Letters From Rifka

By Karen HesseVocabulary

1) Europe

•Large continent made up of multiple countries

•Includes: Germany, Poland, France, Spain and others

•Noun

Immigrant

•Person who moves from one country to go live in another country.

• Noun

Freight Train

•Train designed to carry supplies, such as, cattle, cars, food, etc.

•Noun

Escape

• To get away from something, someone, or someplace.

• Verb (present tense)

Distract

• To turn someone’s attention away from one thing to something else.

• Verb—present tense

Rucksack• A type of back pack• Noun

Emerged

• To come out of • Verb– Past tense

Deserts• Suddenly leaves• Leaves military duty without

being released• Verb (present tense)

Greedy

• Selfish, self centered, wanting many things

• Adjective

Cellar

• Dug out, dirt basement; commonly used for storage of food; was used as a place of safety during wars

• Noun

Crouched

• Bent down, squatted• Verb—past tense

Papers

• Important documents such as a birth certificate, passport, or immigration papers.

• Noun

Spoke ill of

• To talk about someone in a bad way

• Verb phrase

Jew

• A person who follows the Jewish faith. • Noun

Clever

• Very smart or bright• Adjective

Sabbath

• In the Jewish faith, as well as, other religions the Sabbath is their day of rest. The Sabbath starts at sundown on Friday night and ends at sundown on Saturday night.

• Noun

Occupied

• To be busy• Verb—past tense

potbelly

A rounded stomachAdjective

Pivoted

• To turn quickly and sharply• Verb—past tense

Squinted

• Looked at closely• Verb—past tense

Chatter

• Talking• Verb-present tense

Betraying

•To break trust; to give to the enemy

•Verb—present tense

Thud

• Loud noise: something being dropped

• Verb—present tense

Inspect

• To look over closely• Verb—present tense

Influence

• Power; to affect someone• Verb—present tense

Shalom

• Good-bye or peach in Hebrew• Noun

Aboard

•To get on to something. Get on the train.

•Adverb

Barked

• Snapped orders at someone; • speak harshly• Verb—past tense

Vile

•Nasty; really bad•adjective

Stow

• To hide away somewhere• Verb—present tense

Cot

• A fold up bed• Noun

Linens

• Bedding, such as sheets and pillowcases

• Noun

En Route

Going, traveling to a placeVerb-present tense

Fled

• To leave quickly, escape• Verb—present tense

Scalp

• The skin on top of your head• Noun

Bleakness

• Ugliness; darkness• Adjective

Lurch

• To come to a sudden stop• Verb—present tense

Orphan

• Child whose parents have either died or left them

• Adjective

Wardrobe

• A stand alone closet for putting clothes in

• Noun

Star of David

• A Jewish symbol

Scrub• To wash clean• Verb—present tense