Word Power

May is Jewish American Heritage Month—

mazel tov!—so we’re celebrating words with Hebrew roots. You may know more than you think: balm, cherub, cider, kosher, and Sabbath, for starters. See if you can schmooze your way through our quiz, and then say shalom to the next page for answers.

1. pharaoh n. ('fair-oh)

A ancient grain. B small boat. C Egyptian king.

2. jubilee n. ('joo-buh-lee)

A 50th anniversary. B candied fruit. C lucky charm.

3. cabal n. (kuh-'bahl)

A secretive group. B prayer shawl. C city-state.

4. golem n. ('goh-luhm)

A set of rules. B artificial human. C poached fish.

5. hosanna n. (ho-'zan-uh)

A mountaintop. B shout of praise. C eldest daughter.

6. babel n. ('bab-uhl)

A noisy confusion. B skyscraper. C naughty child.

7. matzo n. ('maht-suh)

A flatbread. B ceremony. C card game.

8. scapegoat n. ('scayp-goht)

A one who swears. B herdsman. C one unfairly blamed.

9. philistine adj. ('fih-luh-steen)

A allergic. B uncultured. C foreign.

10. maven n. ('may-vuhn)

A expert. B matchmaker. C rebel.

11. messiah n. (muh-'sy-uh)

A follower. B savior. C traitor.

12. jezebel n. ('jeh-zuh-bel)

A hoopskirt. B immoral woman. C ram's horn.

13. behemoth n. (bih-'hee-muth)

A something huge. B something old. C something holy.

14. chutzpah n. ('hut-spuh)

A cookie. B nerve. C blessing.

15. manna n. ('man-uh)

A godsend. B great-aunt. C winged beetle.