Zellig Bach A Child's Longing for Home
Glossary
 

The Yiddish and Hebrew-derived Yiddish words used in this book are spelled phonetically, according to their pronunciation in Lithuanian (litvishn) Yiddish.

 

Bentsh'erl A paperback collection of the blessings of Grace after meals.

Bo'ruch Blessed.

Drosh'ke Two-wheel horse-drawn carriage.

Esn teg Literally to eat "days:" the contribution of three daily meals one day a week to a student of the yeshi've.

Froy Woman; also Mrs.

Gemo're Part of the Tal'mud (which see): a collection of the innumerable legal decisions, opinions, and illustrations, following closely the text of the Mish'ne with comments upon each sentence.

Ka'dish The sanctification mourning prayer, said by a son for the death of a parent.

Kha'le The special braided white loaf of Sha'bes (sabbath) and festivals.

Khey'der The traditional one-room religious school for boys.

Lamed-vov'nik The Thirty-Six secret saints in whose merit the world exists; so called according to the numerical values of the two Yiddish-Hebrew letters lamed (30) and vov (6).

Mezu'ze Door-post amulet.

Min'yen Quorum of ten adult males required for prayer.

Mish'ne The basic work (in Hebrew) of the Jewish Oral Laws—legal, moral, and ritual teachings—according to the Toy're (which see).

Omey'n Amen.

Sambat'yen Legendary river supposed to throw stones on weekdays and to rest on Sha'bes.

Samovar Tea urn.

Sha'bes The seventh day of the week when God, after creating the world, rested.

Tal'mud The Mish'ne and the Gemo're both comprise the Talmud; written in old Hebrew without vocalization and much Aramaic

Toy're Pentateuch, the five books of the Bible.

Tsdo'ke Charity.

Tsho'lnt A special Sha'bes meal, kept hot from the day before in view of the prohibition against cooking on the Sabbath; one of the most heymish (homey) words in Yiddish. ("God's kosher ambrosia"—Heinrich Heine.)

Yeshi've Institution of higher Talmudic learning.

Yey'tser Tov The good, benevolent inclination in human nature.

Yey'tser Ra The bad, evil inclination in human nature.

Yo'sem Orphan.