Dictionary of Jewish Words

Organized in an A to Z format for easy reference, "The JPS 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. Joyce Eisenberg is an author and editor of a number of travel books and a series of kosher cookbooks. She was the editor of special sections for the "Jewish Exponent" for over 20 years and continues to write on topics of Jewish interest.