_ _H._ = Hebrew.
_G._ = German.
_Gk._ = Greek.
_R._ = Russian.
_S._ = Spanish.
_c._ = corrupt.
Achi-nebbich (_etymology obscure_),
Alas, poor thing(s).
Afikuman (_Hebraicized Gk_.),
portion of a Passover cake taken at the end of Sedermeal (_q.v._).
Agadah (_H._),
narrative portion of the Talmud; Passover-eve ritual.
Amidah (_H._),
series of Benedictions said standing.
Arbah Kanfus (_H._) lit.,
four corners; a garment consisting of two shoulder straps supporting a front and back piece with fringes at each corner (Numbers xv.
37-41).
Ashkenazim (_H._)
German; hence, also, Russian and Polish Jews.
Badchan (_H._),
professional jester.
Bensh (?),
say grace.
Beth Din (_H._),
court of judgment.
Beth Medrash (_H._),
college.
Bube (_G._),
grandmother.
Cabbalah (_H._), Cabbulah (_c._), lit.,
tradition; mystic lore.
Calloh (_H._),
bride; _fiancee_.
Chazan (_H._),
cantor.
Chevra (_H._),
small congregation; a society.
Chine (_H._),
playful humor; humorous anecdote.
Chocham (_H._),
wise man.
Chomutz (_H._),
leaven.
Chosan (_H._),
bridegroom; _fiance_.
Chuppah (_H._),
wedding canopy.
Cohen (_H._),
priest.
Dayan (_H._),
rabbi who renders decisions.
Din (_H._),
law, decision.
Droshes (_H._),
sermons.
Epikouros (_H. from Gk_.),
heretic, scoffer; Epicurean.
Froom (_c. G._),
pious.
Gelt (_c.G._),
money.
Gematriyah (_Hebraicised Gk._),
mystic, numerical interpretation of Scripture.
Gomorah (_H._),
part of the Talmud.
Gonof (_H._),
thief.
Goyah (_H._),
non-Jewess.
Halacha (_H._),
legal portion of the Talmud.
Havdolah (_H._),
ceremony separating conclusion of Sabbath or Festival from the subsequent days of toil.
Imbeshreer (_c.G. ohne beschreien_),
without bewitching; unbeshrewn.
Kaddish (_H._),
prayer in praise of God; specially recited by male mourners.
Kehillah (_H._),
congregation.
Kind, Kinder (_G._),
child, children.
Kosher (_H._),
ritually clean.
Kotzon (_H._),
rich man.
Link (_G._), lit.,
left, _i.e._ not right; hence, lax, not pious.
Longe verachum (_G. and c.H._), lit.,
The long "and He being merciful." A long, extra prayer, said on Mondays and Thursdays.
Lulov (_H._),
palm branch dressed with myrtle and willow, and used at the Feast Of Tabernacles.
Maaseh (_H._),
story, tale.
Machzor (_H._),
Festival prayer-book.
Maggid (_H._),
preacher.
Mazzoltov (_H._),
good luck, congratulations.
Megillah (_H._), lit.,
scroll. The Book of Esther.
Meshuggah, Meshuggene (_H._),
mad.
Meshumad (_H._),
apostate.
Metsiah (_H._), lit.,
finding; cp. Fr., _trouvaille_; bargain.
Mezuzah (_H._),
case containing a scroll, with Hebrew verses (Deuteronomy vi. 4-9, 13-21) affixed to every door-post.
Midrash (_H._),
Biblical exposition.
Mincha (_H._),
afternoon prayer.
Minyan (_H._),
quorum of ten males, over thirteen, necessary for public worship.
Mishpochah (_H._),
family.
Mishna, Mishnayis (_H._),
collection of the Oral Law.
Misheberach (_H._),
synagogal benediction.
Mitzvah (_H._),
a commandment, _i.e._ a good deed.
Mizrach (_H._),
East; a sacred picture hung on the east wall in the direction of Jerusalem, to which the face is turned in praying.
Narrischkeit (_c.G._),
foolishness.
Nasch (_c.G._),
pilfer (dainties).
Nevirah (_H._),
sin.
Niddali (_H._),
Talmudical tractate on the purification of women.
Nu (_R._),
well.
Olov hasholom (_H._),
Peace be upon him! (loosely applied to deceased females also).
Omer (_H._),
the seven weeks between Passover and Pentecost.
Parnass (_H._),
president of the congregation.
Pesachdik (_H._),
proper for Passover.
Pidyun haben (_H._),
redemption of the first-born son.
Piyut (_Hebraicized Gk_.),
liturgical poem.
Pollack (_c.G._),
Polish Jew.
Potch (_c.G._),
slap.
Rashi (_H._),
Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac, whose commentary is often printed under the Hebrew text of the Bible.
Schlemihl (_H._),
unlucky, awkward person.
Schmuck (_c.G._),
lubberly person.
Schmull (_c.G. schmollen_),
pout, sulk.
Schnecks (? _G. Schnake_, gay nonsense),
affectations.
Schnorrer (_c.G._),
beggar.
Seder (_H._),
Passover-eve ceremony.
Selaim (_H._),
old Jewish coins.
Sephardim (_H._),
Spanish and Portuguese Jews.
Shaaloth u tshuvoth (_H._),
questions and answers; casuistical treatise.
Shabbos (_H._),
Sabbath.
Shadchan (_H._),
professional match-maker.
Shaitel (_c.G._),
wig worn by married women.
Shammos (_c.H._),
beadle.
Shass (_H. abbreviation_),
the six sections of the Talmud.
Shechitah (_H._),
slaughter.
Shemah beni (_H._),
Hear, my son! = Dear me!
Shemang (_H._),
confession of the Unity of God.
Shidduch (_H._),
match.
Shiksah (_H._),
non-Jewish girl.
Shnodar (_H._),
offer money to the synagogue. (An extraordinary instance of Jewish argon,--a compound Hebrew word meaning "who vows,"--being turned into an English verb, and conjugated accordingly, in _ed_ and _ing_.)
Shochet (_H_),
official slaughterer.
Shofar (_H._),
trumpet of ram's horn, blown during the penitential season.
Shool (_c. G_.),
synagogue.
Shulchan aruch (_H._),
a sixteenth-century compilation, codifying Jewish law.
Simchath Torah (_H._),
festival of the rejoicing of the Law.
Snoga (_S._),
Sephardic synagogue.
Spiel (_G._),
play.
Takif (_H._),
rich man, swell.
Talith (_H._),
a shawl with fringes, worn by men during prayer.
Tanaim (_H._),
betrothal contract or ceremony.
Terah, Torah (_H._),
Law of Moses.
Tephillin (_H._),
phylacteries.
Tripha (_H._),
ritually unclean.
Wurst (_G._),
sausage.
Yiddish, Yiddishkeit (_c.G._),
Jewish, Judaism.
Yigdal (_H._),
hymn summarizing the thirteen creeds drawn up by Maimonides.
Yom Kippur (_H._),
Day of Atonement.
Yom tof (_H._), lit.,
good day; Festival.
Yontovdik (_hybrid H_.),
pertaining to the Festival.
Yosher-Kowach (_c.H._),
May your strength increase! = Thank you; a formula to express gratitude--especially at the end of a reading.
[THE END]
Israel Zangwill's Novel: Children of the Ghetto
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