Jewish Mum of the Year

Chaos and pandemonium.
The word balagan is used in a number of ways both in a positive light for example to describe a crazy but good thing or it can also be used to describe matters that have got out of hand. [balagán]

A type of bread
Traditionally served on the Sabbath (Yiddish [shábes], modern Hebrew [shabát]). The name 'challah' is derived from the Hebrew word used for 'portion' in the Biblical commandment 'of the first of your dough you shall give unto the Lord a portion for a gift throughout your generations.' Egg bread, it braided, some say, to symbolize the ascent to heaven. On New Year it's rounded (some say) to symbolize the continuity of Creation. After Passover its key-shaped to allow prayers to enter the doors of heaven. In many little villages (shtétlakh) in Eastern Europe, it was shaped as a ladder before or after the Day of Atonement to ensure that prayers made it up to the heights of heaven.
Yiddish [khále], modern Hebrew [khalá].

A blessing
The Hamotzi blessing is traditionally said before blessing of the bread, and serves as the inaugural blessing for the entire meal (bread being the symbolic essence whose blessing suffices for the rest of the food at the meal).
Yiddish [hamóytsi].

The wedding 'canopy' or 'covering' under which the bridge and groom stand when getting married.
A Jewish wedding takes place under a chuppah. There are many explanations. One favourite is that it symbolizes the Jewish home to be built by the couple.
Yiddish [khúpe], modern Hebrew [khupá].

Informal term used to refer to an Orthodox Jewish person.

A name for God
Jews found many acceptable ways to avoid using God's actual name(s) in vain, and one of the most common is Hashem (pronounced ha-shém), which literally means The Name.

A blessing
This blessing is said over the wine on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. It is also the name for the food and drink spread served after a Sabbath morning synagogue service. Its literal meaning is 'sanctification'.
Yiddish [kídesh], modern Hebrew [kidúsh].

Food that is proper or acceptable according to ancient Jewish law.
'Kashrus' (Yiddish [káshres], modern Hebrew [kashrút]), from the root kosher (or 'kasher') is the cover term for the complex of laws and traditions involving the commitment to keep kosher in all that one eats. The reason Jewish people who keep kosher will never be seen having bacon butty is rather complex. According to the Torah, the only acceptable types of meat that are alright to eat are cattle and game that have 'cloven hooves' and that 'chew the cud'. In any case any form of pig meat is forbidden as unclean.
Contradictory to what is commonly thought, not all Jewish people choose to keep kosher. There is a proverbial variety of 164 degrees from those who keep all to those who keep nothing to the many in between, for example those who keep a basically or entirely kosher home but are less strict outside. Orthodox Jews are by definition strictly kosher all the time.

To Life!
An expression used when making a toast with some alcoholic drink. [LEKHÁYIM]

Congratulations!
This phrase is used to express congratulations or admiration for something well performed. Ironically it can also mean 'Wow, you finally got that done, well, mazltof!'

The Hebrew word for good deed (originally it meant 'commandment').
Every time you do a good deed it's called a Mitzvah. At age 13, Jewish boys become a Bar Mitzvah, meaning they become a man and are considered responsible for their actions. On the first Sabbath after their birthday (or near enough, anyway), they recite Torah blessings and readings, plus the weekly reading from the Prophets, in the synagogue and are blessed. Afterwards, a feast and party is common, some more extravagant then others. For girls, it's called a Bat Mitzvah and occurs when they are aged 12.
Yiddish [mítsve, bar-mítsve, bas-mítsve], modern Hebrew [mitsvá, bar-mitsvá, bat-mitsvá].

The Sabbath
The Sabbath comes from an ancient Hebrew root for resting, ceasing work. It begins on Friday at sundown and ends Saturday at sundown. It is the seventh day of the Jewish week and the Jewish day of rest. On Shabbos Jews recall the Biblical creation Genesis when God creates the Heavens and the Earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Shabbat is a festive day when Jews are freed from the regular labours of everyday life. It offers an opportunity to contemplate the spiritual aspects of life and spend time with family, starting most happily with the traditional Friday night dinner.
Yiddish [shábes], modern Hebrew [shabát].

A 'match' between two people Either to (hopefully) become husband and wife, or more colloquially, it has many connotations depending on the context, for example a shidduch between the right teacher and pupil, between two business partners or whatever. It can refer to the actual match or to the art of matchmaking as a profession or skill or pastime. There is a tradition of matchmaking in Orthodox Jewish communities in which Jewish singles are introduced to one another for the purpose of marriage. A shidduch can mean an arranged marriage in more traditional communities.
Yiddish [shídekh], modern Hebrew [shidúkh].

To drag, traditionally something you dont really need or perhaps dont want to have to shlep along; to carry unwillingly.
English among Yiddish speakers has come up with such participles as shlepping. You can also shlep yourself, too, for example, all the way to Southend!

A pipsqueak or stupid and ineffectual nobody.
A shmendrick is heckled by his wife and walked all over by his so called 'friends'. Nothing seems to go right for the shmendrick.

Dirty.
Yiddish [shmútsik].

A Jewish guardian
Shomer is a Hebrew word that literally means a 'guard'. There is actually a technical term for the professional who guards that food preparation is strictly kosher, he is the mashgíakh ('monitor'), but casually the word shomer can be heard to cover that too.
Yiddish [shóymer], modern Hebrew [shomér].

Literally meaning 'pins' as in 'pins and needles'.
Someone who has no patience and is always in a hurry is said to seem to be sitting on shpilkes.
Yiddish [shpílkes].

A celebration of joy or festive occasion, particularly a traditional family do like a bar-mitzvah or wedding.
Yiddish [símkhe], modern Hebrew [simkhá].

Pronounced like you are spitting Don't jinx it.
It is said when something is going well, hoping that it stays that way. Dates back to ancient superstition about not jinxing something by boasting of its success prematurely.

A gossip
A Yente is a gossip. In pre-feminist times particularly referring to an elderly woman obsessed with other peoples business. Ironically, it was once a pedigrees Yiddish name, going back around a thousand years when it was used to name girls of genteel extraction, and the word comes from an old Italian form from that very root.
Yiddish [yénte].

Good Luck!
The literal translation is 'May it be with good luck!'