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gnomi... I bring you a glossary (cowritten with embenshaul) of terms that may or may not appear in my yammerings. Now, this glossary was written for a specific fiction project, so there are terms in it that are highly unlikely to appear in my ramblings, but I didn't feel like editing them out. :-)
So, without further ado,
Abba — Dad
Al n'teilat yadayim – literally, "on the raising up of hands." The blessing said to accompany the ritual washing of hands before eating bread
Aliya – literally, "going up" or "ascension." With "make," to immigrate to Israel.
Ani Ma'amin — literally, "I believe." Maimonides' Thirteen Articles of Faith, in Hebrew. The final one of the thirteen deals with a Jew's faith in the coming of the Messiah, and it has been set to music by a number of different composers.
Arayot – forbidden unions (see Leviticus, chapter 18)
Asseret y'mei teshuvah – the Ten Days of Repentance; the ten-day period between the first day of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Aufruf – the ceremony in which a groom-to-be is called to the Torah and given a blessing for a happy marriage (usually occurs on the Shabbat immediately preceding the wedding)
Bar mitzvah – literally, "son of the law." The status a boy reaches at age 13, when he becomes a full member of the community; also, the ceremony and celebration marking this occasion.
Bentching – Grace after meals (Yiddish)
B'li neder — literally, "without a vow." Some Orthodox Jews say this after promising something so that they do not violate the proscription against making frivolous vows.
B'gadim — articles of clothing (Hebrew). Singular is "beged." The garment to which tzitzit are attached for daily wear.
Brit milah — ritual circumcision (Hebrew)
Chalavi – dairy (Hebrew). See also Milchig
Chamudi — my cute one (Hebrew)
Chas v'shalom – literally, "mercy and peace." God forbid
Chaval al kol tipah — "It's a shame about every drop" (Hebrew). The motto of the Israeli water conservation organization.
Chutzpah — nerve, gumption
Dati – religiously observant
Davening – praying.
Drash – a learned talk about the Torah portion of the day.
D'var Torah — a learned talk about the Torah portion of the day (Hebrew)
Erev Shel Shoshanim — literally, "Night of Roses." An Israeli love song.
Fleishig — containing meat products
Frum — religiously observant
Gut Shabbos – literally, "good Sabbath". The traditional greeting for Shabbat. (Yiddish)
Habibi - my friend.
Hadassah - an American Women's Zionist organization.
Halacha — religious law (Hebrew)
Hamotzei – literally, "who brings out." The blessing said before eating bread
Havdallah - the prayer said at the end of Shabbat, separating the Sabbath from the regular work week. It is recited over a cup of wine, a candle, and a box of spices.
Hillel — the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. Named for the Hillel the Elder, a great scholar in Jewish history.
Ibn Ezra – Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra (1092-1167), one of the great Torah scholars and commentators of the 12th century in Spain
Ima — Mom
Kah Ribon — literally, "Lord of all." The opening words of one of the songs traditionally sung at the Sabbath table.
Kavannah – intention; mindset; concentration
Ketubah — the wedding contract (Hebrew)
Kiddush – the prayer said over wine on Shabbat; also, the gathering after Saturday morning prayers at which this prayer is said.
Kippah – ritual skullcap (plural: kippot). Orthodox men wear them almost full-time. By the Orthodox, they're considered men's clothing and are not worn by women. In the Conservative communities, they're worn for synagogue by men (and some women) and are worn full-time by some communities. Reform communities only require them to be worn for rituals (for instance, at synagogue).
Klutz — clumsy person
Lag — shorthand for Lag B'omer, or the 33rd day of the Omer. The Omer is the 7-week period between the second day of Passover and the holiday of Shavuot. The first 32 days of the Omer are a period of semi-mourning, due to a plague that hit during that time, killing a number of students of Rabbi Akiva (first century CE). Most Orthodox Jews refrain from attending live music performances during these 32 days.
Ma'ariv - the evening prayer
Macher – important person (Yiddish)
Mazal tov — literally, "a good sign" (Hebrew). Congratulations
Mezuzot — the scrolls of verses that are affixed to doorposts by Jewish households (Hebrew). Singular is "mezuzah."
Milchig — containing dairy products
Mincha – the afternoon service
Motek — sweet one, sweetie
Niggun — a melody with no words (Hebrew)
Nu — a nonsense syllable, used for prodding someone to talk about something. "So, nu?" is roughly equivalent to "Well?"
Od Y'shamah — "There will soon be heard" (Hebrew). A phrase in the sixth blessing said under the wedding canopy (chupah) at Orthodox weddings. Set to music, it's a traditional song played at wedding receptions.
Pareve - containing neither meat nor dairy. Neutral.
Parsha — the weekly Torah portion (Hebrew)
Pasuk – a biblical verse
Pesach – Passover
Rabbanim — rabbis (Hebrew)
Schlep — drag
Seder – literally, "order." The ceremonial dinner held on the first nights of Passover.
Sephardic - Descended from Jews who lived in Spain and Portugal during the Middle Ages
Shabbat — the Sabbath (Hebrew)
Shabbat shalom – literally, "peaceful Sabbath". The traditional greeting for Shabbat. (Hebrew)
Shabbos - the Sabbath (Yiddish)
Shmooze – talk casually
Shofar – the ram's horn. Traditionally blown on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Shomer/shomeret negi'ah — observant of the laws relating to touch (Hebrew)
Shpiel – literally, a game or a play. Used metaphorically to refer to someone's standard "routine."
Shul — synagogue
Siman Tov u'Mazal Tov — literally, "a good symbol and a good sign." A song traditionally played at weddings.
Simcha – celebration
Sukkot – the Feast of Tabernacles.
Tefillot – prayers
Tisch — literally, a table (Yiddish). The table at which a bridegroom "holds court" before the wedding, where the ketubah is signed, and where the groom gives a learned speech.
Tsuris — trouble
Tzitzit — fringes (Hebrew). The fringes on the four corners of a garment worn under the shirt of Orthodox men.
Yenta – a busybody; a matchmaker (Yiddish)
Yom tov – literally, "a good day." A religious holiday.
Yomim nora'im – literally, "days of awe." The collective name for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Now, to be clear, these are not necessarily precise definitions; there are glosses for how these words are typically used.
Also, if I use a term in some later discussion and I don't define it and it's not on this list, feel free to ping me and I'll translate. I've been accused more than once of speaking in Yeshivish (from "yeshiva," a place of Jewish learning), and sometimes I don't even notice.
embenshaul) of terms that may or may not appear in my yammerings. Now, this glossary was written for a specific fiction project, so there are terms in it that are highly unlikely to appear in my ramblings, but I didn't feel like editing them out. :-)So, without further ado,
Abba — Dad
Al n'teilat yadayim – literally, "on the raising up of hands." The blessing said to accompany the ritual washing of hands before eating bread
Aliya – literally, "going up" or "ascension." With "make," to immigrate to Israel.
Ani Ma'amin — literally, "I believe." Maimonides' Thirteen Articles of Faith, in Hebrew. The final one of the thirteen deals with a Jew's faith in the coming of the Messiah, and it has been set to music by a number of different composers.
Arayot – forbidden unions (see Leviticus, chapter 18)
Asseret y'mei teshuvah – the Ten Days of Repentance; the ten-day period between the first day of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Aufruf – the ceremony in which a groom-to-be is called to the Torah and given a blessing for a happy marriage (usually occurs on the Shabbat immediately preceding the wedding)
Bar mitzvah – literally, "son of the law." The status a boy reaches at age 13, when he becomes a full member of the community; also, the ceremony and celebration marking this occasion.
Bentching – Grace after meals (Yiddish)
B'li neder — literally, "without a vow." Some Orthodox Jews say this after promising something so that they do not violate the proscription against making frivolous vows.
B'gadim — articles of clothing (Hebrew). Singular is "beged." The garment to which tzitzit are attached for daily wear.
Brit milah — ritual circumcision (Hebrew)
Chalavi – dairy (Hebrew). See also Milchig
Chamudi — my cute one (Hebrew)
Chas v'shalom – literally, "mercy and peace." God forbid
Chaval al kol tipah — "It's a shame about every drop" (Hebrew). The motto of the Israeli water conservation organization.
Chutzpah — nerve, gumption
Dati – religiously observant
Davening – praying.
Drash – a learned talk about the Torah portion of the day.
D'var Torah — a learned talk about the Torah portion of the day (Hebrew)
Erev Shel Shoshanim — literally, "Night of Roses." An Israeli love song.
Fleishig — containing meat products
Frum — religiously observant
Gut Shabbos – literally, "good Sabbath". The traditional greeting for Shabbat. (Yiddish)
Habibi - my friend.
Hadassah - an American Women's Zionist organization.
Halacha — religious law (Hebrew)
Hamotzei – literally, "who brings out." The blessing said before eating bread
Havdallah - the prayer said at the end of Shabbat, separating the Sabbath from the regular work week. It is recited over a cup of wine, a candle, and a box of spices.
Hillel — the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. Named for the Hillel the Elder, a great scholar in Jewish history.
Ibn Ezra – Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra (1092-1167), one of the great Torah scholars and commentators of the 12th century in Spain
Ima — Mom
Kah Ribon — literally, "Lord of all." The opening words of one of the songs traditionally sung at the Sabbath table.
Kavannah – intention; mindset; concentration
Ketubah — the wedding contract (Hebrew)
Kiddush – the prayer said over wine on Shabbat; also, the gathering after Saturday morning prayers at which this prayer is said.
Kippah – ritual skullcap (plural: kippot). Orthodox men wear them almost full-time. By the Orthodox, they're considered men's clothing and are not worn by women. In the Conservative communities, they're worn for synagogue by men (and some women) and are worn full-time by some communities. Reform communities only require them to be worn for rituals (for instance, at synagogue).
Klutz — clumsy person
Lag — shorthand for Lag B'omer, or the 33rd day of the Omer. The Omer is the 7-week period between the second day of Passover and the holiday of Shavuot. The first 32 days of the Omer are a period of semi-mourning, due to a plague that hit during that time, killing a number of students of Rabbi Akiva (first century CE). Most Orthodox Jews refrain from attending live music performances during these 32 days.
Ma'ariv - the evening prayer
Macher – important person (Yiddish)
Mazal tov — literally, "a good sign" (Hebrew). Congratulations
Mezuzot — the scrolls of verses that are affixed to doorposts by Jewish households (Hebrew). Singular is "mezuzah."
Milchig — containing dairy products
Mincha – the afternoon service
Motek — sweet one, sweetie
Niggun — a melody with no words (Hebrew)
Nu — a nonsense syllable, used for prodding someone to talk about something. "So, nu?" is roughly equivalent to "Well?"
Od Y'shamah — "There will soon be heard" (Hebrew). A phrase in the sixth blessing said under the wedding canopy (chupah) at Orthodox weddings. Set to music, it's a traditional song played at wedding receptions.
Pareve - containing neither meat nor dairy. Neutral.
Parsha — the weekly Torah portion (Hebrew)
Pasuk – a biblical verse
Pesach – Passover
Rabbanim — rabbis (Hebrew)
Schlep — drag
Seder – literally, "order." The ceremonial dinner held on the first nights of Passover.
Sephardic - Descended from Jews who lived in Spain and Portugal during the Middle Ages
Shabbat — the Sabbath (Hebrew)
Shabbat shalom – literally, "peaceful Sabbath". The traditional greeting for Shabbat. (Hebrew)
Shabbos - the Sabbath (Yiddish)
Shmooze – talk casually
Shofar – the ram's horn. Traditionally blown on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Shomer/shomeret negi'ah — observant of the laws relating to touch (Hebrew)
Shpiel – literally, a game or a play. Used metaphorically to refer to someone's standard "routine."
Shul — synagogue
Siman Tov u'Mazal Tov — literally, "a good symbol and a good sign." A song traditionally played at weddings.
Simcha – celebration
Sukkot – the Feast of Tabernacles.
Tefillot – prayers
Tisch — literally, a table (Yiddish). The table at which a bridegroom "holds court" before the wedding, where the ketubah is signed, and where the groom gives a learned speech.
Tsuris — trouble
Tzitzit — fringes (Hebrew). The fringes on the four corners of a garment worn under the shirt of Orthodox men.
Yenta – a busybody; a matchmaker (Yiddish)
Yom tov – literally, "a good day." A religious holiday.
Yomim nora'im – literally, "days of awe." The collective name for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Now, to be clear, these are not necessarily precise definitions; there are glosses for how these words are typically used.
Also, if I use a term in some later discussion and I don't define it and it's not on this list, feel free to ping me and I'll translate. I've been accused more than once of speaking in Yeshivish (from "yeshiva," a place of Jewish learning), and sometimes I don't even notice.
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no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 08:59 pm (UTC)My friends say, "ENGLISH?!?". It's amazing how sectarian the frum world can be, and it is evident if you watch anything with Orthodox Jews (documentary, etc.) as even when they are speaking English these Yiddish and Hebrew words are mixed in! :-)
I am sure you will come up with more words as well.... Once you start posting.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 02:23 am (UTC)I find that there are words in my vocabulary that are not of my native language and that I cannot even clearly explain in my native language. But the concepts are so clear to me in Yiddish/Hebrew/Aramaic/whatever, and I get tripped up trying to translate.
And, yes, it's close on inevitable that I'll find things I haven't defined that people will need translated.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 03:46 am (UTC)I am doing some work on the computer, but started to craft my e-mail to you --- hopefully will send it tomorrow! :-)
FFB people (especially Chassidish) tend to incorporate Hebrew/Yiddish into their everyday conversation quite often!!!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 04:34 am (UTC)You've really gotten me thinking about this a lot. Thank you. :-)
I look forward to the e-mail, whenever it comes.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-06 09:12 pm (UTC)YAY, now I remember it and can tell the story better!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 02:21 am (UTC)a couple of details
Date: 2008-02-07 02:08 am (UTC)Od Y'shamah - again will be heard (literally "more", "soon" would be b'karov)
Sephardic - also from North Africa
Btw, did you notice that in addition to Hebrew and Yiddish you've got Aramaic and Arabic words? *happy Semitic linguist looks forward to the posts on these subjects*
Re: a couple of details
Date: 2008-02-07 02:20 am (UTC)And, yes, the characters in this universe are all over the linguistic map of the Middle East. So Hebrew, Yiddish, Aramaic, Arabic, and English-fusion with any of those is possible. Of the two main characters, one is Israeli and the other speaks Yeshivish, so, yeah. Fun times in glossary-land.
Re: a couple of details
Date: 2008-02-08 04:03 am (UTC)Btw, there was a discussion recently* about the new language that is being formed by Hebrew + English + other the same way Yiddish = Hebrew + German + other, Ladino = Hebrew + Spanish + other, etc.
*I don't remember whether it was at my weekly learning group or at a shabbat afternoon gathering, but either way there were people from varied backgrounds.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 04:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 11:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 06:07 am (UTC)Chamudi is Arabic, not Hebrew. Motek (which you have) is the Hebrew.
Since you have Chalavi and Milichig, the Hebrew equivalent of Fleishig is b'Sari (lit. meat).
The Hebrew equivalent of the Arabic Habibi would be Yadidi.
And Ma'ariv is more of an Ashkenazis pronunciation of Aravit.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 11:39 am (UTC)And this list was, as I mentioned, specific to a suite of fiction pieces, and thus does not cover all the possible permutations of the language.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 01:19 pm (UTC)You really did come into my life at exactly the right moment, do you know that? Even though it feels like you've always been here...
no subject
Date: 2008-02-07 02:20 pm (UTC)I'm so thrilled to have you in my life; I agree it feels like way longer than it truly has been.