Night Vocabulary, Part I

Shtibl – a place used for communal Jewish prayer

Penury –extreme poverty

Rendering – a representation of something

Waiflike – a homeless person, especially a child

Shekhinah – dwelling or settling of the divine presence of God

Kabbalah – a doctrine that has a mystical method of interpreting Scripture

Talmud – the collection of Jewish law and tradition

Synagogue – Jewish house of worship

Maimonides – Jewish scholar and philosopher

Mysticism – beliefs, Ideas, or mode of thought of mystics or divinity

Zohar – medieval mystical work that consists mainly of work of Jewish Kabbalah

Indulgently – allowing one to enjoy an abundance of

Err – to go astray, be mistaken, be incorrect

Expelled – to drive or force out

Deportees – a person who has been expelled or banned

Gestapo – German secret police during the Nazi regime

Haste – quick action, in a hurry or rush

Insinuated – to suggest or hint on the sly

Zionism – a worldwide Jewish movement that resulted in the establishment and development of the state of Israel

Liquidate – to get rid of, especially by killing

Nyilas – a group of Nazi extremists

Anti-Semitic – people who discriminate or who are prejudiced toward Jews

Fascists – a person who is dictatorial or has extreme right-wing views

Jubilant – joyful, excited

Prominent – leading, important, or well known

Summoned – called upon

Shavuot – a festival, celebrated on the sixth and seventh days of Sivan that honors God’s giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses

Consoling – sympathizing, understanding, showing care

Rescinded – to abrogate; annual; revoke; repeal

Surreptitiously – obtained, done, made by stealth; secret or unauthorized

Infinite – without number, forever going, within all time and space

Conflagration – a destructive fire

Convoy – a ship, fleet, group of vehicles accompanied by a protecting escort

Economize – avoid waste or extravagance, to use sparingly

Anguish – pain, agony

Indifferent – having no bias, prejudice, or preference; impartial; disinterested

Illusions – something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality