Glossary

The Jewrotica glossary includes a running list of religious and cultural Jewish, Hebrew, Yiddish and other phrases that are used in Jewrotica submissions.  If you don’t like a listing, feel free to contact us and suggest an alternate definition.

5769 – The Hebrew / Jewish calendar year spanning 2008-2009

5770 – The Hebrew / Jewish calendar year spanning 2009-2010

Abba – Hebrew word for ‘father’

Abaya – A loose and modest black robe worn by Muslim women

Acher – Literally “the other one” or one who has been exiled from the Jewish community

Agudah – An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communal organization

Al-Ha-Yam – Hebrew for “along the sea”

Aleph Bet – The hebrew alphabet

Aliyah – Emigrating to Israel

Amidah – The central devotional prayer of Judaism, recited silently three times each day and consisting of eighteen blessings. (Also called Shemonah Esreh)

Anakites – Giants who lived in Canaan and were the offspring of “sons of God” and “daughters of men” according to Biblical tradition

Ani Mistakel Al Ha Yam – Hebrew for “I look upon the water”

Apikorsus – Heretical thought

Arjuu-ka – The Arabic word for “please”

Artscroll – A popular Orthodox Jewish publishing company

As-ra – The Arabic word for “faster”

Assur – “Forbidden”, a descriptive status within Jewish ritual law

Avodah Zarah– Idol Worship (Literally “Foreign Worship”, prohibited by Judaism)

Baal – Hebrew for ‘master’. Also the name of an ancient form of idol worship prohibited according to Biblical tradition

Babka – A glazed sweet bread or cake

Bar Mitzvah – An initiation ceremony marking the 13th birthday of a Jewish boy and signifying the beginning of religious responsibility

Baruch Hashem – A Hebrew phrase for “Thank God” 

Bat Mitzvah – An initiation ceremony marking the 12th birthday of a Jewish girl and signifying the beginning of religious responsibility

Beit Ha’Knesset – Synagogue

Bekishe – A long and modest black coat worn by Hassidic Jews

Bereishit – The Book of Genesis, the first of the five books of the Hebrew Bible.  (Literally means “in the beginning”)

Beseder – The Hebrew word for “okay”

Beshert – A Yiddish term for one’s soulmate (Also spelled Bashert)

Bimah – The platform or elevated area from where synagogue services are led

Birthright – A free ten-day trip to Israel for young adults of Jewish heritage between the ages of 18 and 26

Blintzes – Thin pancakes folded around a filling (e.g. cheese or potato) and baked – a traditional Jewish food

Borscht – A Russian or Polish soup made with beets and usually served with sour cream

Bracha – Blessing

Bubbelah – A Yiddish word of endearment akin to “darling”, often used toward children

B’mita – In bed.  When used in the phrase “Sh’ma B’mita“, this refers to the bedtime evening recitation of the Sh’ma prayer.

B’nai Akiva – The largest religious Zionist youth movement in the world, affiliated with the Orthodox Jewish community

B’shogeg – Unintentionally (a Talmudic concept used when discussing the validity of an action or commandment performed without proper intention)

Chabad – A large Hasidic movement known for its hospitality and (religious) outreach to non-observant Jews

Chag Sameach – A festive Jewish greeting, wishing a happy holiday

Challah – A traditional braided Jewish bread enjoyed on the Sabbath

Challahs – Traditional braided Jewish breads enjoyed on the Sabbath (Also called Challot)

Chanichim – Literally “students”, the youth or teens involved in B’nai Akiva programming

Chanukah – The festival of lights, an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple in the 2nd Century CE

Chanukiah – A nine-branched candelabra used during the Chanukah festival for the lighting of candles (Also called a Menorah)

Chassid – A member of a Jewish sect that observes a strict form of Orthodox Judaism (Plural is Chassidim)

Chavruta – Study partner for Judaic learning

Cherubim – Spiritual beings mentioned in the Bible that are connected to the presence of God and sit atop the holy ark

Chesed – Acts of kindness or compassion

Chevruta – Study partner for Judaic learning

Chuppah – Wedding canopy

Daf Yomi – A daily regimen of learning the Talmud, one page at a time, over the course of a seven and a half year cycle

Dan Likaf Zechut -Judge favorably and give the benefit of the doubt

Dati Li’umi – National religious, a descriptor for the “modern” and Zionist segment of the Orthodox Jewish community in Israel

Derech – The way or the path of Jewish ritual observance.  Straying from religious practice is often called “going off the derech”

Dybbuk – An evil spirit or demon according to Jewish tradition

Ein Keloheinu – A well-known Jewish hymn traditionally sung at the end of services

Erev – The evening of

Esprit de corps – A French term for the solidarity, pride, honor and unity of a group

EtrogThe yellow citron fruit ceremonially used during the Jewish holiday of Succot

FaygelesA politically incorrect word for homosexuals in Yiddish

FreiA Yiddish term for not religiously practicing or “free” from the Jewish commandments

FrumA Yiddish term for religiously practicing

Frummers – A term for Jewish individuals who are religiously observant and belong to “frum” culture

Frummie – A term for one who is religiously observant and belongs to “frum” culture

Frumpy – A plain or unfashionable woman

Gemara– The second part of the Talmud, consisting of Jewish ritual and legal explication on a text called the “mishna”

Gefilte Fish – A European Jewish dish consisting of a cooked combination of whitefish, carp or pike. Often served with horseradish

Genesis – The first of the five books of the Hebrew Bible.  (The hebrew name of the book is Breishit, which literally means “in the beginning”)

Golders Green – An area of London known for its large Jewish population

Goy – A non-Jewish man

Goyish – Non-Jewish

Goyishe – Non-Jewish

Gribenes – Crisp chicken skin cracklings prepared with fried onions

Grogger – A noisemaker used on the holiday of Purim to wipe out the name of the infamous villain, Haman

Groggers – Noisemakers used on the holiday of Purim to wipe out the name of the infamous villain, Haman

Hadar Ochel – Dining hall.  (Also spelled Chadar Ochel)

Haftarah – A short selection from the Tanach (Prophets and Writings) read on Sabbath in synagogue following the weekly reading from the Torah (Five Books of Moses)

Haggadah – The manuscript used at the Passover table to recount the tale of the Jewish exodus from Egypt

Halacha – Jewish ritual law

Halachic – Matters pertaining to Jewish ritual law

Halachically – According to Jewish ritual law

Hamentaschen – A traditional triangular-shaped pastry eaten on the holiday of Purim

Hamotzi – The Hebrew blessing made over bread, particularly on the Sabbath challah bread

Hannukah – The festival of lights, an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem (Also spelled Hannuka and Chanukah)

Hashem – A name used for “God” in the Jewish faith

Hashkafa – One’s Jewish philosophical outlook or viewpoint

Hasid – An adherent to the Hasidic branch of Orthodox Judaism, which promotes spirituality as a partner and counterbalance to legalistic Judaism

Hasidic – Belonging to the branch of Orthodox Judaism, which promotes spirituality as a partner and counterbalance to legalistic Judaism (Hasidism)

Havdalah – A spices and fire-infused ceremony that brings the Sabbath to a close, and marks a separation between holy and mundane

Havdallah – A spices and fire-infused ceremony that brings the Sabbath to a close, and marks a separation between holy and mundane

Herzl – An Austro-Hungarian journalist who became the father of modern Zionism and, effectively, the State of Israel (though he passed in 1904 prior to the State’s founding)

Hiddur Mitzvah – The Jewish concept of “beautifying the commandment”, to go beyond what is required to enhance the mitzvah or action being performed

Hijab  – A head covering worn by some Muslim women

Hillel  – The center for Jewish life on many college campuses

Holishkes  – A traditional Jewish cabbage roll dish, served on the holiday of Sukkot

IDF – The Israeli Defense Force (Also called Tzahal)

Igeret HaKodesh – A book on marriage, holiness and sexual relations allegedly written by Nahmanides as a wedding gift for his son

JTA – The Jewish Telegraphic Agency, an international news agency serving Jewish newspapers and media around the world

Kabbalah – A Jewish mystical tradition and set of esoteric teachings

Kabbalat Shabbat– The Friday night prayer service that welcomes in the Sabbath

Kaddish – Mourners’ prayers in the Jewish tradition

Kasha – A soft food made from cooked buckwheat or similar grain

Kashrut – The set of Jewish dietary laws (the state of being “kosher”)

Kavanah – Mindfulness, the intention or mindset necessary for Jewish prayers

Kavod HaBriyot – The Jewish concept of treating others with respect and dignity

Keffiyah – A traditional Arab headdress worn by males

Ken – The Hebrew word for “yes”

Khamsin – A hot desert wind in the Middle East

Khawaaja – An honorific title in Arabic meaning “master” and a popular Muslim surname

Kibbutz – A communal settlement in Israel, often agriculture-based

Kiddush – Communal food served after synagogue on Saturday afternoon.  Also, the blessing recited prior to the meal on Friday night, Saturday afternoon and many Jewish holidays.

Kippah – A skullcap head covering worn by traditional Jews  (Also called a Yarmulke)

Kippot – Skullcap head coverings worn by traditional Jews  (Also called Yarmulkes)

Klezmer – Traditional European Jewish music

Knishes – Yiddish for dumplings of dough stuffed with meat or cheese.  A traditional European Jewish food.

Kohanim – The priests of the ancient temple in Jerusalem, and their descendants

Kohein – A priest of the ancient temple in Jerusalem, and his descendants (Singular form of Kohanim)

Kol Nidre – An Aramaic prayer recited on the day of atonement to nullify vows

Kosher – Food prepared according to Jewish dietary laws. More colloquially, “kosher” means approved or fine.

Kotel – The Western Wall of the Temple, the most holy site of Judaism

Kreplach – A European Jewish food consisting of dumplings filled with ground meat

Kristallnacht– The “night of broken glass”, a series of coordinated violent attacks against the Jewish community in Nazi Germany in 1938

Kugel  – A European Jewish baked casserole dish, usually made from potatoes or egg noodles

La’asok B’dvrei Torah – The blessing recited over studying the Bible, literally three Hebrew words that mean ‘to busy ourselves in the words of the Bible/Judaism’

Lag Ba’omer – A Jewish holiday marking the 33rd day of the “counting of the Omer” and celebrating the esteemed Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

Landsmen – A Jew who comes from a fellow town or area, particularly in Eastern Europe

Latkes – Potato pancakes traditionally eaten on Chanukah

L’chaim – A joyful exclamation often accompanied by a shared drink, literally means “to life!”

L’shanah haba’ah b’Yerushalayim – “Next Year in Jerusalem”, a statement proclaimed at the Passover ceremony and during other ritual times of year. Also, a reference to the coming of the Messiah when it is said that the entire Jewish people will be returned to the land of Israel

Lecha Dodi – A song that appears during the Friday night Sabbath service and is used to greet the “Sabbath queen”

Levanah – The Hebrew word for moon

Levirate Marriage – A type of marriage in which the brother of a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother’s widow

Leviticus – The third book of the Bible

Lubavitch – A Hassidic sect that falls under the umbrella of Orthodox Judaism

Maashi– The Arabic word for “okay”

Maggid– A traditional Eastern European Jewish teacher, preacher and traveling storyteller

Maher– The Hebrew word for “fast”

Mamish– A word used for emphasis (Also spelled “Mamash“)

Mami – A slang term for “baby” or a woman who is very sexy

Mandelbrot – Almond bread, a popular dessert among European Jews

Manischewitz  – A leading brand of kosher products in the United States, most known for kosher wine and Passover matzah

Matzah – Unleavened flat bread eaten on the Jewish holiday of Passover

Matzah Ball – A European Jewish soup dumpling traditionally served on Passover (Also spelled Matzo Ball)

Mechitza – A partition, traditionally the dividing wall between men and women during the Orthodox Jewish prayer service

Mehadrin – The most strict level of kosher supervision

Menorah – A nine-branched candelabra used during the Chanukah festival for the lighting of candles (Also called a Chanukiah)

Mensch – A Yiddish word for a person of integrity or honor admired for their behavior

Mezuzah – A piece of parchment containing Biblical verses, affixed to the doorposts of Jewish homes and establishments

Midrash – An ancient commentary on the Bible that includes narrative and parable  (Plural is Midrashim)

Midrashim – Ancient commentaries on the Bible that include narrative and parable  (Single is Midrash)

Midrashist – One who studies “midrash“, the ancient commentary on the Bible that consists of narrative and parable

Midrash Rabbah – A collection of non-legalistic commentaries on the Bible that incorporate folklore, anecdotes and moral guidance

Mikvah – Ritual bath

Mincha – The afternoon prayer service

Minyan – Quorum for Jewish group prayer

Mishkan – The Tabernacle according to the Hebrew Bible, the portable dwelling place for the divine presence from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan

Mishneh Torah – A compendium of Jewish law and observance, written by Maimonides

Mitzvah – Jewish commandment from the Bible, colloquially can be understood as “good deed”

Mitzvot – Jewish commandments from the Bible, colloquially can be understood as “good deeds” (Single is “Mitzvah”)

Moshav – A small cooperative of farms in Israel, or a non-agricultural midsize Israeli town

Moshava – A set of popular Zionist and Modern Orthodox summer camps in North America

Motek – A Hebrew word for “sweetheart”

Muntasch – Slang for “Hamentaschen”, a traditional triangular-shaped pastry eaten on the holiday of Purim

Muttawa – Saudi religious police

Nachman of Breslov – The founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Ukraine

Nebechness – A Yiddish term for pathetic nature

Nephilim – Giants who lived in Canaan and were the offspring of “sons of God” and “daughters of men” according to Biblical tradition

Niddah – A woman who is menstruating, or a shorthand reference to the Jewish laws of family purity

Niqab – A veil worn by Muslim women that covers all but the eyes

Nosh – A Yiddish word for food or snack

Olah Chadasha – A new immigrant to the State of Israel

Omer – A period of seven weeks counted and extending from the second day of Passover to the first day of Shavuoth, and observed as a period of semi-mourning

Oneg Shabbat – An informal Friday evening Sabbath celebration, typically accompanied by food, drink, song and words of Jewish study

Orthodox – A branch of Judaism that believes in the divinity of the written law (Bible), the oral law (Talmud) and the binding nature of Jewish ritual law (Halacha)

OU – The Orthodox Union, an organization that oversees kosher certification and aspects of Jewish communal life in the Orthodox community

Oy Gevalt – The Yiddish equivalent of “Oh, my goodness!”

Oy Vey – The Yiddish equivalent of “Oh, no!”

Pardes – A pluralistic Jewish institution of study located in Jerusalem

Parsha – A portion of the Bible (Torah) that is studied and read each week

Parshat – The portion of the Bible (Torah) that is read and studied that week (This word is often followed by the name of the weekly portion)

Parshiyot – Portions of the Bible (Torah) that are read and studied each week (Plural of Parsha)

Payos – Sidecurls worn by observant Orthodox Jewish men who do not cut the hair on the corners of their heads above the ears

Pesach – The Jewish holiday of Passover commemorating the redemption from slavery in Egypt

Pierogi – Dumplings of unleavened dough, stuffed with a potato filling

Pitam – The stem of the yellow citron fruit (etrog), required to be present for ceremonial use during the holiday of Succot.  (Also called a Pitom)

Pogrom – An organized attack or massacre of a particular ethnic group (of Jewish people in this context)

Pru U’rvu – Be fruitful and multiply (the first commandment in the Bible)

Purim – The Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from an extermination plot during the time of the ancient Persian empire.  Costumes are a festive part of the holiday’s celebration.

Purple People – A hypothetical race used when the issue of racism is discussed. Proponents of this usage figure there are no people with purple skin, and figure it is safe to use. [Source: Urban Dictionary]

Rabbi – A person appointed as a Jewish religious leader who has completed a specified course of study and has been ordained as such.  (Also called Rebbe)

Rashi – An esteemed Jewish scholar and Biblical commentator from the 12th Century

Rebbe – A person appointed as a Jewish religious leader who has completed a specified course of study and has been ordained as such.  (Also called Rabbi)

Rebbeim – Rabbis.  Plural of “Rebbe” (see above)

Refet – The stables or cow farm

Reform – A branch of Judaism that – among other things – maintains that Jewish traditions should be modernized and compatible with participation in the surrounding culture.  Many Reform Jews believe that Jewish law should be interpreted as a set of general guidelines.

Rosh HaShana – The Jewish New Year

Rugelach – A tasty Jewish pastry, often prepared with cinnamon or chocolate

Schayne maidele – A Yiddish phrase that means ‘beautiful girl’

Schmaltz – Chicken fat used for cooking in European Jewish cuisine

Schmooze – A Yiddish term for casual conversation

Schvitzer – One who is heavily sweating

Seder – The Jewish ritual feast that marks the start of Passover and recounts the story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt

Seders – The Jewish ritual feasts that mark the start of Passover and recount the story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt

Sefirot – A Kabbalistic term referring to physical and spiritual realms

Sem – Short for “seminary”, referring to religious women’s seminaries (Also called Midrasha)

Sephardic – Jews of Spain and North Africa. This population holds different customs and traditions than “Ashkenazic” Jewry from Europe.

Shabbat – The Sabbath, from Friday at sun down through Saturday when the stars come out. (Also called Shabbos)

Sha’ar Zahav – A progressive Reform and LGBTQ congregation in San Francisco. Sha’ar Zahav literally means Gold Gate

Shabbat Shalom – A wish and greeting for a peaceful Sabbath, commonly expressed to friends, family and neighbors on Friday afternoon or on the Sabbath itself

Shacharis –  The morning prayer service

Shacharit –  The morning prayer service

Shakti –  A Hindu Goddess

Shalom –  Peace. Also, a greeting used for hello and good bye

Shalosh Seudos – The third meal of the Sabbath, eaten on Saturday afternoon (Also called Seudah Shelishit)

Shande  – A Yiddish word for “shame”

Sharab  – Arabic for “drink”

Shavuot  – The Jewish holiday commemorating Moses’ receiving the ten commandments on Mount Sinai. Shavuot (also spelled “Shavuoth“) is considered the anniversary of the Jewish people with God.

Shechina  – The Divine spirit

Sheitl – A wig that married Orthodox Jewish women wear to fulfill the religious commandment to cover their heads

Shehecheyanu – A Jewish prayer recited on special occasions to give thanks for something new

Sheidim – Demons

Shekel – The Israeli currency

Shema – The central prayer in Jewish liturgy declaring faith in a single God.  The sh’ma is recited twice daily often before bedtime.  (Also spelled Sh’ma)

Shema Yisrael – A core part of the Jewish prayer service that includes a statement of monotheistic faith

Sheygitz – Yiddish word for a non-Jewish man. This word can be neutral or pejorative depending on context

Shidduch – An arranged match for marriage

Shiksa – Slang term for a gentile woman

Shikse – Slang term for a gentile woman

Shin Bet– The secret service and espionage organization of Israel

Shiurim – A Torah or Talmud-based study session and learning opportunity (Singular is Shiur)

Shiva – A Hindu God

Shmendriks – A Yiddish term for fools or idiots

Shoah – Holocaust

Shochet – A person certified to kill poultry and cattle according to Jewish law

Shofar  – A ram’s horn, sounded at key times during the Jewish high holiday season

Shomer Negiah – The Jewish ritual concept restricting physical touch between the sexes.  A person who is “shomer negiah” observes this ritual and does not touch members of the opposite sex.

Shonda– Yiddish word for “shame”

Shpiel – A Yiddish term for a story or lengthy talk

Shtetl – A small Jewish village in Eastern Europe

Shtick  – A Yiddish term for theatrical routine or story

Shtup  – A Yiddish term for sex

Shtupping  – A Yiddish term for having sex with

Shul – The Yiddish word for synagogue, commonly used in religious Jewish communities

Shvantz – A slang Yiddish word for penis

Shvitz – To “shvitz” (verb, Yiddish) is to sweat. A “shvitz” (noun, Yiddish) is a sauna

Shvitzy – A Yiddish word for “sweaty”

Sh’ma – The central prayer in Jewish liturgy declaring faith in a single God.  The sh’ma is recited twice daily often before bedtime.  (Also spelled Shema)

Slivovitz – A type of plum brandy made chiefly in eastern Europe

Sochnut – The Jewish Agency for Israel, the group that oversees Jewish immigration to Israel from abroad

Sotah – A woman suspected of adultery who undergoes the ordeal of bitter water as described and prescribed in the Jewish Bible

Spiel – A story or skit (Also spelled Shpiel)

Star of David – A recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism

Sukkah – A temporary walled structure built for the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot and covered in plant material. Sukkah literally means “booth”. (Also spelled Succah)

Sukkot – The Jewish agricultural and pilgrimage festival celebrated in the week following Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.  (Also spelled Succot)

Taharat HaMishpacha – The Jewish ritual laws of family purity that govern touch between spouses (niddah) and one’s monthly immersion in the ritual bath (mikvah)

Tallis – A Jewish prayer shawl (Also spelled Tallit)

Tallit – A Jewish prayer shawl (Also spelled Tallis)

Tallit Katan – A garment with fringes or tassels worn by many religious Jews.  [Also called Tzitzis]

Talmud – The body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law and legend comprising the Mishnah (text) and the Gemara (commentary)

Talmudic – Pertaining to the Talmud, a body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law and legend that is copiously studied and comprises the Mishnah (text) and the Gemara (commentary)

Tanach– Jewish scripture, which consist of three sections: the Bible, the Prophets and the Writings

Tchotchkes – Little knickknacks or trinkets that bring joy

Tefillin – Leather objects worn during prayer that contain Biblical verses on parchment

Tekiah Gedolah – The prolonged and unbroken sounding of the ram’s horn (shofar), traditionally used during the fall Jewish high holiday season as a wake-up call for repentance

Teledildonics – Electronic sex toys that can be controlled by a computer

Teshuva – The Jewish process of repenting, remedying mistakes and returning to a proper path of conduct

The Derech – Literally “the path”, a term used by Orthodox Jews that refers to following Jewish ritual law and practice

The Holy Land – A name that the Jewish people use for the land of Israel

The Little Midrash Says – A popular Jewish children’s book with stories and allegories from the Bible

Thousand Year Old Stone – A reference to the ‘Kotel‘ (the Western Wall of the Temple in Jerusalem), the holy site of Judaism

Tichel – A scarf worn by many married religious Jewish women to cover their hair

Titchadshi – An Israeli phrase used to congratulate someone on the start of something new, literally meaning “be renewed”.  Titchadesh is the male form of the phrase.

Torah – The Bible, specifically the “Five Books of Moses”

Treif – Non-kosher

Tribe – The ancient Jewish people descended from twelve tribes, who were the offspring of the forefather Jacob

Tsimmes – A Jewish stew of sweetened vegetables or vegetables and fruit, sometimes with meat

Tsimmis – A Jewish stew of sweetened vegetables or vegetables and fruit, sometimes with meat

Tu B’Shvat – A Jewish holiday celebrated in the early Spring that marks the “birthday of the trees” and, in modern times, ecological awareness

Tucheses – A Yiddish term for rear ends

Tuchus – A Yiddish term for one’s behind / rear end

Tzelem Elokim – The image of the Divine (Jewish tradition states that each of us were made in the image of the Divine and contain a divine spark within us)

Tzimtzum – The kabbalistic principle of God constricting his infinite light in order to create empty space for other realms (such as free will) to exist

Tzitzis – A garment with fringes or tassels worn by many religious Jews.  [Also called a Tallit Katan]

Tznius – Modest

Tzniusly – Modestly

URJ – Union for Reform Judaism

USY – United Synagogue Youth, a youth movement affiliated with Conservative Judaism (USCJ)

Yafyufa – A slang Hebrew term for a pretty woman

Yahweh – A name of God

Yarmulke – A skullcap head covering worn by traditional Jews  (Also called a Kippah)

Yartzheit – The death anniversary of a close family member, when mourners prayers are recited and a remembrance candle is lit

Yayn – Hebrew for “wine”

Yeshiva – A Jewish educational institution for traditional religious study

Yeshiva Bochurs – Men who sit and study in a religious Jewish educational institution

Yeshiva Day School – A Jewish educational institution that provides students with both a Jewish and secular education

Yetzer Hara – Evil inclination and temptation

Yichud – The Jewish laws that prohibit men and women from being alone in an enclosed space

Yiddish – A language used by Jews in Central and Eastern Europe prior to the Holocaust. Yiddish is derived from Germany and several communities of Ultra-Orthodox Jews still speak Yiddish today

Yiddishe – Jewish  (Also speller Yiddisher)

Yids – A Yiddish term for Jews

Yizkor – A memorial service held by Jews on certain holy days to commemorate relatives

Yom HaAtzmaut – Israel Independence Day, a day celebrating the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. This holiday immediately follows Israel Veterans Day (Yom HaZikaron)

Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day

Yom HaZikaron – Israeli Veterans Day, literally ‘remembrance day’, a 24-hour period observed the day prior to Israel Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut)

Yom Kippur – The Jewish day of atonement

Yoykh– Chicken soup

Zecher– A remembrance or reminder

Zionism– A form of nationalism of Jews and Jewish culture that supports a Jewish nation state in the territory defined as the Land of Israel

Zionist– Someone who supports a Jewish nation state in the territory defined as the Land of Israel

Check back for updates and additional definitions soon!