- Mitzvah
- A commandment in Jewish law. In everyday use it also means a good deed or a kind act done for someone else.
- Shabbat
- The Jewish day of rest, from sundown Friday to nightfall Saturday. A time for family, meals, and stepping away from work.
- Kashrut
- The body of Jewish dietary laws. Food prepared according to these rules is called kosher.
- Kosher
- Food that meets the requirements of Jewish dietary law. Casually, it can also mean something that is proper or legitimate.
- Mensch
- A person of real integrity and decency. Calling someone a mensch is high praise.
- Tikkun Olam
- Literally repair of the world. The idea that people share a responsibility to make the world better and more just.
- Bar Mitzvah
- The coming of age ceremony for a Jewish boy, traditionally at 13, marking his taking on adult religious responsibilities.
- Bat Mitzvah
- The coming of age ceremony for a Jewish girl, traditionally at 12 or 13, parallel to the bar mitzvah.
- Seder
- The ceremonial meal held on the first night or two of Passover, following an order of readings, symbolic foods, and songs.
- Tzedakah
- Charity given as an act of justice and obligation, not merely generosity. A core Jewish value.
- Chutzpah
- Bold nerve or audacity. It can be admiring or critical depending on how it is used.
- Kvetch
- To complain, or a person who complains a lot. From Yiddish.
- Schmooze
- To chat warmly and network, often to build rapport or make a good impression.
- Kippah
- The small skullcap worn as a sign of respect before God. Also called a yarmulke.
- Yarmulke
- Another name for the kippah, the traditional Jewish head covering.
- Mezuzah
- A small case fixed to a doorpost containing a scroll with verses from the Torah. Many touch it when passing through.
- Minyan
- The quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain communal prayers and services.
- Challah
- The braided bread eaten on Shabbat and holidays. Slightly sweet, rich, and traditionally blessed before the meal.
- Matzah
- Unleavened flatbread eaten during Passover, recalling the haste of the Exodus when there was no time for bread to rise.
- Menorah
- A candelabrum. The nine-branched version, the hanukkiah, is lit during Hanukkah; the seven-branched menorah is an ancient symbol.
- Dreidel
- A four-sided spinning top played with during Hanukkah, each side marked with a Hebrew letter.
- Mazel Tov
- Congratulations, or good luck. Said at happy occasions like weddings, births, and milestones.
- L'Chaim
- To life. A traditional toast raised at celebrations.
- Shiva
- The seven day mourning period observed by close relatives after a burial. To sit shiva is to receive visitors during this time.
- Brit Milah
- The ritual circumcision of a Jewish boy on the eighth day of life, marking the covenant. Often called a bris.
- Oy Vey
- An exclamation of dismay, worry, or exasperation. Short for oy vey iz mir, roughly oh, woe is me.
- Nosh
- To snack, or a small bite of food. You might nosh on something before dinner.
- Schlep
- To carry or drag something with effort, or to make a long, tiresome trip.
- Kvell
- To burst with pride and joy, especially over the achievements of family. A grandparent kvells at a graduation.
- Yiddish
- The historical language of Ashkenazi Jews, blending German, Hebrew, and other influences. Source of many words in this list.
- Haggadah
- The book read aloud at the Passover seder, laying out the order of the meal and retelling the Exodus story.
- Simcha
- A joyous occasion or celebration, such as a wedding, birth, or bar or bat mitzvah.