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A
A.D. : abbreviation for Latin Ano Dominae, Year of the Lord; see C.E. Common Era. Generally considered offensive to many non-Messianic Jews who feel it forces them to acknowledge that Yeshua is Lord.
Abaddon !wddba : Destruction
ab ba : father (alt. av)
abba aba : An affectionate way to say father, dear father, or daddy (alt. avva)
Abib byba : (Alt. Aviv) the first month of the Jewish calendar, also called Nisan, during which Pesach falls
ach xa (pl. achim) : brother
acharit tyrxa (alt. Achariyth) : end, final end, last, descendants
Acharit HaYamim : The end of the days. The end times when the Olam Hazeh (the world which is) comes to a close and the Olam Haba (the world which is to come) is about to begin.
Acharon !wrxa (pl. Acharonim) : lit.=last one: post-Rishonim commentator (pl. acharonim)
Achashverosh : Persian king in the Book of Esther
achavah hwxa : brotherhood
Achavah b’Mashiach : Brotherhood in Mashiach
achayot twxa (sg. Achot) : sisters
achdus : unity
achei sheker : false brothers
acheinu : our brother
achim ~yxa (sg. Ach) : brothers
achot (pl. achayot) : sister
achoteinu : our sister
achraius : accountability
achyon : nephew
ad kahn : sufficient for the purpose; enough
ad kdeikach : so much
ad mosai : how much longer
adam : man; humanity; human
Adam : the first man; Adam
Adam Chadash Echad : One New Humanity
Adam HeChadash : The New Humanity
adamah : ground or mud
adamah tova : good ground; good earth
Adar : Sixth month of Hebrew civil calendar: February-March; 14th is Purim
adat : congregation; community
Adat HaEl Chai : the Congregation / Community of the Living God
Adat HaShem : Cogregation / Community of God
aderaba : to the contrary
admat kodesh : holy ground
Admor (pl. admorim) : Acronym for “adoneinu, moreinu, verabbeinu” —“our master, teacher, and rabbi.” A term often applied to Chasidic spiritual leaders
adon (pl. adonim) : lord; master
Adon HaKatzir : the Lord of the Harvest
Adon Olam : “Master of the World,” a concluding hymn
Adonai (alt. Adonoi) : My Lord, Lord of all. Spoken by Jewish people instead of using God’s personal name YHWH (Yahweh) or YHVH (Yahveh)
Adonai echad : “God is one” [Devarim (Deuteronomy) 6:4]
Adonai Eloheinu : LORD our God
Adonai Elohei Tzva’ot (alt. Adonai Tzivos) : LORD God of Hosts
Adonai Elohim : The LORD God
Adonai Tzivos (alt. Adonai Elohei Tzva’ot) : Lord of Armies
Adoneynu : our Lord; Lord
adonim (sg. Adon) : masters
Adonoi (alt. Adonai) : Lord
afikoman (alt. Afikomen) : Gr. for that which comes after, or “dessert.” The half-piece of the central matzah eaten at the end of the Pesach Seder. Traditionally, the children “steal” it at the beginning of the seder and “ransom” it back to the leader of the seder at the end of the meal. In some places, the leader of the seder hides it, and the children have to find it. It is represented in a broken piece of matzah wrapped in linen and buried (hidden).
Agadah : non-legal rabbinic writings
agalim : bulls
Agam HaEish : Lake of Fire
agape : (Gk.) divine love
aggadah (alt. agada, agadah) : stories, parables, philosophical material (pl. agadot, aggadot)
agmat nefesh : grief
agudah : bound together; union
Agudas Yisroel-Agudath : Israel of America, the foremost organization of orthodox Jewry in the United States. A major aspect of its activity is the representation of orthodox Jewish interests before the government.
agunah : a woman whose husband had disappeared, and who could not remarry without witnesses to his death, hence a “bound” woman, lit., a chained one; a woman whose husband refuses to grant a divorce
ahava (alt. Ahavah) : (Heb.) love [n]; equivalent of Gr. agape
ahavah shel achvah : brotherly love
Ahavas HaEmes (alt. HaEmet) : Love of the Truth
ahavas hakesef : love of money
ahavas HaShem : God’s love
ahavat ta’anugot : hedonism
ainikle : (Yid.) grandchild
airusin : betrothal; engagement
aizen : well-founded; incontrovertible
akama : quite a number
akedah : binding
Akedah (alt. Akeida) : Binding an animal for sacrifice; specifically, Avraham’s binding of Yitzhak for sacrifice to God—not consummated. The binding of the sacrifice
Akiba : A rabbi who lived at the time of the second Temple (died c. C.E. 133). He thought Bar Kochba was the Messiah.
Akrab : (alt. akrav) scorpion (pl. akrabim, akrabim)
Al Chet : lit. for the sin; an important Yom Kippur prayer listing sins for which we beg forgiveness
Al Hanisim (alt. Ha-nissim) : thanksgiving for the miracles added to prayer and grace after the meal on the festivals of Chanukkah and Purim
al kiddush HaShem : for the sanctification of God
al kol panim : nevertheless
al menat : in order that
Al Mikrah Megillah : the blessing before the reading of the Megillah
Al Netilat Yadayim : the blessing over the washing of hands before the meal
al pnei hamayim : on the surface of the waters
al taarotz : do not be afraid
alef : The first letter of the Hebrew Alef-Beyt (alphabet)
Alenu Leshabe’ach : a prayer of thanksgiving for being separated from the heathens
Aleinu : “It is Upon Us,” a concluding hymn
alav hashalom : “(May he/she) rest in peace.”
aliyah : Lit., “the going up.” Figuratively speaking, the “home going,” when Jews make a return to the homeland (Israel), either to immigrate or to make pilgrimage. Also used in synagogue service of “going up” to read from the Torah. To “have an aliyah” refers to the honor of being called up to the bimah to recite or chant the blessings over the Torah. (pl. aliyot)
aliyah leregel : pilgrimage
al-killayon : incorruptibility
alma : virgin. Lit., a young woman of marriageable age. However, since sexual promiscuity carried the death penalty, the state of virginity is assumed. (pl. almot)
almanah : widow (pl. almanot)
als : since
alter : old
am : people
Am haAretz : peasantry. Used by the Talmud and thereafter to mean ignorant … people of the land
amal : toil
amen : It is true, so be it, may it become true. (also amein, oimen, omen)
Amidah : Standing prayer, quietly murmured, that is part of each daily service in the synagogue, alternatively called the Tefillah or the Shemoneh Esre. A prayer, recited silently, thrice daily, while standing up, the prayer of the eighteen benedictions.
Amora’im : lit. explainers : Gemarah-era commentators (200-500 CE)
ammud : pillar
Ammudei HaKehillah : Pillars of the Kehillah
amol : formerly
amolike times : olden times
Amora : Speaker, interpreter; expounder of Talmudic (Mishnaic) law from compilation of Mishnah to redaction of entire Talmud, in Babylon (where the amoraim were known as Mar or Rav) and in Palestine (where they were designated Rabbi). Their discussions and teachings, 220-550, form the Gemara, lengthier sections of the Talmud that follow each Mishnah (pl. Amoraim)
anafah : heron
ana’fim : the branches
anan : cloud (pl. ananim)
Anan Edim : Cloud of Witnesses
anashim : men
anashim ne’emanim : faithful men
anav : humble
anavah : meekness; humility
anavat ruach : a spirit of meekness
Anenu : a passage added to prayer on public fast days
Ani Ma’amin : Literally: I believe; often sung at the seder and at Yom Hashoah observances in memory of Holocaust victims who sang this song of faith on their way to their deaths : phrase that begins each of Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles of Faith
Ani Ma’amin hoda’ah : confession
aniyim : the poor
anochiyut : selfishness
Anshei K’neset Hagdolah : Sages of the Great Synod during the first part of the Second Sanctuary Period
anshuldiks : pardon
aphikomen : (alt. afikomen) Hebrew transliteration of Greek derivative, epikomios. That which comes last, the hidden Passover bread eaten at the seder.
apikoros : skeptic; unbeliever
apikorosim : unbelievers
apocalyptic : ideas and teachings pertaining to the revelation of Messiah (apocalypse) of the last days and the end of the world
Apocrypha : A Greek adjective in the neuter plural (from apokruphos, “hidden, concealed”) denotes strictly “things concealed.” “Old Testament” Apocrypha, specifically the fourteen books written after the “Old Testament” canon was closed and which, being the least remote from the canonical books, laid strongest claim to canonicity … The body of Jewish literature written between the second century B.C.E. and the second century C.E., not included in the canon of the Bible.
apostate : one whose actions are not consistent with the standards of behavior set by his religious community; compare heretic
arain getun : engrossed
Aravah (pl. Aravot) : willow branch taken as one of the four species on Succot (the Feast of Tabernacles).
arayot : lions
arba’ah : four
Arba’ah Minim (the Four Species) : Palm, myrtle, willow, and citron; another name for the lulav and etrog together, used on Sukkot
arba’im : forty
arbaa asar : fourteen
arbaat elafim : four thousand
Arbah Chayyot : Four living beings
arbah pinot ha’aretz : the four corners of the earth
arbaim yom varbaim lailah : forty days and forty nights
arbe; arbeh : locusts
arelim : uncircumcised ones
ari : (alt. arye) lion
Ariel : Lion of God; Fireplace on God’s altar
Aron haKodesh : Literally: the Holy Ark. The special cabinet in which the Torah scrolls are kept in the synagogue The Holy Ark is called Heichal in Sephardic synagogues.
aron met : coffin
aron otzaram : chest of treasury
arye (alt. ari) : lion
asach : a lot of
asam : barn
asarah : ten
Aseret Yemei Teshuvah : the ten days of penitence
Asham : A guilt offering made by one who has sinned against his fellow man
ashem : guilty
ashir : oisher; rich man (pl. ashirim)
ashirut : riches
Ashkenazi : (alt. Ashicenazi) Referring to a cultural branch of Judaism that developed in northern and eastern Europe and from which most American Jews are descended. (pl. Ashkenazim, Ashicenazim)
ashma; ashmah : guilt; a thing of guilt; condemnation
Ashrey : Psalm 145 recited thrice daily
ashrey; ashrei : happy; blessed
asim : barns; granaries
asir : prisoner
asur : prohibited; impermissible
Atah Chonantanu : a passage added to the evening prayer after the Sabbath to note the difference between the Sacred and the non-Sacred
atalef : bat
atarah : crown (pl., atarot)
Ateret HaChayyim : Crown of Life
Ateret HaKavod : Crown of Glory
Athid Lavo : The coming age.
atzamot : bones
atzav : idol; image
Atzeret : Conclusion; used for concluding observance of festival; word derived from “gathering” or “detention,” original meanings. Shemini Atzeret is concluding day of Sukkoth; Atzeret is Talmudic term for Shavuot, conclusion of Omer count. A festive gathering for the conclusion of a festive season, a concluding feast
atzilah : noble birth
atzlanit : sluggards
atzlut : lazy idleness
Aufruf : Calling up of the bridegroom or bridal couple for the Torah blessings on the Shabbat preceding their wedding
av : father (alt. ab)
avva : daddy (alt.abba)
Av : Eleventh month of Jewish year.
Av Beit Din (alt. Bayt, Bet) : Father of the court; judicial president in Talmudic era, and later
Av Harachamim : a prayer for the persecuted communities
Av HaRoeh b’seter : Father Who Sees in secret
av sela : bed rock
Avaddon : destruction; hell; Abbadon
avadim : servants; slaves
avanim : stones
avdut : slavery; bondage
avel : iniquity; gross injustice
avelim : mourners
avelut : mourning
Avelut : third period of mourning; the first year after death
averah : transgression
averos : sins
Avi-khol : Father of all
Avinu : our Father
Avinu Malkenu : Literally: our Father, our King. A prayer of supplication recited on Yom Kippur. A prayer said on the Days of Penitence and fast days.
Aviv : (alt. Abib) Nisan was known as Aviv/Abib prior to Babylonian captivity
avla; avlah : injustice
Avodah (alt. Abodah) : Service; specifically, the sacrificial Temple service as performed by high priest; today, referring to Yom Kippur observance and other synagogue rituals. Chasidic concept of life dedicated to God
avodah zarah : idol worship
avodas : work
avodas hakodesh : work of holiness
avodas kodesh : worship; service
avodot hakodesh : ministries
avon : sin offense
Avot : the Patriarchs; Fathers
Avoteinu : our Fathers
ayah : falcon
Ayin : 16th letter of the Hebrew alef-beit (alphabet)
ayin : eye
ayin horo : evil eye
ayir : young donkey
aza : certain
Azarah pl. Azarot : the Temple Courtyard. Ezrat Nashim : the outer Courtyard in the Sanctuary
Azazel : Meaning unknown; used in reference to the “scapegoat,” the goat sent into the wilderness signifying removal of the nation’s sins. The Talmud thus denotes the mountain on which scapegoat is sent, to carry people’s sins into the wilderness, on Yom Kippur
azarah (pl. azarot) : the Temple courtyard
Azharot : a passage on the commandments in the Torah read on Shavuot
azivah : abandonment
B
B”H : abbreviation for Baruch HaShem (praise God)
B.C.E. : Before the Common Era (same as B.C. but less offensive to non-Messianic Jewish people)
b’avon : in sin
b’derech hatevah : naturally
B’dikat Chametz : the formal search for leaven before Passover.
b’nei : sons
b’rakhah : blessing, benediction (pl. b’rakhot)
b’ris milah : (alt. b’rit, bris, brit) circumcision
b’rit : (alt. b’ris) covenant, contract
B’rit Chadashah (alt. Hadashah) : Renewed Covenant (erroneously referred “New Testament” which denotes that which replaces something “old”); see Ketuvim Shlichim, which should probably be the preferred term for this collection of writings, as the term B’rit Chadasha specifically refers to the Renewed Covenant itself, and not to the writings of the Shlichim concerning that covenant.
b’seder : in order
b’seter : in secret .
b’shem hazeh : in this name .
b’yirah : with fear
b’yom : (alt. byom) at day
ba’al : husband; master
ba’al gaavah : haughty; proud person
ba’al melitzot : rhetorician; fine talker
Ba’al Shem Tov : Rabbi Yisroel Ba’al Shem Tov; born 18 Elul, 1698 in Okop, Ukraine; died 6 Sivan, 1760; Rebbe in Mezhibuzh; founder of the modern Chassidic movement; main disciples Maggid of Mezritch & R’ Yaakov Yosef of Polonnoye
Ba’al Teshuva : Literally “Master of Repentance.” Used for someone that is newly observant.
ba’al tzavva’a : testator; person who makes the will
ba’alim : husbands
Baal Bayit : master of the house
Baal HaKerem : Owner of the Vineyard
baalei hamum : the maimed
baalei-batim : laymen [lit. householders]
badchan : humorist
badeken : traditional formal veiling of the bride by the groom before the wedding ceremony
baderech : on the road
bahlt : soon
bailus : sovereignty; ownership; dominion
bais : house (alt. beit)
baitel : wallet
bakkashot : petitions
bakosha : petition; request
balailah hazeh : during this night
baleidikung : insult
Bamah : an improvised altar, outside the Sanctuary (pl. Bamot)
bamidbar : in the wilderness
banim : children
bannai chacham : wise builder
bar : (Ar.) son
Bar Kokhba (alt. Kochba) : Leader of a Jewish revolt (132-135) against Hadrian
bar mitzvah : lit. “son of the commandment” or “son of the law” … i.e. has reached his majority; his legal age. Ceremony marking a youngster’s reaching the age of religious majority, traditionally thirteen for boys and twelve for girls; in many congregations, thirteen for girls as well. See bat mitzvah.
barad : hail
barah : created
baraita’ : (Ar.) a statement of law, historical, or aggadic tradition which is attributed to the tannaitic period but which is not contained in the Mishnah
barchu : call upon the congregation to bless God
barech : grace … the part of the Seder when the grace after the meal is recited
barei lev : pure in heart
bari vshalem : safe and sound
bariim : healthy ones
baruch : bless, blessed, blessed is
Baruch Dayan Ha’emet : a blessing of acceptance of God’s judgments
baruch habah : welcome (lit. blessed is the one who comes)
Baruch habah bashem Adonai : Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo : a phrase of blessing of God’s Name upon hearing it uttered
bas haya`anah : ostrich
basar : body; flesh; fallen human nature
Basar : to announce (glad news) : messenger, preach, publish, show forth, (bear, bring, carry, preach, good, tell good) tidings … Good news (same as gospel)
basar echad : one flesh
basherte : his destined mate
baShomayim : heavenly bodies
bas mitzvah : bat mitzvah
bat : daughter
bat mitzvah : lit. “daughter of the law” or “daughter of the commandment” … i.e. has reached her majority; her legal age. Ceremony marking a youngster’s reaching the age of religious majority, traditionally thirteen for boys and twelve for girls; in many congregations, thirteen for girls as well. See bar mitzvah
bat kol : a voice from heaven; an “echo” of a Divine Voice
batim : households
batlanim : male householders who had leisure to give themselves to regular attendance
batlanim : unemployed or lazy loafers; idlers
bavorn : anticipates
bavust : famous
bayit : house (alt. beit)
bazunder : unrelated and separate
be’einei Hashem : in the eyes of God
be’ichud : united
be’ikvot : in the footsteps
be’ito : “in its season” [Tehillim 1:3]
bechi : weeping
bechirah : divine election; selection; choosing
Bechirim : Chosen Ones
Bechor : Firstborn
bechorah : inheritance
bedavka : deliberately
bederech klal : usually
bedieved : begrudgingly
bedievedike : expedient
bedikah : examination
Bedikat Chametz : Search for leaven before Passover … casting out the leaven
beemes : in truth
beerech : approximately; dacht zich
beetzem : intrinsically
befeirush : explicitly
begadim : clothes
Beha’alotcha : a portion in the Book of Numbers
behechrach : necessarily
Bein Hametzarim : the period between the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av, “Between the Fences”
beinoni : of median piety (pl. Beinonim)
beit : (alt. beyt, bet, beth) the second letter of the Hebrew alef-beit (alphabet)
beit : (alt. bet, beth, beyt, bayt, bayit) house
Beit Din : “House of Judgment [Law]” Jewish court employing religious and Talmudic law … Rabbinical court; presiding elders over a congregation
Beit HaMikdash : House of Sanctity; synagogue. The sanctuary or Temple in Jerusalem.
Beit haShoevah : The House of the Waterpouring
beit hasohar : prison
beit kevarot : cemetery
Beit Lechem : lit. House of bread; Bethlehem; Birthplace of Yeshua and King David.
beit midrash : houses of study (pl. batey midrashot)
bekavod : suitable
bekeshe : kaftan
bekitzur : briefly; concisely
bekvius : regularly
beleidikt : offended
ben : son
ben Adam : human being (lit. son of Adam; son of man)
ben chayil : son of worthiness
ben chorin : freeman
Ben HaAdam : Mashiach (“The” Son of Man) [Daniel 7:13-14]
ben hanaggar : the carpenter’s son
ben torah : scholar
ben yachid : only son
beni : my son
beni haahuv : beloved son
benoigeia : regarding
bentsh : custom of saying grace after meals
berachah : brachah
Berachot Hashachar : the blessings of awakening recited each morning
Beraichot : a section of Talmudic commentary on benedictions.
bereshis (alt. bereshit) : in the beginning
beriah : creation
berishonah : in the first place
berit (alt. brit, bris, b’ris) : lit. covenant; refers to the covenant between God and Avraham and his descendants (pl. beritot)
berit milah : covenant of circumcision; often referred to simply as b’ris
beriyah : creature
beseder : in order
besere : better
Beshalach : a portion in the Book of Exodus
beshita : as a matter of conviction or principle
beshum oifen : absolutely
besod : in secret
Besuras HaGeulah : the Good News of Redemption
Besuroh Tovoh : Good Tidings of a Joyous Event
bet : (alt. beyt, beit, beth) the second letter of the Hebrew alef-bet (alphabet)
bet : (alt. beit, beth, beyt, bayt, bayit) house
bet din : court of law; see beit din
Bet HaKnesset : House of Assembly; shul; synagogue; shtibel
betulim : virginity
betulot : virgins
betzah : (alt. beytzah) egg, the symbolic hard-boiled and roasted egg on the seder plate; also called Chaggegah or Haggigah; a symbol for the second sacrifice of Passover
betzi’at halechem : breaking of bread; meal
beyt : (alt. beit, bet, beth) the second letter of the Hebrew alef-beyt (alphabet)
beyt : (alt. bet, beit, beth, beyt, bayt, bayit) house
beytzah : (alt. betzah) egg
bi’ur ma’asrot : the disposal of tithes
Bias HaMashiach : Coming of Mashiach; Parousia
bibrit hanissuim : in covenant of marriage
bichlal : entirely
bifraht : particularly
bikkur : examining or investigating
bikkur cholim : (alt. holim) visiting the sick; a pious duty, carried out in the past by Chevra Kadisha
bikkurim : (alt. bikurim) The offering of the first fruit; barley harvest; first fruit
bikoret beshbonot : audit
bima : (alt. bimah) The raised central platform (lectern) in the synagogue from which the Torah is read and from which worship services are usually conducted. The platform is called tevah in Sephardic synagogues. On Succot, it is circled by the community, while holding their lulav. This inevitably results in major “traffic jams” in synagogues.
bimesibba : reclining at tish
binah : understanding
binnuy : construction
Binyamin (Benjamin) : One of Jacob’s (Ya’akov) 12 sons, the youngest. One of the 12 Tribes of Israel descended from Ya’akov’s son. The Name means “son of the right hand”
binyan : building
biradah : trembling
birkat : (alt. berachah) blessing
Birkat HaChodesh : the blessing of the New Moon
Birkat haMazon : benediction over food; grace after meals
Birkat HaMinim : 90 C.E. Decree; the “benediction” of the heretics (Messianics)
bishmi : in my name
bitachon : confident trust
biti : my daughter
bitul Torah : the neglect of the study of the Torah
bizyoinos : humiliation
blailah : at night
bnei ; sons (sg. ben)
bnei basar ; carnally-minded believers
Bnei Chorin : Sons of Freedom; Freedmen
bnei ha-chuppah : wedding invitees
Bnei HaKhofshiyah : Sons of Lady Freedom; the Free Woman
Bo ; a portion in the Book of Exodus
bo’u u’re’u : come and see
bocher (alt. bochur) : bachelor; young man
Boethuseans : A religious party of the first century composed of wealthy and influential members of the priesthood, similar in doctrine with the Sadducees
boged : traitor; betrayer (pl. bogedim)
boh : come
boker : morning
boneh : builder
Boneh Yerushalayim : the blessing over the rebuilding of Jerusalem
Booths, Feast of : In Hebrew, Succoth, the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar; a seven-day holiday when Israel was to dwell in booths to commemorate the wilderness wanderings.
Bore Nefashot : a short blessing after the eating of food that does not require Birkat Hamazon
Bore Peri Ha’etz : the blessing over fruit of the tree
borur : obvious
brachah : (alt. brakah, berachah) blessing … a prayer of thanksgiving that always begins, “Baruch etah, Adonai Elohaynu, Melech HaOlam” (“Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe.”) Literally, “a blessing” or “benediction.” (pl. berachot; brachot, birchot)
Breath of Every Living Thing, The : The closing hymn of the Passover seder.
bren : fervor; hitlahavut
Bri’at HaOlam : the creation of the world
bria chadasha : a new being
briah : creation
bris milah : (alt. b;’ris, b;rit, brit) circumcision
brit : covenant
bubbemeises : (Yid.) old wives tales
bukki : expert; meivin
bushah : shame
buttel : cancelled out
byirah : (alt. b’yirah) with fear
byom : (alt. b’yom) at day
C
C.E. : Common Era (same as A.D. but much less offensive to non-Messianic Jewish people)
cantor : one who leads the chanting [canting, singing] of prayers in the synagogue services.
cerubim : (alt. ceruvim) an order of angelic being; the Cherubim in the Sanctuary (sg. cherub)
chachah : reproof
chacham : wise man (pl. chachamim)
chadash : new wine
chadashot : new things
chafetz : good pleasure
chag : festival
Chag Habikkurim : (alt. Habikurim) Festival of the First Fruits; another name for Shavuot
Chag Haggeulah : Festival of Redemption
Chag HaKatzir : Festival of Ingathering or Harvest
Chag Sameach : joyous holiday; the greeting used on the festivals
chai : alive (or life); when Jews drink a toast, they wish each other “L’chayim” (to life)
chaim : (alt. chayyim) life; the plural ending indicates an increase or multiplication, thus “very life” or “abundant life”
chaiyal : soldier (pl. chaiyalim)
chal : placed under obligation
chalav : milk
chalil : flute
chalitzah : This Biblical ceremony, to absolve a man of marrying his childless brother’s widow, means “removal.” The widow removes his shoe and publicly spits upon the recalcitrant.
challah (alt. chalah) : Egg bread eaten on Shabbat and festivals; the challah used on Rosh haShanah is round, often containing raisins, symbolizing a sweet year, distinguishing it from the Shabbat challah that is braided … the kohen’s share in the dough … White braided Sabbath bread; name of the dough tithed from bread baking (pl. chalot)
chalutzim : pioneers
chamdanut : covetousness greed
chamesh : five
chamesh elafim : five thousand
chametz : (alt. chometz) (lit. sour) any fermented product of grain, all leavening agents; hence, that which makes “sour” … leavening, yeast, baking powder; mixes with a leavening agent, bread and bread crumbs; food prepared with leaven, by extension referring to all foods and utensils forbidden on Passover … leavened bread and anything made with wheat, rye, barley, oats, or spelt, which has not been supervised to ensure that it has not leavened; refers to prohibited foods during Pesach
chamor : donkey
chamot : shviger; mother-in-law
chaninah : mercy
Chanukat Habayit : dedication of the home; the ceremony affixing the mezuzah
Chanukiah : eight-branched candelabrum, with a place for a ninth candle (shamash) that light the others, especially designed for Chanukkah
Chanukkah : (Alt. Hanukah, Hanukkah, Chanukah) Dedication; name of the winter holiday commemorating the Maccabean victory over the Syrians in 165 B.C.E. and the rededication of the Temple
chap : grasp mentally; grab
charedi : orthodox
charon af HaShem : burning wrath or anger of God
charoset : (alt. charoset) a mixture of fruits (usually apples), nuts, cinnamon, and wine; one of the symbolic Passover foods on the seder plate. Its color and consistency are reminders of the bricks and mortar used by the Israelite slaves
Chas v’shalom : (alt. Chas veshalom) God forbid!
chashadot merusha’im : evil suspicions
chashivut : importance; prominence
Chassidic : pertaining to the Chasidim
Chasidim : Ultra-Orthodox followers of the eighteenth-century leader, Rabbi Israel, the Ba’al Shem Tov. Some main features of Chassidic thought, or Chassidism are emphasis on:
- Sincerity, fervour
- Prayer
- Joy and spontaneity
- Humility
- Connection to the Tzadik, the Rebbe (known as ADMO”R, acronymfor Adoneinu, Moreinu veRabeinu — Our Master, OurTeacher and Our Rabbi)
- Introduction of Kabbalistic concepts to the masses
Some of the common customs of the Chassidim are:
- Specific clothing - Spodek, Shtreimel, long coats, gartel
- Eating with the Rebbe - Tisch, Farbrengen
- Order of prayer of Rav Yitzchak Luriah (Ari Zal)
- Later prayer times - following preparations
Chasidus : The Chassidic movement, was founded by R. Yisrael Ba’al Shem Tov (1700 - 1760) in the early 18th Century and grew to one of the great movements of mainstream Judaism to this day. It grew in the regions of Galicia, the Ukraine and Podolia.
chassidus : piety
chassuna : wedding
chatan : (alt. chosson) bridegroom
Chatan Bereshit : (lit. Bridegroom of Genesis) the man called to recite or chant the blessings over the first section of the Torah on Simchat Torah
Chatan Torah : (lit. Bridegroom of the Torah) the man called to recite or chant the blessings over the final section of the Torah on Simchat Torah
chatat : (alt. hataat, chattat) sin offering in the Temple (2 Chron 5:21)
chatetz : good pleasure of his will
chatoteinu : our sins
chatsot halailah; chatzot halailah : midnight
chattaim : sins
chattat : (alt, chatat) sin offering; sin-atoning sacrifice;
chattoteynu : our sins
chaver leneshek : comrade-in-arms
chavrusashaft : association
chavurah : company; fellowship; society; those who partake of the Paschal lamb together
chavurah (alt. chaburah, havra’ah) : a group of “subscribers” convened for the purpose of offering the Pesach Sacrifice and eating of its meat … Informal group, which meets together for Jewish study and celebration (pl. chavurot)
Chayyah : Beast; Anti-Mashiach; Antichrist
chayyah : living, animal, beast (pl. chayyot)
chayyei menuchah : life of rest
chayyeinu : our life
chayyim : (alt. chaim) life
chazakim : strong ones
chazan : (alt. chazzan, hazzan, hazan) the cantor, the leader in prayer
chazan hakkeneset : synagogue employee
Chazarat Hashatz : repetition of the amidah prayer by the cantor aloud after it was recited by the congregants
Chazereth —bitter root, usually horseradish, on the Seder plate
chazir : swine (pl. chazirim)
chazon : vision; revelation; prophecy
chazora : review
cheder : room or chamber … old-fashioned term for Hebrew school
chedvah : rejoicing
chefetz : desire
chelek : allotted portion
chen v’chesed : favor and mercy; lovingkindness
chepping : annoying
cherem : ban of destruction
cherish : a deaf person (pl. chereshim)
cheresh-illem : deaf and mute
cherev : sword
cherut : freedom
chesed : free; unmerited favor or grace
cheshbon : plan; account; bill
Cheshvan (Bul) : second month of Jewish year
chet : (lit. missing the mark) one of the Hebrew terms translated “sin” … equivalent to Gk. hamartia
chevlei leydah : pangs of childbirth
Chevlei Mashiach : birthpangs of Mashiach
Chevrah Kadisha : group of people entrusted with the mitzvah of preparing a body for burial
chikiah : wait
Chillul Hashem gidduf : desecration of the Name blasphemy
chiloni : secular
chiyuv : duty
chizzuk : strengthening
chochmah : wisdom
chodashim : moons
chodesh : month
choiv : debt
chok : decree; law
chokmah : wisdom (in a good sense) : skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit
chol : non-sacred, common
Chol Hamoed : ordinary part of the festival—days in the middle of Pesach or Sukkot when work is allowed … weekdays of the Festival
choleh : sick one
cholent : a stew usually made from potatoes, beans and meat. The recipe varies from community to community. Calcutta “chamin” has rice, curry and chicken. German cholent has beans, dumpling and beef. Hungarians add whole eggs etc. It is eaten on Shabbat, and is placed on the fire on Friday afternoon. It cooks over Shabbat, and by lunchtime is ready to eat.
cholim : sick persons
cholom : dream
chomed : covetous
chomer haDin : rigor of the Law
choref : winter
chori af : burning wrath
chori afhaba : the wrath to come
chorim : freedmen
choshech : darkness
chosson : (alt. chatan) bridegroom
chotam : seal
chote’im : sinners
chotsh : at least
chovah musarit : moral duty
chozek : encouragement strength
Chukat : a portion in the Book of Numbers
chukim : laws
Chumash : one of the Five Books of the Torah (pl. Chumashim)
chumra : legalism
chupah : (alt. chuppah, huppah) canopy under which pair stand at wedding ceremony, symbol of home to be established; represents the honeymoon chamber
churban : destruction
chutzpah : nerve
cohan : (alt. cohen, kohen) priest
Cohen : (alt. cohan, kohen) Priest … a descendant Moishe’s brother Aharon, the first High Priest (Cohen Gadol) of the Jewish people. The Cohen is always called up first to the Torah reading. (pl. Cohenim, alt. Cohanim, Kohanim, Kohenim)
Cohen Gadol : High Priest. The Cohen Gadol, wore a special turban, tunic and breast plate amongst other things. (pl. Cohenim Gedolim)
Cohen haGadol : (alt. Kohen haGadol, Cohen Gadol, Kohen Gadol) The High Priest
confirmation : ceremony marking the completion of the religious school course of study, often held on Shavuot
consecration : ceremony marking the beginning of a child’s formal Jewish education, often held on Simchat Torah
D
D’varim : (alt. Dvarim) Deuteronomy
da’as : (alt. da’ath) knowledge, cunning, wittingly
daah : kite
dag : fish (pl. dagim)
dahm : blood
daiyagim : fishermen
darash : to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication to seek or ask; specifically to worship — care for, diligently inquire, make inquisition, question, require, search, seek for, seek out
darom : south
darshan : preacher (pl. darshanim) … see also maggid
dati : religious
daven : (Yid.) pray
daverah : disobedience to the commandment
davka : approximately
Dayan : Judge of a Rabbinical Court; religious judges (pl. dayanim)
Dayenu : Hebrew title of a Passover seder song meaning, “It Would Have Been Enough for Us.”
deagot : worries; anxieties
defilement : ritual impurity
dehainu : being
delet : door (pl. delatot)
demut : image, likeness, icon
derashot : sermons
derech : guide, way, path, journey, custom
Derech Hashem : Way of the Lord; name given to Messianic Orthodox Judaism in the Apostolic Writings
dermohn : made mention
deror : freedom [Vayikra 25:10]
Devar Torah : Literally: a word of Torah; follows the Torah reading in a worship service, taking the form of a sermon, talk, explication, story, discussion, or program
devash : wild honey
deveykus : attachment to God
Diaspora : Dispersion of the Jewish people from Israel. Dispersion of the houses of Judah and Ephraim from Israel. Jewish communities outside of Israel.
Dibre HaYamin : the events of the days
dibur : saying; utterance
dimyon : analogy
din : Halachah law, judgment (pl. dinim)
divrei hanevu’ah : words of prophecy
doiche : rejecting or setting aside
dor : generation (pl. dorot)
dov : bear
drakhim : ways
drash : (alt. drasha; drashah) homiletic interpretation, sermon (see midrash)
drishat shalom : kind regards; greetings
duchan : the stand in front of the ark in the synagogue from which the cohenim bless the congregation
dukifat : Hoopoe Upupa epops, a colorful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive “crown” of feathers
dvar : word
dvar hora’ah : word of teaching
dvar malchut : decree
dvar nevuah : word of prophecy
dvarashmah : a thing of guilt; condemnation
dvarim : words
Dvarim : (alt. D’varim) Deuteronomy
E
echad : “one” : denotes a “compound unity” that is found, for example, in one bunch of grapes, one herd or flock of animals, a company or organization, one congregation of numerous individuals. In marriage, a man and a woman become echad.
ed : mist
edei re’iyah : eyewitnesses
eder : flock
Eder Katan : Little Flock
edim : witnesses
edut : testimony (pl. eduyot)
edut sheker : false testimony of false witnesses
efsher : perhaps
egel : calf
Eglah Arufah : “the heifer-of-the-broken-neck” prescribed in case of an unsolved murder
ehrliche Yid : a truly pious Jew
eidel : gentle; courteous
eidus : witness of testimony; commendation
eigene : personal
Ein Kelohenu : “There is no simile of our Lord …” — a passage recited after the morning prayer
ein ketz : without end
eisek : business
eish : fire
Eish Gehinnom : Fire of Hell
eish ketanah : small fire
Eish Olam : Eternal Fire
eishes chayil : virtuous woman
eivot : enmities
El Erech Apaim : a prayer mentioning the thirteen Divine Attributes
El Malei Rachamim : Literally: God, full of compassion; memorial prayer
El Shaddai : God Almighty
elef shanim : a thousand years
elil : idol (pl., elilim)
Eloheinu : (alt. Elohinu or Elohenu) Our God
Elohim : God when referring to HaShem; also gods, judges (lit. mighty ones) : plural in form, it expresses the “compound unity” of God
Elokai Netzor : a passage of personal requests recited upon the conclusions of the silent prayer
Elul : Twelfth month of Jewish year … prior to Rosh Hashannah
em : mother
emes (alt., emet): truth
Emes HaShem : the Truth of God
emesdik : genuinely
emet (alt., emes): truth
Emor : a portion in the Book of Leviticus
emunah : faith
enosh : man
epikomios : Greek for after-dinner entertainment; that which comes after; basis for the word aphikomen
episkopos : (Gk.) a superintendent, i.e. officer in general charge of a congregation or group of congregations : used interchangeably in the Ketuvim Schliachim with the titles bishop, overseer, elder, and pastor
episunagoge : (Gk.) a complete collection; specifically a meeting for worship : assembling (gathering) together
eppis : for some reason
eravon : pledge
ereb : (alt. erev) dusk, night, evening; the day before, the eve of
eres : poison; venom
Eretz Mitzrayim : Land of Egypt
Eretz Yisra’el : The Land of Israel
eretz zarah : a strange land
erev : (alt. ereb) dusk, night, evening; the day before, the eve of
erlichkeit : sincerety
ershtins : first of all
erusin : betrothal; engagement; in ancient times, the formal engagement ceremony before marriage
eruv : an act of legal “mixing”, the means of “mixing”; see eruv chatzerot and eruv tavshilin
eruv : a rope or wire that is suspended on poles around a city to allow Jews to carry on the Sabbath. Carrying objects from private to public property and public to private property as well as in public property is forbidden by Torah law on the Shabbat. In certain situations, where the city is not Biblically considered public property, there is a Rabbinic prohibition to carry, unless an eruv is erected around the city. Burdens may be carried freely within the eruv on Shabbat.
eruv chatzerot : an act of legal “mixing” to enable transferring from one “private domain” to another on Sabbath
eruv tavshilin : an act of “mixing” the cooked food prepared for a festival and the Sabbath next to it in order to enable cooking and baking on the festival for the Sabbath
eser : ten
etmol : yesterday
etrog : citron fruit; with the lulav, it is the symbol of Sukkot … citron fruit taken as one of the Four Species on the Feast of Tabernacles
etz : tree, stick (pl, etzim)
etz echad : one stick
Etz HaChayyim : the Tree of Life
etz teenah : fig tree
etza : advice; wisdom
etzem : actual
eusebes : (Gk.) well-reverent, i.e. pious : devout, Godly
evar : (alt. ever) member, limb (pl. evarim)
evar katon : small member
eved : house slave; servant
even : stone
Even Shetiyah : the Foundation Stone in the Sanctuary; a one of the titles of Mashiach
evus : animal feeding trough
Exodus Rabbah : A section of Talmudic commentary on the book of Exodus.
eynayeem : eyes
eyvah : enmity
ezer : help
ezrah : aid
ezrat nashim : (alt. azarah) the outer courtyard in the Sanctuary
F
farbissener : mean
farbrengen : inspirational gathering where the Rebbe’s shirayim or leftovers are of great interest
fargolgung : persecution
farnumen : preoccupied
farnumen : set aside
farshteit zich : of course
Feasts of YHWH : The seven holidays that God commanded Israel to observe in Leviticus 23 (frequently referred to as “Feasts of Israel” by Goyim)
fehlt : the lacking
fergin : graciously grant
feste : excellent
fier zich : comport oneself
Firstfruits : A time of offering the first of the grain harvest to the Lord, observed on the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread
fleishig : (Yid.) foods derived from meat or meat products
foroisgeier : (Yid.) forerunner
fort : nevertheless
frai : irreligious
frum : (Yid.) observant Jew
G
ga’avah : conceit; haughtiness; arrogance; pride
ga’avtanim : proud boasters
Gaayonim : the Haughty ones
Gabai : the leader of the Synagogue (pl. Gaba’im)
gadlus : with remarkable superiority
gadol : great
gahn : (alt. gan) garden
Galatianism : An early heresy that insisted that in order to become part of primitive Messianic Judaism, non-Jews must be circumcised and obey the whole Torah, including the added rabbinical traditions. Today, the term is also used of the belief that the whole Torah must be obeyed in order to either gain salvation or to be identified with modern Messianic Judaism. A common error within much of the modern Messianic movement. Also used disparagingly of those who expect others to follow their own personal lists of what’s right and what’s wrong. (see also Judaize)
Galus : Exile (“Galus mentality” is docile and submissive)
Gamaliel (alt. Gamliel) : a celebrated rabbi of the early part of the first century, the teacher of Shliach Sha’ul (the Apostle Paul)
Gan Eden : The Garden of Eden … paradise
ganav : thief (pl. ganavim)
ganav balailah : thief in the night
gantz : exceedingly
gantze nachon : entirely correct
Gaon : (Excellency) Reverential title of heads of Talmudic academies of Sura and Pumbedita, Babylonia. Rabbi Elijah of Wilna was accorded that title in the eighteenth century … the head of a Torah Center in Babylonia in the post-Talmudic era (pl. Ge’onim)
gargeer hakhitah : grain of wheat
gartel : belt
geder : classification
gedolah : great (pl. gedolim)
Gedolim : Great Ones; Great (Rabbinic) Leaders
gedulah : greatness
gefeirlich : horribly
gefilte fish : (Yid.) fish balls or cakes made of ground fish, eggs, matzo meal, onions, and spices
Gehinnom : (alt. Gehinom) lit. Valley of Hinnom, the Jerusalem city dump where the fires from the burning refuse were never extinguished; Yeshua used this place as a type or picture when teaching of the place of punishment of the unregenerate in the afterlife … Hell
Gelili : inhabitant of the Galil (Galilee)
gelt : (Yid.) money; traditionally given as a Hanukah gift and used for the dreidel game
Gemar Chatimah Tovah : lit. “May the final sealing be good” … traditional greeting from the end of Rosh haShanah through Yom Kippur
Gemara : collection of legal and ethical discussions of the rabbis of the third through the fifth centuries, edited about 500 CE; together with the Mishnah forms the Talmud
Gematria : finding meanings in the numerical value of Hebrew letters and words; Jewish numerology
gemul tzodek : just retribution
genevot : thefts
Gentile : of or pertaining to any people who are not Jewish
ger : (alt. gioret ) properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner : alien, sojourner, stranger : the masculine and feminine forms of the Hebrew term for convert or proselyte (pl. gerim)
Ger Sheker : proselyte who declares full conversion for ulterior motives
Ger Toshav : proselyte who accepts monotheism and the Noahide laws, and who receives courtesies and privileges
Ger Tzedek : full convert of true conviction, in all respects to be considered a Jew
gerim : proselytes (sg. ger)
gerush shedim : exorcism
gerusha : divorcee
Gerut : the process of conversion
geshem : rain
geshmak : pleasure
geshrai : a scream
get : religious divorce; the word is used to refer to a Jewish bill of divorcement
geter iska : “transaction permit” allowing a money lender to take interest by making him a partner of the borrower sharing his profits
geulah : redemption
gevaltike : (Yid.) extraordinary
gever : male
geviya (alt. geviyah) : corpse
gevurah : miraculous power
gevurot : mighty deeds
Gevurot Geshamim : “the Power of Rain”, a Praise to God for the revelation of His powers in Nature, added to the silent prayer
gezar din : verdict
gezel : robbery
Gezerah : laws or traditions added by the Pharisees as “fences” around the existing Law in an attempt to prevent it from being broken. When Yeshua confronted the Pharisees, is was almost always over their Gezerah
gibbor : strong man
gidduf : blasphemy
giddufim : revilements
gilui arayot : sexual immorality
giyyur : proselytization
gneyvot : thefts
Go’el : Redeemer
Go’el Yisrael : “The Redeemer of Israel”, one of the eighteen benedictions of the Amidah prayer
God (some names of) : Adonai, Elohim, El Shaddai, YHVH, HaKadosh Baruch Hu, Ribono shel Olam, Harachaman, Avinu Shebashamayim
gofrit : sulfur
goilomim (alt. goilem) : foolish people
goirem : driving force
goires : listen to
golus : exile
gonvei nefesh : kidnapper; slave dealers
gor : very
Goy : nation, foreigner, stranger, Gentile, non-Jew (pl. Goyim)
grahda : as a matter of fact; in reality
Great Hallel, The : Hebrew designation for Psalm 136 (see Hallel)
grogger : (alt. greegers, graggers) noisemaker used to drown out Haman’s name during the reading of the Megillah on Purim
groise : eminent
guddal : being brought up
gufaniyut : corporeality; having a physical body
gufot : bodies
Gulgolta : a hill outside Yerushalayim called “the Skull” on which Yeshua was crucified. Sometimes referred to as Calvary. Some believe this to be Mt. Moriah, the site of Avraham’s offering of Yitz’chak
gzeira : authoritative command
H
ha : the definite article “the” (Hebrew and Aramaic do not use the indefinite articles “a” or “an”.) When transliterating from Hebrew or Aramaic into English there are several forms commonly used:
- the article is added to the beginning of the word with no other indication: haaretz
- the article is added to the beginning of the word, and the word is capitalized: haAretz
- the article is added to the beginning of the word, and both words are capitalized: HaAretz
- the article is added to the beginning of the word, and a hyphen is inserted to indicate a “breath stop”: ha-aretz
- the article is added to the beginning of the word, and an apostrophe is inserted to indicate a “breath stop”: ha’aretz
haAcharon : the last
haAlmavet : immortal
haAra : insight
haAretz : the earth
haAretz haHavtacha : the Promised Land
haAretz harishonah : the first earth
haAryeh : the Lion
haAsarah : the Ten
haAv : the Father
haAzinu, the Song of : a portion of Deuteronomy
habah b’basar : has come in bodily flesh
haBatzek : the dough (see Pesach Haggadah)
haBechor : the firstborn
haBen : the Son
haBo’re : the Creator
haBri’ah : the Creation
haChayyot : the living beings
hachitzon : the outer one
hachnosas orchim : hospitality
hachrazah : proclamation; kyrygma; preaching
hadar : majesty; splendor
hadas : a myrtle branch taken as one of the four species during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
hadlakah : bonfire
hadom : footstool
hador hazeh : this generation
HaEmes (alt. HaEmet): the Truth
HaEmes HaShem : Truth of God
Haftorah— (alt. Haftarah) weekly readings from the Nevi’im (Prophets), selected by sages during the time when Torah reading was forbidden, read or chanted after the weekly Torah portion during the synagogue service on Sabbath and holidays. Nevi’im reading selected to remind one of the Torah reading (pl. Haftarot) : the Feast of Weeks. The official beginning of the summer harvest season (wheat crop specifically). Shavuot
Hag haMatzah : Feast of Unleavened Bread
haGadol : The great
hagah : murmur (in either pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder, imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, utter
Hagbah : the lifting of the Torah scroll and displaying it to the congregation. On Simchat Torah, when we celebrate finishing and beginning the Torah, we also have the most difficult Hagbah. The Torah is a scroll and therefore when it is finished or started all the weight is on one side.
Hagbalah : Days of Abstinence
haGedulah : greatness
haGefen : fruit of the vine
haGevurah : might
Haggadah : (alt. Hagadah, Agada, Agadah, Aggadah) “the telling.” Named from the Lord’s command “tell your son/show your son” in Shemot/Exodus 13:8. A book which relates the Passover story through readings, songs, prayers, foods, in the traditional prescribed order (seder) around the meal. A general Hebrew term for utterance, applied specifically to the nonlegal portion of rabbinic literature. It is also the title of the text recited at the festive meal (seder) on the first two nights of Passover … Literally: telling; book in which the Passover story is retold and the seder ritual is outlined … the tale of the Exodus from Egypt as read at the Seder Night (pl. Haggadot) (adjective, Haggadic)
Haggadali —the book that sets forth and explains the seder service
haggigah : (alt. hagigah, chagigah, chaggigah) the festival offering; the other sacrifices offered in the Temple in addition to the Paschal lamb; . a sacrifice offered on the eve of Pilgrim Festivals
Hagomel : a blessing of thanksgiving for deliverance from perils
ha’Ir : the City
haKadosh : the Holy One
haKadosh Baruch Hu : the Holy One, Blessed Be He
Hakafah —carrying of the Torah scrolls in a procession around the sanctuary … the circling of the Altar in the Sanctuary or the Bimah in the Synagogue (pl. Hakafot)
hakarat todah : gratitude
hakehillot : the congregations
haKeru’im : the summoned/called ones (equivalent to Gr. ecclesia)
haKetz : the End
hakhchashah : denial
Hak-heyl : assemble-ceremony of reading parts of Torah every seventh Sukkot
hakhnasah : income
halakah : (alt. halakhah, halachah, chalakah) the “walk” or way one goes; the word for Jewish law, or for the legal and regulatory portions of Torah and of the Talmud, and of all Jewish lore
Halakah Lemoshe Misinai : (alt. Halachah, Chalakah) an oral Law supposedly given to Moshe on Sinai and not written explicitly in the Torah
halakhic : of or related to halakhah
Hallel : (alt. Halel) praise, a prayer of praise : special psalms of praise recited or sung on the festivals … specifically the passages contained in Tehilliim (Psalms) 113-118 (see Great Hallel)
hama’amin : the believer
HaMabbul : the Flood
haMakkot : the plagues
Hamantashen : filled three-cornered pastries supposed to represent Haman’s hat, traditionally eaten on Purim
haMat‘eh : the Deceiving One
haMavdil : the blessing of Havdalah
haMechokak : Law-Giver
haMelech : the King
haMesim : the Dead
HaMotzi : blessing recited or chanted over bread on Shabbat or festivals: “Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu melekh haOlam, haMotzi lechem min haAretz. (Amein) Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. (Amen)”
hanevuah : the prophecy
hanivzim : the despised
HaNogah : of Brightness/Venus
Hanukah : (alt. Chanukah) dedication; name of the winter holiday commemorating the Maccabean victory over the Syrians in 165 BCE
haptomai : to attach oneself to, i.e. to touch (in many implied relations)
har : mountain
hara’ah : the evil
hara’im : evil deeds
haRah : the Evil one
haReshit : the Beginning
hareve’it (alt. harevi’i) : the fourth
harishon (alt. harishonah) : the first
harpazo : (Gk.) to seize (in various applications), catch (away or up), pluck, pull, take (by force)
harsha’ah : condemnation as guilty
hartzige : heartfelt
hasagos : aspiration
haSatan : The Adversary, Satan, the Evil One, the Devil
haschala : start
HaShem : “The Name” : respectfully refers to the ineffable Name of the Most High : YHVH / YHVH : the Tetragramaton : “Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey” (hvhy)
HaShemurim : the Guarded ones
hasheni (alt. hasheniyah) : the second; second reading or reader of the weekly Scripture portion
Hashkafa : Literally “View.” Typically Judaism’s philosophical viewpoint on any particular topic.
hashlishi : (alt, hashlishit) the third; third reading or reader of the weekly Scripture portion
haskama : approval
hataat : (alt. chatat) the sin offering in Temple
hatachlit : the ultimate; last reading or reader of the weekly Scripture portion
hatafah : preaching
Hatafat Dam Berit : Taking a single drop of blood from the penis as a sign of the covenant, necessary in the conversion of an adult male already circumcised
Hatarat Nedarim : the repeal of vows
HaTikva : the hope; the Israeli National Anthem
haTov : the good
haTov Vehametive : the fourth blessing of Birkat haMazon : “He Who is good and bestows goodness..”
hattohar : moral purity
haummim : the peoples
havamina : assumption
havdalah : lit. separation; ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath and the beginning of the week … the blessing over wine to mark the difference between the Sabbath and the weekdays
havtachah : promise
haYom : today
Hayom Harat Olam : verses recited during the Rosh haShanah mussaf prayer
hazan : (alt. hazzan, chazzan, chazan) the cantor, the leader in prayer
Hechag : (lit. the holiday) one of the names for Sukkot
Hechal : Hall of the Sanctuary
heimishe mekom linah : homey guest room; lodging place
hemshech : remaining part
heretic : one whose beliefs do not accord with those of the established religion to which he claims adherence; compare apostate
Hester Panim : the withdrawal of Divine Favor
heter : permission, permit
hevel : futility; vanity; emptiness; worthlessness
hezber : explanation
High Holy Days : A ten day period from Rosh haShanah to Yom Kippur
Hillel : The most prominent Jewish teacher of the first century (30 BCE : 10 CE), thought to be Gamaliel’s grandfather.
hilula : a celebration of memorial
hinei : behold; look!
hinnazrut : self-denial
hisgalus : revelation; unveiling
hishtaltut : domination; taking control
hispailus : overwhelming awe
histalkus : passing; the death of the Mashiach in the midst of his Redemptive Mission or the analogy of Moshe dying before he crosses into the Promised Land; a fundamental doctrine of Messianic Orthodox Judaism
hitammelut : bodily exercise or training
hitarevut : meddlesomeness
hitbagrut : maturity
hitbodedut : seclusion; aloneness
hitkaddeshut : (alt. hitchaddeshut) purification
hitkhabrut : joining; adhesion; fellowship
hitkhadshut : regeneration; renewal
hitlahavut : enthusiasm; fervor
hitnahagut : conduct
hitnahagut hatovah : good conduct
hitstaddekut : apologetic defense
hivvased haOlam : the establishing of the world
hivvased tevel : foundation of the world
hod : honor
hoda’ah : confession; admission
hodayah : thanksgiving
holelut : carousing
Holy of Holies : most Holy inner part of the Sanctuary where the Ark of the Covenant and the visible presence of HaShem resided
homiletic : the art of preaching or public persuasion
hona’ah : swindling
hora’ah : instruction
Horeb : Another name for Mount Sinai, where God gave Israel His Torah
horim : parents
horiva over : analyzing
Hoshana Rabbah : (alt. Hoshanah Raba) the last Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The day of the water drawing ceremony.
Hoshanah : (alt, Hosheanah, Hoshiah-na) chant of “Save us, Lord” or “please save” said while carrying Torah in procession
huledet : birth
hungerik : hungry
huppah : (alt. chupah, chuppah,) canopy under which pair stand at wedding ceremony, symbol of home to be established; represents the honeymoon chamber
hyssop : a plant (perhaps the caper, Capparis spirwsa) whose twigs were used in ceremonial sprinkling.
I
idud : encouragement
iggeret : letter (pl. iggrot)
ikar : farmer
ikarim : essentials
illem : mute
Im Yirtze Hashem : God willing. lit. if God will want
imahot : mothers
immanu : with us
Immanuel : God with us; a title of HaMashiach
imun : training
innuyim : sufferings
intifadah : uprising
inyan : topic
ir : city
ish evyon : poor man; pauper
ish hacholek : a man of division; a divisive man
Ish HaMufkarut : The Man of Lawlessness : the Anti-Messiah
ish of emes : (alt. emet) man of truth
ish riv : opponent in a lawsuit
ish sefatayim : the eloquent speaker
ish tov : good man
isha : woman; wife
isha chotet : a woman of sin
ishshur : approval
Ishtar : Fertility goddess represented by different names in numerous pagan religions; “the queen of heaven” whose son dies and comes back to life in Satanic counterfeit of Yeshua’s resurrection. Source of the Roman Catholic festival of “Easter” which has become part of traditional, though non-Biblical, Christian vocabulary.
Isru Chag : the day following a festival
isser : proscription in the Torah
Itro : Jethro, a portion in the Book of Exodus
ittim : times
itztzavim : idols; images; tzelamim
ivrim : blind people
ivvelet : foolishness
ivver : blind man
IY’H : Abbreviation for “Im Yirtze Hashem” (which see)
Iyar (Zif) : Eighth month of Jewish year
iyumim : threats
iyun : investigative research
izzim : goats
J
Jubilee : Every fiftieth year, land lies fallow and land ownership is totally redistributed into equal family shares
Judaize : To bring non-Jews to accept the obligations of rabbinical tradition. See Galatianism.
K
K’arah : Passover seder dish
k’li : vessel (pl. k’lei)
k’riah : call
K’tiv : the traditional spelling of words in the Torah
K’tuvim : the books of the Bible known as the Writings
ka’as : anger
ka‘at : pelican
kabbalah : oral tradition
Kabbalat Ol Mitzvot : Literally: the acceptance of the yoke of the commandments; a convert’s agreement to lead a Jewish life
kabbalat panim : welcome
Kabbalat Shabbat : Psalms, readings and songs welcoming the Sabbath; the introductory portion of the Sabbath eve service
kabod (alt. kabowd, kavod) : weight; but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness : glorious, glory, honor)
kabtzen : beggar
kaddachat : fever
Kaddish (alt. Kadish) : Prayer praising God. This prayer is chanted at several points in a service. In addition, it is recited at least once at each service in memory of those who have died … Prayer of sanctification of God’s name
kadosh : holy
kadoshim : holy ones
kaftan : coat
kahal : assembly
Kal Hamira : An ancient Hebrew prayer spoken at the ritual cleansing of leaven.
Kalat Bereshit : Literally, bride of Genesis; the woman called to recite or chant the blessings over the first section of the Torah on Simchat Torah
kallah : (alt. kalah) bride … conclave or retreat (pl. kallot)
kamtzan : miser
kana’ut : (alt. kanous) zeal
kannai : zealot
kanous : (alt. kana’ut) zeal
Kaparah : expiation … ceremony of transferring sinfulness to a scapegoat just before Yom Kippur (pl. Kaparot, Kapparot)
Kaporet : the covering over the Holy Ark in the Sanctuary
kapparah : place or kapporet medium of wrath-propitiating blood atonement sacrifice
kaptzen : poor person
kar : cold
Karath : to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication to destroy or consume; specifically to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces) : be chewed, covenant, cut (down or off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew down, make a league (covenant), lose, perish, utterly, want … (alt. Karet) : “Being cut off” from the people; Biblical punishment which might become capital or consist of early natural death
karnayim : horns
karoz : herald
karpas : A green herb like parsley or a green vegetable such as celery or watercress, symbolizing spring; one of the symbolic foods used on the seder plate
kashefanut : sorcery; witchcraft
kashes : questions
kashrut : Jewish dietary laws (see kosher)
kat : sect
katatome : (Gk.) a cutting down (off), i.e. mutilation (ironically) : concision
katon : least
katsir : (alt. Katzir ) harvest
katuv : it is written
kavanah : lit. intentionality; referring to the spiritual attitude with which we approach worship
kavanat halev : the inner-directedness of the heart
kavod : glory
kavvanah : heartfelt direction; intention
kavvanah ra’ah : malice
kayits : summer
ke’arot : bowls
kedushah : (holiness) When the reader or cantor repeats the Amidah (standing prayer), the congregation rises for this antiphonal chant of a doxology from Bible verses proclaiming oneness and sanctity of the Lord … prayer of sanctification of God’s Name added to the third benediction of the amidah prayer
kedushah : holiness; sanctity
Kedushat Hayom : the benediction concerning the “sanctity of the day” included in the amidah prayers on Sabbaths and Festivals
kefirah : heresy; denial
kehillah : congregation
kehunah : priesthood
Kehunah, Kehunah Gedolah : Priesthood in the Sanctuary, High Priesthood
keilim : faculties
kelalah : curse
kelevim : dogs
keli kodesh : holy vessel; minister
keli nivchar : chosen vessel
ken : yes
Ken ayin hara : (Yid., Kinna hurra) lit. “may there be no evil eye”
keneged : in opposition
kenut : sincerity
kerem : vineyard
Keren Yeshuah : Horn of Salvation
keriah : ritual tearing of a garment or a symbolic black ribbon as an expression of grief in conjunction with a death
kes : throne
keseder : constantly
kesher : conspiracy; plot
keshet be’anan : rainbow; Bereshit (Genesis) 9:16
keshi : stubbornness; hardness
kesil : fool (pl. kesilim)
kesut rosh : head covering
keta : section
ketan : below the age of Bar Mitzvah (pl. ketanim)
ketanim : small ones
keter : crown
Ketiva vachatima tovah : wishes of “good inscription” on Rosh haShanah (May your name be written [enscribed] in the Book of Life.)
ketoret : incense
ketubah : (alt. kethubhoth) (lit. writing) traditional marriage contract, detailing duties of wife and husband, and providing money penalties for divorcement of wife … a second marriage contract (pl. ketubot)
Ketuvim : the Writings; third section of the Tanakh
Ketuvim Shlichim : Apostolic Writings, also known as B’rit Chadashah. This should probably be the preferred term for this collection of writings, as the term B’rit Chadashah specifically refers to the Renewed Covenant itself, not to the writings of the Shlichim concerning that covenant. Considering the Ketuvim Shlichim as a separate volume of writings detracts from the unity of all Scripture. The Ketuvim Shlichim should more appropriately be considered a sub-set of the Ketuvim, and thus part of the Tanakh.
ketz : end, end of days
ketzinim : officers
kevah : lit. fixed; referring to the fixed order of Jewish liturgy
kevalim : chains
kevarim : graves; tombs
kevasim : (alt. kevesim) sheep
kever : tomb
kevod hamet : (alt. kebod) honor due to the dead
khasidah : stork
ki hu zeh : a small amount
Ki Tetze : a portion in the Book of Deuteronomy
Ki Tisa : a portion in the Book of Exodus
kibbud : respect; honor
kibush hayetzer : self-control
Kiddush : (alt. Kidush) blessing recited or chanted over wine on Shabbat or festivals emphasizing their holiness … pour out first cup of wine / blessing of sanctification … by extension, a light meal after the wine. “Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu melekh ha-olam, borei p’riy hagafen. (Amein) Blessed are You, Lord, our G-d, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Amen)”
Kiddush Hachodesh : (alt. Kidush) the sanctification of the New Moon
Kiddush Levanah : (alt. Kidush) the blessing of sanctification over the monthly renewal of the moon
kiddushin : (alt. qiddushin, kedushin) lit. holiness; refers both to the wedding ceremony and to the state of matrimony
kikar : loaf
kina : jealousy; envy
kina : lament; funeral dirge
kinah : (lamentation) elegy in poetic (piyyut) structure recited on Jewish days of mourning (pl. kinot)
kinnui : secular name; see shem kodesh
kinderyohrn : (Yid.) childhood days
kipah : (alt. kippa, kippah) lit. covering or atonement; a skullcap worn by Orthodox (and many other) Jews during prayer; the Yiddish term is yarmulke : many observant male Jews wear the kippa all the time, because we are encouraged to pray continually (Ps 72:15; Ps 122:6; Jer 29:7; Eph 6:18; 1Th 5:17)
kiporah —covering atonement that covers sin
Kisei Moshe : Chair of Moses
kishke : stuffed intestine … usually the stuffing is made of flour, onions, garlic and chicken fat. Today edible plastic is used instead of intestines. It is usually cooked in the cholent.
kishshuf : magic; sorcery (pl. kishufim)
Kislev : third month of Jewish year
kisot : thrones
Kisse Din : judgment seat
Kissei Kavod : Glorious Throne
kitel : (alt. kittel) long, white garment that is part of traditional Jewish burial clothes; worn by some worshipers on Yom Kippur as a reminder of mortality and a symbol of purity, and by some officiants at Rosh haShanah services and at the Passover Seder. Also worn by some grooms at their wedding
kitot : sects
Kitvei Hakodesh : Holy Books
klaf : hand-written scroll placed in a mezuzah, containing Deuteronomy 6:4-9; ll:13-21
Klal Yisrael : Nation of Israel
klalah : curse
klap : blow
klapei : concerning
klei kodesh : holy vessels; ministers
kleir : deliberating
klezmer : musician
kluhr : obvious
kluhr : pure
ko’ach : power
kodashim kalim : sacrifices of minor sanctity
kodem : preceding
kodesh : holy, sacred
Kodesh HaKodashim : Holy of Holies, or Most Holy Place; the area of the Tabernacle and Temple in which the Ark of the Covenant resided … see also HaKodesh : the Holy Place
kofer : ransom; pedut
koferim ba-ikkarim : deniers of fundamentals
kohanim gedolim : (alt. Cohanim Gedolim) the higher order of Priests
Kohelet : the Scroll of Ecclesiastes
kohen : (alt. cohen) descendant of the ancient priestly class, the progeny of Aaron; a priest (pl. kohanim, cohanim)
Kohen Gadol : (alt. Kohen haGadol, Cohen haGadol, Cohen Gadol) the High Priest (pl. kohanim gedolim)
kokhav : star (pl. kokhavim; kochavim)
kol ayin : every eye
kol basar : all flesh
kol davar : everything
kol etz : every tree
kol gadol : loud voice
kol hanivrah : all creation
kol melo : all the plentitude
Kol Nidrei : (alt. Nidrey) lit. vows; prayer that begins the Yom Kippur eve service; the entire service is often called the Kol Nidrei service … a prayer and announcement of repeal of vows recited upon the advent of the Day of Atonement
kol poalei resha : all workers of evil
kol sheker : every falsehood
kolot : sounds
komah : short of stature
korban : dedicated to God; sacrifice
korban chai : living sacrifice
korbanot : sacrifices
korech : matzah and bitter herb sandwich
korem : vineyard proprietor (pl. koremim)
kos : cup; little owl
kosher : (alt. kasher) ritually fit for use … permitted
kotz : thorn; splinter
kotzerim : harvesters
kozvim : liars
krav : battle
kri : the traditional pronunciation of words in the Torah
kri’ah : calling
kri’ah betzibbur : congregational public reading
krovey mishpachot : relatives
krovim : relatives
krum : deviant
kvatter / kvatterin : Godfather / Godmother; those who carry the baby into the B’rit ceremony
kviusdik : constant
L
l’olam : forever (lit. the everything)
Ladino : Judeo-Spanish; the everyday language of Sephardic Jews
Lag baOmer : 33rd day of 50 days of Omer
lailah : night
lamdan : a Torah scholar with prodigious knowledge
Lamed Hey : The Hebrew number 35 (hl). In Jewish belief there are always 35 righteous persons alive on earth serving HaShem; they are know either individually or collectively as the Lamed Heh.
Lamnatze’ach Ya’ancha Hashem : Psalm 20, recited on weekdays to mark sorrow and supplication
lashav : in vain
lashon : tongue, speech
lashon horah : evil speech
latreia : ministration of God, i.e. worship : divine service
lavan : white
Lech Lecha : the third portion in the Book of Genesis
lechem : bread; food
lechem chukeinu : “our daily bread;” Mt. 6:11
lechem ha’amitti : the true bread
Lechem HaPanim : the Bread of the Presence, Bread of Surfaces, specially shaped loaves placed weekly on the Table in the Tabernacle and Temple, represented the Bread of the Almighty
lechem mishneh : two loaves required for the blessing on Sabbath and Festival meals
lehitpalel : lit. to judge oneself; the Hebrew word meaning “to pray”
leitzonus : mockery; fun
lemaskana : finally
lernen : Torah learning; study
Leshanah Tovah Tikatevu : Literally: May you be inscribed [in the Book of Life] for a good year; Rosh haShanah greeting, sometimes shortened to Shanah Tovah
leshonot : tongues : 1Chron 14:13
letzim : (alt. leitzim) mockers/scorners; coarse jesting
lev : heart
lev rogez : anxious heart
levavot : hearts
Levi : one of the 12 sons of Ya’acov, ancestor of Moshe and Aharon; a Servant in the Sanctuary, a Sage of the Talmud
leviathan : sea monster mentioned in Job, of which the pious will eat at the resurrection
levirate : the institution of the brother-in-law (marrying his brothers widow)
Levites : the tribe of Levi; the hereditary lineage from which came the priests and others who ministered in the Temple … the direct descendants of Aahron served as cohenim, the rest of the tribe served as Levites
lichora : apparently
limin : at the right hand
limmud : instruction
Lion of the Tribe of Judah : a name for HaMashiach, based on Revelation 5:5; cf. Isaiah 11:1
lismol : at the left hand
lo : no; when used with other words it denotes negation
lo poreh : unfruitful (lit. no fruit)
loin : wages
loit : according to
lomdes : cleverness; erudition
lomdish : intricate and complicated to understand
lu yetzuuyar : assuming
luach : tablet
lulav : palm branch, with myrtle and willow sprigs attached; with the etrog, it is the symbol of Sukkot … a palm branch taken as one of the four species on the Feast of Tabernacles … also used to refer to all four species used on Sukkos: palm branch, myrtle branch, willow, and citron. (pl. Lulavim)
M
ma’al : betrayal
ma’amad ha’banim : the standing as sons
ma’aminim : believers
ma’arav : ambush
ma’arav : west
ma’aseh haemunah : work of faith
ma’aseh tov : good deed
ma’asei haChoshech : works of darkness
ma’aser : tithe (a tenth portion) given to the Kohen, the Levite, or the poor (pl. Ma’asrot; alt. maasros)
ma’asim : works
ma’asim hamitzvot : works of the commandments
ma’asim hara’im : evil deeds
ma’asim metim : dead works
ma’asim tovim : good deeds; works
ma’avak : struggle
ma’ayanot : springs; sources
ma’on : permanent residence
ma’ot chittim : money for wheat; financial contributions
Maamad : “Station”—groups of lay people who assisted the Levites at the daily sacrifices one week a year
maamadot : contributions
maamin Meshichi : Messianic believer
maariv : evening prayer service … evening prayers after sunset
maasros : (alt. ma’aser) tithe
mabbul : flood
machah : to stroke or rub; by implication to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e. grease or make fat; also to touch, i.e. reach to : abolish, blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, utterly, wipe (away, out)
machalifei hakesafim : moneychangers
machaloket : controversy
machaloket : division of dissension
machanot : encamping armies
machla : illness
machlokot : divisions of dissension
machmir : stickler
machovim : sorrows
machsh’vot : thoughts
machshavah : thought
machshelah : ruin
machshiv : respect
machsor : shortage; want
Machzor : (Repetition) High Holy Day prayer book. In some Orthodox synagogues, a special prayer book—also known as a machzor—is used on the Pilgrimage Festivals
madduchei shav : false enticement; delusion
madon : strife; quarrel
mafte’ach : key
Maftir : Last part of Torah reading on a given Shabbos or festival … the man who is “called up” to the reading of the concluding passage
Magen Avot : a short summary of the Sabbath amidah prayer recited on Sabbath Eve after the silent prayer
maggid : darshan; preacher, generally itinerant, and popular because of his clever parables … narration
Maggid of Mezritch : Reb Dov Ber of Mezritch; main disciple of the Ba’al Shem Tov and leader of the Chassidic movement after him; also a disciple of the Pnei Yehoshua; born 1704; died 19 Kislev, 1772; mentor of the whole next generation of Chassidic Rebbes.
Mah Nishtanah : Four Questions; at the beginning of the Passover Seder, the youngest child traditionally asks the “Four Questions” which prompt the leader of the Seder to explain the significance of Passover to the celebrants
makhaneh : camp
makhar : tomorrow
makkah : plague
makor : fountain
malach : angel (pl. malachim)
malbush : clothing
male no’am : full of pleasantness
malkah : queen
malkosh : spring rain
malkot : the penalty of lashing
Malkut Shamayim : The Kingdom of Heaven
malon : inn
malshin : informer; accuser
mamashus : real worth
mamlechot : kingdoms
mammon : ill-gained money
manhigim : leaders
manhigut : leadership
manhigut ruchanit : spiritual leadership / administration
manoach : resting place
maot chitim : (alt. maoz chittin) lit. wheat money … money collected prior to Passover to assist the needy to celebrate the holiday and to buy special Passover foods
maoz : fortress
Maoz Tsur : best-known Chanukkah song. An English version of the song is entitled “Rock of Ages.”
mareh : vision
maror : bitter, ground horseradish … a bitter herb such as horseradish, symbolizing the bitter plight of the enslaved Israelites; one of the symbolic foods used on the seder plate
marot : visions
Marranoes : forcibly converted Jews in Spain
marut : authority; rule
marzipan : a confection made of almond paste and sugar and molded into small shapes, usually of fruits and vegetables
masah : trial (pl. masot)
Mashgiach Ruchani : Spiritual Overseer
Mashiach : (alt. Moshiach) Messiah, anointed, an anointed one. In Israel three classes of persons were anointed for their office of service: prophets, priests, and kings. Yeshua HaMashiach is all three: Prophet, Priest, and King, hence The Anointed One
mashkeh : drink
maskana : outcome
maso panim : favoritism; partiality
masoret : tradition
Masoretic Text : the accepted Hebrew text of scriptures, the first Hebrew writing to contain vowel points as an aid to pronunciation, developed in the 9th century C.E.
masot : trials / temptations (sg. masah)
matanah : gift (pl. matanot)
matanot tovot : good gifts
matarah : objective
mateh : deceiver
matnat hachesed : free gift of grace
Matnat HaTzedakah : the gift of righteousness
matnat kesef : gift of money
matsevot : gravestones
matsli’ach : successful
mattah : below
mattan torah : (alt. matan) the giving of the law or instruction
mattanah : free gift
mattanot le-evyonim : giving to the poor
Mattityahu : Matthew; The Gospel According to Matthew; first book of the Ketuvim Shliachim presenting Yeshua HaMashiach in his role as HaMelech
matzah : (alt. matzo, pl. matzot) “without leaven”; a flat bread made without adding leavening (yeast or baking powder). Called the “bread of affliction.” Unleavened bread … The unleavened bread eaten in recollection of the hurried departure from Egypt; the eating of matzah is obligatory only at the seder (pl. Matzot)
matzo tash : (Yid.) a baglike fabric container used for the three ritual wafers of unleavened bread at the seder
matzpun : conscience
matzpun naki : clear conscience
mavet : death
mavo : introduction
mayim : water
mayim hayim : living water
mazal tov : good luck; congratulations
mazikim : malicious spirits
me’ah vchamishim ushloshah : one hundred and fifty three
me’onot : dwelling places; permanent residences; homes
me’ushar : blessedness
meah kevasim : a hundred sheep
meayen : engaged in research
mechabed : honor
mechila : pardon; forgiveness
Mechilta : Halakhic midrash to Exodus
mechitzah : the dividing partition
medakdeke : painstakingly thorough
Medieval : relating to or characteristic of the Middle Ages
mefakkechim : stewards; supervisors
mefarsem : make known
megadef : reviler (pl. megadefim)
megareia : weakened
megillah : (alt. megilah) lit. scroll; there are five megillot in the Bible. The one we read on Sukkot is Ecclesiastes, on Purim is Esther, on Pesach is Song of Songs, on Shavuot is Ruth, and on Tishah Be’av is Lamentations (pl. megillot)
meid : provide testimony; attest
mekabel : receiving; accepting
mekanne : jealous; envious
mekhonen : founder
mekom linah : guest room
mekom megurim : dwelling place
mekor : basis
mekor : passage; citation
melach : salt
melachah : work
melammed : instructor
melech : king (pl. melachim)
melitz echad : one mediator; (Iyon 33:23; Yeshayah 43:27; cf. Devarim 5:5;22-31)
melo : plentitude
memayet : precluded; excluded
memshalah : government; dominion
mena’afim : adulterers
Meni : pagan moon goddess
menorah : the Lamp of the Sanctuary … a 7-branched candelabra representing the lampstand that stood in the Holy Place within the Temple … a version with eight branches plus the shammash (Chanukkiah) is used during Chanukka, in celebration of the Maccabean victory over the Greeks and the rededication of the Temple (pl. Menorot)
menuchah : (alt. menuhan) resting place
meorer : point out; rekindle, stimulate; motivate; shtarken
mered : revolt; uprising
merirut lev : bitterness
merivah : strife
merkavot : chariots
mesader : arrange; place in succession
meshabed : caused to be obligated
meshalim : parables
meshalle’ach : sender
mesharet : minister; servant
mesharetim : ministers; servants
meshichei sheker : false Mashiachs
meshubad : obligated
meshummad : apostate
mesibot : parties
mesim : deceased ones
mesiras nefesh : self sacrifice
Mesorah : the traditional essential requirements in the writing of a Torah Scroll
Messiah : English transliteration of Hebrew Mashiach or Moshiach, meaning “The Anointed One” of God who was to come to fill all three offices for which one must receive anointing; prophet, priest, and king; the promised Redeemer
Messianic Community : the called-out community of Believers in Messiah; used to refer to the entire Body of Messiah as a whole, as well as the local congregation. We use the terms Miqra, Messianic Community, and Body of Messiah interchangeably.
Messianic hatafah : preaching Mashiach
mesupak : uncertain; doubting
metohar : purified
metoharim : clean
metsakhim : foreheads
metzorah : a leper (pl. metzoraim)
mevugar : mature; adult (pl. mevugarim
meyayesh : despairing
mezarez : a spur into action
mezimma : evil design; intrigue
mezuzah : (lit. doorpost) a ritual object consisting of a casing and a klaf that is put on the doorpost(s) of the house (pl. mezuzot)
michshol : stumbling block (pl. michsholim)
michyah : subsistence .
midah hatov : the attribute of virtue
midas chasidus : quality of piety
Midat Hadin : the Divine Attribute of Justice
midbar : wilderness
midrash : (1) homiletical interpretation of the Scriptures; exegesis; commentary (pl. Midrashim); (2) a collection of works compiled between the third and twelfth centuries that seeks out underlying truths and meanings of the Bible; they are the result of the process of delving into the ramifications of a biblical verse and of the ancient rabbis’ reading “between the lines” of Scripture
mifkad : census
migdal : tower
mikdash me’at : lit. a small sanctuary; refers to the home
mikhla : fold [enclosure]
mikvah : (alt. miqvah) a pool of “living” water conforming to certain dimensions and specifications, used for legal and spiritual purposes … also called by the Latin term “ritularium” … the ritual bathing (immersion) in the pool … Christian “baptism” is a based upon this concept, but has been changed from the practice followed by the early Messianic Believers. Christian “baptism” is generally performed by the clergy upon the recipient, whereas mikvah is performed by the individual upon one’s self under the supervision of a rabbi.
milah : circumcision
milchamot : wars
mimeila : consequently; as a result
minchah : from an unused root mean. to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphem. tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary) : gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice … afternoon prayer; name of Temple sacrifice … evening prayers during the day … a gift offering in the Sanctuary … an offering made of flour and oil (pl. Menachot)
minhag : custom (pl minhagim)
minim : apostates, heretics; a derogatory term for early (1st and early 2nd century) Jewish Believers in Messiah
minut : heresy; apostasy
minyan : quorum of ten adult Jews necessary for public prayer
miqra : (alt. miqrah, mikra, mikrah) something or someone “called out” … a public meeting (the act, the persons, or the place); also a rehearsal, assembly, calling, convocation, reading … equivalent to Greek ekklesia, called-out ones, erroneously (and we believe deliberately and anti-Semitically) translated “church” in the KJV, which error has continued in later English translations of the Scriptures. There is no valid linguistic or Biblical reason for translating the word “ekklesia” or for referring to the people of Mashiach as “the church” : it is only a Gentile tradition. We use the terms Miqra, Messianic Community, and Body of Messiah interchangeably.
miqvah : see. mikvah
miqveh : something waited for, i.e. confidence; also a collection, i.e. (of water) a pond, or (of men and horses) a caravan or drove : abiding, gathering together, hope, linen yarn, plenty [of water], pool
mir’eh : pasture
mirmah : deceit
mishcha : ointment
mishkan : a residence (including a shepherd’s hut, the lair of animals; figuratively the grave); also the Temple; specifically the Tabernacle (prop. its wooden walls) : to dwell, a dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent … the Sanctuary Tent
mishlo’ach manot : the sending of “portions” to friends on Purim
mishma’at : obedience
Mishnah : code of Jewish oral law edited by Rabbi Judah HaNasi (c. 135 to 220 C.E.) about 200 C.E.; together with the Gemara forms the Talmud
mishpachah : (alt. mishpakhah, mishpochah) a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people : family, kindred
mishpachot : (alt. mishpakhot, mishpokhot) : relatives
mishpat : judgment (pl. mishpatim)
mishpat mavet : a death sentence
Mishpatim : a portion in the Book of Exodus
mishpoyel : standing in awe
mishrah : rule
mishtatef : involved; joining
mispar : number
mitamuhl : suddenly
mitarev : meddlesome
mitnagged : opponent
mitnaggedim : opponents
Mitzbe’ach; : altar
mitznefet : head wrapping
Mitzrayim : Hebraic equivalent of “Egypt.” Spiritually, a picture of the world and the world’s system
mitzvah : (alt. mitzvoh) (lit. commandment) a religious precept or obligation; one of the 613 commandments in the Torah … principle for living, good deed; instruction (pl. mitzvot)
mitzvat aseh : a positive command; a commandment-to-do
mitzvat lo ta’aseh : a prohibition; a commandment-not-to-do
mitzvot : divine commandments; specifically the divine commandments given by Hashem to Moshe Rebbenu and by Yeshua to us through the Shlichim (sg. mitzvah)
mizmor : hymn; psalm
Mizmor Letodah : Psalm 101 recited daily to commemorate the Thanksgiving Offering in the Sanctuary
mizrach : east
mo’adim : fixed times/seasons/festivals
mo’ed (alt. mow’ed) : an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand) : appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed)
mochesim : tax-collectors
mochiach : one arbitrator
modeh ani : I give thanks
mofet : example; role model
moftim : miracles; wonders
Mohel : A Rabbi specifically trained and authorized to perform ritual circumcision (pl. Mohalim)
moineia : prevented
moked : fire
Molad, Molad Halevanah : the appearance of the new Moon (pl. Moladot)
morech lev : cowardliness
moreh : teacher
Moreh Tzaddikim : Teacher of Righteousness mori : my teacher
moshav hashafel : low seat
Moshe : Hebrew name of Moses
moshel : governor (pl. moshelim)
Moshiach : (alt. Mashiach, Moshi’a) Messiah, Savior
Moshieynu : our Deliverer
moshlim : rulers
Motza’ei Shabbat (alt. Shabat) : the night following the Sabbath
Motzi (alt. Hammotzee, Hamotzi) : Literally: [God] who brings forth [bread]; blessing over bread; standard blessing before meals at which bread is served … one of the fifteen phases of the Seder ceremony
Mount Moriah : The Temple site at Jerusalem; also reputed to be the mountain where Avraham bound his son Yitzhak to the altar.
Mount Sinai : The mountain from which the Torah was given by HaShem to Moshe
mufkarim : lawless ones
muktzeh : an object forbidden to carry on the Sabbath and Festival because of its not being fit or meant for use on that day
mumim : defects
murshe : proxy
musar : teaching with an ethical point
mussaf : (alt. musaf) “added” prayer service for Sabbaths and Festivals, immediately following morning prayer … the additional whole offering in the Sanctuary prescribed by the Torah for Sabbaths, Festivals and New Moons; Today: an additional Amidah prayer on said days as against the additional sacrifices
N
Na’anu’im : the waving of the four species on the Feast of Tabernacles
nacham : breathe strongly; by implication to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console, or (reflex.) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself) : comfort (self), ease [one’s self], repent (-er, -ing, self)
Pachash Hakadomony : the Predatory Snake
nachem : a prayer for consolation
Nachum Ish Gamzu : Tana, who was known for always accepting whatever tragedies and troubles that befell him as for the good, and saying, “Gom Zu L’Tovah (This is also for the good).” A teacher of Rabbi Akiva.
nafsheinu : our souls
naga : to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose); euphemistically to lie with a woman; by implication to reach (figuratively to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.) : beat, (be able to) bring (down), cast, come/draw near, get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch
naggar : carpenter
nakam : vengeance
namer : leopard
naniach : supposing
narrishkait : foolishness
nashim : wives
nasi (alt. nasiy) : an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist … captain, chief, cloud, governor, prince, ruler, vapour … head of the people, a head of a Tribe, a Prince (pl. Nesi’im)
Naso : a portion in the Book of Numbers
natsal : to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense : defend, deliver (one’s self), escape, without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, surely, take (out)
navi : (alt. nevi) prophet
nazah : to spurt, i.e. besprinkle (specifically in expiation) : sprinkle
Nazoraeans : Judaizing Christian sect (not to be confused with Nazarenes, a general term for Christians)
ne’eman : faithful
ne’emanah : reliable
ne’emanot : faithful
ne’emanut : faithfulness; trustworthiness; reliability
ne’evad : lost; perish; be ruined with destruction
nechalim : deceitfulness
nechamah : comfort
nechashim : serpents
nedavot : donations
neder : vow (pl. nederim)
nedivut : generosity; kindness
neeman : faithful
Neertzah : (alt. Nirtzah) acceptance, closing prayer … the last phase of the Seder ceremony
nefashot : souls
neharot : rivers
nehneh : benefit
Neilah : (lit. closing) concluding service of Yom Kippur … closing of the gate
nekevah : female
Nesech : the libation of wine over the altar in the Sanctuary accompanying the sacrifices
nesher— eagle or vulture (pl. nesharim)
neshikah : kiss
nessuim : marriage
Neta Revai : the fruit of the fourth year after planting
Netilat Lulav : the commandment of the Four Species in the Feast of Tabernacles
netz : hawk
nevel : harp (pl. nevalim)
nevi : (alt. navi) prophet
Nevi’im : Prophets, or the books of the Tenach known as “the Prophets”
neviah : prophetess
nevu’ah— (alt. nevuah) : prophecy (pl. nevu’ot)
nichbad : noble
nichbadim : dignitaries
niddah : ritually unclean woman
niflaot : wonders
niftar : deceased; dead (pl. niftarim)
nifteret : deceased person
nikar : evident
Nisan : the first month in the Jewish calendar, also known as Abib or Aviv, during which Pesach falls
nisayon : trial; temptation
nisayonos : tests; trials
nishba’im lasheker : perjurers
nissayon : temptation
nissim : miracles
nissuin : (alt. nisuin) in ancient times, the formal wedding ceremony
nistar : hidden; in secret
nisu’im : marriage
Nisuch Hamayim : the libation of water in the Sanctuary during the Feast of Tabernacles
nisyonos : (alt. nisyonot) temptations
nitzachon : victory
nitzrach : needy
niuf : adultery (pl. niufim)
nivcharim : chosen ones
nivra : anything created
no’efot : adulterers
Noahide : of or relating to the covenant made with Noah
noch : still
noiheg : habitually
nokhri : foreigner
nu : well; slang – What’s up?
nusach : liturgical melodies at services
O
ochel : eater
od zman : more time
of haShomayim : birds of heaven
ofen ort : immediately
ogen : anchor
ohavei kesef : lovers of money
ohavei ta’anugot : lovers of pleasures
Ohel Mo’ed : the “Tent of Meeting”
ohev es haTov : a lover of the good
ohev riv : quarrelsome
ohevet shalom : peace-loving
oholim : tents
ohr : light
oib azoi : consequently
oif eibik : forever
ois vaist : ostensibly
oisgehalten : trustworthy
oisher : rich man; ashir
oketz : the stalk of the etrog
okhel : food
ol : yoke
olah : burnt offering in Temple
olalim : (alt. ollelim) infants
olam : world; more literally as “everything,” so probably better translated as universe, everything, eternal, eternity
Olam HaBa : (alt. Olam HaBah or Olam Habba) (lit. the world to come) depending on context, refers to (a) the life of the soul after death, or to (b) the time after Messiah comes, or the Messianic Kingdom age, or (c) the “new creation” of the Revelation.
Olam HaZeh : the present age, world of toil
olamim : ages
oman : artist
omein : (alt. amen, amein) so be it; surely, truly
omenet : governess
omer : sheaf or bushel of grain
ometz lev : boldness
omnot : governesses
onan : (alt. onen) mourner (between death and burial) … a mourning relative
Oneg Shabbat : (lit. joy of the Sabbath) reception after Shabbat services, which includes refreshments, socializing, and, sometimes, Israeli dancing or a discussion
onesh : punishment; penalty
onesh mavet : the death penalty
oni : poverty
oniyah : sailing vessel
Onkelos : a targum on the Pentateuch
orchim ratzuy : welcome guests
orev - raven
orlah : fruit picked during the first three years after planting which is forbidden by the Torah
ormah : cunning
orthodox : (lit. correct worship) according to a correct interpretation of the Scriptures; a modern term to distinguish “traditional” Jews from those who allow departure from tradition. Contemporary orthodoxy would be akin to ancient Phariseeism.
oseh ra’ah : an evil doer
Oseif : Gathering of the Nobles
osher : riches
ozniah - osprey
ot : miraculous sign (pl. otot)
otzar : treasury (pl. otzarot)
ovdei elilim : idolaters
oy : woe
oyev : enemy (pl. oyevim; oyvim)
oz : power
ozen : ear (pl. oznayim)
ozer : helper (pl. ozrim)
P
p’ri : fruit
Parush : Pharisee; a religious leader who is a member of the party of the Pharisees (pl. P’rushim)
P’rushim : Pharisees; the Party of the Pharisees; see Pharisees
pachad : (alt. pakhad) fear; terror
padut : redemption
pakad : visit
Parah Adumah : Red Heifer, a special sacrificial animal (see Shabbat Parah)
Parashah : the weekly Torah portion; also called Sidrah or Sedrah or Sidra (pl. Parashot)
pareve : foods containing neither meat nor milk
parim : young bulls
parnasah : livelihood
parochet : (alt. parokhet) curtain … when capitalized, the curtain over the Ark in the Synagogue; the curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the Hechal
pasach : (alt. pesah, pesach) passing over; letting go the penalty of
Pascal Lamb : (alt. Paschal) the lamb selected for the Pesach/Passover sacrifice; haMashiach
Pascha : Greek transliteration of the Hebrew pesach, meaning “Passover.”
paskudneh : contemptible
Passover : From the Hebrew pesah; the first of the seven feasts of YHWH; the Paschal sacrifice; title may also include Feast of Unleavened Bread.
patur : exempt; free
payes : corners; therefore, earlocks of hair or sidecurls worn by ultra-Orthodox men and boys (pl. payot)
pe’ulot : works
pedut : redemption; geulah; release on payment of ransom
peh : mouth
pekuddat : stewardship; care
peledike : marvelous
penemer : faces
Pentateuch : the first five Books of the Bible, the Five Books of Moshe
Pentecost : In Hebrew, Shavuoth, the Feast of Weeks; the fiftieth day after the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread; the festival of the ingathering of the first fruits of the wheat harvest.
peres : gier; eagle
perot : fruits
Perushim : Pharisees; the upholders of the Oral Torah at the time of the Second Sanctuary
peruta : small coin
Pesabim : a section of Talmudic commentary on the feast of the Passover
Pesach : (alt. Pesah) Passover. Memorializes the night when the Hebrews were protected by the blood of lambs, a type of when God’s people are redeemed by the blood of The Lamb. One of three pilgrim festivals to Jerusalem. (pl. Pesachim)
Pesach Katan : the second offering of the Paschal Lamb on the 14th of Iyar
Pesach Sheni : the 14th of Iyar, the offering of the Pesach Sacrifice by those who were not able to do so on the 14th of Nisan
peshat : plain or literal meaning
peshuto shel mikra : simple reading of the verse
Pesikta : Book of Haggadic discourses for festivals and special Sabbaths
petach : doorway
peysha : transgression
peysha’im : transgressions [Yeshayah 53:5]
Pharaoh : King of Egypt; considered deity by Egyptians
Pharisees : A strict religio-political party in late Second Temple period who were known for their zealous adherence to the teaching of the rabbis concerning the Torah. Their chief doctrine was that salvation and God’s favor would come as a result of Torah observance … they wanted to develop Judaism through prayer, study of Torah, and midrashic interpretations of Torah; forerunners of the rabbis. Modern Judaism is very closely related to the beliefs and practices of the Pharisees, and the teaching of Yeshua was very close to that of the Pharisees except for their extra-Biblical practices.
phobeo : (Gk.) to frighten, i.e. (passive) to be alarmed; by analogy to be in awe of, i.e. revere : be (very) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence
pidyon haben / habat : lit. redemption of the (firstborn) son / daughter; home ceremony that takes place on the thirty-first day of a child’s life
pikkadon : deposit
piku’ach nefesh : the care for human life
Pikudey : a portion in the Book of Exodus
Pilgrim Festival/Feast : Shalosh Regalim : Three times a year (Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot) the Torah requires all Israel to go in joyous celebration to Jerusalem. [If anyone would try to coerce you to be overly “Torah observant” remind him/her that in order to be “Torah observant” he/she must attend these three Feasts in Jerusalem.]
Pinchas : a portion in the Book of Numbers
Pirkey Avot : “the Ethics of the Fathers”, a tractate in the Mishnah
pisechim : lame persons
pisei’ach : lame man
pitma : the wart of the etrog
pitron : interpretation (pl. pitronim)
piyyut : (alt. piyut) Poetic prayer … liturgical poem (pl. piyyutim; alt. piyutim)
platke-machers : gossipy intriguers
plotst : burst
pneuma : (Gk.) a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, HaMashiach’s spirit, the Holy Spirit —life, spirit (-ual, -ually) : Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word ruach
pnimiyus : innermost
po’alim : workers
poel : worker
poshe’im : the ones transgressing / rebelling
poshei’a : transgressor
posher : lukewarm
praht : detail
pri, p’ri : fruit
priests : descendants of Aaron (of the tribe of Levi) who officiated at religious services in the Temple; they also served as judges, physicians, and teachers.
proselyte : a convert to Judaism
Psak : Jewish legal ruling.
pseudepigraphic : written under another name
pshat : rationale
ptur : excuse
punkt : exactly
Purim : Lots. The observed day (usually in March) commemorating the deliverance and survival of God’s people. The beginning of the Passover season; a time of teshuvah.
Q
qahal : assembly, company, congregation, multitude
qehelathah : (alt. kehelathah) convocation; a place in the desert
qoheleth : (alt. koheleth) a (female) assembler (i.e. lecturer); abstractly, preaching : preacher
R
ra’a; ra’ah; rah : evil
ra’am gadol : loud thunder
ra’av : famine
ra’im : evil; evil ones
rabbi : a Jewish teacher or religious authority (pl. rabanim)
rabbim : many
rachamanut : compassion; mercy
rachamim : mercy
Rachatzah : (alt. Rochtzah) washing : “celebrant washes,” one of the fifteen phases of the Seder ceremony : the phase of the Seder ceremony in which hands are washed for the meal. (See Ur’chatz.)
rachmanim : mercy
ragel hayemanit : right foot
raglayim : feet
Rahab : (alt. Rachav) proud, harlot, broad. The word “Rahab” means a wall or broad place. This is where we get the derogatory term “broad” for a woman … False messianic kingdom
rakham : vulture
Ramah : Seat of Idolatry
raot : evil
rasha : (alt. rashah, resha) : an evildoer; the wholly wicked … iniquitous (pl. rashim, rasha’im)
Rashei HaKohanim : Chief Priests
rashei hamoshavot : chief seats
rashuyot : authorities
ratzchaniyot : murderers
ratzon : will
Rav : a Sage of the Talmud; shortened for of Rabbi
ravrevan : braggart
ravrevanut : boastfulness
raz : mystery; secret (pl. razim)
re’a : neighbor
Re’eh : a portion in the Book of Deuteronomy
rechilus : gossip
redifah : persecution (pl. redifot)
Refa’enu : “Heal us …”, one of the eighteen benedictions of the Amidah
refuah : healing (pl. refuot)
regel : foot
rehkov : street (pl. rehkovot)
reim : friends
remez : alluding to
remiyah : guile; deceit
resha : (alt. rasha) wicked, -ness , unrighteous, evildoer (pl. resha’im)
reshet : net
reshit : first
reshus : authorization
retzach : murder (pl. retzichot)
retzinut : earnestness
revach : gain; profit
revachah : relief
reyka : good for nothing! … spiritually bankrupt, completely without moral value (transliterated in the English N.T. as rakah)
richtik : correct
riezige : sizable
rishonim : first ones
ro’eh : shepherd
Rochtzah : (alt. Rachatzah; Ur’chatz) one of the fifteen phases of the Seder ceremony; the phase in which hands are washed for the meal
rofeh : physician
rogez : anger
roiv : the larger portion
rosh : head
Rosh Chodesh : (alt. Hodesh) New Month. The head/beginning of the month.
Rosh HaShanah : lit. head of the year; Jewish New Year. Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah). Head/start of the Civil Year
Rosh Hodesh : (alt. Chodesh) New Month. The head/beginning of the month.
rotzeach : murderer
rotzeachim : murderers
ruach : wind; spirit
ruach anavah : humble spirit
Ruach HaKodesh : Holy Spirit; the Spirit of Mashiach
Ruchanit : Spiritual; of the Ruach HaKodesh
ruchaniyut : spirituality in Rebbe Melech HaMashiach
ruchot hatemeiot : unclean spirits
ruchot raot : evil spirits
S
s’lihot : liturgical prayers of teshuvah (repentance)
s’michah : ordination
s’phirah— emanation(s) from the ultimate, infinite, indefinable Godhead toward the palpable world; aspects of God (pl. s’phirot)
sachar : reward
Sadducees : see Tzedokim
sadeh : field
sakanot mavet : mortal danger
sakkim : sackcloth
Samael : the devil
samchut : authority
sandak : person who holds the baby during the Berit Milah ceremony
Sanhedrin : the High Court in Jerusalem; the Israel Supreme Court during the Second Temple period; the legislative and judicial parliament supposedly descendant from the seventy elders appointed by Moshe
sanhedriyot : local councils/bet din courts
sar : a head person (of any rank or class) : captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, Lord, taskmaster, prince, ruler, steward
Sar Shalom : Prince of Peace, Mashiach
sarig : shoot; branch
sarisim : eunuchs
sasson : joy
savlanut : patient endurance
savta : grandmother
scapegoat : see Azazel
schnorrer’s : beggar’s
Scribes : the Sages who transcribed and interpreted the Torah and its Laws
sdeh krav : battlefield
se’irim : goats
sebomai : (Gk.) to revere, i.e. adore : devout, religious, worship
Second Temple : the house of worship built at Jerusalem after the return of Israel from the Babylonian Captivity
seder : lit. order; ritual for the home celebration of the first (and second) evening(s) of Pesach … the ceremony to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt on Passover Eve; the ritual Passover meal which is observed in a specific order
Seder Avodah : (alt. Abodah) the “order of Service” that the Kohen Gadol performs in the Sanctuary on the day of Atonement
seder plate : a shallow, usually compartmentalized dish that holds the symbolic foods of the Passover seder
sefer : book
sefer katan : small book
sefer keritut : bill of divorcement
Sefer Torah : (alt. Sifrei) Torah scroll (pl. Sefarim)
sefirah —counting
S’firat HaOmer (Counting the Omer) is the period of 50 days from Yom HaBikkurim until Shavuot
Sefirah : the “days of counting” between the Passover and Pentecost
seichel : good sense; understanding
selah : a musical notation found in the psalms which is generally understood to be a pause; thus, “pause and reflect on this”
selicha : forgiveness
selichot : penitential prayers
Selichot Service : a service of preparation for the High Holy Days, usually held at midnight on the Saturday preceding Rosh haShanah
semichah— ordination, ordained rabbis (pl. semuchim)
Sephardi : of Oriental Jewish communities (pl. Sephardim)
Sephardim —a cultural branch of Judaism; descendants of the Jews who fled Spain and Portugal after the Edict of Expulsion in 1492. They share a common language known as Ladino (a variant of Spanish), as opposed to northern European Jews (Ashkenazi), who speak Yiddish (a Germanic dialect).
seqilah : stoning
seraphim : fiery angels
sereifah : death by burning
seudah : banquet
seudah : feast
Seudah Mafseket : (alt. Hemafseket) the “meal of cessation” before a fast
Seudah shel Mitzvah : a festive meal that honors the observance of a mitzvah; a meal prescribed by the Torah or the Sages, same as Seudat Mitzvah
Seudah Shelishit : (alt. Shlishit) lit. third meal; a light meal eaten late on Shabbat afternoon … the third meal eaten on the Sabbath
Seudat Chavurah : (alt. Havra’ah, Chaburah) lit. meal of condolence; prepared by friends of the mourners and eaten in the house of mourning immediately following a funeral
seudot : banquet dinners
sevivon : dreidel (four-sided top used in a Chanukkah game)
sfeka deyoma : doubt as to the exact date of the day
sh’lamim : peace offerings
sha’ah; shaah : hour; time
sha’atnez : a cloth combining wool and linen
sha’ot : hours
shaar hatzarut : gate of narrowness
Shabbat : (alt. Shabbos) Sabbath. The seventh day of the week. God’s appointed day of rest, a holy convocation. Rest, cease. (Sephardic pronunciation)
Shabbat Bereshit : (alt. Bereishit) the first Sabbath after Simchat Torah on which the portion of Bereishit (Genesis) is read Shabbat Chazon : the Sabbath before the Ninth of Av
Shabbat HaGadol : The Great Shabbat precedes Pesach. It is the day the lambs are selected and brought into the home for a week of close observation to determine their suitability as the Pesach sacrifice. It was on this day that Yeshua entered Jerusalem (the “house” of Israel) for one week’s close observation by Israel of His suitability to be their Paschal Lamb, marked by his “triumphant entry” into Jerusalem.
Shabbat HaHodesh : the fourth Shabbat of the Purim sequence; precedes the new year
Shabbat Mevarchim : the Sabbath on which the forthcoming month is blessed
Shabbat Nachamu : the Sabbath after the Ninth of Av
Shabbat Parah : the third Shabbat of the Purim sequence. Refer to the ordinance of the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) in B’Midbar (Numbers) 19:1-22 : Purification before the feasts of Pesach/Hag HaMatzot.
Shabbat Shirah : “the Sabbath of Song”, the Sabbath on which “the song of the sea” is read in the portion of Beshalach
Shabbat Shuvah : lit. Sabbath of Return; the Sabbath between Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur
Shabbat Zachor : The first Shabbat of the Purim sequence; the Sabbath immediately preceding Purim
Shabbaton : Seven High Sabbaths … sabbath program of study and celebration (pl. Shabbatonim)
Shabbos : (alt. Shabbat) The Sabbath (Ashkenazic pronunciation)
shachah : to depress, i.e. prostrate (specifically reflexive in homage to royalty or God) : bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship
Shacharit (alt. Shararit) : Morning Prayer. From Hebrew for “dawn” … Morning prayer service
shachat : corruption
Shaddai : the Almighty
shadkhan : marriage-broker
shaichus : closeness; friendship; intimacy
shakan : to reside or permanently stay (lit. or figuratively) : abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell (-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up) : see Shekhinah
shakhor : black
shakran : liar (pl. shakranim)
shalakh : cormorant
shalem b’guf : healthy
shaliach : an agent sent with the full authority of the person doing the sending; Apostle (pl. Shlichim, alt. Shliachim)
Shaliach Tzibur : the presenter of the prayers in the Synagogue, the Cantor
shalitim : rulers
shalom : lit. peace … denotes all the fullness of harmony, well-being, and comfort needed for one to be at complete peace
Shalom Zachor : first Friday following birth
shalosh : three
shalosh paamim : three times
Shalosh Regalim : see Pilgrim Festival
Shalosh Seudot : the three festive meals prescribed for the Sabbath
shamash : (alt. shammash) : lit. servant; term for the ninth candle used to light the other candles in the Chanukiah … the beadle in the Synagogue; equivalent to Gk. deaconos (translated “deacon” in the Ketuvim Shlichim)
shammai : (alt. shammai) school of …
shanah : year (pl. shanim)
sharsherot : chains / fetters
shatnez : mixture of wool and linen material which we are proscribed from wearing (Deut 22:5-12)
Sha’ul : (1) the first king of Israel. (2)Best known of all Messianic Rabbis, Yeshua’s Shliach sent primarily to the Goyim and scribe of approximately half of the Ketuvim Shlichim.
Shavuot : (alt. Shavuoth) lit. “weeks” : The feast of Weeks or Pentecost (50 days); one of the three Pilgrim Feasts. The 50th day from Yom Habikkurim memorializes the receiving of the Torah, and the beginning of the wheat harvest. Also, it represents the betrothal between Israel and the Lord. It was on this day that Ruach HaKodesh came to permanently indwell the Miqra (Acts 2) as the “down-payment” or “bride price.” (sg. Shavuah) (also Hag Hakatzir)
shawkling : ritual swaying while davening; it is practiced to remind us that we were once nomads, and resembles the swaying of the body while riding a camel.
shayach : conceivable
shchenim : neighbors
she’arim : gates
she’elah : question
She’elat Geshamim : the petition for rain
She’elot u-Teshuvot : questions and responses to queries on matters of Jewish law by rabbis and sages
she’erit : remnant; remainder
shebalev : inwardly
shebet : a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan : correction, dart, rod, scepter, staff, tribe
shebuah : (alt. shabuwa) lit. sevened, i.e. a week (specifically of years) : seven, week
Shechinah : (alt. Shekhinah) glorious presence of God. See Shekhinah.
shechita : the slaughtering of animals for meat as prescribed by the Torah
shed : demon / evil spirit
shedim : demons
sheelah : question
sheelot : kashes; questions
sheerit : remnant
shefach dahm : the shedding of blood
Shehecheyanu : lit.[God] who has kept us alive; this is the blessing for beginnings and other happy occasions in people’s lives, such as birth and marriage. It is also said at candlelighting, Kiddush and certain other specific times during festival observances … a blessing over mitzvot which are performed once a year or over new fruit in its season
shein : beautiful
sheker : falsehood; lies
sheketz : abomination
sheketz tameh : unclean creature
Shekhinah (alt. Shechinah) : God’s Presence in the world. : Aram. and late Heb., a word not in Scripture, but used by later Jews and by Christians to express the visible divine Presence, especially when resting between the cherubim over the mercy seat (from shakan). As the word denotes “glory” then to speak of “the Shekhna Glory” is redundant and means “Glory Glory”.
sheleimah : complete
shelemut : perfection; completeness
Sheloshim : the second period of mourning; thirty-day mourning period
shem : name (pl. shemot)
shem kodesh : (alt. shem hakodesh) religious name; most Jewish males have two names : a religious name, called the shem kodesh (or hakodesh), and a secular name, called the kinnui in Hebrew. The religious name is a Hebrew name, and the secular name is in whatever vernacular language is in use. Observant American Jews today (for example) have a religious Hebrew name, and a secular English name. Among the Jews of Eastern Europe, Yiddish was the everyday or secular language, so they had a religious Hebrew name and a secular Yiddish name, the kinnui. In France, the secular name is in French; in ancient Babylonia, the kinnui was in Babylonian; etc.
Shem Hameforash : the Ineffable Divine Name
shem tov : good name; good reputation
Shema : (alt. Shemab; Sh’ma) lit. hear … The most widely-known Jewish confession of faith in one God: “Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohenu Adonai Echad” (Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One). Deut. 6:4-9
shemen : oil
shemen mishchah : anointing oil
shemesh : sun
Shemini Atzeret : Literally: the eighth day of assembly; conclusion of Sukkot … The day following Sukkot and the end of that festival
shemitah : fallow
Shemoneh Esre : (alt. Esray, Shmoneh Esreh) Eighteen … the number of blessings originally in the important part of the daily prayers recited in silence while worshipers stand—hence this name is applied to all such standing prayers, although the daily service now has nineteen and other services seven blessings. Combines adoration with entreaty. Also called Amidah (standing) or simply Tefillah (prayer).
shemot : names (sg. shem)
shenayim : two
Sheol : abode of the dead; afterlife; the netherworld
sherut : service in the Beis HaMikdash
sheva : seven
Sheva Berachot : (alt. Birchot) lit. seven blessings; these are recited or chanted at a wedding ceremony prior to the sharing of a cup of wine by the bride and groom
shevach : (alt. shevakh) praise; commendation
shevarim : a shofar sound
shevarim : oxen
Shevat : Fifth month of Jewish year
shevet : tribe
shevu’ah : oath
shevuot : oaths
sheynah : sleep
sheynit : a second time
shfakhot : maid servants
shichrut : drunkenness
shiebud : obligation
shifcha : (alt. shifchah) bond maid
shiflut : lowliness
shiggot haAm : unintentional sins of the people
shikkor : drunkard
shikkorim : drunkards
shilton : rule
shin : next-to-last letter of the Hebrew alef-beit (first letter of Shaddai)
Shir Chadash : New Song
shirayim : Rebbe’s remainders
shiryon kaskasim : coat of scale armor
Shitre Erusin : A betrothal contract
shiur : lesson; Torah talk (pl. shiurim)
shiva : seven; the first period of mourning; seven-day mourning period, the first day of which is the day of burial
shivah haben : child of the week
shivim : seventy
shkoyach : well done
shleimut : perfection; completion
shliach : emissary, one sent forth with the full power and authority of the sender; Apostle (pl. Shlichim, shluchim)
Shlichus : (alt. Schlicot) Divine Mission
shlishit : third
shlita : control
shlitah atzmi : self-control
shloshah : three
shluchim : emissaries of the Rebbe; Melech HaMashiach (sg. shliach)
Shmad : Anti-Mashiach apostasy; apostate; destructive departure
shmattes : tatters; rags
Shmitah : Release : the seventh year in which the land lies fallow and debts are released or annulled … the Sabbatical year at the end of each seven year cycle
Shmo : His Name
shmonah asar : eighteen
Shmuel : a Sage of the Talmud; Samuel
shnayim : two
Shneym Asar : Twelve
shochet : ritual slaughterer, required by Jewish dietary laws for the preparation of kosher meat
shochvim es zachar : homosexuals
shoded : robber (pl. shodedim)
shofar : trumpet made from a ram’s horn used as warning, call to arms, and in celebration. Blown on Rosh haShanah and during the month of Elul. When Yeshua returns it will be with the “sound of the Shofar.”
Shofar Hagadol : The Great Trumpet
shofetim : judges
Shofetim : (alt. Shofitim) Judges; Book of the Bible … a portion in the Book of Deuteronomy
soin : already
shomayim : heaven
Shome’a Tefillah : (alt. Tefilah) “The One Who hears prayer …” one of the eighteen benedictions of the Amidah
shomer : lit. guardian; on guard … person who remains with the deceased so that the body is never left alone prior to burial
shomer masoret : religious devotion
shomrim : guards
shoresh : root
shoshvin : the chosson’s best man
shot : whip
shoteh : fool
shoter : law official
Shovavim Tat : a series of winter weeks whose Mondays and Thursdays are observed as fast days
shprach : diction
shrekliche : terrible
shtaig : working my way up; advancing; progressing
shtark : steadfastly
shtats : imposing; impressive
shtein : stop
shter : bother
shtetl : Jewish village
shtetlach : towns
shtey karnayim : two horns
shtiklech : misconduct ;
shtreimel : expensive hat
shuckle : to sway during prayer
shud : misfortune
shul : synagogue
shulchan : table
Shulchan Aruch : code of law applicable to today … the Book of codified Jewish Law, by Rabbi Yosef Karo
Shulchan Orech : table set for meal … one of the fifteen phases of the Seder ceremony
shulchanot : tables
Shushan Purim : Purim celebration on Adar 15 by cities walled at the time of Joshua
shuttafim : partners
shuttafut : partnership
shvakh : commendation
shvateem : (alt. shvatim) tribes
shver : complex
Sicarii : a fanatic group of Zealots (literally meaning “cut throats”) as they were involved in political assassination of both Jews and Romans; named after the ice-pick-like dagger used to dispatch their victims via a thrust to the base of the brain. The talmid who betrayed Yeshua was Yehuda the Sicarius.
sichlut : foolishness
Siddur : (alt. Sidur) prayer book; the set order of prayers … daily and Sabbath prayer book (pl. Siddurim)
Sidra : Bible portion of the week, read on Sabbath (pl. Sedarim, alt. Sidrot)
Sifra : (alt. Sifre) Halakhic midrashim to Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
sikhliyut : rationality
Siloam : a pool of water in Jerusalem
siman : sign; indication
simcha : joy
simchah : lit. joy; a happy event
Simchat Torah : Literally: joy of the Torah; holiday marking the conclusion of the yearly cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of the new cycle; the final fall holiday
sin’ah : hatred
sinas chinom : baseless hatred
sirah : boat
sitnah : accusation
Sivan : Ninth month of the Jewish year
sivlot : sufferings (pl. sevalot)
Siyum : the completion of the study of a Talmudic tractate. Sod : mystery
skikuy : drink
smolit : left
sochen : steward/estate manager
sodot : mysteries
sofer : a specially trained scribe; Torah-teacher; rabbi (pl. soferim, sofrim)
soimech : confident; putting their trust and being dependent
soivel : bearing with
soneh : hater
soreg : barrier of the holy precinct
sorrut : rebelliousness / insubordination
sotah : a woman suspected of adultery
soterim : policemen
stam : elementary
stater : coin
sterntichel : kerchief
Sukkot : (alt. Sukot) : booths, temporary dwellings; name of the festival that commemorates the Israelites’ wanderings in the desert after leaving Egypt … the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) … One of three Pilgrim Feasts (sg. Sukkah, Sukah)
sunagoge : (Gk.) an assemblage of persons; specifically a Jewish “synagogue” (either the place or the meeting); by analogy a Christian “church” meeting : assembly, congregation, synagogue
sus : horse (pl. susim)
synagogue : a place constructed and fully dedicated for gathering and studying. After the destruction of the Temple, synagogues became a place of corporate worship.
T
t’fillin : black leather boxes containing scrolls of Scripture passages, also called phylacteries. Sometimes during prayers one box is affixed to one’s hand and arm and the other to one’s forehead as a physical effort to obey the passage in Deuteronomy 6:8 (Exodus 13:1-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21)
ta’am ha’elyon : the “upper” mode of cantilation of the passage of the Ten Commandments
ta’anug : evil pleasure
ta’anugot : evil pleasures
ta’avah : evil desire/lust
ta’avot : lusts
Taanit : a section of the Talmud on Fasts … a fast day
aaanit chalom : a fast over a bad dream
taavah : lust
tachanun : a prayer of supplication
tacharut : competition
tachlis : purpose
tachrichim : (alt. tachrichin) burial shrouds
tachtiy : the depths (figuratively a pit, the womb) : low (parts, -er, -er parts, -est), nether (part)
tag : ornamental flourish or “tittle”on Hebrew letters
taharah : ritual purification of the deceased in preparation for burial … washing of the dead body
tahor : ritually pure or clean … able to enter the Beit HaMikdash or Mishkan
takhrikhim : shrouds prescribed by Jewish law
takhmos : night-hawk
takif : influential man
Tal : (Dew) The prayer for dew (in Eretz Yisrael) recited on first day of Passover
tallit : prayer shawl with ceremonial fringes on four corners (alt. talit, talis)
tallit katan (alt. talit) : a small prayer shawl; a special undershirt with four corners each bearing tzitziyot
talmid : disciple, student (fem. talmidah; pl. talmidim); a true talmid does not only want to know what the teacher knows, he/she wants to be what the teacher is.
talmid chacham : a scholar of the Torah
Talmud : the two commentaries on the Mishnah, one produced in the Holy Land about AD 275, the other in Babylonia about AD 500; the designation for both the Mishnah and the commentaries on it (Gemara). The Talmud is the collected legal and ethical discussions of the rabbis.
tam’ei : (alt. tameh, tameis, tamei) ritually impure or unclean (specifically by virtue of contact with the dead), not able to enter the able to enter the Beit HaMikdash or Mishkan
tamid : the daily sacrifice in the Sanctuary
tamim : faultless
Tammuz : tenth month on the Jewish civil calendar
tana : rabbi in the Mishnaic period (pl. tannaim, alt. tana’im)
Tanakh : (alt, Tanach, Tenach) the Hebrew Bible, consisting of Torah, Prophets, and Writings … an acronym formed from the initial letters of the Hebrew Torah, Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings)
tanshemet : horned owl
Targum : (Translation) Traditionally the name given the Aramaic translation of the Bible, read to the populace in Babylonian periods. The custom of reading services in Aramaic following the Hebrew goes back to hundreds of years before the great diaspora. Except for some interpolations and paraphrases, the Targum Bavli, also known as the Targum Onkelos, is a very faithful translation. Less faithful to the text are the Targum Yerushalmi and others of fragmentary character (pl. Targumim)
tarnegol : cock
Tashlich : traditional Rosh haShanah afternoon ceremony in which individuals symbolically cast their sins (crumbs) into a body of water … the casting away of sin
tata : papa
tav : mark
tavnit : pattern; copy
techinnah : petition; supplication
techiyah : resurrection
tefillah : (alt. tefilah) lit. prayer; also refers to the central group of prayers in each service, alternatively called the Amidah or Shemoneh Esre (pl. tefillos, tefillot)
Tefillah Zakah : (alt. Tefilah) “a prayer of purity” recited upon the advent of Yom Kippur before Kol Nidrey
tefillin : (alt. tefilin) black square leather boxes containing parchments with sections of the Torah (Shma etc.). Jewish men are obligated to wear them the forehead and arm during prayers every morning. (Of course if one sees the sunrise 45 times a day as an astronaut might, this may create problems.)
Tehillim : Psalms
tehom : abyss
tehom gedolah : a great abyss; chasm
tehorah : pure
tehorim : clean
Teki’ah : a shofar sound
tekufa : era; period
Tekufah : one of the four seasons of the year (pl. Tekufot)
tekumah : revival
telos : the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination, result, purpose); specifically an impost or levy (as paid) : continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost
telunnah : murmuring
tema’im : unclean
temarim : palms
Tenakh (alt. Tanach, Tenach) : Tanakh
teretz : excuse
Teruah : an awakening blast on the Shofar
terumah : contribution
terumah haissa : portion; offering of the dough
terutz : excuse
teshukot : desires
teshuvah : (alt. teshuva) lit. turning or returning; repentance … repentance from sin, spiritual reawakening … desire to strengthen the connection between oneself and the sacred … turning toward God
Tetragrammaton : the four Hebrew letters hwhy usually transliterated YHWH or YHVH that form a Biblical “proper Name” of God
Tetzaveh : a portion in the Book of Exodus
teva : ark
teva : nature
tevel : world
Tevet : fourth month of the Jewish year
tevilah [lit. immersion] : the total immersing of one’s self in a mikvah (container of “living water”). Christian “baptism” is a based upon this concept, but has been changed from the practice followed by the early Messianic Believers. Whereas Christian “baptism” is performed upon the individual by another, generally a member of the clergy, tevilah is performed upon one’s self by the individual, and may may or may not be observed by “official witnesses.”
Therapeutae : sternly ascetic Jewish party whose views and practices were kindred to the Essenes in Palestine
tevunah : wisdom
tief : deep and profound; erudite; keen
tiferet : splendor; beauty
tihur : purification
tikkun : restoration; repair
Tikkun Chatzot : (alt. Tikun) a prayer of lamentation over the destruction of the Sanctuary, recited at midnight
Tikkun Leil Shavuot : (alt. Tikun) lit. service of the night of Shavuot
tikkun olam : (alt. tikun) repairing our broken world
Tikkun Soferim : (alt. Tikun Sofrim) the set of rules for the writing of a Torah Scroll
tikvah : hope
tikvateinu : our hope
timtum halev : hardening of the heart
tipesh : idiot
tipshus : foolery
tipus : type; pattern
tish : table
Tishah Be’av : The ninth day of the month of Av; a day of mourning for the destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem
tishen : tables
Tishri : (alt. Tishrei) (Ethanim) first month of the Hebrew civil calendar (September-October)
Titkabel : a verse in the kadish, “Let the prayers of Israel be accepted.”
tizkoret : reminder
to’evah : abomination
tochnit : master plan
todah : thanks, thank you, the thanksgiving offering in the Sanctuary
toeva : abomination
tohorah : purification
tohorat mishpakhah : family purity
tohu vavohu : disorder; chaos
tohuw : to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figuratively a worthless thing; in vain : confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness
toitzaa : outcome
tokhechah : reproof
toldah : (alt. towledah) descent, i.e. family; (figuratively) history : birth, generations
toldot : genealogies
Torah : teaching or instruction, but usually erroneously translated “law” … the instruction of God. In its most narrow sense, the Five Books of Moshe (Moses), the Pentateuch : B’resheet (Genesis), Sh’mot (Exodus), Vayikra (Leviticus), B’midbar (Numbers), D’varim (Deuteronomy), called the “Written Torah” and hand-written on a parchment scroll. The Torah plus the Prophets (Nevi’im) and Writings (K’tuvim) are together called the TaNaKh (TNK), Tenach (alt. Tanach, Tanakh, Tenakh), the Hebrew Bible, or the so-called “Old Testament.” In a broad sense, the whole written Word of God is the Torah, including both the Tanakh and the Ketuvim Schliachim (New Testament). In its broadest sense, “Torah” is all of Judaism, which flows from those Books. Additional material called the “Oral Torah” is considered in varying degrees as authoritative in traditional Judaism. Uncapitalized, the work can be understood as “principle.”
Torah-observant : walking in yielded obedience to the teaching of the Scriptures; in traditional Judaism this includes obeying the complex instructions of the Talmud as well.
torud : completely absorbed and involved
Tosefta : (alt. Tocefta) (Supplement) Anthology of tannaitic text parallel to Mishnah, but outside Mishnaic canon, and more expansive. Rabbi Nehemiah, second century, began the work; in the third century it was continued by Hiyya ben Abba and Oshaiah
tous ritztzuy : reconciliation
tov : good
tov l’teshuva : fruit worthy of repentance
tovim : good ones
tovot : good things
toyus : error
treif : (alt. trefah) lit. torn apart; food that is not ritually fit … the opposite of kosher
trombeniks : gluttons
Tru’ah : a shofar sound
Trumah : a heave offering, contribution … the seventh portion in the Book of Exodus
Trumpets, Feast of : the modern Rosh Ha-Shanah, the first day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, celebrated (unbiblically) as the Jewish New Year
tsaphoon : hidden
tsemach : branch
tshuka : yearning
Tsion : Zion
tsur : rock
Tu Bishvat : fifteenth day of the month of Shevat; a minor holiday known as the New Year of the Trees, observed by planting trees
tugah : sadness
tum’a : uncleanness; impurity
tza’ar : pain and suffering
tzad : side
tzaddik : righteous man
Tzaddik : (alt. Tzadik) Chasidic sages were so called; they were often raised by their followers to the status of direct intermediaries with God, super-human miracle workers … a just man, righteous, upright (pl. Tzaddikim, alt. Tzadikim)
tzaddikim : righteous ones
tzafon : north
Tzafun : the phase of the Seder ceremony in which the hidden afikoman is eaten
tzar : narrow
tzarah : trouble
Tzarah Gedolah : Great Tribulation
tzarut ayin : envyings
tzavva’a : will
tzechok : laughter
tzedakah : contribution
tzedakah : (alt. tsedakah) lit. justice or righteousness; the Hebrew word we use for charity and charitable acts
tzedek : righteousness
Tzedokim : (alt. Tzedukim) Sadducees : Religio-political sect of Judaism in the late Second Temple period that focused on priestly functions and the sacrificial system … their views and practices were opposed to those of the Pharisees. They denied the authority of oral tradition, the resurrection of the dead, and the existence of angels.
tzelamim : idols
tzelem : image
tzevi’ut : hypocrisy
tzevua : (pl. tzevuim) hypocrite
tzfarde’im : frogs
tzidkat : righteousness
Tzidkatcha Tzedek : verses recited after the minchah prayer on Shabbat
Tziduk Hadin : a prayer of accepting God’s Judgment
tzitzis : (alt. tzitzit) ceremonially knotted fringes to be worn on all fourcornered garments (pl. tzitziyot); often translated “fringes” in Scripture.
tzive’ot zarim : armies of the aliens
tziveot haparashim : troops of cavalry-men
tznius : modesty
tzom; tzomot : fast; fastings
tzon : flock
tzorich iyun : unresolved puzzlement
tzoros : troubles
tzufloigen : dazed
tzufriedenkait : contentment
tzushtel : comparison
U
ugeret : easily seen; evident
Unleavened Bread, Feast of : The second of the seven Feasts of hwhy, which begins on the fifteenth of Nisan, directly after the Passover, and continues for seven days; a time when no leaven is to be eaten; also sometimes included in the festival of Passover, whereby the two are designated as one holiday or festival lasting eight days. Also Hag haMatzah
Untaneh Tokef : a passage describing Heavenly Judgment added to prayer on Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur.
Ur : An ancient Sumerian city and district in southern Babylonia by the Euphrates River; the home of Avraham.
Ur’chatz : “celebrant washes,” one of the fifteen phases of the Seder ceremony (see Rachatzah)
Ushpizin : the Seven Shepherds of Israel who “visit” every Jew’s sukkah on the Feast of Tabernacles.
Uva Letzion : a prayer composed of a selection of Scriptural verses
V
Va’era : the second portion in the Book of Exodus
Va’etchanan : the second portion in the Book of Deuteronomy
Vav : Hebrew letter w or v
Vayechal : a paragraph from Exodus chapter 32 and 34 read on a public fast
Vayelech : a portion in the Book of Deuteronomy
Vayechi : the last portion in the Book of Genesis
Ve’ahavta : lit. “and you shall love” … the prayer from Deuteronomy 6:5-9, that obligates Jews to love God and to teach Judaism to future generations; part of the Shema
Velamalshinim : a passage relating to slanderers and informers, prescribed as a nineteenth brachah added to the eighteen benedictions of the amidah prayer. See Birkat HaMinim.
Vezot Habrachah : the last portion in the Torah
vidui : confession
Vilna Gaon : One of the most prominent figures in the Torah world of recent centuries, his erudition covering (in addition to the natural sciences and mathematics) the entire field of Torah scholarship, on which he wrote some 70 works. Despite his extreme seclusion : his ascetic assiduity has become proverbial : he exerted a powerful influence on Jewish affairs. Since his time, the Yiddish term Litvak (“Lithuanian”) has come to stand for a scholarly and hard-core misnaged espousing the closely definable world-view whose prime ideologist and ideal personality is the Gaon.
W
Wayiqra : (alt.Vayiqra) Leviticus See listings under “V”
Y
Ya’aleh Veyavo : a passage added to the amidah prayer and to the Grace after the Meal on Festivals and New Moons when additional sacrifices were offered in the Sanctuary
yachatz : the breaking of the middle matzah of the ceremonial matzot during a Passover seder … one of the fifteen phases of the Seder ceremony
yad : hand
Yahadut : Judaism
Yahrzeit : a day of memorial
Yahweh : YHVH or YHWH … the Tetragrammatron … the four Hebrew letters hwhy usually transliterated YHWH or YHVH that form the proper Name of HaShem (insofar as it can be said that HaShem has a proper Name) … incorrectly translated in many English Bibles as “Jehovah” which is grammatically impossible to say in the Hebrew language … as nearly as the word can be translated into English, it means “I Am” … it was by this name that HaShem revealed himself to Moshe in the burning bush. Several times Yeshuah HaMashiach claimed to be “I Am” : thus either Yeshua is literally YHWH, the covenant God of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya’akov, or He is a liar and a fraud.
yaldah : girl
yam : sea
yamim : days
yamim mikedem : earlier days
Yamin Noraim : (alt. Yamim) lit. Days of Awe; the ten-day period beginning with Rosh haShanah and ending with Yom Kippur
yanshuf : great owl
yare’ach : moon
yarmulke : (Yid.) kippa or kipah, a skullcap worn by most male Jews during prayer
yashar : (alt. yashir ) straight
yashar mishpat : righteous judgment
yashrus : justice
yatzdik : justify
yavam : husband’s brother upon whom devolved the duty of marrying the former’s widow if left without children … the brother-in-law
Yavneh : a city that became the location of an academy and a central focus for the Jews once the Romans destroyed Jerusalem
yayin : wine
ye’ush : despair
yebamah : under Biblical laws, childless widow who was commanded to marry her late husband’s brother, so that a child might be named after the departed
yechidus : private meeting of the Rebbe with his Chassidim
Yehudi : Jew (pl. Yehudim)
yeled : child
yemach shemam : their name should be blotted out
yerida : to descend back; return
yerushah : inheritance
Yerushalayim : Jerusalem. The city of our God, and covenantal capital of Eretz Yisra’el : the Land of Israel
yeshanot : old things
yeshivah : Torah academy (pl. yeshivot)
Yeshua : (alt. Yashua, Yahshua, Yoshua, Yehoshua) Literally means “God saves” or “YHWH is my salvation.” Variants include Yahshua, Y’shua, Y’hoshua, and Y’hoshua. Because the Greek language has no equivalent of the Hebrew letters “yod” or “shin” and all masculine Greek names end in “s” the name was transliterated into Greek as “Iesous” in both the Septuagint and the Greek translation of the Apostolic Writings. When transliterated into English, the iota (“I”) became a “J” resulting in the spelling “Jesus.”
yeshuah : rescue; salvation; deliverance
yesod : foundation
yesodot : rudiments
yetomim : orphans
yetzer : impulse
yetzer ha’ra : impulse toward evil
yetzer ha’tov : impulse toward good
yetzurim : creatures
yetzurim hayam : creatures of the sea
Yevani : Greek (pl. Yevanim)
yi’ud merosh : predestination
yichud : time spent alone together by the bride and groom immediately after the wedding ceremony … bridal chamber … room entered by bride and groom where the two, in the consummation of the marriage, become one
yichus : lineage
Yiddish : The language spoken by the Ashkenazi (Jews of European ancestry); it is a dialect of old German written with the Hebrew alephbet.
Yiddishkeit : the state or quality of being Jewish; Jewishness
Yir’as Shomayim : Fear of Heaven
yirah : fear
Yirmeyahu : Jeremiah
yisurim : sufferings; torments
Yitro : Jethro; the sixth portion in the Book of Exodus
Yizkor : (“May He remember”) Prayers for the departed, recited on Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, last day of Passover, second day of Shavuot
yod : (alt. yud) tenth and smallest letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet
yold : fool
yom : day
Yom Habikkurim : The Day of First Fruits, barley harvest, the day from which we start counting the Omer 50 days to Shavuot (Pentecost)
Yom haDin : Literally: Day of Judgment; one of the names for Rosh haShanah
Yom haPeduth : The Day of Redemption
Yom haZikkaron : Literally: The Day of Remembrance; one of the names for Rosh haShanah
Yom Kippur : (alt. Kipur) The Day of Atonement; The Great Fast
Yom Kippur Katan (alt. Kipur) : the eve of a New Moon, a “little” Day of Atonement
Yom Teruah : Rosh haShanah : The Day of the Awakening Blast; The Feast of Trumpets
Yom Tov— a Festival Day, holiday (pl. Yamim Tovim)
yom yom : daily (day by day)
Yoma : a tractate of the Mishnah on Yom Kippur
yoma arichta : one “long” day, two days considered as one
yonah : dove (pl. yonim)
yoreh : first Autumn rain
yoreshim : heirs
yoshen : oldness
yosher : rectitude
Yotzer : Creator
Yotzer Ha’Adam : Hebrew for “Creator of Man.” It is the 2nd of the 7 blessings that are recited at the end of a wedding feast (see the Complete Art Scroll Siddur P.206)
Yotzrot : liturgical poems added to the shacharit prayer
Yovel : a Jubilee year at the end of a fifty year cycle
Yud : (alt. Yod) The 10th and smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet (aleph-bet).
yunge leit : young people
Z
Z’roah Adonai : Arm of the Lord
zach : thing
zachar : male
zahav : gold
zaken : (alt. zaqen, zeken) elder (-est), aged, old or ancient man or woman, senator (pl. zakenim)
zamlet : collect
zannay : fornicator
zannayim : fornicators
zaqen : (alt. zaken, zeken) elder (-est), aged, old or ancient man or woman, senator (pl. zaqenim)
zar : stranger; foreigner (pl. zarim)
zchus : merit; privileged
ze’ev : wolf (pl. ze’evim)
zechus : merit
zeken : elder (-est), aged, old or ancient man or woman, senator (pl. zekenim)
zelba : same
Zeman Mattan Toratenu : (alt. Matan) Literally: the Season of the Giving of Our Torah; another name for Shavuot
Zeman Simchatenu : Literally: the Season of Our Joy; another name for
Sukkot
zemanniyim : temporary
zemirot : table songs
zenut : fornication (pl. zenunim)
zera : seed
zerizut : diligence
zeroah : (alt. z’roah) Hebrew for “arm”; in animals, “shoulder”; the shank bone on the seder plate representative of the Paschal sacrifice (occasionally a chicken neck if a lamb shank is unobtainable).
zevakhim : sacrifices
zicher : certain
zichron : memory
Zif (Iyar) : Eighth month of Jewish year
zikaron : remembrance
Zikhrnot : A portion of the Rosh haShanah service that deals with divine remembrance
zikkaron : a memorial
zikkuy : acquittal
zililut da’as : sober-mindedness
zimah : (alt. zimmah) : lewdness; sensuality
Zion : One of the many names for Jerusalem and the surrounding area.
Zionism : The belief that there should be a Jewish national homeland in the historic land of Israel
zitzfleisch : patience
zman : time, season (pl. zmanim)
zolel : glutton
zoneh : fornicator
zonim : sexually immoral
zonot : prostitutes
zrizus : reliability
Zushia, Rabbi Meshullam : Rebbe in Hanipoli. Disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch; brother of Reb Elimelech; Died 1800, 2 Sh’vat.