Hebrew on Your Invitation: The 5 Words to Know

Even if most of your invitation is in English, these 5 Hebrew words instantly make it feel more authentic to guests who know the tradition. Here they are, and where to place them.

1. Mazel Tov (מזל טוב) — "Good luck"

Literally "good star". It's THE word for congratulating any joyous occasion: wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, birth. Place it prominently in your invitation's closing moment, right before the CTA. Avoid it for more solemn events (Brit, Pidyon HaBen — "Mazel Tov b'sha'ah tovah" is the better fit there).

2. Sheva Brachot (שבע ברכות) — "Seven blessings"

The 7 blessings recited under the chuppah, then again over the 7 evenings that follow a wedding. If you’re hosting post-wedding Sheva Brachot dinners, mention the term explicitly — your more traditional guests will instantly understand the format.

3. Aliyah (עליה) — "Going up"

The call to the Torah, central to a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or an Aufruf. Mention the time of the aliyah on your Bar Mitzvah invitation — it's the key moment your synagogue guests don't want to miss.

4. Kashrut (כשרות) — "Dietary law"

The level of kashrut for the meal. If your caterer is certified, say so explicitly: "Beth Din certified", "mashgiach on site". Observant guests genuinely care about this — it's a reassuring detail, not a formality.

5. Simcha (שמחה) — "Joy"

The generic term for any joyous celebration. "Dear guest, we would be honored by your presence at our simcha" works for a wedding, a Bar Mitzvah, a Brit. Elegant, traditional, never pretentious.

The trap to avoid

Don't write Hebrew in Latin transliteration everywhere. If you really want the authentic effect, write it in Hebrew script (מזל טוב, שמחה). If your invitation tool doesn't natively support Hebrew (most Anglo-American tools don't), your more traditional guests will notice.

Tov.events natively supports Hebrew/English bilingual invitations — each guest sees the version in their own language, automatically. Free, no setup required.