“Yes, rabbi, but the Neduniah?”
“Oh, don’t let that worry you. Here it is.” And the rabbi drew forth his purse, and taking therefrom ten hundred gulden notes, placed them in the hands of the bewildered Mosheh.
“O rabbi, a thousand thanks! But how in the world did you get it, since you had not the money and I had insisted that you must not collect for us?”
“Oh, that was easy. I won it at cards.”
“At cards!” and Mosheh stared at the rabbi with a look of blank amazement and non-comprehension.
“Yes, at cards,” said the rabbi. “I am a famous card-player. Whenever any of my good friends cannot find the dowry of his daughter, I go and win it at cards. Why not? Do I not cause the card-players to do a Mitzvah? And is that not in itself a Mitzvah?” And the rabbi laughed long and heartily.
“Rabbi, I do not understand thy words,” said Mosheh; “but I know thou hast been my saviour, and the saviour of my family. I would fain show my gratitude. How can I thank thee?”
“I want no thanks,” said the rabbi. “All I want is that thou shouldst respect my ability as card-player and give me the privilege of a Mitzvah dance at the wedding.” And the rabbi laughed again.
GLOSSARY OF HEBREW AND OTHER NON-ENGLISH TERMS.
| Abaye and Raba, | Two distinguished rabbis of the Talmud. |
| Angenehme Ruhe, | Pleasant rest. |
| Ani Yehudi, bo immi achi, | I am a Jew. Come with me, O my brother. |
| Apologia pro Libro Suo, | Apology or defence of his book. |
| Auf Wiedersehen, | Good-by; au revoir. |
| Bachurim, | Talmud students. |
| Bochur, | Talmud students. |
| Boruch Hashem, | Praised be the Lord. |
| Baal Hab-bayis or Baal Ha-Bayith, | Householder, burgher. |
| Baale Batim, | Members of the congregation. |
| Bauerngut, | Peasant estate, farm. |
| Beth Ha-Midrash, | House of study, where the study of the law and worship are conducted. |
| Chaussée, | Highway. |
| Charif, | Sharp, keen-witted. |
| Chaver, | Friend, companion. |
| Chazan, | See Hazan. |
| Chochmah, | Wisdom. |
| Deitch, | German: Polish-Jewish term for a Jew who has adopted Gentile dress and ways. |
| Ethrogim, | Fruit of the citra species, used on the Feast of Tabernacles, Lev. xxiii. 40. |
| Eingelegte Gänsebrust, | Goose breast preserved in fat. |
| Erste Dame, | First Lady; Prima Donna. |
| Eternal House, | English rendition of Beth Olam, one of the many touching Hebrew names for the Jewish Cemetery. |
| Fulda Rav, | Officiating rabbi of Fulda. |
| Galoschiner Casino und Vereinshaus, | Galoschin Casino and Club House. |
| Gan Eden, | Paradise. |
| Gebirge, | Mountain range. |
| Gefüllte flanken, | Stuffed flanks or navel pieces. |
| Gemara, | Main portion of the Talmud. |
| Gesetzte Bohnen, | Beans placed in the oven on Friday and left there till the next day. |
| Gesetztes Essen, | Food treated as preceding. |
| Get, | Divorce. |
| Gruesse Gott, | Be greeted in the name of God. |
| Gruenkern Suppe, | Soup made from a peculiar kind of green kernels. |
| Guten Morgen, | Good morning. |
| Guten Tag, | Good day. |
| Gut Woch, | Good week. |
| Haftarah, | Prophetic portion. |
| Hakamim, | The sages, the rabbins. |
| Halachah, | Religious rule or decision. |
| Hazan, | Reader or Precentor. |
| Herein, | Come in. |
| Illuy, | Bright scholar. |
| Jubitza, | Long robe worn by the Polish and Russian Jews. |
| Kaddish, | A prayer recited by sons during the eleven months after the death of a parent. |
| Kallah, | Bride. |
| Kehillah, | Congregation. |
| Kiddush, | Benediction by which the Sabbath or festivals are introduced. |
| Kiddush-Beaker, | Cup containing the wine of the blessing. |
| Ketubah, | Marriage certificate. |
| Kosher, | Ritually clean. |
| Kretchm, | Tavern, inn. |
| “L’Etat, c’est moi,” | The State, I am it. |
| Lebe Wohl, | Farewell. |
| Lef, | A heart. |
| Link, | Irreligious. |
| Loeffel, | A spoon. |
| Maariv, | Evening service. |
| Maggid, | Preacher. |
| Malach, | Angel. |
| Massig gevool, | Interference with the business of another. |
| Mazzol Tov, | Good luck, a form of congratulation. |
| Mechulleh, | A bankrupt. |
| Mehuttanim, | Relatives by marriage. |
| Melammedim, | Hebrew teachers. |
| Mesholim, | Stories or parables. |
| Meshummad or Meshummed, | A renegade, a pervert from Judaism. |
| Minchah, | Afternoon service. |
| Mishnah, | Portion of the Talmud. |
| Mishpochoh, | Family connections, relationship. |
| Mitzvah, | Meritorious action, good deed. |
| Neduniah, | Dowry. |
| Nefoshos, | Souls. |
| Niggun, | Melody. |
| Ovel, | A mourner. |
| Parnass, | President of the congregation. |
| Parnoso, | Livelihood, sustenance. |
| Peoth, | Ear curls. |
| Plett, | A ticket. |
| Raconteur, fem.—euse, | Teller of tales and anecdotes. |
| Rav, | Official or communal rabbi. |
| Rishus, | Wickedness, enmity; Hebrew term for anti-Jewish prejudice. |
| Rosh Chodesh, | First of the Jewish month. |
| Rosho, | Wicked man, Jew-hater. |
| Scheitel, | A cloth or wig with which religious Jewesses cover their heads. |
| Schlafe wohl, | Sleep well. |
| Schnorrers, | Beggars. |
| Sedrah, | The part of the Pentateuch read in the synagogue. |
| Shabbos Kugel, | Sabbath pudding. |
| Shammas, | Synagogue attendant; sexton. |
| Shidduch, | Marriage. |
| Shiur, | A selection from the Talmud or devotional books. |
| Shivah, | The prescribed mourning period of seven days during which the mourner sits on the earth and does not leave the house. |
| Shool, | Synagogue. |
| Sopher, | Scribe. |
| Taanis, | A fast day. |
| Tallethim or Tallithoth, | Robes or shawls worn during services. |
| Tephillin, | Phylacteries. |
| Proselyte of Righteousness, | English rendition of Ger Tsedek, a Gentile who enters into the covenant of Judaism in all sincerity and lives a consistently pious and religious life. |
| Torah, | The Law. |
| Trefah or Trefoth, | Forbidden food. |
| Vis á vis de rien, | Over against nothing—i. e., at a loss, unable to do anything. |
| Vodka, | Russian whiskey. |
| Yehudi, | A Jew. |
| Yehudi Attah? | Art thou a Jew? |
| Yeshibah, | Talmudic Academy. |
| Zwiebel Tätcher, | Onion cake. |