the messiah, others believe that he is merely "hidden." Most negate the idea that he is the messiah. The prevalence of these views within the movement is disputed. (Source: Wikipedia)

Chasidic, Hasidic

Adjective used to describe something related to Chasidim.

Chasidim, Hasidim

Haredi Jewish religious movement originated in Eastern Europe (what is now Belarus and Ukraine) in the 18th century. The Hasidic movement grew out of the perception that European Jews had turned inward to Talmud study; many felt that most expressions of Jewish life had become too "academic", and that they no longer had any emphasis on spirituality or joy. Hasidim palced an emphasis on joyful observance. (wikipedia.org)

Cheder

Religious grade school. Hebrew for "Room."
(I've thought that the name may originate from "one-room school" but that's just my theory.)

D

Daven

Pray

Devar Torah, Divrei Torah (plural)

literally: Words of Torah. A sermon on the Torah.

E

Eat-out

Term used to refer to the habit of eating food at restaurants that are less kosher (or not kosher) even though one keeps kosher at home.

F

Frum

a) Orthodox Jew
b) Observant

Frummie

Slangy variation of the word frum (see above). Has a somewhat negative connotation

G

Goy, Goyim (plural)

Literally "Nations", refers to non-Jews, has a somewhat negative connotation.
"God chose the Jewish people over all other nations."

HHalacha

Jewish religious law

Haredi

"The most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism." (Wikipedia)

Hasidic (See: Chasidic)

Hasidim (See: Chasidim)

Havdalah

The Havdalah service marks the end of Shabbat. It should be performed no earlier than nightfall on Saturday night. Nightfall is the time when three stars can be seen in the sky. It is normally about 45 minutes to an hour after sundown, depending on your latitude. (Source: Judaism 101)

I


J


K

Kiruv

"Orthodox Jewish outreach commonly referred to as Kiruv or Keruv ([bring/ing] close in Hebrew), is the collective work or movement of Orthodox Judaism that reaches out to non-Orthodox Jews to believe in God, Torah study, practice the Mitzvot in the hope that they will live according to normative Jewish law." (From Wikipedia)

Kofer

Heretic

Kotel

The Western Wall, The Wailing Wall

L

Lubab

Slightly derogatory nickname for members of the Hasidic Lubavitch movement

Lubavitch (see: Chabad-Lubavitch)

M

anti-Meshichist (see also: Chabad messianism)

Generally, members of the Chabad movement who reject the belief that The Rebbe did not die or that he may one day rise again. Often anti-Meshichist are literally against Meshichists (people who believe The Rebbe did not die).

Meshichist (see also: Chabad messianism)

Generally, Chabad messianists who believe The Rebbe did not die and that he will one day become the messiah of the Jewish people.

Minhag

Religiously observed tradition

Misnagdim

A Hebrew word meaning "opponents". Plural of Misnaged. The term misnagdim is loosely used by Chasidim to refer to European religious Orthodox Jews who are not Hasidic, although they are not necessarily opposed to Hasidic Judaism, such as the Yeshiva movement. (wikipedia.org)

MO

abbreviation for: Modern Orthodox

Moshiach

Jewish messiah

N


O

OJ

abbreviation for: Orthodox Judaism

Orthoprax

Someone who practices as Jewish orthodox but doesn't believe in it. See: Othopraxis

OTD

abbreviation for: Off The Derech. Derech is Hebrew for "Path" or "Way." The phrase translates to mean "leaving the path of faith."

Oy vey!

Yiddish. "Oh, no" or "Oh, woe."

P

Pashut

simple, easy

Q


R

Rashi

"Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac, better known by the acronym Rashi, (February 22, 1040 – July 13, 1105), was a rabbi from France, famed as the author of the first comprehensive commentaries on the Talmud, Torah and Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)." (Wikipedia)
His commentaries have had a significant impact on the Jewish interpretation of religious works. Many of Rashi's explanations of the Torah are taught to children as if it were the actual text.

Rav

a) A Rabbi
b) One's personal Rabbi
c) An authority on Jewish religious law

Rebbe, Rebbim (plural)

a) Teacher. A Rabbi who teaches at a Jewish school
b) Leader of a Chasidic movement
c) A Rabbi

The Rebbe

Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994), deceased leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Despite his death he is still considered by many of his followers to be the Messiah.

S

Satmar

A movement of Haredi Jews who initially adhered to the late Grand Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum (1887-1979), Satmar Rebbe in the town of Szatmárnémeti (now Satu Mare, Romania), at that time in the Kingdom of Hungary. The largest part of the community lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Also has a notable community in Kiryas Joel, NY. (wikipedia.org)

Shabbos

Jewish Sabbath, Saturday

Shacharis

Morning prayers

Shalom Bias

Peace at home. Usually refers to marital happiness.

Shema and shmona esrei

The essential elements of shacharis. Often used as a short version of morning prayers.

Shul

Synagogue

T

Tallis

A ritual shawl worn during certain Jewish religious services and ceremonies. (Wikipedia)

Tefillin

Phylacteries, are two black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with biblical verses. Worn during morning prayers. (Wikipedia)

Treif

Non-kosher

Tznius

Modesty

U


V

Vey iz mir

Yiddish. "Woe is me." (See: Oy Vey)

W


X


Y

Yeshiva

"... a Jewish institution for Torah study and the study of Talmud. Yeshivot are usually Orthodox Jewish institutions, and generally cater to boys or men." (Wikipedia)

Yiddishe Velt

Yiddish: Jewish World

Yinglish

Jewish slang made from mixing Yiddish and English words.

Z


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If you have any comments or suggestions about these definitions or abbreviations please email me at: LubabNoMore@gmail.com