Yiddish Tales Part 77

MAHARSHO (MAHARSHO). Hebrew initial letters of Morenu ha-Rab Shemuel Edels, a great commentator.

MALKES (Heb.). Stripes inflicted on the Eve of the Day of Atonement, in expiation of sins. _See_ Deut. xxv. 2, 3.

MASKIL (pl. Maskilim) (Heb.). An "intellectual." The aim of the "intellectuals" was the spread of modern general education among the Jews, especially in Eastern Europe. They were reproached with secularizing Hebrew and disregarding the ceremonial law.

MATZES (Heb.). The unleavened bread used during Pa.s.sover.

MECHUTENESTE (Heb.). Mother-in-law; prospective mother-in-law; expresses chiefly the reciprocal relation between the parents of a couple about to be married.

MECHUTTON (Heb.). Father-in-law; prospective father-in-law; expresses chiefly the reciprocal relation between the parents of a couple about to be married.

MEHEREH (Heb.). The "quick" dough for the Matzes.

MELAMMED (Heb.). Teacher.

MEZUZEH (Heb.). "Door-post;" Scripture verses attached to the door-posts of Jewish houses. _See_ Deut. vi. 9.

MIDRASH (Heb.). Homiletic exposition of the Scriptures.

MINCHAH (Heb.). The Afternoon Prayer, or service.

MIN HA-MEZAR (Heb.). "Out of the depth," Ps. 118. 5.

MINYAN (Heb.). A company of ten men, the minimum for a public service; specifically, a temporary congregation, gathered together, usually in a village, from several neighboring Jewish settlements, for services on New Year and the Day of Atonement.

MISHNAH (Heb.). The earliest code (ab. 200 C. E.) after the Pentateuch, portions of which are studied, during the early days of mourning, in honor of the dead.

MISNAGGID (pl. Misnagdim) (Heb.). "Opponents" of the Cha.s.sidim. The Misnagdic communities are led by a Rabbi (pl. Rabbonim), sometimes called Rav.

MITZVEH (Heb.). A commandment, a duty, the doing of which is meritorious.

NASHERS (Ger.). Gourmets.

NISHKOSHE (Ger. and Heb.). Never mind!

NISSAN (Heb.). Spring month (March-April), in which Pa.s.sover is celebrated.

OLENU (Heb.). The concluding prayer in the synagogue service.

OLOM HA-SHEKER (Heb.). "The world of falsehood," this world.

OLOM HA-TOHU (Heb.). World of chaos.

OLOM HO-EMESS (Heb.). "The world of truth," the world-to-come.

PARNOSSEH (Heb.). Means of livelihood; business; sustenance.

PIYYUTIM (Heb.). Liturgical poems for festivals and Holy Days recited in the synagogue.

PORUSH (Heb.). Recluse.

PRAYER OF THE HIGHWAY. Prayer on setting out on a journey.

PRAYER-SCARF. _See_ TALLIS.

PUD (Russ.). Forty pounds.

PURIM (Heb.). The Feast of Esther.

RAs.h.i.+ (RAs.h.i.+). Hebrew initial letters of Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac, a great commentator; applied to a certain form of script and type.

RAV (Heb.). Rabbi.

REBBE. Sometimes used for Rabbi; sometimes equivalent to Mr.; sometimes applied to the Tzaddik of the Cha.s.sidim; and sometimes used as the t.i.tle of a teacher of young children.

REBBETZIN. Wife of a Rabbi.

ROSH-YEs.h.i.+VEH (Rosh ha-Yes.h.i.+veh) (Heb.). Headmaster of a Talmudic Academy.

SCAPE-FOWLS (trl. of Kapporos). Roosters or hens used in a ceremony on the Eve of the Day of Atonement.

SEDER (Heb.). Home service on the first two Pa.s.sover evenings.

SELICHES (Heb.). Penitential prayers.

SEVENTEENTH OF TAMMUZ. Fast in commemoration of the first breach made in the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.

SHALOM (Heb. in Sefardic p.r.o.nunciation). Peace. _See_ SHOLOM ALECHEM.

SHAMASH (Heb.). Beadle.

SHECHINAH (Heb.). The Divine Presence.

SHEGETZ (Heb.). "Abomination;" a sinner; a rascal.

SHLIMM-MAZEL (Ger. and Heb.). Bad luck; luckless fellow.

SHMOOREH-MATZES (Heb.). Unleavened bread specially guarded and watched from the harvesting of the wheat to the baking and storing.

SHOCHET (Heb.). Ritual slaughterer.

SHOFAR (Heb.). Ram's horn, sounded on New Year's Day and the Day of Atonement. _See_ Lev. xxiii. 24.

SHOLOM (SHALOM) ALECHEM (Heb.). "Peace unto you"; greeting, salutation, especially to one newly arrived after a journey.

SHOMER. Pseudonym of a Yiddish author, Nahum M. Schaikewitz.

SHOOL (Ger., Schul'). Synagogue.