Jewishphrases

On this page we will explore some Hebrew and Yiddish words that have made their way into our language making it even more interesting and varied:

           Talmudic

Having to do with the Talmud, the authoritive body of Jewish law and tradition. In current use, the word is also used to describe any analysis or commentary that is highly technical, overly scholarly,esoteric or mysteriously arcane or cryptic.

The Talmud, whose name comes from the Hebrew word, meaning "instruction", is a vast compilation of Jewish Oral law and a compendium of debate and commentary by scholars who have exhaustively studied and interpreted the Torah (first 5 books of the Bible)


            Cabalah:

The Cabala is a collection of writings that seek to unfold the "hidden wisdom" or the secret meanings of the Torah. The methodology by which the Hebrew mystics sought clues to the divine essence within the appearance of things is beyond rational comprehension. It involved the use of the 22 sacred letters of the Hebrew Alphabet and a system of numbers attached to them. The mystics sought to discover especially the secret, ineffable names of God, the use of which would enable them to perform miracles like hastening the coming of the Messiah.
"Cabalah" is a term that may be applied in modern usage to the esoteric interpretation of any material.

     Messiah:

From the Hebrew 'Mashiah" meaning anointed. The ancients used anointing with oil as a sign that priests,prophets and kings were chosen by God for their office. This custom still survives in the chrism used in coronations and at baptisms and confirmations in certain Christian sects. In the GOSPELS, the messiah is commonly called the Son of Man, and the distinctive claim of Christianity is that the messianic expectation was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.

mensch:

A person of integrity and honor. A Yiddish word for someone who is really admirable, noble and a good person. A mensch doesn't have to be important; the critical element is fine character.
Leo Rosten in The Joys of Yiddish (1968) says, "As a child, I often heard it said: 'The finest thing you can say about a man is that he is a mensch' or 'Be a mensch'! This use of the word is uniquely Yiddish in its overtones.

Shtick or shtik:

A show-business routine, gimmick or gag; a bit.
The term is Yiddish and widely used in show business, where it means the "piece" employed by actors--grimaces, gestures--for calling attention to ourselves.

Rabbi:

A Jewish clergyman or clergywoman; by extension, a protector or MENTOR.

In Hebrew, rabbi means "my teacher", or "my master". A rabbi, an ordained teacher of the Jewish law, fulfills many of the same functions as other clergy, performing the ceremonies that attend birth, confirmation, marriage and death; teaching the tenets of Judaism; and serving as counselors.   In contemporary life, especially politics and business, rabbi has come to mean a mentor or patron, someone in a position of power and seniority who takes a junior person under his or her wing and helps to advance the junior person's interests. The employee with a Rabbi will enjoy a big advantage.

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