Rechev KilayimRechev is the standard word for car and comes from the biblical verb lirkov, which means to ride.By Rabbi Julian Sinclair1 min read
Tikkun Leil ShavuotA tikkun is a correction. In kabbalistic circles it refers to a spiritual correction for some fault.By Rabbi Julian Sinclair1 min read
GerA male convert is called a ger; a female convert is called a giyoret.By Rabbi Julian Sinclair1 min read
CharifCharif means hot and spicy, not for the faint-hearted. It also means intelligent and insightful.By Rabbi Julian Sinclair1 min read
Mah PitomLiterally, “What suddenly”, mah pitom can be translated as “No way” or “Don’t be daft.”By Rabbi Julian Sinclair1 min read
Fadicha / FashlaAn Arabic word that has made its way into Hebrew, fadicha describes much more than a faux pas. It is a slip-up that verges on the pathetic.By Rabbi Julian Sinclair1 min read
YuharaThe literal meaning of the Aramaic word yuhara is luminous gem.By Rabbi Julian Sinclair1 min read
BechorBechor means firstborn, referring both to children and livestock in the Bible.By Rabbi Julian Sinclair1 min read
Kimcha d’Pascha“It is a tradition to buy wheat and distribute it to the poor for Pesach.” So writes Rabbi Moshe Isserlis (the Rema), a 16th century rabbinic leader of Ashkenazi Jewry.By Rabbi Julian Sinclair1 min read
MugmarMugmar is a talmudic term that refers to the spices put over the coals at the end of a meal in order to fragrance the room.By Rabbi Julian Sinclair1 min read