Hasidic Jews (Hah see dick) descendants of Jews who founded the Jewish sect of Hasidism (Hah see dism) in eighteenth-century Europe. Hasidism suggests that it is possible to reach a close relationship with God through song and joy rather than only through more formal
avenues of prayer This philosophy of Hasidism was expounded by its leader and founder, Israel Ba’al Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name). In the novel, Hasidic philosophy is represented by Danny Saunders and his father, Rabbi (Reb) Saunders.
samovar an urn with a spigot used for heating water for tea; originated in Russia.
Shabbat another word for the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week reserved for rest and worship; for Jews, the Sabbath is on Saturday.
Yiddish The language of Eastern European Jews, Yiddish comes from German and Polish roots. Hasidic Jews prefer to use Yiddish as an everyday language, believing that the use of Hebrew, the original language of the Jewish people, is a holy tongue; to use Hebrew in an ordinary classroom would desecrate God’s name. Reuven’s Modern Orthodox sect, however, uses Hebrew in its classrooms.
Brownstones residential buildings made of reddish-brown sandstone, common in urban areas.
Spanish Civil War Starting as a military insurrection, this war lasted from 1936 until 1939, involved Italy and Germany on the side of the fascist insurrectionists, and brought General Francisco Franco to power.
skullcap a close-fitting, brimless cap worn by Orthodox Jewish men.
Earlocks hair grown long at the temples. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men obey the Torah precept that directs, “You shall not clip your hair at the temples or mar the edges of your beard. You shall not lacerate your bodies for the dead or tattoo any marks upon yourselves” (Leviticus 19:27-28).
yeshiva (yuh sheev ah) a school to which Orthodox Jews send their male children. Half of the academic day is spent on Jewish subjects, and the other half on secular subjects. In the novel, Reuven attends a yeshiva that offers more secular classes than Danny’s yeshiva does. At times, this difference causes resentment in Danny, who thinks that Reuven is less observant of Jewish law.
Talmud (Tall moo d) the oral law of Judaism, based on rabbis’ interpretations of ambiguous laws in the Torah and on issues concerning a wide variety of topics in Jewish life. The oral law was written down in the first century A.D.
gentile a non-Jew.
Infield the baseball team members playing the shortstop and first, second, and third base positions.
assimilationist a person who believes in the inclusion of different racial and ethnic groups into mainstream culture.
Semitic Jewish.
tzizit (tsee seet) fringes that hang down from the Jewish prayer shawl and are intended to remind Jews of the necessity of observing Jewish law. The Torah states, “When you look upon it [tzizit], you will remember to do all the commands of the Lord” (Numbers 37:39). Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, such as the Hasidim, wear a prayer shawl under their clothes and leave the fringes visible over the waists of their trousers.
side-curls another term for earlocks, defined above.
momzer (mom zer) a colloquial word of derision.
apikorsim (ah pik or sim) a word of disfavor used by the ultra-Orthodox to refer to the Modern Orthodox.
Mincha Service an afternoon Jewish religious service.
Shamashim (plural of shamash) assistants at a Jewish religious service who perform a variety of functions.
shlepper a Yiddish word for a person who moves slowly or awkwardly.
Hasid a Hasidic Jew.
