Dictionary of Terms

* Afikomen Piece of matzah (unleavened bread) eaten at the end of Passover seder (ceremony)

* Akedah Binding of Isaac for sacrifice-Genesis 22-Traditionally read at Rosh HaShanah

* Aliyah Hebrew for “going up” Refers to “going up” to read from the Torah during the synagogue service Refers to “going up” to live in the land of Israel-Jews returning to live in Israel make “aliyah”

* Amidah Means standing-the prayer is recited standing up, hence it is the Standing Prayer Also called Shemona Esrei because it originally contained eighteen blessings Central prayer of morning, afternoon, evening and additional Synagogue services Began when Ezra commanded Jews to pray 3 times daily Also called Tefillah which means prayer

* Anti-Semitism Racial hatred of Jews

* Aravah Hebrew for willow branch

* Arba Minim Hebrew for the Four Species (Date palm branch, willow branch, myrtle branch, etrog)

* Ashkenazi Jews who lived in the area of Germany and northern France during the Middle Ages

* Chag HaAsif Hebrew for Festival of Ingathering, Sukkot, Festival of Tabernacles, Festival of Booths

* Chag Sameach Hebrew for “Joyous Festival” Happy Holidays—used mainly during Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot

* Challah Leavened bread for the Sabbath and other Holidays-normally braided for the Sabbath and round for the Jewish New Year-Rosh HaShanah

* Chanukkah Festival of Dedication John 10:22 also called Festival of Lights (Eight Day Festival) Celebrates victory of the Maccabes (Jewish priestly family) and others restoring Temple 172 BCE Several transliterated spellings-Hanukkah, Chanukkah, Hannukkah, Hannukah

* Chol HaMoed Hebrew for “intermediate days” (the days between day one and the last day of a festival)

* Chutzpah Audacity-Nerve

* Conservative Judaism Derived from Orthodox Judaism in the mid-19th Century Not as strict as Orthodox Judaism-Not as liberal as Orthodox Judaism

* Day of Atonement Yom Kippur in Hebrew-24 hour fast day from sunset to sunset-nothing to eat or drink

* Days of Awe Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur These two days and the days between them are called the Ten Days of Awe

* Diaspora The Dispersion-anywhere Jews live outside the land of Israel In Hebrew-”Galut”literally meaning “exile”

* Etrog One of the Four Species (Arba Minim) used at Sukkot Yellow bumpy citrus fruit grown in Israel and Mediterranean climates

* Fast of Esther The day preceding Purim-reminder of Queen Esther and the Jewish people fasting

* Feast of Trumpets English term for the Hebrew words “Yom Teruah” This is the beginning of the Jewish/Biblical Civil new year called Rosh HaShanah in Hebrew. In English it literally means “head of the year.” Rosh HaShanah begins the “High Holy Days” and they end with “Yom Kippur”

* Festival of Booths In Hebrew “Sukkot” Other names in English are Festival of Tabernacles & Festival of Ingathering Third of three commanded Pilgrimage Festivals. Follows Rosh HaShanah

* Festival of Ingathering In Hebrew “Sukkot” Other names in English are Festival of Tabernacles & Festival of Booths Third of three commanded Pilgrimage Festivals. Follows Rosh HaShanah

* Festival of Tabernacles In Hebrew “Sukkot” Other names in English are Festival of Booths & Festival of Ingathering Third of three commanded Pilgrimage Festivals. It follows Rosh HaShanah

* Four Species In Hebrew, “Arba Minim” The four items used during Sukkot- Etrog, Aravah, Lulav, Hadas

* Galut Hebrew for the word “exile” Another word for “Diaspora”

* Gemara Second of two books comprising the Talmud Basically Rabbinic commentaries on the Mishnah (the first book of the Talmud Codified by 500 CE

* Hadas One of the Four Species (Arba Minim) used during Sukkot In Hebrew “myrtle”

* Haftarah A scripture portion read from the Biblical Prophets-read after the weekly Torah portion

* Haggadah Book containing liturgy or order of service for the Passover Seder (order of service)

* Hakafot In Hebrew “circuits/circles” Name for processions around synagogue and/or bride & groom etc.

* Hanukkah Festival of Dedication John 10:22 also called Festival of Lights (Eight Day Festival) Celebrates victory of the Maccabes (Jewish priestly family) and others restoring Temple 172 BCE Several transliterated spellings-Channukah, Chanukkah, Hannukkah, Hannukah

* High Holy Days Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur as well as the ten days in between

* Holocaust Greek-”holos” (completely) “kaustos” (burnt) Description of the Genocide of 6 million European Jews by the Nazi Regime led by Adolf Hitler 5 million from other groups were also murdered during the same time by the same Nazi Regime See Shoah

* Hoshanah In Hebrew “Please save us!”

* Hoshanah Rabbah In Hebrew, “the Great Hosannah” Another name for the seventh day of Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles)

* Kaddish (Mourner’s) A prayer magnifying God - it is not a prayer for the dead Chanted while remembering Jewish martyrs, Holocaust survivors & deceased loved ones

* Kippah Skullcap-The Hebrew word kippah means dome-also called yarmulke in Yiddish

* Kol Nidre Literally “All Vows” A service held at sunset at the beginning of Yom Kippur

* Kosher Food prepared according to Jewish/Biblical laws and regulations Kosher has come to also mean anything done according to all expected rules and regulations

* Lag B’Omer Celebrates great rabbis (teachers and sages) who studied the Torah

* Lulav One of the Four Species (Arba Minim) It is the date palm branch Also, it is the compound unity of one date palm branch, two willow branches, three myrtle branches

* Maariv Evening synagogue service

* Machzor Jewish prayer book used for the High Holy Days (Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur)

* Maftir Additional Torah portion The person called up to recite the blessing on the Torah portion

* Matzah Unleavened bread eaten during Passover when no leaven is permitted

* Maven An expert

* Meshuganeh Crazy

* Messiah In Hebrew literally means “Anointed One” The Greek term for “Messiah” is “Christ”

* Messianic Having to do with the Messiah

* Messianic Congregation Group of Jewish & Gentile people who worship together in more of a 1st Century style Believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is divine and the Savior and King who is returning to earth again

* Messianic Judaism Originated from the time of the Second Jerusalem Temple First Messianic Jews were the Jewish people who accepted Yeshua (Jesus) as The Messiah Messianic Judaism is the foundation of what is now known as Christianity Most Messianic Jews believe that Yeshua is divine and the promised & returning Savior and King

* Mezuzah: The verses from Deuteronomy 8:4 and 11:13-21 are written on a parchment, rolled up and inserted into a container. The container is nailed on the right doorpost at a slight angle pointed toward the house or room. It is a visible signal to think about God when you go in or out. It is tradition to touch the mezuzah when you pass through the doorway

* Mincha Afternoon synagogue service

* Mishnah First of two books of the Talmud Originally the Mishna was passed generation to generation orally After destruction of Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE, the Oral Traditions began being written down By 200 CE the oral traditions were codified into the “Mishnah”

* Mussaf Additional Service-”Mussaf” means additional

* Orthodox Judaism Strictest form of Judaism

* Parshah Weekly Torah portion

* Passover In Hebrew Pesach-The first of three commanded Pilgrimage Festivals-Celebration of freedom from Egypt and slavery

* Pentecost Greek for the Hebrew word Shavuot-Second of three commanded Pilgrimage Festivals 50 days after the first day of Passover

* Pesach Hebrew for Passover-The first of three commanded Pilgrimage Festivals-Celebration of freedom from Egypt and slavery

* Pilgrimage Festivals Three commanded Festivals requiring attendance in Jerusalem The first is Passover, the second is Shavuot, the third is Sukkot

* Purim The celebration of Queen Esther and the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman

* Reform Judaism Grew out of Conservative Judaism-very liberal interpretations of traditional Jewish law & traditions

* Rosh HaShanah Hebrew for “Head of the Year” Jewish/Biblical Civil new year-Also known as “The Feast of Trumpets”, (English) “Yom Teruah” (Hebrew) Rosh HaShanah begins the “High Holy Days” and they end with “Yom Kippur”

* Sekhakh In Hebrew “covering” living material such as branches and/or wood to roof the sukkah

* Sepharadi Jews from Spanish territories in Middle Ages

* Shabbat Sabbath - The 7th Day - Day of Rest

* Shacarit Morning synagogue service * Shalom Hebrew for Peace-Hello-Goodbye

* Shalosh Regalim Three Pilgrimage Festivals commanded by God Pesach (Passover Shavuot (Pentecost) Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles/Booths)

* Shavuot Pentecost-The second of three commanded Pilgrimage Festivals 50 days after the first day of Passover

* Shekhinah The Presence of God - God’s Glory

* Shemini Atzeret Day of Assembly-The day that follows the 7 days of Sukkot

* Shemoneh Esrei A prayer that originally contained 18 blessings Recited in all synagogue service-Began in the time of Ezra Called also Amidah which means standing up-the prayer is recited standing up Called also Tefillah which means to pray

* Shoah (Sho’ah-Shoa) Hebrew word for “calamity” Description of the Genocide of 6 million European Jews by the Nazi Regime led by Adolf Hitler 5 million from other groups were also murdered during the same time by the same Nazi Regime See Holocaust

* Shofar In Hebrew “ram’s horn” Shofar has also come to include “yemenite shofars” from the Kudu (antelope) Shofars can be made from any “Kosher” horned animal except cows

* Simchat Torah Hebrew for “Rejoicing in the Torah”-The day that follows Shemini Atzeret Sometimes called the second day of Shemini Atzeret The day the last and first Torah portions for the year ending & beginning are read

* Sukkah Hebrew for “booth” Temporary shelter built during Sukkot - at least three walls and roof allows stars to be seen

* Sukkot Hebrew for Festival of Tabernacles or Festival of Booths or Festival of Ingathering Third of three commanded Pilgrimage Festivals. It follows Rosh HaShanah

* Tallit Hebrew word for prayer shawl. It is the 4 cornered woven “blanket” with the tzitzit (fringe/tassels) on each of the 4 corners. In Orthodox Judaism only men wear tallits, however in other sects of Judaism, both men and women wear tallits. Pronounced (tah leets’) Christians also wear prayer shawls sometimes in different formats including knitted and crocheted

* Talmud Compilation of Rabbinic discussions (commentaries) on Jewish Law, History, Ethics & Customs Comprised of 2 Books-the Mishnah and Gemara Also called “Shas” for Six Orders-”Shisha Sederim” in Hebrew

* Tashlich Ceremony of casting one’s sins away during Rosh HaShanah

* Tefillah Pray Also another name for the Amidah-Standing Prayer or Shemoneh Esrei-18 Blessings

* Tefillin Also called “phylacteries” Two boxes containg scripture verses-One is worn on the head-One worn on the arm Attached with leather straps Found in Exodus 13:9 and Exodus 13:6, Deuteronomy 6:8 and Deuteronomy 11:18

* Tekhelet Prounounced teh heh let-Hebrew word for the blue of the “thread of blue” to be entwined with the tzitzit (fringe)attached to the 4 corners of a garment-commanded by God in Numbers 15:38-40

* Ten Days of Awe Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and the days between them

* Tisha B’Av (Ninth of Av) Fast Day-Jerusalem Temple Destruction Dates People chose not to enter Promised Land after negative report of 10 of the 12 spies 586 BCE Solomon’s Temple Destroyed and Babylonian Exile began 70 CE Second Temple destroyed by Romans and majority of Jews exiled from Israel 135 CE Bar Kochba rebellion against Rome failed 136 CE Jerusalem was razed Historically Tisha B’Av is the date on which most antisemitic wars, expulsions and persecutions of Jews began.

* Thread of Blue Commanded by God in Numbers 15:38-40 A blue (Hebrew tekhelet (teh heh let)) thread was to be entwined within the tzitzit (fringes) on each corner of the garments of the Children of Israel

* Torah The 5 Books of Moses-Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy A section from the Torah is read at weekly during worship services The complete Torah is read during the year-The first reading begins on Simchat Torah

* Tu B’Shevat Day to thank God for trees and plants-usually celebrated by planting trees

* Tzitzit The fringe (tassels) worn on the 4 corners of a Tallit (Prayer Shawl) In Orthodox Judaism only men wear tzitzit, however in other sects of Judaism, tzitzit are worn by anyone who wants to observe the commandments. Pronounced (seat-seat)

* Yamim Noraim Hebrew for the “Days of Awe”

* Yarmulke Skull cap-Yiddish word derived from an Aramaic phrase “yira malka”, which is translated as “awe of the King.” In Hebrew called kippah

* Yeshua Jesus name in Hebrew Means “Salvation”

* Yiddish Developed in the 10th Century based on the German language, but written in Hebrew letters Was the primary spoken language of European Jewish people until after the Holocaust

* Yizkor In Hebrew “Remembrance” In Judaism a memorial service to remember Jewish martyrs, Holocaust and family members

* Yom HaAtzmaut Modern Israeli Independance Day-Usually occurs in May. First time was 5th of Iyar-1948 when modern Israel was once again recognized as an official country

* Yom Hadin Day of Judgment

* Yom HaShoah Holocaust Memorial Day

* Yom HaZikaron The Day of Remembering Israeli Memorial day for all of those who have died fighting for Israel’s freedom

* Yom Kippur Hebrew for Day of Atonement-24 hour fast day sunset to sunset-nothing to eat or drink

* Yom Teruah Hebrew for the Festival of Trumpets/Festival of Ingathering/Rosh HaShanah Literally means “The day of the blowing of the shofar”

* Z’man Simchateinu Hebrew for “Season of our Rejoicing” Refers to Sukkot - Festival of Booths/Tabernacles

Written by The Messianic Maven Used by permission.