(_All words given below, unless otherwise specified, are Hebrew. The
transliteration aims to reproduce the colloquial pronunciation of Hebrew
words by German Jews._)
AL CHET. "For the sin," beginning of a confession of sins.
AMHOREZ. Ignoramus.
AMRAZIM. Plural of the previous word. Ignoramuses.
BAAL-MILCHOMOH. Soldier.
BAALE-BATIM. Householders. Substantial and respectable members of the
community, who contribute to its support.
BAR-MITZVAH. Religious majority, at the age of thirteen, when a Jewish
lad is expected to take all religious duties upon himself.
BEKOVET. Honorable; dignified.
BESOMIM. Spices, used at the ceremony of _Habdalah_, marking the end of
the Sabbath.
BORUCH HA-SHEM. "Blessed be the Name" (of God).
CHAROSETH. A mixture of apples, raisins, wine, cinnamon, etc., used at
the _Seder_, symbolic of the mortar which the Israelites prepared in
Egypt.
CHAS VE-SHOLEM. "Mercy and peace." Heaven forbid!
CHAVRUSSEH. Society; company.
CHAZEN. Cantor; precentor.
CHOCHMES. Wise ideas; oversubtle notions.
CHOMETZ BATTELN. To do away with all leaven (before Passover).
CHUTZPEH. Arrogance; audacity; impudence.
DAVVENING (?). Reciting the prayers of the liturgy.
EVADDE. Assuredly; certainly.
FROMM (Ger.). Pious; observant (of religions and ritual ceremonies).
GEMOREH. The Talmud.
GET. A bill of divorce.
GOY. A non-Jew.
KHILLE. Jewish congregation; Jewish community.
KIDDUSH. Sanctification; the ceremony ushering in the Sabbath or a
holiday.
KOSHER. Ritually permitted.
MAASEH. A story; an anecdote.
MAH NISHTANEH HA-LAYLOH HAZEH. "What distinguishes this night" (from all
other nights); the question introducing the narrative of the Exodus from
Egypt in the Seder service of the Passover nights.
MAIREV. Evening service.
MALKEH. Queen.
MATZOTH. Cakes of unleavened bread.
MELECH. King.
MENORAH. Candlestick used on _Chanukkah_ or Sabbath.
MESHUGGE. Crazy.
MESHUMMED. Apostate.
MIKVEH. Ritual bath.
MINCHAH. Afternoon service.
MINYAN. A company of ten men, the minimum for a public service.
MISHPOCHEH. Family in the wider sense; collateral branches as well as
direct descendants; kin.
MOGEN DOVID. "The Shield of David." A Jewish emblem.
NARRONIM. (Ger. with Heb. ending). Fools.
NEBBICH. (Slavic). An expression of pity. Poor thing! Too bad!
OMED. Reading desk of the cantor in the synagogue.
OSER. "Forbidden." Expression of defiance: You bet I won't; I'd like to
catch myself, etc.
OSHAMNU BOGADNU. "We have trespassed, we have dealt deceitfully." First
two words in the alphabetic confession of sins.
OVINU MALKENU. "Our Father, our King." Beginning of the lines of a
well-known prayer. _See next word._
OVINU MALKENU CHOSVENU BE-SEFER PARNOSSOH VE-CHALKOLOH. "Our Father, our
King, inscribe us in the book of sustenance and maintenance." One line
of a well-known prayer.
PARCHONIM. Riff-raff; small fry; vermin.
PESACH. Feast of Unleavened Bread; Passover.
PLEITEGEHER. (Heb. and Ger.). An habitual bankrupt.
POSHEH YISROEL. "A sinner in Israel"; one who disregards the ceremonial
law of Judaism.
RAV. Officiating rabbi.
REBBETZIN. (Heb. with Ger. suffix). Wife of the officiating rabbi.
ROSHEKOL. Head of the Jewish community.
SEDER. Home service on the first two nights of the Passover.
SHABBES. Sabbath.
SHABBES GOY. A non-Jew engaged, often by all the families in a Jewish
congregation, to do work forbidden the Jew on the Sabbath, such as
kindling a fire, etc.
SHADCHEN. Marriage broker.
SHAMMES. Verger; beadle; sexton.
SHEITEL (Ger.). A covering for the head, to hide the hair of a married
Jewess.