Ben yochid
Only son.
Beth hamidrash or midrash
A hall or school where Jews especially in Eastern Europe study the Bible, the Talmud, and later Hebrew literature (literally a "House of Interpretation" or "House of Learning"). It is distinct from a synagogue, although many synagogues are also used as batei midrash or vice versa.
Bimah
The elevated platform in a synagogue from which the Torah is read.
Bosiaki
A certain group of hooligans. From the Russian for "barefoot."
Brith (or bris or brit) milah
A circumcision ceremony performed on eight-day old male Jewish infants.
Chassidim
The plural of Hasid, meaning "pious." Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism (Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety," literally "loving kindness"), is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith. It was founded in 18th century Eastern as a reaction against overly legalistic Judaism.
Cheder
A traditional elementary school teaching the basics of Judaism and Hebrew.
Cohen or kohen
The Hebrew word for priest. Kohenim are traditionally believed and required by Jewish Law to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron.
Hashanah Rabbah
The last of the Days of Judgment which began on Rosh Hashana (see).
Hesv bet
Hesv is the Hebrew for "reclining," the preferred mode of seating at the seder (see), and bet implies that reclining normally takes place on a couch. It was the custom for the head of the family to use some form of couch for conducting the seder.
Kashrut
The set of Jewish dietary laws.
Kadesh or kaddish
A prayer found in the Jewish prayer service, often used to refer specifically to "The Mourners' Kaddish", said as part of the mourning rituals in Judaism in all prayer services as well as at funerals and memorials.
Kosher
Food in accord with Jewish law is termed kosher in English, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the Hebrew term kasher, meaning "fit" (in this context, fit for consumption).
Lag b'Omer or Lag BaOmer
A holiday celebrated on the thirty-third day of the Counting of the Omer, which occurs on the 18th day of Iyar. The most common reason given for the holiday is as the day of passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
Maskilim
Leaders of the Haskalah movement, the European Jewish enlightenment between the 1770s and 1880s, who sought to re-educate Jews so that they could fit into modern society; they established schools and published works of cultural importance.
Mesuse or mezuzah
A piece of parchment (often contained in a decorative case) inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21). These verses comprise the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael," beginning with the phrase: "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One." A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe in Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:9).
Minyan
The quorum of ten male Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. The most common activity requiring a minyan is public prayer.
Miskane
A hard luck person.
Mithnagdim (or Misnagdim or Mitnagdim)
A Hebrew word meaning "opponents." The term gained a common usage among European Jews as the term that referred to Ashkenazi Jews who opposed the rise and spread of early Hasidic Judaism.
Pesach
Passover.
Rosh Hashanah
The Jewish New Year.
Seder
A ritual feast that marks the beginning of Passover.
Sheitl or sheitel
A wig or half-wig worn by Orthodox Jewish married women in order to conform to the requirement of Jewish Law to cover their hair. This practice is part of the modesty-related dress standard. The word seems to be derived from the German word Scheitel, meaning "part" (as in hair).
Shir hamaalos
An ancient custom to adorn the newborn's home with pieces of parchment or paper are inscribed with holy verses, angelic names, and the Psalm "Shir HaMaalos—A Song of Ascents": "My help will come from the Lord." In some communities the custom takes the form of an amulet worn by the mother. When these verses are hung up prior to the labor, they invoke the blessing that the labor and birth will be easy, and extend their blessings for a good and long life.
Shochet
A ritual slaughterer, a religious Jew who is duly licensed and trained.
Tallis
In Ashkenazic Hebrew and Yiddish, a Jewish prayer shawl. It is worn over the outer clothes during the morning prayers.
Talmud
A central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history. The Talmud has two components: the Mishnah, the first written compendium of Judaism's Oral Law; and the Gemara, a discussion of the Mishnah and related writings.
Tefillin
A set of small cubic leather boxes painted black, containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, with leather straps dyed black on one side, and worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers. The hand-tefillin, or shel yad, is placed on the upper arm, and the strap wrapped around the arm, hand and fingers; while the head-tefillin, or shel rosh, is placed above the forehead, with the strap going around the head and over the shoulders. The Torah commands that they should be worn to serve as a sign and remembrance that God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Torah
The Hebrew Bible, also known as the Pentateuch (referring to the Five Books of Moses—the entirety of Judaism's founding legal and ethical religious texts): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Tzadik
A title given to personalities in Jewish tradition considered righteous, such as Biblical figures and later spiritual masters.
Ya-amod
Literally, "Let him arise."
Yeshive bochur
A Talmudic student. A yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Until the late 20th century, yeshivot were attended by males only.