Jewish education has its own vocabulary. Some terms come from Hebrew or Yiddish and describe specific types of institutions. Others are used loosely — sometimes interchangeably — in ways that can confuse a family evaluating schools for the first time. The entries below are plain-language explanations of the terms that come up most often.
School types and traditions
- What is a yeshiva? — A yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution — but the specific meaning varies by community. Here's what the term covers in practice.
- What is a Bais Yaakov? — Bais Yaakov is the dominant model for Orthodox girls' Jewish education, founded in early-20th-century Poland and now central to the yeshivish and Modern Orthodox worlds.
- What is a mesivta? — A mesivta is a high-school-level yeshiva for boys in the yeshivish Orthodox tradition, combining intensive Talmud study with general academics.
- Jewish day school vs. yeshiva — what's the difference? — The terms overlap and sometimes mean the same thing, but in most communities they signal different religious orientations, curricula, and cultures. Here's how to tell them apart.
Concepts families ask about
Beyond the names of specific school types, families often ask about hashkafa (religious orientation), dual curriculum (the combined Judaic + general studies schedule), and limudei kodesh / limudei chol (the Hebrew terms for Judaic and general studies). Our guide to types of Jewish schools covers how these concepts play out across different movements — Modern Orthodox, yeshivish, Conservative, Reform, community/pluralistic, and Chabad.
When the same word means different things
The word "yeshiva" is a common source of confusion. In day-to-day use, it can refer to a boys' elementary school, a boys' high school, a post-high-school institution, or the building that houses any of these. In Modern Orthodox communities, "yeshiva day school" sometimes refers to a co-ed elementary school. In yeshivish communities, "yeshiva" almost always refers to a boys-only institution. Context usually clarifies which meaning is in play.
Similarly, "day school" typically means a full-day private Jewish school serving K through 12, but some communities reserve the term for co-ed or Modern Orthodox institutions specifically. When in doubt, look at the grade range and whether the school serves boys, girls, or both — those two facts tell you more than any label. Our directory lists every Jewish day school we can confirm is operating in the US, and our matching quiz helps narrow the list to schools that actually fit your family.