haftorah—lesson from the Prophets read in synagogue
Haggadah—the story of Passover, read at the seder
havdalah—ceremony marking the end of Shabbes
kayn eyn horeh—knock wood, “no evil eye”
Kol Nidrvei—prayer sung to usher in Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year
kvass—frothy sour brew made from fermenting rye flour, malt, and sugar
l’chayim—“To life!”
londsmon—friend from the Old Country
mazel tov—“Congratulations! Good luck!”
Megillah—the story of Purim
Menashe’che—Menashe’s wife
mezuzah—a rolled-up piece of parchment inscribed with biblical passages placed in a small container, attached to doorpost of Jewish homes and holy places
midrash—a body of post-Talmudic exegesis, either a book or a passage
Mishnah—here, a particular verse and its interpretation.
nudnik—pain in the neck, nuisance, nagger
Pani—“Mister,” in Russian
Purim—joyous celebration of the Book of Esther
Rambam—Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, the thirteenth-century philosopher also known as Maimonides
Reb—“Mister,” in Yiddish
Rashi—author of eleventh-century commentaries on the Bible and Talmud
Shabbes—Sabbath
shalach-mones—gifts of pastries and fruit distributed at Purim
shlimazel—clumsy person, misfit, bringer of bad luck
shmaltz—chicken or duck fat
shmone esre—Eighteen Benedictions recited in three daily prayers
shochet—ritual slaughterer
shofar—ram’s horn blown at the end of the High Holiday services
sholem aleichem—traditional greeting, “peace to you”
shul—synagogue
slichot—High Holiday prayer
Succos—fall harvest festival
Targum Unkles—Aramaic translation of the Old Testament
tefillin—small boxes filled with scripture that men over bar mitzvah age strap to the forehead and left arm for morning prayers and on holidays; also known as phylacteries
U’netaneh tokef—Yom Kippur prayer asking for another year of life
yaaleh—prayer
yahrtzeit—anniversary of the death of a close relative, commemorated by prayer
yeshiva—institution of higher Talmudic learning, orthodox Jewish all-day school
yontiff—holiday