Hashem (H)—God

hashgachah pratit/s (H)—Divine providence

“Hava Nagila” (H)—a Jewish folk song traditionally played at celebrations and danced to in a circle using the grapevine step

House of Hillel/House of Shammai—two rival rabbinic schools of Jewish law active during the first century BCE and first century CE named after their founders, Hillel the Elder and Shammai; the Talmud records hundreds of differences of opinion between Beit Hillel (the House of Hillel) and Beit Shammai (the House of Shammai)

Im ein ani li, mi li (H)—a famous adage by Hillel the Elder found in Ethics of Our Fathers: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” (“… And when I am for myself alone, what am I? And if not now, then when?”)

ima (H)—mom

Ivrit (H)—the Hebrew language

kavanah (H)—intention

kiddush (H)—the blessing over the wine on Shabbat; also a buffet after synagogue services

Kiddush Hashem (H)—sanctification of God

kittel (Y)—a white linen or cotton robe traditionally worn by men on Yom Kippur, when leading the Passover seder, and by a groom at a wedding

kos shel Eliyahu (H)—a goblet used at the Passover seder for Elijah the Prophet

kosher—food that complies with Jewish dietary law

kugel (Y)—traditional pudding (usually savory) eaten on Shabbat and Jewish festivals

kvetch (Y)—to complain

lashon harah (H)—literally “evil tongue”—speaking ill of someone

lein (Y)—to chant in a special tune from the Torah or megillah

lulav (H)—a palm branch used with the etrog during the holiday of Succot

“Ma Tovu” (H)—a Jewish song from the daily prayers; begins with the words “what is good?”

“Mah Nishtanah” (H)—the Four Questions asked at the Passover seder by the children

matzah (H)—unleavened bread eaten on Passover

megillah (H)—a scroll

Megillat (Megillas) Esther (H)—the Book of Esther, read twice on the holiday of Purim

Megillat Rut (H)—the Book of Ruth, read on the holiday of Shavuot

menachem avel (H)—the Jewish tradition of visiting a mourner to offer comfort and condolence

minyan (H)—a quorum of ten for communal prayer service

mitzvah (plural: mitzvot) (H)—good deed(s)

morah (H)—teacher

nahrishkeit (Y)—foolishness

neshama (H)—soul

netilat yadayim (H)—the blessing over washing hands before eating bread

nu (Y)—so, well

parsha (H)—the weekly Torah portion read in synagogue each Shabbat

partnership minyan—a prayer group committed to including women in ritual leadership roles to the fullest extent possible within the boundaries of Jewish Law

Pirkei Avot (H)—Ethics of Our Fathers, a Jewish text of ethical principles

re’us/t (H)—friendship

rugeleh (plural: rugelech) (Y)—traditional Jewish yeast pastry usually rolled with chocolate or cinnamon

seder (H)—the ritual Passover meal

Shabbat/Shabbos (H)—the Sabbath, which begins an hour before sundown on Friday evening and ends on Saturday night

Shabbat Shalom (H)—Good Sabbath

shalom (H)—peace (also means “hello”)

“Shalom Aleichem” (H)—a song to welcome the Sabbath; “peace be unto you”

shamayim (H)—sky, heaven

Shanah Tovah (H)—Good Year, Happy New Year; said at Rosh Hashanah

sheitel (Y)—a wig covering a married woman’s hair for religious purposes

shidduch (H)—a match between a couple for marriage

shiva (H)—the seven days of mourning following the death of one’s next of kin; people visit mourners to offer comfort