The glossary · 240+ terms
Hebrew, Yiddish, Aramaic.
Insider words, with pronunciations and one-line definitions.
brachaברכה· BRAH-chaHebrew
A blessing — said before eating, after eating, on many occasions.
brisברית· BRISSHebrew
Circumcision ceremony for a Jewish boy on his eighth day.
challahחלה· HAH-lahHebrew
Braided bread for Shabbat and holidays. Two loaves.
cholentטשאלנט· CHO-lentYiddish
Slow-cooked stew, simmers from Friday into Saturday lunch.
chuppahחופה· HOO-pahHebrew
Wedding canopy under which the marriage takes place.
daf yomiדף יומי· DAHF YO-meeHebrew
"Page of the day" — a worldwide daily Talmud cycle.
frumפֿרום· FROOMYiddish
Religious. Specifically Orthodox-observant.
hechsherהכשר· HECH-sherHebrew
A kosher certification mark — OU, OK, Star-K, etc.
kashrutכשרות· kash-ROOTHebrew
The body of dietary laws.
kiddushקידוש· KID-dooshHebrew
Blessing said over wine to consecrate Shabbat or a holiday.
kippahכיפה· KEE-pahHebrew
Skullcap. Yiddish: yarmulke.
kosherכשר· KOH-sherHebrew
Food that meets Jewish dietary law. Literally "fit".
mezuzahמזוזה· meh-ZOO-zahHebrew
Small case on a doorpost containing parchment with the Shema.
minyanמנין· MIN-yanHebrew
A quorum of ten Jewish adults required for public prayer.
mitzvahמצווה· MITS-vahHebrew
A commandment. There are 613 in the Torah.
parshaפרשה· PAR-shaHebrew
The weekly Torah portion read in synagogue.
shabbatשבת· SHAH-bahtHebrew
Sabbath. Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall — no work.
sheitelשייטל· SHAY-tulYiddish
A wig worn by married Orthodox women for hair-covering.
shivaשבעה· SHIV-ahHebrew
Seven days of mourning after a close relative's burial.
shulשול· SHOOLYiddish
Synagogue.
siddurסידור· SIH-durHebrew
Prayer book.
talmudתלמוד· TAHL-moodHebrew
The 63-tractate compendium of Jewish law and commentary.
tefillinתפילין· tih-FIL-inHebrew
Black leather boxes with parchment inside, worn during weekday morning prayer.
tichelטיכל· TICH-ulYiddish
A scarf worn for hair-covering — alternative to a sheitel.
torahתורה· TOH-rahHebrew
The Five Books of Moses; also the broader body of Jewish teaching.
tzniutצניעות· tzni-OOTHebrew
Modesty in dress and behavior.