Simon Eichelkatz; The Patriarch Part 25

DAVVENING (?). Reciting the prayers of the liturgy.

EVADDE. a.s.suredly; 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 Pa.s.sover 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 s.h.i.+eld of David." A Jewish emblem.

NARRONIM. (Ger. with Heb. ending). Fools.

NEBb.i.+.c.h. (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 trespa.s.sed, 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; Pa.s.sover.

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 Pa.s.sover.

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; s.e.xton.

SHEITEL (Ger.). A covering for the head, to hide the hair of a married Jewess.

SHEM YISBORACH. "The Name (of G.o.d) be blessed."

SHEMA YISROEL. "Hear, O Israel"; beginning of the Jewish confession of faith.

s.h.i.+CKSEL. (Heb. with Ger. suffix). Drastic expression for a non-Jewish girl.

s.h.i.+KKER. Habitual drunkard.

s.h.i.+VEH. "Seven" days of mourning, immediately after a death occurs in a family.

s.h.i.+VOH OSER BE-TAMUZ. "Seventeenth Day of Tamuz"; a fast day commemorating the first breach in the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, who took the Temple itself three weeks later.

SHNORRERS (Ger.). Beggars.