Rabbi Julian Sinclair

Rechev Kilayim

Rechev is the standard word for car and comes from the biblical verb lirkov, which means to ride.

Tikkun Leil Shavuot

A tikkun is a correction. In kabbalistic circles it refers to a spiritual correction for some fault.

Ger

A male convert is called a ger; a female convert is called a giyoret.

Mah Pitom

Literally, “What suddenly”, mah pitom can be translated as “No way” or “Don’t be daft.”

Fadicha / Fashla

An Arabic word that has made its way into Hebrew, fadicha describes much more than a faux pas. It is a slip-up that verges on the pathetic.

Yuhara

The literal meaning of the Aramaic word yuhara is luminous gem.

Bechor

Bechor means firstborn, referring both to children and livestock in the Bible.

Kimcha d’Pascha

“It is a tradition to buy wheat and distribute it to the poor for Pesach.” So writes Rabbi Moshe Isserlis (the Rema), a 16th century rabbinic leader of Ashkenazi Jewry.

Kitniot

Kitniyot are pulses or beans in Hebrew.

Lifnim Mishurat Hadin

Haftarah

Treif