What Comes After (or Instead of) Hello…
Knowing how to greet and respond to greetings will greatly enhance your comfort when attending services or speaking with someone who is Jewish, especially during holiday seasons.
| GREETING/RESPONSE | TRANSLATION | USAGE |
| SHALOM (Hebrew) | PEACE | Greeting or response |
| YA-SHEIR KO-ACH (Hebrew) | STRENGTH | Said with a handshake (used like “good job”) to congratulate a person who has just had an honor on the pulpit or performed a mitzvah |
| BA-RUCH T’HI-YEH (Hebrew) | THANK YOU | Response to Ya-Sheir Ko-ach (used like “You’re welcome” |
| MAZAL TOV (Hebrew) | CONGRATULATIONS | |
| SHABBAT SHALOM (Hebrew) | SABBATH PEACE | Greeting and response |
| GUT SHABBAS (Yiddish) | GOOD SABBATH | Greeting and response |
| SHA-VU-A-TOV (Hebrew)
| A GOOD WEEK | Greeting and response after Shabbat ends |
| GUT YONTIF (Yiddish) | HAPPY HOLIDAY | Greeting and response on festivals such as Purim, Hanukah, Shavuot, Sukkot, Pesach |
| CHAG-SA-MEI-ACH (Hebrew) | HAPPY HOLIDAY | Greeting and response on festivals such as Purim, Hanukah, Shavuot, Sukkot, Pesach |
| SHANA TOVA (Hebrew) | A GOOD YEAR | Greeting and response from Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur |
| TZOM KAL (Hebrew) | MAY YOU HAVE AN EASY FAST | Greeting at Kol Nidre or Yom Kippur |