seder / סדר

Pronunciation: SEH-der
Definition: Order; learning session.
Example: “During morning seder…”
Origin: Hebrew

sefer / ספר

Pronunciation: SEH-fer
Definition: Book.
Example: “Open the sefer.”
Origin: Hebrew

sefarim / ספרים

Pronunciation: seh-fah-REEM
Definition: Books.
Example: “The sefarim say…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: sforim

shabbos / שבת

Pronunciation: SHAH-bis
Definition: Sabbath.
Example: “On Shabbos…”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: Shabbat

shaila / שאלה

Pronunciation: SHAI-lah
Definition: Question.
Example: “It’s a real shaila.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: she’eilah

shalom / שלום

Pronunciation: shah-LOHM
Definition: Peace; wholeness.
Example: “The goal is shalom.”
Origin: Hebrew

shayach / שייך

Pronunciation: SHAI-yakh
Definition: Relevant; applicable.
Example: “Is that shayach here?”
Origin: Hebrew/Aramaic
Also spelled: sheyach

shayach to us / שייך אלינו

Pronunciation: SHAI-yakh to us
Definition: Relevant to our lives.
Example: “How is this shayach to us?”
Origin: Yeshivish phrase

shefa / שפע

Pronunciation: SHEH-fah
Definition: Flow; abundance.
Example: “Shefa comes down.”
Origin: Hebrew

shiur / שיעור

Pronunciation: SHEE-ur
Definition: Class; Torah lesson.
Example: “In this shiur, we’ll discuss bitachon.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: shiurim

shita / שיטה

Pronunciation: SHEE-tah
Definition: Opinion; approach.
Example: “What’s his shita?”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: shitah

shitos / שיטות

Pronunciation: SHEE-tohs
Definition: Opinions; approaches.
Example: “There are two shitos.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: shitot

shliach tzibbur / שליח ציבור

Pronunciation: SHLEE-akh TSIB-bur
Definition: Prayer leader.
Example: “The shliach tzibbur repeats.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: shatz

shoresh / שורש

Pronunciation: SHOH-resh
Definition: Root; source.
Example: “The shoresh of the issue…”
Origin: Hebrew

shtark / שטאַרק

Pronunciation: SHTARK
Definition: Strong; intense; serious.
Example: “He’s very shtark.”
Origin: Yiddish
Also spelled: stark

shtayg / שטײַג

Pronunciation: SHTAYG
Definition: Grow in learning.
Example: “He’s really shtayging.”
Origin: Yiddish/Yeshivish
Also spelled: shteig

shteiging / שטײַגינג

Pronunciation: SHTAYG-ing
Definition: Growing spiritually or in learning.
Example: “Keep shteiging.”
Origin: Yeshivish
Also spelled: shtayging

shtel tzu / שטעל צו

Pronunciation: SHTEL tsoo
Definition: Compare; connect.
Example: “Shtel tzu the two sources.”
Origin: Yiddish
Also spelled: shtel tsu

shtickel / שטיקל

Pronunciation: SHTIK-el
Definition: Small piece; bit.
Example: “A shtickel Torah.”
Origin: Yiddish
Also spelled: shtikel

shul / שול

Pronunciation: SHOOL
Definition: Synagogue.
Example: “At shul this morning…”
Origin: Yiddish
Also spelled: schul

shvach / שוואַך

Pronunciation: SHVAKH
Definition: Weak; not impressive.
Example: “That answer is shvach.”
Origin: Yiddish
Also spelled: schwach

sicha / שיחה

Pronunciation: SEE-khah
Definition: Talk; conversation; discourse.
Example: “The Rebbe’s sicha says…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: sichah

simcha / שמחה

Pronunciation: SIM-khah
Definition: Joy.
Example: “Serve Hashem with simcha.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: simchah

sipur / סיפור

Pronunciation: see-POOR
Definition: Story.
Example: “The sipur is not random.”
Origin: Hebrew

sod / סוד

Pronunciation: SOHD
Definition: Hidden or secret layer.
Example: “On the level of sod…”
Origin: Hebrew

stam / סתם

Pronunciation: STAHM
Definition: Plainly; without reason.
Example: “It doesn’t say this stam.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish

stam azoy / סתם אַזוי

Pronunciation: STAHM ah-ZOY
Definition: Just because; casually.
Example: “Not stam azoy.”
Origin: Yiddish
Also spelled: stam azoi

sugya / סוגיא

Pronunciation: SOOG-yah
Definition: Topic or passage under study.
Example: “This sugya is very deep.”
Origin: Aramaic
Also spelled: sugyah, sugyos

svara / סברא

Pronunciation: SVUH-rah
Definition: Reasoning; logic.
Example: “What’s the svara?”
Origin: Hebrew/Aramaic
Also spelled: sevara