The big challenge here for many English-speakers is that initial heavy H sound, like the J in Jose or the ch in Loch Ness. Others say “Shanah tovah” or Happy New Year, and some say “Tzom kal” or have an easy fast. This greeting (and closing) is used between Rosh Hashanah and the end of Yom Kippur. Traditional greetings on Rosh Hashanah include, “L’Shana Tovah tikatevu,” which means, May you be inscribed for a good year, or just “Shana Tovah,” which means “a good year.” Some say “Happy New Year!” or “a happy and healthy New Year.” You might also hear people greet one another during Rosh Hashanah in Yiddish, “Gut Yom Tov,” meaning, happy holiday.Ī traditional of the Jewish greetings for Yom Kippur is “Gamar hatimah tovah.” Some say “Gmar tov,” meaning a good completion to your inscription (in the book of life). You can repeat, “shavua tov!” to them right back. You might even hear people saying this through Sunday. Starting on Saturday night, people often wish each other “shavua tov,” meaning “a good week,” as a wish for the coming week. Some close Shabbat with the short ceremony of Havdalah, meaning “separation,” to mark the separation of Shabbat from the rest of the week. Shabbat officially ends when there are three stars in the sky on Saturday night. Literally, “good night.” An appropriate response is to say “lilah tov” back. Literally, “good evening.” You can reply “erev tov” right back. Literally, “good morning.” Nice replies are “boker tov” right back, or “boker or,” meaning “morning light.” When expressing condolences, a common Jewish saying is “May his/her memory be a blessing.” This can go along with “Sorry for your loss.”įor more about what to say when you visit a house of mourning, see “ How to Pay a Shiva Call,” and our booklet, Mourning the loss of a Jewish loved one. You don’t really have to say anything, just be there and listen. There is a traditional Hebrew phrase to say at funerals and houses of mourning, “Ha-Makom hu yinachem et chem b’toch avlei tsiyon v’yerushalayim.” It means, “May the Merciful One comfort you among the mourners for Zion and Jerusalem.” It seems unlikely you will need to say this, but it’s good to be in the know. When you see someone you love at a sad occasion like a funeral, what do you say? There is a Yiddish expression, “Oyf simches” which means, “Let’s only meet at happy occasions.” A good substitute is, “Glad you could make it,” or “Hope the next time we meet is at a happier occasion.” If someone says that to you, reply, “Baruch tihiyeh”-or just, “Thanks!” Sad Occasions If you feel uncomfortable pronouncing that, you can say, “Good job” and shake their hand. When someone has an aliyah (is called up to the Torah during a service) or reads from the Torah, or does some public ritual in the synagogue, one traditional thing to say is “Yasher koach,” may your strength increase. (The feminine form of this word is “tithadshi.”) There isn’t a really a good English equivalent, because there’s no specific way of congratulating people on getting new things-but you can always say, “Congratulations, enjoy it!” When your friend gets new clothes, a new house, or a new car, there is a special way to congratulate them-“Tithadesh,” may it renew you. That’s because, at Jewish weddings, it’s traditional to break a glass and sometimes also a plate. You might also hear some wise guy yell “Mazel tov” in a Jewish delicatessen when someone drops dishes. If someone says “Congratulations!” to you when you say you are going to a friend’s wedding, say, “Thanks,” not, “It’s not my wedding, you goofball.” One thing that makes the Jewish subculture a little different from the dominant culture is that it’s typical to congratulate the parents, siblings, and friends of people getting married, having a baby or watching their relative become bar or bat mitzvah. It’s also a nice thing to say to someone who has a birthday, gets a new job, or a new car. It’s something to say to couples getting married (or their anniversary), parents of children becoming bar or bat mitzvah, and new parents (but not to be said to expecting parents). Though this expression means literally good luck (or “a good sign”), it’s always used to mean congratulations. If you feel uncomfortable pronouncing that, say, “I’m so happy for you.” Instead, say “b’sha’ah tovah,” or “in a good hour”-meaning something like, I hope this works out perfectly. Don’t say mazel tov when someone says they are pregnant.
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