[Abbreviations: Dimin. = diminutive; Ger. = German, corrupt German, and
Yiddish; Heb. = Hebrew, and Aramaic; pl. = plural; Russ. = Russian;
Slav. = Slavic; trl. = translation.
Pronunciation: The transliteration of the Hebrew words attempts to
reproduce the colloquial "German" (Ashkenazic) pronunciation. _Ch_ is
pronounced as in the German _Dach_.]
ADDITIONAL SERVICE. _See_ EIGHTEEN BENEDICTIONS.
AL-CHET (Heb.). "For the sin"; the first two words of each line of an
Atonement Day prayer, at every mention of which the worshipper beats the
left side of his breast with his right fist.
ALEF-BES (Heb.). The Hebrew alphabet.
ASHRE (Heb.). The first word of a Psalm verse used repeatedly in the
liturgy.
AeUS KLEMENKE! (Ger.). Klemenke is done for!
AZOI (= Ger. also). That's the way it is!
BADCHEN (Heb.). A wedding minstrel, whose quips often convey a moral
lesson to the bridal couple, each of whom he addresses separately.
BAR-MITZVEH (Heb.). A boy of thirteen, the age of religious majority.
BAS-KOL (Heb.). "The Daughter of the Voice"; an echo; a voice from
Heaven.
BEIGEL (Ger.). Ring-shaped roll.
BES HA-MIDRASH (Heb.). House-of-study, used for prayers, too.
BITTUL-TORAH (Heb.). Interference with religious study.
BOBBE (Slav.). Grandmother; midwife.
BORSHTSH (Russ.). Sour soup made of beet-root.
CANTONIST (Ger.). Jewish soldier under Czar Nicholas I, torn from his
parents as a child, and forcibly estranged from Judaism.
CHALLEH (Heb.). Loaves of bread prepared for the Sabbath, over which the
blessing is said; always made of wheat flour, and sometimes yellowed
with saffron.
CHARIF (Heb.). A Talmudic scholar and dialectician.
CHASSIDIM (sing. Chossid) (Heb.). "Pious ones"; followers of Israel Baal
Shem, who opposed the sophisticated intellectualism of the Talmudists,
and laid stress on emotionalism in prayer and in the performance of
other religious ceremonies. The Chassidic leader is called Tzaddik
("righteous one"), or Rebbe. _See_ art. "Hasidim," in the Jewish
Encyclopedia, vol. vi.
CHAYYE ODOM. A manual of religious practice used extensively by the
common people.
CHEDER (pl. Chedorim) (Heb.). Jewish primary school.
CHILLUL HA-SHEM (Heb.). "Desecration of the Holy Name"; hence, scandal.
CHIRIK (Heb.). Name of the vowel "i"; in Volhynia "u" is pronounced like
"i."
DAVVENING. Saying prayers.
DAYAN (pl. Dayonim) (Heb.). Authority on Jewish religious law, usually
assistant to the Rabbi of a town.
DIN TORAH (Heb.). Lawsuit.
DREIER, DREIERLECH (Ger.). A small coin.
EIGHTEEN BENEDICTIONS. The nucleus of each of the three daily services,
morning, afternoon, evening, and of the "Additional Service" inserted on
Sabbaths, festivals, and the Holy Days, between the morning and
afternoon services. Though the number of benedictions is actually
nineteen, and at some of the services is reduced to seven, the technical
designation remains "Eighteen Benedictions." They are usually said as a
"silent prayer" by the congregation, and then recited aloud by the
cantor, or precentor.
ERETZ YISROEL (Heb.). Palestine.
EREV (Heb.). Eve.
ERUV (Heb.). A cord, etc., stretched round a town, to mark the limit
beyond which no "burden" may be carried on the Sabbath.
FAST OF ESTHER. A fast day preceding Purim, the Feast of Esther.
"FOUNTAIN OF JACOB." A collection of all the legends, tales, apologues,
parables, etc., in the Babylonian Talmud.
FOUR-CORNERS (trl. of Arba Kanfos). A fringed garment worn under the
ordinary clothes; called also Tallis-koton. _See_ Deut. xxii. 12.
FOUR ELLS. Minimum space required by a human being.
FOUR QUESTIONS. Put by the youngest child to his father at the Seder.
GANZE GOYIM (Ger. and Heb.). Wholly estranged from Jewish life and
customs. _See_ Goi.
GASS (Ger.). The Jews' street.
GEHENNA (Heb.). The nether world; hell.
GEMOREH (Heb.). The Talmud, the Rabbinical discussion and elaboration of
the Mishnah; a Talmud folio. It is usually read with a peculiar singsong
chant, and the reading of argumentative passages is accompanied by a
gesture with the thumb. _See, for instance_, pp. 17 and 338.
GEMOREH-KOePLECH (Heb. and Ger.). A subtle, keen mind; precocious.
GEVIR (Heb.). An influential, rich man.--GEVIRISH, appertaining to a
Gevir.
GOI (pl. Goyim) (Heb.). A Gentile; a Jew estranged from Jewish life and
customs.
GOTTINYU (Ger. with Slav. ending). Dear God.
GREAT SABBATH, THE. The Sabbath preceding Passover.
HAGGADAH (Heb.). The story of the Exodus recited at the home service on
the first two evenings of Passover.
HOSHANAH (pl. Hoshanos) (Heb.). Osier withe for the Great Hosannah.
HOSHANAH-RABBAH (Heb.). The seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles; the
Great Hosannah.
HOSTRE CHASSIDIM. Followers of the Rebbe or Tzaddik who lived at
Hostre.
KADDISH (Heb.). Sanctification, or doxology, recited by mourners,
specifically by children in memory of parents during the first eleven
months after their death, and thereafter on every anniversary of the day
of their death; applied to an only son, on whom will devolve the duty of
reciting the prayer on the death of his parents; sometimes applied to
the oldest son, and to sons in general.
KALLEH (Heb.) Bride.
KALLEH-LEBEN (Heb. and Ger.). Dear bride.
KALLEHSHI (Heb. and Russ. dimin.). Dear bride.
KASHA (Slav.). Pap.
KEDUSHAH (Heb.). Sanctification; the central part of the public service,
of which the "Holy, holy, holy," forms a sentence.
KERBEL, KERBLECH (Ger.). A ruble.
KIDDUSH (Heb.). Sanctification; blessing recited over wine in ushering
in Sabbaths and holidays.
KLAUS (Ger.). "Hermitage"; a conventicle; a house-of-study.