Simon Eichelkatz; The Patriarch. Two Stories of Jewish Life

Pesach. Feast of Unleavened Bread; Passover.

Pleitegeher. (Heb. and Ger.). An habitual bankrupt.

Posheh Yisroel. "A sinner in Israel"; one who disregards the ceremonial law of Judaism.

Rav. Officiating rabbi.

Rebbetzin. (Heb. with Ger. suffix). Wife of the officiating rabbi.

Roshekol. Head of the Jewish community.

Seder. Home service on the first two nights of the Passover.

Shabbes. Sabbath.

Shabbes Goy. A non-Jew engaged, often by all the families in a Jewish congregation, to do work forbidden the Jew on the Sabbath, such as kindling a fire, etc.

Shadchen. Marriage broker.

Shammes. Verger; beadle; sexton.

Sheitel (Ger.). A covering for the head, to hide the hair of a married Jewess.

Shem Yisborach. "The Name (of God) be blessed."

Shema Yisroel. "Hear, O Israel"; beginning of the Jewish confession of faith.

Shicksel. (Heb. with Ger. suffix). Drastic expression for a non-Jewish girl.

Shikker. Habitual drunkard.

Shiveh. "Seven" days of mourning, immediately after a death occurs in a family.

Shivoh oser be-Tamuz. "Seventeenth Day of Tamuz"; a fast day commemorating the first breach in the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, who took the Temple itself three weeks later.

Shnorrers (Ger.). Beggars.

Sholosh Sudes. The third meal on the Sabbath.

Shul (Ger.). Synagogue.

Shulchan Oruch. The Jewish code of ritual laws, etc.

Sukkoth. Feast of Tabernacles.

Talles. Prayer-scarf.

Talmid Chochom. A Jewish scholar, learned specifically in Jewish lore.

Tashlich. "Thou wilt cast"; ceremony connected with the afternoon of the first day of New Year, and observed at a running stream or at the seashore.

Trefa. Ritually unfit for food.

Tzores. Trials; tribulations.

Waigeschrieen (Ger.). Woe is me.

Yevorechecho Adonay ve-yishmerecho. "May the Lord bless thee and keep thee."

Yichus. Aristocracy; good family connections.

Yiddishkeit (Ger.). Jewishness.

Yom Kippur. Day of Atonement.

Yontef. Holiday; festival.

Zecher Zaddik livrochoh. "The remembrance of the righteous is for a blessing."

Zechus. Merit; privilege.

Zichrono livrochoh. "His memory is for a blessing."

1

The translator has found it impossible to convey this subtle distinction in English. It shows itself in the German by slightly mispronouncing words, for instance, Leit instead of Leute; using ä instead of the article ein (an), and very slightly changing the correct order of the words.