EC+WOW2008

=2008 Word of the Week (Actions)=

sholom aleichem, aleichem sholom (Y) || Greeting and its response - literally, "Peace be upon you", and the response "Upon you, peace." || Greeting and its response - literally, "Peace be upon you", and the response "Upon you, peace." When greeted with "sholom aleichem", the appropriate response is "aleichem sholom" ||
 * Date || Word || Short Definition || Long Definition ||
 * Sep. 14 || shalom aleichem, aleichem shalom (H)
 * Sep. 21 || talmeed (Y & H) (pl. talmidim (masc. or plural), talmidot(fem.)) || student || tbd ||
 * Sep. 28 || rosh hashanah(H) || Jewish New Year || Ritualistic New Year from rosh - head or leader and shanah - year ||
 * Oct. 5 || L'Dor V'Dor (H) || from generation to generation || tbd ||
 * Oct. 12 || Lulav and Etrog (H) || Myrtle and willow leaves wrapped in palm frond (Lulav) and citrus fruit (etrog) used during Sukkot || tbd ||
 * Oct. 19 || goy (pl. goyim) (Y) || Gentile, non-Jew. || Gentile, non-Jew. In Hebrew, goyim literally means nations - all those besides Israel. In English, especially the American version, goy and goyim are often used in a deragatory way to put down non-Jews. In Hebrew, goy and goyim are neutral terms with the context and emotional expression determing whether that is good, bad or neither. ||
 * Oct. 26 || kind (Y) (pl. kinder) || child. || child. The Jewish attitute towards children as expressed in Leo Rostens Hooray for Yiddish: Children without a childhood are tragic(Mendele Mokher Seforim); If you must strike a child, use a string & Never threaten a child; either punish or forgive him(Talmud:Baba Bathra 21a); One parent can support 10 children, but 10 children cannot support one parent; The nakhes (pleasures) you get from children are more precious than gold. ||
 * Nov. 2 || schmooze (Y) || to make smalltalk or converse informally (to schmooze up - means to flatter for personal gain) || tbd ||
 * Nov. 9 || gantsa (Y), gadol (H) || big, large. (gantsa megilla - the whole story; Gimmel on dreydl is for gadol) || tbd ||
 * Nov. 16 || schtarker (Y) || a person who is strong, brave, etc. || tbd ||
 * Nov. 23 || chai (H) || Lives || Lives, as in the phrase "Am Yisroel Chai", "The people/nation of Israel lives." Typically appears in the plural form "chayim", and as such is a common Hebrew and Yiddish name (e.g. Chaim Weitzman and Chaim Zhitlovsky). The numerical values of the Hebrew letters spelling chai (Khet and yud) add up to 18, so Jews often give gifts in multiples of $18 dollars to signify life. ||
 * Dec. 7 || shammes || Literally servant or attendant. || Literally servant or attendant. Ninth candle on a Hannukiah used to light the others. Also the title of a synagogue functionary who sees to a multitude of duties, among which is wrangling attendees to form a minyan. ||
 * Dec. 14 || gelt (Y); kesef (H) || Money (gantsa gelt - a lot of money, expensive); (H) lit. "silver"; harbey kesef (a lot of money) || tbd ||
 * Jan. 4 || lantsman (Y) || a fellow Jew. || a fellow Jew. Someone from the same country as your or your ancestors. (In the movie "The Cisco Kid" the Jew played by Gene Wilder, who has just arrived in America from Poland, sees an Amish man. Upon noting his beard, he enthusiastically embraces him saying "lantsman!", believing him to be a fellow Jew.) ||
 * Jan. 11 || secular || Non-religious aspects of life. || Relating to the world of sense experience. Non-religious aspects of life. Secular Person: A person who explains observations and feelings in natural, nontheistic, concrete ways ||
 * Jan. 18 || humanism || ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people || ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appealing to universal human qualities – particularly rationality ||
 * Jan. 25 || Jew || A person of Jewish descent || A person of Jewish descent, or any person who declares himself or herself to be a Jew and who identifies with the community, history, ethical values, culture, civilization, and fate of the Jewish people. ||
 * Feb. 1 || mitzvah (H) (pl. mitzvot) || Literally commandment || Literally commandment - what you are obligated to do as a good Jew. Common usage is a good deed. ||
 * Feb. 8 || Eco-Jews || Jews with respect for, and a desire to improve, the environment || tbd ||
 * Feb. 22 || mishpocha (Y)/mishpacha (H) || (extended) family || (extended) family - Folkshul members are part of a single mispocha and Kehilla members of an even larger one ||
 * Mar. 1 || Yiddishkayht (Y) || Jewish culture associated with Yiddish-speaking Jewish community or its descendents || Jewish culture associated with Yiddish-speaking Jewish community or its descendents - includes language, arts, morals, etc. Purim spiels (plays retelling the story of Purim) are examples of Yiddishkayht. ||
 * Mar. 8 || macher/big macher (Y) || a big shot, important person. || a big shot, important person. Often used as a derogative - Haman thought he was a big macher, but he was just a petty official who liked to flaunt his power. ||
 * Mar. 15 || haskalah || (in Y. stress on second syllable; in H. stress on last syllable) European movement in the late 18th century that sought to modernize Judaism || (in Y. stress on second syllable; in H. stress on last syllable) European movement in the late 18th century that sought to modernize Judaism so that Jews could take part in the cultual and intellectual activities of their non-Jewish neighbors. It is the forerunner of the modern secular Jewish movement ||
 * Mar. 22 || kop (Y), rosh (H) || head. || The head, top or beginning. ||
 * Mar. 29 || kosher || Literal meaning is fit for use. || Literal meaning is fit for use. Applies to foods and non-foods (e.g. mezzuzah). Opposite is unkosher or unfit for use. Figurative meaning is legitimate, on the up and up, allowed - stealing is not a kosher way to get money. ||
 * Apr. 5 || seder || Means order. || Means order. Common usage is for the ritual meal and readings associated with Passover ||
 * Apr. 19 || plotz || To burst or explode. || To burst or explode, To be aggravated beyond bearing. ||
 * Apr. 26 || pogrom || a form of riot directed against Jews || a form of riot directed against Jews, killing them and destroying their homes, businesses, and religious centres. Now generalized to attacks against minority groups ||
 * May. 3 || maven || an expert in a particular field of knowledge. || an expert in a particular field of knowledge. Connoisseur. ||
 * May. 10 || Zionism; (H. Tziyonut) || international political movement || international political movement promoting the creation and continued existance of a homeland for the Jewish people in Israel ||
 * May. 17 || kvell || to feel delighted and proud to the point of tears || to feel delighted and proud to the point of tears - Parents kvell when they see their children take their first steps. ||