GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY[ToC]
H. = Hebrew. G. = German. Gk. = Greek. R. = Russian. S. = Spanish. c. = corrupt.
Achi-Nebbich (Etymology obscure), Alas, poor thing (s.).
Afikoman (Hebraicised Gk.), portion of a Passover cake taken at the end of Seder-meal (q.v.).
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 (Num. xv. 37-41).
Avirah (H.), Sin.
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, fiancée.
Chazan (H.), cantor.
Chevrah (H.), small congregation; a society.
Chine (H.), playful humour; humorous anecdote.
Chocham (H.), wise man.
Chomutz (H.), leaven.
Chosan (H.), bridegroom, fiancé.
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.
Gemorah (H.), part of the Talmud.
Gonof (H.), thief.
Goyah (H.), non-Jewess.
Hagadah (H.), narrative portion of the Talmud; Passover-eve ritual.
Halachah (H.), legal portion of the Talmud.
Havdalah (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 Heb. verses (Deut. vi. 4-9, 13-21), affixed to every door-post.
Midrash (H.), Biblical exposition.
Minchah (H.), afternoon prayer.
Minyan (H.), quorum of ten males over thirteen necessary for public worship.
Mishpochah (H.), family.
Mishnah, Mishnayis (H.), collection of the Oral Law.
Missheberach (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.
Nash (c. G.), pilfer (dainties).
Niddah (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 (Hebraicised Gk.), liturgical poem.
Potch (c. G.), slap.
Pullack (c. G.), Polish Jew.
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 (? c. 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-Teshuvoth (H.), questions and answers; casuistical treatise.
Shabbas (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 jargon—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 (Sp.), 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.
Térah, Torah (H.), Law of Moses.
Tephillin (H.), phylacteries.
Tripha (H.), ritually unclean.
Wurst (G.), sausage.
Yiddish, Yiddishkeit (c. G.), Jewish Judaism.
Yigdal (H.), hymn summarising the thirteen creeds drawn up by Maimonides.
Yom Kippur (H.), Day of Atonement.
Yom Tov (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 TEMPLE PRESS, PRINTERS, LETCHWORTH
Typographical errors corrected in text:
The definition of Mosaism: n. Attachment to the system or doctrines of Moses; that which is peculiar to the Mosaic system or doctrines.