Judaism glossary

Preferred form

Main variants

Explanation

Afikomen (Greek)

Aggadah

Dessert. Portion of a matzah eaten near the end of the Seder.

Agadah

Telling. Rabbinical teachings on moral values.

Aleinu

Key prayer at the conclusion of each service.

Aliyah

To go up. (i) Being called to read the Sefer Torah in the synagogue. (ii) The migration of Jews to Israel.

Amidah

Standing. The standing prayer.

Aron Hakodesh

Holy Ark. The focal point of the synagogue, containing Torah scrolls.

Ashkenazim

Jews of Central and Eastern European origin.

top back

Bar Mitzvah

Bat Chayii

Son of Commandment. A boy's coming of age at 13 years old, usually marked by a synagogue ceremony and family celebration.

Bat Mitzvah

Daughter of Commandment. As above, but for girls from 12 years old. May be marked differently between communities.

Bet ha Knesset

Beit ha Knesset Shul

House of Assembly. Synagogue.

Bimah

Dais. Raised platform primarily for reading the Torah in the synagogue.

Brit Milah

Berit Milah, Bris

Circumcision.

top back

Challah

Hallah

Enriched bread used particularly on Shabbat and during festivals.

Chazan

Hazzan Cantor

Leader of reading, singing and chanting in the services of some synagogues.

Chumash

Five. The Torah in book form, used in the synagogue and the home.

Circumcision

Religious rite of Brit Milah, performed by a qualified mohel on all Jewish boys, usually on the eighth day after birth. Cutting away of the foreskin on the penis.

Gemara

Gemarah

Commentary on the Mishnah included in the Talmud.

Genizah

Storage place for damaged religious texts.

Haftarah

Completion. Passages from Nevi'im (Prophets) read in the synagogue (linked to weekly Torah and festival readings).

Hagadah

Haggadah

Telling. A book used at Seder

Halakhah

Halacha

The Way. The code of conduct encompassing all aspects of Jewish life.

Hanukiah

Chanukiah Menorah

Nine-branched Hanukkah lamp used at the festival of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah

Chanukah

Dedication. An eight-day festival of lights to celebrate the re-dedication of the temple following the Maccabean victory over the Greeks.

Hasid

Chasid

Hasidim (pl.) Chasidim

Pious. Member of the Orthodox movement of Hasidism.

Hasidism

Chasidism

A religious and social movement formed by Israel Baal Shem Tov (from the 18th century onwards).

Havdalah

Distinction. Ceremony marking the conclusion of Shabbat.

Hebrew

lvrit

Ancient Semitic language; language of the Tenakh (Hebrew Scriptures) and used by Jews for prayer and study. Also, everyday language in Israel.

Huppah

Chuppah

Canopy used for a wedding ceremony, under which the bride and groom stand.

Israel

One who struggles with God. The phrase refers to the worldwide Jewish community; the land of Israel and the modern state of Israel.

Kabbalah

Cabala

Jewish mysticism.

Kaddish

Prayer publicly recited by mourners.

Kashrut

Laws relating to keeping a kosher home and lifestyle.

Ketubah

Ketubbah

Document that defines rights and obligations within Jewish marriage.

Ketuvim

Writings. Third section of the Tenakh,

Kibbutz

Kibbutzim (pl.)

Israeli collective village based on socialist principles.

Kiddush

Holy. A prayer sanctifying Shabbat and festival days, usually recited over wine.

Kippah

Yamulkah Capel

Head covering worn during prayers, Torah study, etc. Some followers wear it constantly.

Knesset

Assembly. Israeli parliament.

Kol Nidrei

Kol Nidre

All vows. Prayer recited on the evening of Yom Kippur.

Korach

Name of the leader who defied Moses in the wilderness

Kosher

Kasher

Fit; proper. Foods permitted by Jewish dietary laws.

Ladino

Language used predominately by Sephardim

Magen David

Shield of David, popularly called Star of David

Maimonides

Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (1135-1204), a leading Jewish philosopher, medical writer and codifier of Jewish law.

Mashiach

Moshiach Messiah

The anointed one who will herald in a new era for Judaism and all humankind.

Matzah

Matzot (pi.)

A flat cracker-like bread which has been baked before it rises; used at Pesach.

Menorah

Seven-branched candelabrum which was lit daily in the Temple.

Mezuzah

A scroll placed on doorposts of Jewish homes, containing a section from the Torah and often enclosed in a decorative case.

Midrash

Collections of various Rabbinic commentaries on the Tenakh.

Mikveh

Ritual bath used for the immersion of people and objects.

Minyan

Quorum of ten men, over Bar Mitzvah age, required for a service. Progressive communities may include women but do not always require a minyan.

Mishnah

First writing down of the Oral Tradition. An authoritative document forming part of the Talmud, codified about 200 CE.

Mishkan

Dwelling. The original travelling sanctuary used prior to the building of the permanent Temple in Jerusalem.

Mitzvah

Mitzvot (pl.)

Commandment. The Torah contains 613 Mitzvot. Commonly used to describe good deeds.

Mohel

Person trained to perform Brit Milah.

Moshav

Moshavim (pl.)

Collective village or farm in Israel.

Ner Tamid

Eternal light. The perpetual light above the Aron Hakodesh.

Nevi'im

Prophets. Second section of the Tenakh.

Noachide Laws

Seven laws given to Noah after the flood, which are incumbent on all humankind. These laws form the foundation for a just society.

Parev

Parveh

Neutral foods, which are neither milk nor meat, e.g. vegetables, eggs, fish.

Pesach

Passover

Festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. One of the three biblical pilgrim festivals. Pesach is celebrated in the spring.

Pikei Avot

Pirke Avoth

Sayings of the Fathers. Part of the Mishnah containing ethics of Rabbinical sages.

Pikuakh Nefesh

Save a soul The setting aside of certain laws in order to save a life.

Pogrom

Organised attack on Jews, especially frequent in 19th and early 20th century Eastern Europe.

Purim

Festival commemorating the rescue of Persian Jewry as told in the book of Esther.

Rabbi

My teacher. An ordained Jewish teacher. Often the religious leader of a Jewish community.

Rashi

Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzhak (1040 - 1105). A French rabbinical scholar and leading commentator on the Torah and Talmud.

Rebbe

 Rabbi. The term used by Hasidim for their religious leader.

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Ha-Shanah

Head of the Year. Jewish New Year.

Seder

Order. A home-based ceremonial meal during Pesach, at which the Exodus from Egypt is recounted using the Hagadah.

Sefer Torah

Torah scroll. The five books of Moses hand-written on parchment and rolled to form a scroll.

Sephardim

Jews originating from Mediterranean countries, especially Spain, North Africa and the Middle East.

Shabbat

Shabbos

Day of spiritual renewal and rest commencing at sunset on Friday, terminating at nightfall on Saturday.

Shatnez

Garments containing a forbidden mixture of wool and linen.

Shavuot

Weeks. One of three pilgrim festivals. Shavuot is celebrated in the summer, seven weeks after Pesach.

Shekhina

The divine presence.

Shema

Major Jewish prayer affirming belief in one God. The Shema is found in the Torah.

Shemot

Names.  Seven holy names of God.

Shiva

Seven days of intense mourning following the burial of a close relation. During this period, all ordinary work is prohibited.

Shoah

Desolation. The suffering experienced by European Jews at the hands of the Nazis, including the systematic murder of six millions Jews between 1933 and 1945

Shofar

Ram's horn blown at the season of Rosh Hashanah.

Siddur

Order. Daily prayer book.

Simchat Torah

Rejoicing of the law. Festival celebrating the completion and recommencement of the cycle of the weekly Torah reading.

Sukkah

Sukkot (pl.)

Tabernacle; booth. A temporary dwelling used during Sukkot

Sukkot

One of three biblical pilgrim festivals, Sukkot is celebrated in the Autumn.

Synagogue

Shul               

Bet Haknesset

Bet Hamidrash

Building for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly.

Tallit

Tallith

Prayer shawl. Four-cornered garment with fringes.

Talmud

Mishnah and Gemara, collected together.

Tefillah

Tefila

Self-judgement. Jewish prayer and meditation.

Tefillin

Tephilin

T'filin

Phylacteries

Small leather boxes containing passages from the Torah, strapped on the forehead and arm for morning prayers on weekdays.

Tenakh

Tanakh

The collected 24 books of the Jewish Bible, comprising three sections: Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim (Te;Na;Kh).

Teshuva

Repentance. Returning to God.

Tikkun Olam

Tikun

Care for the world and environment.

Torah

Law; teaching. The Five Books of Moses.

Tzedaka

Righteousness. An act of charity,

Tzizit

Tzittzit

Fringes on the corners of the Tallit Also commonly refers to the fringed undervest worn by some Jewish males.

Yad

Hand-held pointer used in reading the Sefer Torah.

Yahrzeit

Year-time. Anniversary of a death

Yeshiva

College for study of the Torah and Talmud.

Yiddish

Language used predominantly by Ashkenazim

Yishuv

lngathering. The Jewish community of Israel.

Yom Hashoah

Day to commemorate the Shoah.

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement. Fast day occurring on the tenth day after Rosh Hashanah; a solemn day of Tefillah and Teshuva.

Zionism

Political movement securing the Jewish return to the land of Israel.