admin – Free Hebrew Class https://freehebrewclass.com Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:31:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://freehebrewclass.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-book-32x32.png admin – Free Hebrew Class https://freehebrewclass.com 32 32 What Does Mazel Tov Mean? https://freehebrewclass.com/what-does-mazel-tov-mean/ Mon, 07 Apr 2025 05:49:22 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=1210 What Does Mazel Tov Mean?

This popular Jewish phrase of congratulation is a literally a comment on the alignment of the stars.

The Hebrew phrase  (also spelled mazal tov, or mazel tof) literally translated means “good luck.” In practice, mazel tov is usually said to mean “Congratulations!” In modern Israeli pronunciation, it is said with the accent on the second syllable: ma-ZAL tove. In Yiddish and Ashkenazi pronunciation, the accent comes on the first syllable: MA-zel tof.

 

One can expect to hear people shout “mazel tov” at celebrations like Jewish weddings just after the glass is broken, at brit milah (bris) ceremonies, and at bar and bat mitzvahs. Mazel tov is an appropriate response to any good news, from an engagement to a graduation, a new job, a new house, or any other honor or milestone. In modern Israeli Hebrew, it is common to congratulate people on their birthday using this phrase.

 

Mazel tov isn’t always a perfect substitute for the English “congratulations.” Some people avoid saying mazel tov to a pregnant woman out of superstition that something might happen to the baby. Instead, it is customary to say “b’sha’ah tovah,” (beh-shah-AH toe-VAH) meaning “at a good time.” The implicit wish is that the baby will be born healthy and safe — at which point mazel tov would be an appropriate greeting.

 

The phrase mazel tov literally means “a good constellation,” implying that the recipient is experiencing good fortune because the stars have aligned for them. In fact, the medieval song incorporating this phrase — siman tov u’mazal tov, “a good sign, a good constellation” — makes this even more explicit.

 

Ancient rabbinic texts speak of good and bad mazalot (constellations), but the phrase mazel tov was not used in a congratulatory manner until the 19th century. A reasonable literal translation of the phrase might be “good luck” but this doesn’t, as it does in English, carry the connotation of hoping for future fortune. Rather, it acknowledges present good fortune. To wish a person future luck in Hebrew, one would say b’hatzlachah — may you have success.

]]> Jewish Languages 101 https://freehebrewclass.com/jewish-languages-101/ Mon, 07 Apr 2025 05:13:00 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=1195 Jewish Languages 101

What happens when a people has no land of its own?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHWr8r-8QWY

Language and land are intricately connected. Indeed, languages and dialects tend to get their names from the regions where they are spoken. What happens, then, when a people has no land of its own? For most of Jewish history, this was the linguistic situation of the Jews. Aside for a few hundred years during the first and second millennium B.C.E. and the past half-century in Modern Israel, Jews have not had a homeland, and thus instead of speaking a single language, they have spoken many.

Hebrew

Hebrew is the language of the Bible and of traditional Jewish liturgy. As such, it is integrally connected with the Jewish religion. The rabbis attributed theological significance to the Hebrew language. Rabbinic literature refers to Hebrew as lashon ha-kodesh, the holy language. In addition, Hebrew was thought to be the language of God and the angels, as well as the original language of all humanity.

 

It is unclear when the Israelites began using Hebrew, but the earliest Hebrew texts date from the end of the second millennium B.C.E. However, Hebrew’s primacy as a spoken language began to diminish following the destruction of the First Temple in 587 B.C.E. and the exile that followed.

 

In the Middle Ages, Hebrew was used primarily for ritual and religious purposes. During the Jewish Enlightenment of the 18th and 19th centuries, however, Jews adopted Hebrew as a secular language. Hebrew newspapers and novels began to emerge, and a number of scholars took up the task of transforming Hebrew into a modern spoken tongue. With the rise of Zionism this endeavor gained political and practical relevance. Today Modern Hebrew is the official language of the State of Israel.

 

Want to learn Hebrew one day at a time? Click here to sign up for our Hebrew Word of the Day email.

Other Jewish Languages

Aramaic

Interestingly, the–arguably–second most important Jewish language wasn’t Jewish at all. Aramaic, the language of the biblical Book of Daniel, the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds, and the mystical masterpiece the Zohar was actually spoken by Semitic people throughout the ancient Near East. Nonetheless, as the language spoken by most Jews during the influential rabbinic period (the several centuries following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E.), it became an essential component of future forms of Hebrew, as well as other Jewish languages.

Jewish Hybrid Languages

Indeed, Hebrew and Aramaic, together, served as the basis for all Jewish hybrid languages — languages such as Judeo-Greek, Judeo-Italian, and of course, Ladino and Yiddish. These hybrid languages generally retained the linguistic structures of their non-Jewish parents (e.g. Spanish for Ladino, German for Yiddish), while using Hebrew script and integrating Hebrew and Aramaic words. Though Hebrew remained the primary religious and scholarly language of the various Diaspora Jewish communities, many Jews were unable to understand Hebrew, and the hybrid languages were their primary tongues. Today, however, most of these Jewish hybrid languages are extinct, with the exception of Ladino and Yiddish.

]]> Praying in Hebrew https://freehebrewclass.com/praying-in-hebrew/ https://freehebrewclass.com/praying-in-hebrew/#respond Mon, 07 Apr 2025 05:02:38 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=1185

Praying in Hebrew

Sometimes not understanding the words can actually enhance the experience of prayer.

Praying in Hebrew, reciting words that are familiar but untranslatable, helps reinforce the sense of prayer’s being an emotional-aesthetic experience rather than a rational-intellectual one. A friend of mine suggests that the Hebrew words function as a kind of mantra. They provide our rational side with something to keep it busy so that the non-rational part of us, usually repressed and kept in check by custom and society, can take off and soar. It permits us to do something that doesn’t make sense, to fly off in search of God, without our left brain’s being embarrassed by it and making us feel self-conscious.

 

The other advantage of praying in Hebrew without understanding it is that it spares you from the temptation to argue with the prayer book. My aphorism is, “Liturgy unites, theology divides.”

 

When a hundred Jews are chanting a prayer in Hebrew, they are welded into a single congregation. When, instead of chanting the Hebrew, they contemplate the English translation (usually offered on the facing page of the Hebrew prayer book), that unity is lost as every. one of them begins to challenge and analyze what he has just been saying.

 

That is why congregations get so upset when the cantor introduces a new melody for a familiar prayer. It is not the meaning of the words that matters to us; it is the emotional-aesthetic, right-brain experience we crave.

 

Reprinted with permission from To Life!: A Celebration of Jewish Being and Thinking (Little, Brown & Co.)

]]> https://freehebrewclass.com/praying-in-hebrew/feed/ 0 7 Things You Should Know About Hebrew https://freehebrewclass.com/7-things-you-should-know-about-hebrew/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:27:29 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=1172

7 Things You Should Know About Hebrew

The Jewish people’s traditional language has a storied past.

Hebrew is the language of the Bible, Jewish prayer and — since the early 20th century — a modern language spoken in Israel. Below are seven important things to know about this storied language.

1) The Alphabet (Called the Aleph-Bet) Has 22 Letters.

There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet (commonly referred to as the aleph-bet, after the first two letters, aleph and bet). In addition, the language includes five final letters: When the letters khaf, mem, nun, pey, and tzade are the last letters of a word, they are written differently.

2) It’s Related to Arabic and Aramaic — and Originally Had No Vowels.

Hebrew is a Semitic language — like Arabic and Aramaic — and like most ancient Semitic languages its alphabet has no vowels. However, sometime between the middle and end of the first millennium, rabbis known as the Masoretes instituted a system of dots and dashes to indicate how words were to be pronounced.  scrolls and most contemporary Hebrew writing are still written without vowels.

3) It’s Read from Right to Left.

Unlike English, Hebrew is read and written from right to left. There are numerous types of Hebrew script. The most familiar is the block letters used in Torah scrolls and most printed texts. This was originally referred to as ktav ashuri, or Assyrian script. It is contrasted with ktav ivri, which was an earlier script probably used until a few hundred years prior to the Common Era. In addition, there is a cursive script for Hebrew, as well as a script named after the medieval commentator Rashi, which was used in Rashi’s works on the Bible and Talmud, as well as in other texts.

4) It Dates Back to the Second Millennium BCE.

The earliest Hebrew texts date from the end of the second millennium BCE. Hebrew was employed as both a written and spoken language until the destruction of the First Temple in 587 BCE. After that, Hebrew was used primarily as a literary and liturgical language.

5) Not All Major Jewish Texts Are In Hebrew.

The Bible (except for parts of Ezra and Daniel) is written in Hebrew, as is the Mishnah, the corpus of Jewish law edited during the second and third century CE.

The Gemara — books of rabbinic legal discussions interpreting the Mishnah — is largely written in Aramaic with some Hebrew, while medieval Jewish literature is written primarily in a combination of Hebrew and Aramaic.

6) It Was Often Thought to Be the Language of Angels — and God.

Because it is the language of sacred texts, Hebrew itself was often considered sacred. In post-biblical times, it was referred to as lashon ha-kodesh, the holy language. Hebrew was often thought to be the language of the angels, and indeed, of God. According to rabbinic tradition, Hebrew was the original language of humanity. It was spoken by all of humankind prior to the dispersion described in the Tower of Babel story in Genesis. In addition, the Hebrew language was thought of as the tool that God used to create the world. A midrash states that, “Just as the Torah was given in lashon ha-kodesh, so the world was created with lashon ha-kodesh.” Similarly, the mystical book Sefer Yetzirah, describes the creation of the world through the manipulation of the Hebrew alphabet.

7) Secular Hebrew Journals, Newspapers and Literature Emerged in the 18th Century.

The Haskalah, the Jewish Enlightenment, sparked a renewed interest in Hebrew, particularly biblical Hebrew, which the maskilim (the proponents of the Enlightenment) viewed as a purer form of the language. Journals, newspapers, and literature were written in Hebrew, but there were many problems with adapting this ancient language to the needs of modern prose. Many of these problems were addressed by S.Y. Abramowitz (better known as Mendele Mokher Seforim), who created an amalgam of rabbinic and biblical Hebrew that suited modern literary needs.

8) After Not Being Spoken for Two Millennia, It Was Dramatically Revived.

While the creation of a corpus of secular Hebrew literature was impressive, the reinstitution of Hebrew as a spoken language was almost miraculous. Hebrew had not been a spoken language for two millennia, and yet at the end of the 19th century, European Jews dreaming of a cultural renaissance in Palestine began to resurrect the language.

 

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda is considered the father of Modern Hebrew. He developed a vocabulary for Modern Hebrew, incorporating words from ancient and medieval Hebrew, in addition to creating new words. In 1922, Hebrew became one of the official languages of British Mandate Palestine, and today it is a modern language spoken by the citizens of Israel and Jews around the world.

 

Want to learn Hebrew one day at a time? Click here to sign up for our Hebrew Word of the Day email.

]]> Hebrew Literature in Translation: A Reader’s Guide https://freehebrewclass.com/hebrew-literature-in-translation-a-readers-guide/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:59:14 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=1156

Hebrew Literature in Translation: A Reader’s Guide

You don’t have to know Hebrew to enjoy some of Israel’s best books.

Approximately 5,000 books are published annually in Israel. Considering that Hebrew books are from a small country and in a relatively obscure language, they are often translated into English at an astonishing speed. Within two to three years of their initial publication, novels by prominent Israeli writers such as Amos Oz and A.B. Yehoshua appear on shelves at American bookstores and on the pages of The New York Review of Books.

 

Looking for the latest Hebrew literature in translation? Find catalogues detailing which Israeli books have been translated recently and which titles are in the works.

 

While not all Hebrew books appear in English as quickly as these Israeli best sellers, readers in English can sample the richness of modern Hebrew literature, particularly novels and short stories, through the many works currently available in translation.

Beginnings of Modern Hebrew Literature

Modern Hebrew literature first emerged in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Few of these classics are still in print, but several notable writers are featured in recent books and reprints.

READ: 7 Female Israeli Writers You Should Be Reading

Chaim Nachman Bialik (1873-1934) is one of the best known poets of the late 19th century and early 20th century renaissance of Hebrew literature. His rich and complex poetry, presented in translations such as David Aberbach’s C.N. Bialik: Collected Poems, explores radical changes in Eastern European Jewish life, biblical themes and the beauty of the natural world.

Yosef Chayim Brenner (1881-1921) was among the first generation of Hebrew writers in the Yishuv (the Jewish community in pre-state Palestine). Perhaps his best known work is Breakdown and Bereavement, a novel that traces the unraveling of an aspiring pioneer.

While Bialik and Brenner are mainstays of the Hebrew canon, a more surprising figure to find in English translation is Devora Baron (1887-1956). Baron wrote one novel and many intricate, lyrical short stories–often set in small towns in Eastern Europe–that have been collected in “The First Day” and Other Stories, translated and edited by Naomi Seidman and Chana Kronfeld.

Sly Modernists and Fervent Zionists

By the 1930s, the center of Hebrew literature had shifted from Europe to the Jewish community in Palestine. In the decades before and after the founding of the state of Israel, there is immense variety in Hebrew literature, mixing new and old literary themes and techniques.

 

S.Y. Agnon (1888-1970) was one of the most celebrated Hebrew writers of the twentieth century, and the only Israeli to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Among his best known works are A Guest for the Night, which narrates the protagonist’s return to his Galician town after the destruction of World War I, Only Yesterday, a sprawling social and psychological portrait of the Second Aliya, and his many short stories, collected in A Book That Was Lost and Other Stories.

 

In contrast to Agnon, Chayim Hazaz‘s (1898-1973) modernist stories and novels are often explicitly ideological, examining different social and historical aspects of Zionism. In the story “The Sermon,” from the collection The Sermon and Other Stories, his characters reject Jewish life in the Diaspora and envision a new Jewish nation, free of the neuroses of previous generations.

 

Aharon Megged (1920-2016) often writes about the powerlessness and disillusionment of his generation. One of Megged’s best known novels, The Living on the Dead, questions the existence of heroism in Israeli society. A more recent book, Foiglman, examines conflicted relationships between fathers and sons, Israel and the Diaspora, and Hebrew and Yiddish.

The New Wave

From the early 1960s, Israeli fiction has been filled with complex characters alienated from society and the land. Though writers such as Yehoshua Kenaz and Binyamin  are not easy to find in translation, many others writers of the time are well-represented in English.

 

 Amichai (1924-2000) is one of the best known and most beloved Israeli poets. His work has been translated into more than 20 languages, from Albanian to Turkish. His lyrical poetry and prose use everyday language to create vivid, poignant images and capture complex emotions and experiences, both in his early poetry, represented in the translated collection The Selected Poetry of Yehuda Amichai, and in his final book, Open Closed Open: Poems.

 

Many of Amos Oz‘s (1939-2018) novels reveal the dark underside of life and the psyche. In The Hill of Evil Counsel and My Michael, for example, passion and family dysfunction are narrated from very different perspectives, one of an adolescent boy during the British Mandate, the other of a women in 1950s Jerusalem.

A.B. Yehoshua, (1936-) another  prominent contemporary Israeli novelist, has written a wide range of books, from A Journey to the End of the Millennium, which chronicles a family’s voyage through medieval Ashkenaz, to A Woman in Jerusalem, which focuses on the circumstances surrounding a woman’s violent death.

 

The majority of Aharon Appelfeld‘s (1932-2018) novels and novellas focus on the Holocaust, both the events leading up to the genocide and its lasting legacy. In clean, calm prose, he sketches a vibrant Jewish community that ignores the looming signs of disaster in Badenheim 1939. Other works, such as The Iron Tracks and The Immortal Bartfuss, feature characters who wrestle with the physical and psychological scars of the Holocaust.

 

Surprisingly, Yoram Kaniuk’s (1930-2013) work is available in English, even though he has long been on the margins of Hebrew literature. Kaniuk writes innovative fiction that mixes the fantastic and the grotesque, including the exploits of Holocaust survivors in Adam Resurrected and Jewish identity and collective memory in The Last Jew.

Changing Society, Changing Literature

In recent years, Hebrew literature has reflected the increasing fragmentation of Israeli identity and society. Writers like Anton Shammas, Sami Michael, and Dorit Rabinyan represent the changing face of the Israeli author, while the works of writers such as David Grossman and Meir Shalev challenge traditional narratives about Israeli history and Zionism.

 

Though not always easy to find in print, Sami Michael‘s (1926-) novels represent the emergence of mizrahi writing, work by Jews from Arab lands. Among Michael’s many novels, Refuge chronicles the complex relationships between Jews, Arabs, and Arab-Jews, while A Trumpet in the Wadi narrates a love affair that crosses boundaries between Jew and Arab.

 

Yoel Hoffman (1937-) weaves together experimental and fragmented language with elements of Buddhism and Western philosophy into books  such as the dream-like love story, The Heart is in Katmandu, and the complex mixture of reality and fantasy, Katschen and the Book of Joseph.

 

Haim Be’er‘s (1945-) acclaimed novels, Feathers and The Pure Element of Time, are often described as Israeli magic realism. Both books explore life in religious communities in Jerusalem, leaping between past and present, comedy and the macabre, and wholeness and fragmentation.

 

Several of Batya Gur‘s (1947-2005) popular mysteries, featuring Jerusalem police office Michael Ohayon, have been translated to English. From her first novel, The Saturday Morning Murder, to her final book, Murder in Jerusalem, Gur’s work combines the suspense of classic detective narratives with deft portrayals of Israeli characters and society.

 

Journalist and writer David Grossman (1954-) takes on some of the most sensitive subjects in Israeli society in his novels, including the legacy of the Holocaust, in the brilliant See Under: Love, and the disillusionment of a young soldier, in The Smile of the Lamb.

 

Palestinian-Israeli writer Anton Shammas (1950-) provoked a major controversy in Israel in 1986 when he published the Hebrew novel Arabesques, an exploration of Palestinian identity that weaves together personal stories, history, and fantasy into a rich and dense narrative.

 

Zeruya Shalev‘s (1959-) popular novels focus on family dynamics in Israeli society andthe pressures of marriage. With lyrical prose and deep psychological insight, books like Husband and Wife investigate the mind and desires of contemporary Israeli women.

 

Orly Castel-Bloom (1960-) has written many stories and novels that capture the fragmentation of contemporary Israeli society. Her satirical novel Human Parts chronicles the exploits of a series of complex women, offering a fascinating portrait of Israeli life with a strange and often surreal sense of humor.

 

One of the best known Israeli writers to emerge in the 1990s is Etgar Keret (1967-), whose stories, children’s books, and graphic novels have been extremely popular. His short-short stories, collected in Bus Driver Who Wanted to Be God and Other Stories and The Nimrod Flipout: Stories, are filled with cynicism, humor, irony, sexuality, and Israeli pop culture.

 

Deftly evoking Jewish life in Iran in Persian Brides and Iranian families in Israel in Strand of a Thousand Pearls, Dorit Rabinyan‘s (1972-) lyrical novels offer rich emotional portraits of family life, especially the psychological and emotional dimensions of female characters.

 

Sayed Kashua (1975-) is a writer and journalist whose work focuses on Palestinian life in contemporary Israel. His first novel, Dancing Arabs, features the protagonist’s struggles as he moves from childhood and adulthood and navigates Palestinian and Israeli culture.

 

There are many more Hebrew writers who could be added to this diverse list, and many others who will hopefully be translated into English in the near future. Other rich sources of Hebrew literature in translation include the many anthologies of prose, such as the classic Modern Hebrew Literature and the more recent Oxford Book of Hebrew Short Stories, as well as collections of poetry, like The Penguin Book of Hebrew Verse, The Modern Hebrew Poem Itself and The Defiant Muse: Hebrew Feminist Poems From Antiquity to the Present. 

]]> How to Greet Someone in Hebrew https://freehebrewclass.com/how-to-greet-someone-in-hebrew/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:47:07 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=1143

How to Greet Someone in Hebrew

Shalom and beyond.

Hebrew is the language of the Jewish Bible and the modern state of Israel. Jews have traditionally referred to it as lashon hakodesh, the holy tongue — the language of God and the angels. Jewish mystics believe its words, even its letters, hold enormous power. But Hebrew has long been used for mundane purposes as well. In the medieval period, Jewish merchants and travelers used the sacred language as a way to communicate with Jews in other parts of the world. Today, it is the first language of millions of people, most of them living in Israel.

There’s no better way to get started with Hebrew than by learning some basic greetings. Whether you’re planning a trip to Israel or you’re just at a synagogue or visiting a local Israeli restaurant, give some of these a try:

Shalom (shah-LOME): The Hebrew word for peace, which literally means wholeness, also serves as the best-known Hebrew greeting. It also doubles as “good-bye.”

Shalom aleichem (shah-LOME ah-LAY-khem): A fuller greeting than a simple shalom is the phrase shalom aleichem, which means “peace be upon you.” The traditional response is to reverse the words and say it back: aleichem shalom. Shalom Aleichem is also the name of a poem traditionally sung at the Friday night Shabbat dinner table.

Mah Shlomcha/Mah Shlomeich (mah shlome-KHAH, mah shlo-MAYKH): Literally: “What is your peace?” This phrase is a casual way to say hello and inquire how someone is doing. Mah Shlomcha is directed to someone who is male and mah shlomeich is for a female.

Mah Nishma (mah neesh-MAH): This one means “What is heard?” It’s another friendly way to ask someone how they are doing.

Mah Koreh (mah ko-REH): What’s happening?

Mah Hadash (mah khah-DAHSH): What’s new? 

Mah Ha’Inyanim (mah ha-een-yah-NEEM): Literally: “What are the matters?” In other words: What’s going on?

Baruch Haba/Bruchah Haba’ah (bah-ROOKH ha-BA/broo-KHAH ha-ba-AH): Welcome. The literal translation is “blessed is the one who comes.” Baruch Haba is used for someone who is male, while bruchah haba’ah is for someone who is female.

Boker tov (BO-ker tove): Good morning. The traditional response is boker or, meaning morning of light.

Tzohorayim tovim (tzo-ho-RAH-yeem to-VEEM): Good afternoon.

Erev tov (EH-rev tov): Good evening.

Laila tov (LY-lah tov): Good night.

Want to learn more Hebrew, one word at a time?

Sign up for My Jewish Learning’s Hebrew Word of the Day email series.

Looking for Hebrew greetings for special occasions? Check out these other resources:

How to greet someone on Shabbat.

How to greet someone on Rosh Hashanah.

How to greet someone on Yom Kippur.

How to greet someone on Passover.

]]> How To Read the Hebrew Alphabet https://freehebrewclass.com/how-to-read-the-hebrew-alphabet/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:10:54 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=1053

How To Read the Hebrew Alphabet

Known as the Aleph Bet, the Hebrew alphabet contains 22 letters.

The Hebrew alphabet, or the Aleph Bet, consists of 22 letters. The Aleph Bet is also used to write other Jewish languages, like Yiddish, Ladino, Aramaic, Judeo-Persian and Judeo-Arabic.

 

In Hebrew, the letters are all consonants and the language is comprehensible when written without vowels. However, some texts do include vowels, which are represented in writing by a set of marks, mostly dots and dashes, written under and between the letters. Sacred texts and books for children who are still learning the language are commonly written with vowels. Other texts, like newspapers and books for adults, are written without.

 

Unlike English, Hebrew does not have uppercase and lowercase versions of each letter. However, some letters do have a second form that is used in the final position of a word. This is because in ancient times Hebrew was written without spaces between words and these letters helped differentiate where one word ended and another began.

 

Want to learn Hebrew one day at a time? Click here to sign up for our Hebrew Word of the Day email.

 
Modern Hebrew has a separate script for handwriting, although scribes use the block script pictured below when handwriting sacred scrolls like a mezuzah or a Torah.


Each modern Hebrew letter, as well as its corresponding English sound and its numerical value, is listed below. Note that two letters make no sound at all. Scroll all the way down to see the vowels as well.

 

Click here for a printable guide to the Aleph Bet.

Aleph
Sound: Silent
Numerical value: 1
Example: אִמָא (ima, meaning “mother”)

Bet / Vet
Sound: B with the dagesh (dot); V without
Numerical value: 2
Example: בַּיִת (bayit, meaning “house”)

Aleph
Sound: Silent
Numerical value: 1
Example: אִמָא (ima, meaning “mother”)

Gimmel
Sound: G
Numerical value: 3
Example: גָמָל (gamal, meaning “camel”)

Dalet
Sound: D
Numerical value: 4
Example: דָג (dag, meaning “fish”)

Hay
Sound: H
Numerical value: 5
Example: הַר (har, meaning “mountain”)

Vav
Sound: V
Numerical value: 6
Example: וֶרֶד (vered, meaning “rose”)

Zayin
Sound: Z
Numerical value: 7
Example: זָכוֹר (zachor, meaning “remember”)

Chet
Sound: Gutteral Ch/Kh
Numerical value: 8
Example: חַג (chag, meaning “holiday” or “festival”)

Tet
Sound: T
Numerical value: 9
Example: טִיסָּה (tisa, meaning “flight”)

Yud
Sound: Y
Numerical value: 10
Example: יְהוּדִי (yehudi, meaning “Jewish”)

Khaf / Kaf
Sound: K with the dagesh (dot); gutteral CH/KH without
Numerical value: 20
Example: כִּיפָּה (kippah, meaning “yarmulke” or “dome”)

Lamed
Sound: L
Numerical value: 30
Example: לָשׁוֹן (lashon, meaning “language” or “tongue”)

Mem
Sound: M
Numerical value: 40
Example: מְנוֹרָה (menorah, meaning “lamp”)

Nun
Sound: N
Numerical value: 50
Example: נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, meaning “soul”)

Samech
Sound: S
Numerical value: 60
Example: סֵפֶר (sefer, meaning “book”)

Ayin
Sound: Silent
Numerical value: 70
Example: עִבְרִית (ivrit, meaning “Hebrew”)

Pey / Fey
Sound: P with the dagesh (dot); F without
Numerical value: 80
Example: פִּלְפֵּל (pilpel, meaning “pepper”)

Tzadi
Sound: Tz or Ts
Numerical value: 90
Example: צְדָקָה (tzedakah, meaning “charity”)

Kuf
Sound: K
Numerical value: 100
Example: קָהָל (kahal, meaning “community”)

Reysh
Sound: R
Numerical value: 200
Example: רַב (rav, meaning “rabbi”)

Shin / Sin
Sound: Sh when the dot is on the right; S when the dot is on the left
Numerical value: 300
Example: שַׁבָּת (shabbat, meaning “sabbath”)

Taf
Sound: T
Numerical value: 400
Example: תְּפִילָה (tefilah, meaning “prayer”)

Final Forms (Sofit)

Five letters have a distinct final form that is used if the letter ends a word.

Mem Sofit
Sound: M
Example: אָדוֹם (adom, meaning “red”)

Nun Sofit
Sound: N
Example: יַיִן (ya-yeen, meaning “wine”)

Tzadi Sofit
Sound: Tz or Ts
Example: אֶרֶץ (eretz, meaning “land”)

Pey / Fey Sofit
Sound: F
Example: חֹרֶף (choref, meaning “winter”)

Kaf / Khaf Sofit
Sound: Guttural Kh
Example: מֶלֶך (melekh, meaning “king”)

Vowels (Nikkudot)

Each vowel sound in Hebrew corresponds with a nikkud (Hebrew for “dot”). Many prayer books and dictionaries include nikkudot, while Hebrew-language literature, newspapers, signs and other written materials typically do not.

Kamatz
Sound: ah
Example: אָדוֹם (adom, meaning “red”)

Patach
Sound: ah
Example: אַחֲרֵי (acharei, meaning “after”)

Sh’va
Sound: uh or ih
Example: בְּיַחַד (beyachad, meaning “together”)

Hiriq
Sound: ee
Example: מִלִּים (mee-leem, meaning “words”)

Segol
Sound: eh
Example: אֶשׁכּוֹלִיוֹת  (eshkoli’ot, meaning “grapefruit”)

Shuruk
Sound: oo
Example: צְנִיעוּת  (tzniut, meaning “modesty”)

Cholam
Sound: oh
Example: עוֹלָם  (olam, meaning “world”)

Kubutz
Sound: oo
Example: שֻׁלְחָן (shulchan, meaning “table”)

Nikkudot can also be used with consonants to distinguish between two similar sounds. The dagesh that distinguishes the letters bet/vet, khaf/kaf, and pey/fey is one example.
]]> Why is Hebrew Written from Right to Left? https://freehebrewclass.com/why-is-hebrew-written-from-right-to-left/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:04:23 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=1045

Why is Hebrew Written from Right to Left?

Most languages are written from left to right. Hebrew is one of the exceptions.

Most languages are, like English, written from left to right. Hebrew, like some other languages from the Middle East (most notably Arabic) is written in the opposite direction. 

 

No one knows for sure why this is, but scholars theorize that it has to do with the medium in which the language was originally written. Left to right languages are convenient for right-handed people writing in ink. By writing from left to right, the scribe avoids smearing what they’ve written. 

 

Find out why Hebrew is of central importance in Judaism.

 

By contrast, scholars believe Hebrew was initially inscribed in stone. For a right-handed person chiseling a tablet, it is most convenient to hold an awl in the left hand and strike it with a mallet held in the right, naturally progressing from right to left across a stone surface. The large blocky letters are also conducive to being rendered in simple, straight marks. By the time parchment and papyrus became the preferred media for writing, Hebrew script was already fixed. 

 

Writing from right to left makes writing Hebrew by hand a little more awkward than some other languages. As any right-handed sofer (Torah scribe) will likely tell you, inking Hebrew scrolls can be a messy business. Nevertheless, since ancient times Hebrew scribes have developed many beautiful versions of it for sacred Jewish texts, like the sefer Torah and mezuzah scroll. Because these traditional styles are  not conducive to writing quickly by hand, Hebrew also has a script just for handwriting.

 

Incidentally, the contemporary Hebrew letters — which have remained largely unchanged over the last 2,000 years — are not the original script of the language. An older Hebrew script called paleo-Hebrew was used up until the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE (and in some contexts afterward). That script was also written from right to left.

 

Want to learn Hebrew one day at a time? Click here to sign up for our Hebrew Word of the Day email.

]]> Guide to Jewish Food Terms https://freehebrewclass.com/guide-to-jewish-food-terms/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 10:41:02 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=1027

Guide to Jewish Food Terms

Commonly used words and phrases for “noshers” and “fressers.”

Whether you’re stepping into a Jewish deli for the first time, shopping at a  supermarket or going to a friend’s house for a traditional Shabbat dinner, here are some useful words to know. Many of them are also in My Jewish Learning’s pop-up dictionary, so if you encounter them in one of our articles, you’ll automatically get the definition and be able to listen to the pronunciation.

 

We have recipes (usually more than one) for all the specific foods listed. Did we miss something? Email us your suggestions to community@myjewishlearning.com.

 

Hungry for more? Visit The Nosher, our lively food blog!

Words About Eating and Meals

 : (Yiddish) Reciting Grace after Meals, or Birkat Hamazon.

 

 : (Hebrew) A blessing.

 

 : (Hebrew) Literally “in appetite,” used to convey “bon appetit.”

 

Fress: (Yiddish) To eat copiously and without restraint. (Rhymes with dress.)

 

 : (Hebrew) Blessing said over bread. On  , Hamotzi is usually said over challah.

 

Nosh: (Yiddish) To snack. (Rhymes with posh.)

 

Potchke: (Yiddish) To fuss, or mess around, as in “I was potchke-ing around in the kitchen, when I came up with this recipe.”

 

Schmear: (Yiddish) A generous spread, usually used to refer to an ample portion of cream cheese applied to a bagel.

 

 : (Hebrew) Songs sung at the Shabbat table.

Words Related to Jewish Dietary Laws (Kashrut)

Cholov Yisroel: (Hebrew, also spelled Halav Yisrael) Dairy products produced by Jewish farmers. Some ultra-Orthodox Jews will only eat kosher dairy products that are also cholov yisroel, while others eat any dairy products that are certified kosher.

 

 : (Yiddish) Meaty, an adjective to identify foods containing meat or dishes/utensils that are used for meat. Jewish dietary laws prohibit combining meat and dairy foods.

 

Glatt: (Yiddish) A type of kosher meat, whereby the lungs of the animal were smooth, without any adhesions that could potentially prohibit the animal as unkosher, an issue only applicable to animals, not fowl or non-meat products. (Rhymes with pot.)

 

 : (Hebrew) Kosher certification for foods, and some other items, a label that identifies a product as complying with Jewish law.

 

 : (Hebrew) To make something kosher, usually referring to dishes, cookware or a kitchen.

 

Kosher: (Hebrew) Adhering to kashrut, the traditional Jewish dietary laws.

 

 : (Hebrew) A kashrut supervisor, someone who ensures that a product or restaurant can be certified as kosher.

 

 : (Yiddish) Dairy, as an adjective to describe food containing dairy, or dishes used for foods containing dairy. Jewish dietary laws prohibit combining meat and dairy foods.

 

 : (Hebrew) An adjective to describe food that is neither meat nor dairy and that can be served with either.

 

Pessadik or Pesachdik: (Yiddish) An adjective meaning kosher for Passover.

 

 : (Yiddish) Not kosher.

Classic Jewish Dishes/Foods

Babka: A dense bread that’s swirled with chocolate or cinnamon and often topped with nuggets of cinnamon-sugar streusel.

 

Bagel: On the off chance you’ve been living under a rock for the past 50 years and never saw a bagel, it’s a delicious boiled-then-baked roll with a hole, perfect topped with cream cheese and lox. Try these 12 recipes for using up stale bagels.

 

Bamia: Libyan Jewish okra dish.

 

Bialy: A bagel-like roll, but with a matted finish, no hole and almost always stuffed with cooked onions. Try a low-carb bialy here.

 

Blintz: A thin, crepe-like pancake usually rolled up around fruit or sweet cheese. Traditionally served on Shavuot. Watch our video showing how to make them. Or check out our list of  16 blintz recipes.

 

Boureka: A savory serving-sized Middle Eastern pastry wrapped in fillo dough.

 

Borscht: An Eastern European soup containing beets and other vegetables. There are hot and cold versions.

 

Challah: A braided bread traditionally served on Shabbat. Find scores of challah recipes here.

 

Cholent: A slow-cooked stew, traditionally served for Shabbat lunch.

 

Chrain: A spicy horseradish sauce used for topping gefilte fish.

 

Egg Cream: A sweet drink made with seltzer, chocolate syrup and milk.

 

Falafel: Fried chickpea fritters served throughout the Middle East and considered Israel’s national dish. Learn 13 ways to eat falafel.

 

Gefilte Fish: Ground fish mixed with matzah meal and other ingredients and rolled into balls or cylinders, which are then poached or boiled. Traditionally served on Passover and Shabbat.

 

Halvah: A Middle Eastern candy made from tahini (sesame paste). Try these 10 halvah recipes from around the world.

Hamantaschen: Triangle-shaped cookies traditionally served on Purim.

 

Hummus: Middle Eastern dip made of pureed chickpeas, tahini, garlic and lemon juice. This video explains how to make simple hummus.

 

Gefilte Fish: Ground, deboned fish (usually whitefish, carp, pike and/or mullet), mixed with eggs, matzah meal, and other seasoning, which is then boiled or poached (but can also be baked). Traditionally served on Passover.

 

Kasha: Buckwheat or groats, prepared in a pilaf and often served with bow tie noodles. Try our lightened-up version.

 

Kichels: Bow tie pastries that are fried and often sprinkled with sugar.

 

Kishke: A sausage-like dish, traditionally packed inside beef intestine.

 

Kneidlach: Yiddish for matzah ball, a dumpling made of matzah meal, eggs and oil, usually served in chicken soup. Check out our many recipes for matzah balls and watch our video tutorial on how to make matzah balls.

 

Knish: A savory serving-sized Eastern European pie frequently stuffed with potato filling.

 

Kreplach: A triangle-shaped dumpling, usually filled with meat and served in chicken soup.

 

Kubbeh: An Iraqi Jewish dumpling soup.

 

Kugel: A sweet or savory baked casserole usually made with some type of starch (often noodles or potatoes), eggs and a fat.

 

Labne: A thick yogurt-based cheese, often served with breakfast in Israel. Try this labne ice cream.

 

Latke: A potato pancake, traditionally served on Hanukkah. We have a LOT of latke recipes to try.

 

Lox: Smoked salmon, traditionally served on a bagel with cream cheese. Learn about the different kinds of lox here.

Mandelbrot or Mandel Bread: Biscotti-like cookies.


Matzah: Unleavened bread traditionally eaten on Passover.


Matzah Ball: See kneidlach (above)


Matzah Brei: A classic Passover breakfast dish of matzah and scrambled eggs, which can be served sweet or savory.


Rugelach: Cookie usually made with a cream-cheese dough and twisted with cinnamon or chocolate. Our video guides you through the rugelach-making process.


Sabich: An Iraqi Jewish sandwich containing fried eggplant, a hard-boiled egg, hummus and Israeli salad.


Schav: A cold sorrel soup.


Schmaltz: Rendered chicken (or other poultry) fat. Learn how to make it and what to do with it.


Shakshuka: North African egg-and-tomato dish. Watch our video on how to make shakshuka.


Shawarma (also spelled shwarma): Spiced meat grilled on a vertical spit, usually served in a pita. This is popular throughout the Middle East, often made with lamb and served with yogurt sauce; in Israel (and in kosher restaurants elsewhere), it is often made with turkey and served with tahini sauce.


Tzimmes: A sweet carrot dish traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah, it often includes meat, sweet potatoes, onions and dried fruit.

]]> A Guide to Jewish Acronyms and Abbreviations https://freehebrewclass.com/a-guide-to-jewish-acronyms-and-abbreviations/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 09:55:27 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=994

A Guide to Jewish Acronyms and Abbreviations

Common Hebrew (and Aramaic) shorthand translated and explained.

For centuries before text-messaging and emailing birthed ubiquitous linguistic shorthand terms like LOL, TTYL and IMHO, Jews were not just the People of the Book, but the People of the Acronym.

 

Acronyms — in Hebrew, Aramaic and transliteration — appear frequently in Jewish correspondence, books, spoken conversation and even on gravestones. Famous rabbis are frequently referred to by their acronyms. Even books themselves, like the Hebrew Bible are often identified in this abbreviated manner.

 

Modern Hebrew has its own ever-growing roster of acronyms, such as its FBI equivalent, Shabak (שׁבּ״כּ), also known as the Shin Bet. (Stands for for Sherut Habitakhon Haklali, or General Security Service.)

 

Below are some of the most common acronyms and abbreviations organized alphabetically (in English transliteration) by category. If no English initials appear, that means English initials aren’t used for this term. Did we miss an important one? Leave it in the comments below or email us at community@myjewishlearning.org.

General Acronyms and Abbreviations
On Gravestones
Rabbis and Sages
Modern Hebrew

General Acronyms and Abbreviations

A”H
ע״ה

Stands for: alav hashalom (עליו השלום), aleha hashalom (עליה השׁלום) or aleihem hashalom (עליהם השלום)
Pronounced: ah-LAHV hah-shah-LOHM, ah-lay-HAH hah-shah-LOHM
What it means: Hebrew for “peace be upon him.” Alternately “upon her” or “upon them.”
When it’s used: Following the name of someone who is dead.

BD”E
בּד״א

Stands for: Baruch dayan emet (ברוך דיין  אמת)
Pronounced:bah-ROOKH dah-YAHN eh-METT
What it means: Hebrew for “blessed is the true judge.”
When it’s used: Commonly said to a mourner upon learning of their loss.

B’’H
בּ״ה

Stands for: B’ezrat hashem (בּעזרת השׁם)
Pronounced: b’ez-RAHT hah-SHEM.
What it means: Hebrew for “with God’s help.”
Note: This acronym also stands for Baruch HaShem (בּרוך השׁם) or Blessed is God.

BS’’D
בּס׳׳ד

Stands for: B’siyata dishmaya (בסיעתא דשמיא)
Pronounced: bah-SAHD.
What it means: Aramaic for “with the help of Heaven.”
When it’s used: Some traditional Jews put these letters on the upper corner of every piece of written material.

IY”H
אי״ה

Stands for: Im yirtzeh hashem (אם ירצה השׁם)
Pronounced: eem yeer-TZEH hah-SHEM
What it means: Hebrew for “if it will be God’s will” or “if it is God’s will.”

LI”N
לע”נ

Stands for: L’iluy neshamah (לעלוי נשמה)
Pronounced: luh-EE-loy nih-shah-MAH
What it means: Aramaic for “for the elevation of the soul.”
When it’s used: To indicate a particular mitzvah, typically Torah study or giving charity, is being performed on behalf of someone who has died.

N”Y
נ״י

Stands for: Nehro (נרו) or nehrah (נרה) yair (יאיר)
Pronounced: noon yood (the two Hebrew letters), or neh-ee-ROH yah-EER (for a man), neh-ee-RAH yah-EER (for a woman)
What it means: Hebrew for “his/her candle should burn bright.”
When it’s used: When writing a letter to someone who is alive. As in, “Dear David N”Y, How are you?….”

Shlita
שׁליט״א

Stands for: Sh’yichyeh l’orekh yamim tovim amen. ( שׁיחיה לאורך יומים טובים אמן
Pronounced: SHLEE-tuh
What it means: May he (or she) live for many good days, Amen.
When it’s used: Often said after the name of a prominent living rabbi.

Shotz
שׁ״צ

Stands for: Shaliach tzibur (שׁליח ציבּור)
Pronounced: SHAHTZ or shah-LEE-ahkh tzee-BOHR
What it means: Hebrew for the person leading a prayer service (literally “public emissary”).

Tanach
תנ״ך

Stands for: Torah (תורה), Nevi’im (נביאים), Ketuvim (כּתובים) — known in English as Torah (also Five Books of Moses), Prophets and Writings
Pronounced: tah-NAKH
What it means: The Hebrew Bible, which Christians refer to as the Old Testament.

Z’’L
ז״ל

Stands for: Zichrono (זכרונו) [for a man] or zichrona (זכרונה) [for a woman] l’bracha (לבּרכה)
Pronounced: zahl, or zee-chroh-NOH luh-brah-KHAH or zee-chroh-NAH luh-brah-KHAH
What it means: Hebrew literally for “memories for blessing,” usually translated to “may his or her memory be a blessing.”
When it’s used: Usually appears in parentheses after the name of a person who is deceased.

On Gravestones and in Cemeteries

N”E
נ״ע

Stands for: Nucha (נוחה) [for a woman] or nucho (נוחו) [for a man] eden (עדן).
Pronounced: noon ayin (the names of these two Hebrew letters) or noo-KHAH EH-den (for women) or noo-KHOH EH-den (for men)
What it means: Hebrew for “Let his/her rest be paradise (Eden).”

P”N
פּ״נ

Stands for: Po nikhbar (פּה נקבּר)
Pronounced: pay noon (the two Hebrew letters) or POH neek-BAHR
What it means: Hebrew for “here lies” or “here is buried.” A variation on this is pay tet (פּ״ט), which stands for  po tamun, “here is hidden.”

TNZBH
תנצבּ״ה

Stands for: Tehi nishmato tzrura btzror hachayim (תהי נשׁמתו צרורה בּצרור החיים)
Pronounced: tuh-HEE neesh-mah-TOE tzroo-RAH beh-TZROHR ha-khaye-EEM
What it means: Hebrew for “May his/her soul be bound up in the bond of life.”

Rabbis and Sages

Besht
בּשׁ״ט

Stands for: Ba’al Shem Tov (בּעל שׁם טוב)
Pronounced: Besht
What it means: Hebrew for “the owner/master of a good name,” this was the title given to Israel ben Eliezer (1698‑1760), the founder of Hasidic Judaism.

Rambam
רמבּ״ם

Stands for: Rabbi Moshe (Moses) Ben Maimon, also commonly known as Maimonides, the prolific and influential 12th-century scholar originally from Spain.
Pronounced: RAHM-bahm

Ramban
רמבּ״ן

Stands for: Rabbi Moshe (Moses) Ben Nahman, also commonly known as Nahmanides, a 13th-century Spanish scholar.

Pronounced: RAHM-bahn

Rashi
רשׁ״י

Stands for: Rabbi Shlomo (Solomon) Yitzchaki, the 11th-century French scholar best known for his comprehensive Bible commentaries.
Pronounced: RAH-shee

Modern Hebrew

Motzash
מוצ”ש

Stands for: motz-AY sha-BAHT (מוצאי שׁבּת)

Pronounced: moh-TZASH

What it means: Saturday night, after Shabbat officially ends.

Ramat Kal
רמטכ”ל

Stands for: ROHSH ha-mah-TEH ha-klah-LEE (ראשׁ המטה הכללי)
Pronounced: RAH-mat KAHL
What it means: Chief of staff, or commander-in-chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

Sofash
סופ״שׁ

Stands for: sohf shah-VOO-ah (סוף שׁבוע)
Pronounced: soh-FAHSH
What it means: Weekend

Tzahal
צה״ל

Stands for: Tzava hahagana l’Israel (צבא ההגנה לישראל)
Pronounced: TZAH-hall
What it means: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

]]> What Is the Meaning of Chai? https://freehebrewclass.com/what-is-the-meaning-of-chai/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 09:38:54 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=974

What Is the Meaning of Chai?

The Hebrew word for life is a popular symbol and toast — and is linked to the number 18.

Chai  (חי) is the Hebrew word for life. The word, consisting of two Hebrew letters —chet (ח) and yud (י)— is a Jewish symbol, frequently appearing on pendants and other jewelry.

 

Unlike the Indian tea chai, which is pronounced with the “ch” sound of “chocolate,” the Hebrew chai is pronounced with the same “kh” sound as in challah. Both words  rhyme with “high,” however.

 

Chai also refers to the number 18. That’s because each Hebrew letter has a numerical equivalent, and the sum of chet (numerical value of 8) and yud (numerical value of 10) is 18. As a result of its connection to the word for life, the number 18 is considered a special number in Jewish tradition. For this reason, Jews frequently make gifts or charitable contributions in multiples of $18.

 

In Hebrew, chai is often referred to in the plural form, chaim (חים), hence the boy’s name Chaim and the toast l’chaim (לחים), which, as anyone who has seen Fiddler on the Roof knows, means “to life.”

Chai pendants and other chai jewelry can be purchased at Judaica stores, many jewelry stores and online.

]]> Similar Jewish Words You Don’t Want to Mix Up https://freehebrewclass.com/similar-jewish-words-you-dont-want-to-mix-up/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 08:06:31 +0000 https://hebrewdict.com/?p=948

Similar Jewish Words You Don’t Want to Mix Up

From kibbitz/kibbutz to mitzvah/mikveh, we round up some easily confused Hebrew and Yiddish terms.

It can be hard to pronounce and keep straight the myriad Jewish words and phrases in common parlance. Especially because for those of us who are not native Hebrew or Yiddish speakers (or who have the auto-correct function on our phones), many of these words and phrases sound similar to one another.

 

Below are some common Jewish words paired with their verbal doppelgangers — words that sound similar, yet have vastly different meanings. To spare you some potential embarrassment, we explain it all in alphabetical order below.

 

Did we miss some important ones? Comment below or email us at community@myjewishlearning.com.

1. Challah and Kallah

Challah (חלה), pronounced KHAH-luh, is the braided bread traditionally served on Shabbat. Find some great challah recipes here.


Kallah (כּלה), pronounced KAH-luh, is Hebrew for “bride.”

2. Chesed (or Hesed) and Hasid (or Chasid)

Chesed (חסד), pronounced KHEH-sed, is usually translated as “lovingkindness,” and describes acts such as visiting the sick and helping the poor.


Hasid (חסיד), pronounced KHAH-sid,is a Hasidic Jew, someone who is part of an ultra-Orthodox spiritual movement that began in late 18th-century Europe and comes from the same Hebrew root as chesed.

3. Chodesh and Kodesh

Chodesh (חודשׁ), pronounced KHOH-desh, is Hebrew for “month,” and is most often used in the term Rosh Chodesh, the celebration marking the beginning of each new Jewish month.


Kodesh (קודשׁ), pronounced KOH-desh, is Hebrew for “holy,” as in sefer kodesh (holy book), am kodesh (holy people) and limmudei kodesh (holy studies).

4. Chuppah and Chutzpah

Chuppah (חופּה), pronounced KHOO-pah (oo as in book) or khu-PAH, is a Jewish wedding canopy.


Chutzpah (חוצפּה), pronounced KHOOTZ-pah (oo as in book) or khootz-PAH, is Yiddish (and Hebrew) for “nerve” or “audacity.”

5. Eruv and Erev

Eruv (עירוב), pronounced AY-ruhv or ay-RUVE, is a boundary inside of which Shabbat-observant Jews are allowed to carry items or push strollers on Shabbat.


Erev (ערב), pronounced EH-rehv, means “evening,” and commonly refers to the first night of a Jewish holiday and sometimes the day before the holiday, as in Erev Yom Kippur.

6. Hamsa, Hametz and Hummus

Hamsa (חמסה), pronounced HAHM-suh, is a hand-shaped amulet.


Hametz (חמץ), pronounced khah-METZ, is leavened food traditionally avoided during Passover. Learn more about keeping kosher for Passover.


Hummus (חומוס), pronounced KHOOM-oos (oo as in book) or KHOOM-oos (oo as in food) is a chickpea puree popular in Israel and throughout the Middle East. Find hummus recipes here.

7. Kibbitz and Kibbutz

Kibbitz (קבּץ), pronounced KIB-itz, is Yiddish for chat or small talk, as in “I ran into my friend at the store and kibbitzed with her.”


Kibbutz (קיבּוץ), pronounced kee-BOOTZ, is a collectively run residential and economic community in Israel.

8. Kiddush and Kaddish

Kiddush (קידושׁ), pronounced KID-dish or kee-DOOSH (oo as in boot), is the blessing that is said over wine to sanctify Shabbat. (It comes from the same root as kodesh, meaning “holy.”)


Kaddish (קדישׁ), pronounced KAH-dish, usually refers to the Mourner’s Kaddish, an Aramaic prayer said during all Jewish worship services where a minyan is present. (It also shares a root with kodesh.)

9. Mashgiach and Moshiach

Mashgiach (משׁגיח), pronounced mahsh-GHEE-ahkh, is a person who supervises a commercial or institutional kosher kitchen and ensures that dietary laws are observed.


Moshiach (משׁיח), pronounced moe-SHEE-ahkh, is Hebrew for “messiah.”

10. Mikveh and Mitzvah

Mikveh (מקוה), pronounced MIK-vuh or meek-VAH, is a Jewish ritual bath.


Mitzvah (מצוה), pronounced MITZ-vuh or meetz-VAH, is Hebrew for commandment.

11. Seder and Siddur

Seder (סדר), pronounced SAY-der, is a ritual meal that follows a certain order, usually used to refer to the Passover seder (like the one above). However, many Sephardic Jews also have a Rosh Hashanah seder, and the holiday of Tu Bishvat (the birthday of the trees) also has a seder.


Siddur (סידור), pronounced SIDD-er or see-DOHR, is a Jewish prayer book. Like seder, it derives from the Hebrew root samech (ס), dalet (ד), reysh (ר), which means “order.”

12. Sheitel, Shtetl, Shtiebel and Shtreimel

Sheitel (שייטל), pronounced SHAY-tull, is Yiddish for a wig that some Orthodox women wear to cover their hair after they marry.


Shtetl (שׁטעטל), pronounced SHTEH-tull, is the term for a historic Eastern European village with a significant Jewish community.


Shtiebel (שטיבל), pronounced SHTEE-bull, is a small synagogue, usually referring to a small ultra-Orthodox synagogue.


Shtreimel (שטריימל), pronounced SHTRY-mull, is a type of fur hat worn by some Hasidic men.

13. Simcha and Smicha

Simcha (שׂמחה), pronounced SIM-khuh or seem-KHAH, is Hebrew for “joy” and is used to refer to a joyous Jewish occasion, such as a wedding or bar/bat mitzvah.


Smicha (סמיכה), pronounced SMEE-khuh or smee-KHAH, is Hebrew for rabbinic ordination.

14. Tisha B’Av, Tu Bishvat and Tu B’Av

Tisha B’Av (תשׁע בּאב), pronounced TISH-uh bahv, is the ninth of the Jewish month of Av, a day of mourning commemorating the destruction of the ancient temples in Jerusalem.


Tu Bishvat (ט״ו בּשׁבט), pronounced too bish-VAHT (oo as in boot), is the 15th of the Jewish month of Shevat, a holiday celebrating trees.


Tu B’Av (ט״ו בּאב), pronounced too buh-AHV, is the 15th of the Jewish month of Av, a day celebrating romantic love that is often referred to as “the Jewish Valentine’s Day.”

15. Yizkor and Yahrzeit

Yizkor (יזכּור), pronounced YIZ-kohr, is the memorial service that is part of four Jewish holidays: Yom Kippur, Passover, Sukkot and Shavuot.


Yahrzeit (יארצייט), pronounced YAHR-tzight or YOHR-tzight, is the Yiddish word for the anniversary of a death. Learn how to mark a yahrzeit.

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