bagern fun folk:  'the people's desires'
bakante:  'the entire circle of acquaintances'
bal-moyfes:  'a miracle worker'
bal-tekeye:  'blower of the ram's horn on Yom Kippur'
bal-tfile:  'prayer-leader'
balegoles:  'wagon drivers; coachmen'
balemer:  'almemar, dais'
bar-mitsve:  'coming of age religiously'
batkhonim:  'jesters; entertainers'
batlonim:  'besmedresh "regulars" who study and pray all day'
bazunderkayt:  'apartness; separateness; particularity'
bedikes-khomets:  'search for the leaven'
beemuno shleymo:  'with complete faith'
bentshn:  'blessing; saying grace'
berene papekhe:  'bear-fur cap'
besalmen:  'Jewish cemetery'
besmedresh bokherim:  'religious students'
besmedresh:  'house of prayer and study'
beygl:  'roll'
beynashmoshes:  'twilight'
beyzn moykhiekh:  'fierce exhorter'
bezundern mehu's:  'a particular nature'
bifne kol am voeyde:  'publicly'
biker-kho'ylim:  'Visitors of the Sick Society'
bikur-kholim [Hebrew]:  'Visitors of the Sick Society'
bime:  'almemar, dais'
bitokhn:  'faith'
blat g(e)more:  'page of the Talmud'
blintses:  'blintzes'
blits-lompn:  'bright lamps'
bote-tfile:  'houses of prayer'
botey-midroshim:  'prayer houses' [plural of besmedresh]
boydn:  'covered wagons'
boyre pri hoodomo  [blessing over vegetables]
boyre-oylem:  'creator of the world'
bris:  'circumcision'
Brokhe:  (Bracha)

dardeke-melamdim:  'teachers of the youngest children'
davenen:  'praying'
der natsyonaler mehu's fun yid:  'the Jewish national idea'
Der tilim-yid:  'title of a novel by Sholem Ash'
derhoybnkayt:  'sublimity'
derleyzung fun folk:  'deliverance of the people'
di alte heym:  'the old home'
di reyne vesh:  'clean underwear'
di shkhine:  'Divine Presence'
diktn-fabrik:  'plywood factory'
din pruto kedin meyo... [Proverb]:  'take care of pennies...'
din-toyres:  'lawsuits'
din-vekhe'zhbm:  'accounting'
dor-haflogo:  'the generation scattered from Tower of Babel'
dorfsgeyer:  'village peddler'
dort vet ir vern a mentsh:  'there you will become somebody'
dos genem:  'Hell'
dreydlekh:  'tops; teetotums'
droshe:  'sermon'
dvar-toyre:  'explanation of a Bible passage'
dveykes:  'religious ecstasy'

elyo'hu hano'vi:  'Elijah the Prophet'
emune un folk:  'religion and ethnic identity'
endekishe [Polish: endecki]:  'Nat'l Democratic Party'
epes a fintstern guf:  'a mere physical body'
erd arbeter:  'farm workers'
erlekh:  'honest; virtuous'
ertsisroel:  'the Land of Israel'
es hot mir geklempt baym hartsn:  'I felt awful'
esn khazer:  'eating pork'
esn teg:  'taking meals with townspeople while a student'
esreg:  'citron'
eydele:  'courteous; refined'
eydlkayt:  'courtesy; refinement'
eyme:  'fear'
eyshes-khayil:  'woman of valor'
ezres-noshim:  'women's section of synagogue'

farborgnkayt:  'latency'
fas:  'barrel'
fayertep:  'braziers'
feldsher:  'barber-surgeon'
felker:  'peoples'
filbarkayt:  'feeling' [Germanism]
firme, a:  'established; recognized'
fleklekh:  'pegs'
folks-mentsh:  'man of the people'
forkhtikayt:  'reverential dread'
forshtelungen:  'performances'
frume:  'observant'
frumer yidishkayt:  'orthodox Judaism'

g(e)more:  'Talmud'
gabe:  'elder; deacon'
ganeydn:  'Paradise'
gartlen:  'belts worn during prayer'
gas, di:  'the public; the street'
gebeks:  'baked goods'
geboyrn in a zaydn haybl:  'born with silver spoon in the mouth'
gehat smikhes oyf rabones:  'was ordained as a rabbi'
gemore-nign:  'Talmud-tune'
gerotene:  'goodlooking'
geshlogn al-khet:  'repented for his sin'
geslekh:  'little streets'
geule:  'redemption'
gilgulim:  'transmigration of souls'
glazur:  'glaze'
glozvarg:  'glassware'
gmiles-khe'sed-kases:  'free loan societies'
gmiles-khesed:  'an interest-free loan'
godl betoyre in nigle un nister:  'a great scholar'
goen:  'a brilliant man'
goles:  'Exile'
goyle:  'one who is exiled'
goyle lemokem toyre:  'exiled from religious study'
goyrl:  'fate'
greyt im tsu doyresn:  'ready to tear him to pieces'
groyse zakhn:  'great matters'
gute-yidn:  'Hasidic rabbis'
guter-yid:  'Hasidic rabbi'

hadres-po'nim bord:  'beard of a pious man'
hagode:  'the Passover Haggada'
hakhshore:  'training; training farm'
hakofes:  'processions around the dais'
henglomp:  'hanging lamp'
heseyv-bet:  'reclining couch'
heshayne-rabe:  'Hoshana Raba'
heymishe:  'homey; local'
heymishn shtetl:  'the homey town'[accusative case]
heyse beygl:  'hot rolls'
heyse bobes:  'hot beans'
hinter di harey khoyshekh  "behind the mountains of darkness'
hislayves:  'enthusiasm'
homen-tashn [Haman's ears]:  'stuffed poppy-cakes'
hot zey opgeforn:  'took them to task'
hoyf:  'court' or: 'courtyard'
hoyptshul:  'High School'

iber di shveln:  'over-the-doorstep trades (tailors, etc.)'
ibergegebnkayt:  'dedication'
intim-mentshlekhe hartsikayt:  'human sincerity'
ir voem beyisroel:  'great Jewish center'
ivre:  'reading Hebrew; Hebrew'

kaboles-shabes:  'welcoming Sabbath, Friday evening service'
kantshik:  'whip'
kapote:  'coat'
kaptsonim in zibn poles:  'terrible paupers'
kartofl-kukhn:  'potato cakes'
kashres:  'Jewish dietary laws'
kateyger:  'accusing angel'
kayutn:  'cabins'
kdushe:  'sanctity'
kehile-binyen:  'community building'
kehile:  'organized Jewish community'
keren kayemes leyisroel:  'Jewish National Fund'
kestl-ovntn:  'question-and-answer evenings'
khadorim [plural of kheyder]
khales:  'Sabbath loaves'
khalutsim:  'pioneers'
khamisho'ser-bishvat:  'Tu beshvat'
khanike:  'Hanukka'
khanike-gelt:  'Hanukka present'
Khaye-odem:  'Life of Man'[= compendium of religious laws]
Khaye-odem besmedresh:  [after compendium of religious laws]
khayes roes:  'evil beasts'
khazal:  'our sages of blessed memory' [acronym]
khazoke:  'claim; lease'
khevra kadisha [Hebrew]:  'burial society'
khevres-tilim:  'Society for Reciting the Book of Psalms'
kheyder:  'Jewish traditional religious elementary school'
kheyder-yingl:  'kheyder-boy'
khezhbm-hanefesh:  'spiritual stock-taking'
khoges:  'Christmas and Easter; Christian holidays'
khohkme:  'wisdom'
khomets:  'leaven'
khosn-breyshis [literally:  'groom of Genesis']
khoyvevey-tsien:  'Lovers of Zion Movement'
khrifes:  'insight; acuity'
khtsos:  'midnight prayers'
khumesh mit rashi:  'the Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary'
khurbm:  'Shoa; destruction'
kiem:  'existence'
kines:  'lamentations'
kitl:  'white linen robe'
kitlen:  'white linen robes'
klal:  'community'
klal-yisroel:  'the Jewish People',: 'ordinary Jews'
klezmer/klezmorim:  'musicians'
kloper:  'door-to-door peddler'
klopn-handl:  'door-to-door peddling'
kofkes:  'women's caps'
Kol nidre  [Yom Kippur prayer]
kolu kol hakitsin:  'the end had come'
kopites:  'heels'
kovadles:  'anvils'
koyfrim:  'heretics'
koyles:  'cries'
koysl-maaro'vi:  'Western Wall'
kries ya'msuf:  'Splitting of the Red Sea'
kule ru'khnies:  'all spirit'
kvitlekh:  'slips of paper (with petitions to hasidic rebe)'

lamed-vovnikes:  'the concealed Thirty-six Righteous Men'
latkes:  'pancakes'
legboymer:  '33rd Day of the Counting of the Omer; Lag Beomer'
lernen lishma:  'learning for its own sake'
lernen toyre:  'studying the Tora'
lernen:  'study'
lifney velifnim:  'in the innermost'
lines-tsedek:  'free lodging'
lomdim:  'learned men'
loshn-koydesh:  'Hebrew-Aramaic; sacred tongue'
lulev:  'palm branch'

madreyge:  'level of spiritual development; degree'
madrikhim:  'councelors, guides, leaders'
magid:  'preacher'
maharam  : 'Meir of Rottenberg or Meir of Lublin' [acronym]
maharsho-kop:  'subtle mind'
maharsho:  'Samuel Edels' [acronym]
makher:  'broker, agent; fixer'
makhzer:  'prayer book for the High Holidays'
makhzoyrim:  'High Holiday prayer books'
malakhe-khabole:  'destructive angels'
malakhey-hashores:  'the ministering angels'
malkhes-shoma'im:  'kingdom of heaven'
malkhuyes:  'of the realm'
malokhim:  'angels'
mame-loshn:  'Yiddish'
mantlen:  'overcoats'
mark fun altvarg:  'flea-market'
mark-zitserins:  'women stall-keepers'
masmidim:  'those who studied Tora night and day'
matses:  'matzas'
mayim shelonu:  'water which has lain overnight, used for matza'
mayrev:  'evening prayers'
maysim to'yvim:  'good deeds'
mazikim:  'devils'
Meayin yavoy ezri? [Hebrew]:  'Where will my help come from?'
meforshim:  'commentators'
mekha'yedik:  'delightful, enjoyable'
mekhalel-shabes zayn:  'desecrating the Sabbath'
melamed:  'male religious elementary school teacher'
melave-malke:  'the meal at the close of the Sabbath'
memune:  'overseer'
men hot zikh ibergebetn:  'they forgave one another'
menoyre:  'candelabra'
mentsh:  'human being'
mentshlekhkayt:  'humanism; humaneness'
mesholim:  'parables'
meshumodim:  'apostates'
mesires-nefesh:  'great dedication'
mezuzes:  'doorpost-amulets'
mikve:  'ritual bath'
minkhe:  'afternoon prayers'
minyen:  'a quorum for prayer'
minyonim [plural of minyen]
mishne:  'Mishna'
mit elel-shtimungen:  'in an Elul mood'
mitsve:  'positive precept and practice of Judaism'
mitsvoys maasiyoys [Ashk. Heb. pron.]:  'practical duties'
mizrekhist:  'sympathizer with Mizrakhi Religious Zionism'
mokem toyre:  'place of learning'
Motele (Mordechai)
motse-shabes:  'the close of the Sabbath'
moyel:  'circumciser'
moytse:  'slice of bread'; hamoytse:  blessing over bread
musef:  'the Additional Prayers'
muser-reyd:  'ethical injunctions'
muser-sforim:  'ethical treatises'

nakhes:  'pleasure; pride'
natsyonal-ongeherike tsum yidishn folk:  'of Jewish nationality'
Nedorim:  'Vows'
neshome:  'soul'
neshome-likht:  'memorial candles'
neshome-yeseyre:  'second soul'
neshomedikayt:  'soulness'
neyder:  'vow'
neyrtomed:  'eternal light'
nign:  'melody'
nisht-gute:  'demons'
nisim un yeshues:  'miracles'
nitsets:  'a divine spark'
novella:  'khidesh; halakhic reinterpretation'

omed:  'pulpit'
on kep:  'dejected'
ongenumene klolim:  'conventions'
ongeshpart:  'leaning'
opgerikht goles:  'do penance for the Exile'
orn-koydesh:  'Holy Ark'
oyfgekleyrte:  'enlightened; educated'
oymrey-tilim:  'reciters of Psalms'
oyneg-shabes:  'enjoyment of the Sabbath'

pamal'yo-shel-maalo:  'heavenly tribunal'
parneysim:  'elected heads of the Jewish community'
pasik:  'belt'
pidyen-haben:  'Redemption of the First-Born'
pidyen:  'redemption money; tribute'
pidyoynes [plural of pidyen]
pilpulim:  'crafty arguments'
pintele yid, dos:  'quintessential Jewishness'
Pinye [Pinkhes] (Phineas)
plonter:  'snarl'
podryatshik:  'contractor'
polivnikes:  'glazers of pottery'
pontshkes:  'puffs'
poroykhes:  'curtain of the Holy Ark'
poshete yidn fun a gants yor:  'simple Jews'
potraves:  'dishes'
poyle-tsien:  'Poalei-Zion [Labor Zionists]'

rakhmones:  'mercifulness; mercy'
ramakh eyvrim, literally:  '248 organs'
rayze keyn varshe, der:  'the trip to Warsaw'
reb:  'Mr.'
rebe in kheyder:  'kheyder teacher'
rebe:  'hasidic rabbi'
rebo'yne-sheloylem, der:  'the Almighty'
retsikhes:  'outrages'
reyne vesh, di:  'clean underwear'
rikhes:  'ghosts'
rishes:  'malice; evil'
Rivke-Sore (Rebecca Sarah)
rosh-khoydesh elel:  'first day of Elul'
rosheshone:  'Rosh Hashana/Jewish New Year's Day'
rov:  'a rabbi'
ruder:  'rudder'
rukhes/rikhes:  'ghosts'

saneyger:  'defending angel'
sar:  'officer'
seyfer-toyre:  'Scroll of the Law'
shabos nachamu:  '"Comfort ye" Sabbath'
shakhres:  'morning prayer service'
shakhtlen:  'paper boxes'
shas-tish:  'Talmud study table'
shaytl:  'wig'
sheva denekhemoso:  'seven Sabbaths of comfort...'
sheydim:  'demons'
sheyne mides:  'beautiful character'
sheyne:  'fine; beautiful'
shfoykh khamosekho:  "pour out your anger..."
shi'tes:  'systems and approaches to Talmud study'
shigoynes:  'whims'
shil:  'synagogue'
Shimen (Simon)
shives-tsien:  'Return to Zion'
shkhine, di:  'Divine Presence'
shlikhim:  'messengers; delegates'
shloshesre-mides:  '"Thirteen Virtues"'
shminatseres:  'Shmini-Atseret'
shoybn:  'panes'
shoyfer-blozn:  'blowing of the shofar'
shoyfer:  'ram's horn, shofar'
shoykhet:  'ritual slaughterer'
shoyshanas-yaakoyv:  'Rose of Jacob'
shpaykhler:  'warehouse'
shtepers:  'quilters; stitchers'
shtetl:  'small town in Eastern Europe with Jewish quarter(s)'
shtetldike:  'homey'
shtibl:  'hasidic house of prayer'
shtimung:  'mood'
shtroykhlungen:  'stumblings'
shturmish:  'stormy'
shvartsarbet:  'unskilled work'
shvue:  'oath'
shvues:  'Feast of Weeks; Shevuot'
sider:  'prayerbook' [Hebrew sidur]
simkhes-toyre:  'Rejoicing of the Law'
skhakh:  'branches for the Sukkot booth'
slikhes-nakht:  'night of penitential prayers'
slikhes:  'penitential prayers'
slonimer khosid:  'Slonim hasid'
slonimer shtibl:  'Slonim house of prayer'
sokolover rebe:  'the Sokolover hasidic Rabbi'
solakhti [Hebrew]:  "I have forgiven"
sugye:  '[Talmudic] topic'
sukes:  'Feast of Tabernacles; Sukkot'

takhnunim:  'entreaties'
takones:  'statues'
talis:  'prayer-shawl'
talmed-kho'khem:  'scholar'
talmud:  'Talmud'
tartak:  'sawmill'
taymey-hamikro:  'cantillation marks'
tfiles haderekh:  'Prayer for the Road'
ti'shebov:  'Ninth of Ab' [memorial and fast day]
tif yidish gefil, a:  'a deep Jewish sensibility'
tilim-yid:  'unlearned Jew who recites Psalms'
tilim-zogers:  'poor who recite Psalms at funerals for alms'
tiliml:  'a volume of the Book of Psalms'
tish:  'hasidic rabbi's ritual meal with his followers'
tkhines:  'intimate Yiddish prayers'
toyre fun arbet, der:  'philosophy/doctrine of work'
toyre iz di beste skhoyre:  "Tora is the best merchandise"
toyre un haskole:  'religion and secular culture'
toyre-shmuesn:  'informal homiletical talks'
toysfes:  'a commentary by the Tosephtists; additions'
treyst un guts:  'consolation and kindness'
trit ba trit:  'attentively; step by step'
tsadik:  'charismatic hasidic "saint"; saintly person'
tsdoke:  'charity'
tselem elokim:  'human image'
tsenerene:  'the Yiddish Pentateuch'
tsholnt:  'Sabbath baked dish'
tshuve:  'repentance'
tsikhtik:  'neat, clean'
tsitses:  'tassels'
tsores:  'troubles'
tsoym-gedalye:  'Fast of Gedalia'
tsuayln dem kets:  'to force the end of days'
tsupasung-feikayt:  'adaptability'
tsvishn minkhe un mayrev:  'dusk; late afternoon-early eve'
Turcos [Spanish]:  ('Turks; Sefardic Jews from the Ottoman Empire')

Unesane toykef:  [Yom Kippur prayer]
uvekhen ten pakhdecho:  'Be afraid!'

varenikes mit grivn:  'dumplings with roasted goose-skin bits'
verbes:  'willows'
veze khelki mekol amali:  'and this is my portion from my toil'
vi kries yam-suf:  'hard as splitting the Red Sea'
vikhtik:  'important'
virde:  dignity < German "Wuerde"
vo'luvke:  'fleamarket'
volekhl:  'tune without words'
vos vet zayn mayn takhlis:  'How will I end up?'

yeshive-bokherim:  'yeshiva students'
yeshive:  'yeshiva; seminary'
yeshue:  'salvation'
yeytser-hore:  'evil inclination'
yidishe minhogim:  'Jewish customs'
yidishkayt:  'Jewishness; Judaism'
yikhtevun:  'Let them be inscribed'
yires-hakoved:  'reverence'
yires-shoma'im:  'fear of Heaven'
yisgadal veyiskadash:  'Kaddish prayer'
yishuv:  'pre-State of Israel Jewish community'
Yisroel:  (Israel)
Yitskhok:  (Isaac)
yom-hadi'n:  'Day of Judgement'
yomer-taln:  'valleys of lamentation'
yomim-nero'im-khazn:  'High Holidays cantor'
yonkiper:  'Day of Atonement'
yontefdike teg:  'holiday-like days'
yortsayt-likht:  'memorial candles'
yoysher un tsedek:  'justice and righteousness'
Yude:  (Judah/Yehuda)
yugnt:  'youth'

zay a yid:  'Be a Jew!; Observe your Jewishness!'
zayn mit mentshn glaykh:  'to be as good as anyone else'
zelbshuts:  'self-defense'
Zelik:  (Zelig)
zgule:  'remedy'
zis un treystndik:  'sweet and consoling'
zitsn mesubin:  'reclining'
zmires:  'Sabbath hymns'
zoknmakhers:  'hosiers'
zoyer:  'Zohar'

Adapted by Leonard Prager from:

The Scroll of My Life
Michel (Mikhl) Radzinski (1909-1989)
As told to Shimen Kants (1914-1990)
Translated from Yiddish to English by Leonard Prager
Printed by permission of the author's son:
Daniel Radzinski
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