Description
This update of the 2001 edition offers an A ("Aaron")-Z ("Zohar") guide to selected Jewish words rather than a comprehensive dictionary. From books listed in the bibliography, Eisenberg and Scolnic drew Yiddish, Hebrew, English, Greek, and words from other languages relating to Jewish life. They explain the evolution of languages of the Jewish people, and their editorial decisions (e.g., the transliterated spelling variant chosen). Cross-referenced entries include a pronunciation guide, word derivation information, and usage example. The dictionary also contains word category lists (e.g., Bar and Bat Mitzvah, food, Jewish calendar). Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Organized in an A to Z format for easy reference, the Dictionary of Jewish Words contains 1,200 entries derived from Yiddish, Hebrew, Aramaic, and English. The entries include words for and associated with Jewish holidays and life-cycle events, culture, history, the Bible and other sacred texts, worship, and more. Each entry has a pronunciation guide and is cross-referenced to other related terms. The introduction is an excellent primer on the history of Jewish words, their transliteration, and pronunciation. The indexes at the back, arranged by categories, help readers easily find the words they want, even when they don’t know the exact spelling. This handy and very accessible dictionary is an excellent resource not just for Jews, but for anyone who wants to check the meaning, spelling, and/or pronunciation of Jewish words.
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