Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms

Front Cover
Rowman & Littlefield, 2005 - Foreign Language Study - 207 pages
Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms is a unique and much needed guide to the way many Hebrew, Yiddish, and Aramaic words and meanings are used by English speakers. Sol Steinmetz draws upon his years of dictionary editorial experience, as well as his lifelong study of Jewish history, traditions, and practices, to guide the reader through the essentially uncharted territory of Jewish usage. Dictionary of Jewish Usage clarifies the meanings of Jewish terms that have been absorbed into English, as well as the transliterated Hebrew terms from sacred texts that reflect differing pronunciations. The Dictionary also explains terms that are often misused, sheds light on the meaning of clusters of terminology, and delineates the etymology and pronunciation of many words, making this Dictionary an invaluable guide for anyone curious about Jewish usage.

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Contents

The Dictionary
1
clothing terms
29
congratulatory terms
31
exclamations and interjections
38
food terms
41
greetings and salutations
52
halachic terms
56
Hasidic terms
60
mourning terms
116
music and dance terms
120
ritual terms
143
synagogue terms
159
wedding terms
171
Yiddishisms
179
Methods and Sources
189
Systems of Romanization
195

holiday terms
65
Holocaust terms
71
Israeli terms
75
kabbalistic terms
89
Index
199
About the Author
Copyright

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About the author (2005)

Sol Steinmetz is a linguist, lexicographer, and ordained rabbi educated at Yeshiva University and Columbia University. He has edited over thirty dictionaries and is the coauthor of Meshuggenary: Celebrating the World of Yiddish.

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