Beadle- a member of a religious congregation who helps with services; assists the Rabbi

Surname- last name

Hasidic- a sect, or segment of the Jewish religion founded in the 1700’s which emphasizes prayer, mysticism, and religious zeal (seriousness)

Waiflike- like an abandoned or friendless child

Exile of Providence- a condition identified within some Jewish belief systems that God’s guardianship has been exiled, or sent away. In other words, humans will be delivered from evil and returned to God’s care.

Cabbala- a way of interpreting religious scriptures based on mysticism or spiritual intuition of truths; a belief that one can achieve a direct, intimate union of the soul with God.

Talmud- extensive writings about the first five books of the Bible

The destruction of the Temple- refers to the Temple of Jerusalem which has been reportedly destroyed by invading armies

Maimonides- a revered Jewish scholar who lived from 1135-1204

Mysticism- see "cabbala" above

Zohar- books of Jewish mysticism

Indulgently- kindly or tolerantly

Conviction- strong belief

Traders- shopkeepers

Deportees- people who have been sent away from a place by force

Gestapo- German police

Lorries- flatbed trucks with a canvas cover

New Year- Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year)

Betrothals- engagements

Zionism- the movement to establish a Jewish state

Emigration permits- papers which would allow a family to move to Palestine

Palestine- territory occupied by the British until 1948, at which time Jewish settlers fought and won the war to make the land the Jewish state of Israel

Liquidate- to sell everything

Fascist- one who supports a rigid one party dictatorship which is characterized by forcible suppression of the opposition

Abstraction- an idea or a thought

Anti-Semitic- against those of Jewish or Arab descent

Billeted- assigned by written order to house military personnel

Bade- past tense of bid, meaning "asked"

Ghetto- a section of a city with strict barriers setting it off from the rest of the city

Stoke- to keep a fire going

Illusion- a dream, pretense

Pentecost- a Christian holiday on the seventh Sunday after Easter which celebrated reception of the Holy Spirit by the Apostles of Jesus

Treatise- a lengthy paper

Expounding- elaborating

Firmament- the sky

"drain the bitter draft to the dregs"- drink (his words) down to the last remaining drop

Candelabra- branched holders for candles

Phylacteries- small leather cases containing prayers which are bound to the head or upper arm

Truncheons- a short, thick club

Convoy- a group traveling together

"captivity of Babylon or the Spanish Inquisition"- two historical references to periods which the Jews were enslaved or persecuted

Gaped- hung open

The Boche- the ruling party in Hungary

"On holiday"- on vacation

Guerillas- an underground fighting group

"better disposed"- displayed better dispositions; that is, were kind to each other