kiruv: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low in general English; common in Jewish community contexts.Specialised/Religious; formal within its specific domain.
Quick answer
What does “kiruv” mean?
An outreach movement in Orthodox Judaism to encourage secular or less-observant Jews to become more religiously observant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An outreach movement in Orthodox Judaism to encourage secular or less-observant Jews to become more religiously observant.
The practice or philosophy of engaging with and drawing non-observant or unaffiliated Jews closer to traditional Jewish practice and community.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning or usage; the term is used similarly in both Jewish communities.
Connotations
Positively connoted within the religious Jewish community, implying spiritual work. May be viewed neutrally or critically by secular Jews.
Frequency
Frequency is linked to the size and nature of local Orthodox communities, not primarily to UK/US geography.
Grammar
How to Use “kiruv” in a Sentence
[Org/Person] is involved in kiruv.[Org] does kiruv among [group].The goal of kiruv is to [action].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “kiruv” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The community actively seeks to kiruv young professionals.
American English
- Their mission is to kiruv unaffiliated Jews on campus.
adverb
British English
- N/A. Not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A. Not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He attended a kiruv event at the local synagogue.
American English
- She works for a kiruv organisation in Brooklyn.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
N/A. Not used in general business contexts.
Academic
Used in academic religious studies, sociology of religion, or Jewish studies papers.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in discussions within or about the Jewish community.
Technical
A technical term within Jewish communal and religious discourse.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “kiruv”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “kiruv”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “kiruv”
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a kiruv').
- Confusing it with general 'charity' or 'community work'.
- Mispronouncing with a hard 'K' or wrong vowel stress.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Kiruv is specifically directed at Jews who are not religiously observant. Proselytising to non-Jews (making converts) is a different concept in Judaism called 'gerut'.
In informal community speech, it is sometimes used as a verb (e.g., 'to kiruv someone'), but it is primarily a noun referring to the activity or movement.
No. It is a specialised term from Hebrew, familiar mainly within Jewish communities and those who study them.
The Hebrew root K-R-V (ק-ר-ב) means 'to come close' or 'to bring near'. The noun 'kiruv' means 'a bringing close' or 'act of drawing near'.
An outreach movement in Orthodox Judaism to encourage secular or less-observant Jews to become more religiously observant.
Kiruv is usually specialised/religious; formal within its specific domain. in register.
Kiruv: in British English it is pronounced /kɪˈɹuːv/, and in American English it is pronounced /kɪˈɹuv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A kiruv moment”
- “The kiruv movement”
- “To bring someone closer through kiruv”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'KEY to a REVival' in Jewish life → KIRUV. It's the key work to revive religious practice.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY IS PHYSICAL PROXIMITY (bringing someone closer). LIGHT/DARKNESS (bringing someone into the light of tradition).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'kiruv' primarily used?