glossary

Adar Sixth month of the Hebrew calendar, corresponding approximately to February- March.

Afikoman, one half of the middle of the three matzot set before the father of the house at the Seder and saved to be eaten at the close of the Seder.

Aggadah Sections in the Talmud and the Midrash which do not constitute Halakhah; stories, popular anecdotes, biblical expositions.

Agudat Israel A Jewish religious movement which regards the Torah and traditional Judaism as the basis for the survival of the Jewish people. Its initial affiliation with the Jewish Agency was contingent on the removal of education and cultural affairs from the Agency�s jurisdiction. With the establishment of the State of Israel, Agudat Israel joined with Poalei Agudat Israel to form the �religious front" that became the third largest faction in the Knesset.

Agunah Woman deserted by her husband and prevented by Jewish law from remarrying.

Ahdut ha-Avodah Literally "unity of labour." A Zionist, socialist association of Jewish workers in Erez Israel. Established in 1919 by a majority of the members of the Po 'alei Zion Party along with some members of Ha-Po'el ha-Zair. Its ambition was to unite all Jewish workers in Erez Israel and all federations and parties in the Jewish labour movement and the Zionist movement abroad. Ahdut ha-Avodah joined the World Alliance of Po'alei Zion. It was active in aliyah, absorption, and public works. When the Histadrut was established it functioned like all other parties (albeit the largest) within that organization

Aleinu the concluding prayer for all services.

Aliyah Literally "ascent"; immigration to the Land of Israel. Also, being called up for the Torah reading.

Am ha-Aretz Literally "People of the Land" A biblical designation for a sector of the population. At different times it referred to different groups. In Genesis 23: 12 the term refers to the local residents: In II Kings 24: 14 it refers to the peasant class. At the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, when the Jews were returning from exile in Babylonia, the foreign nations who had settled in Israel were designated in this way. From the Second Temple period to the present, the term has been used to denote those who are unfamiliar with the Law and do not properly observe rabbinical rulings.

Amidah the central portion of all prayer services, also known as shemoneh esrah

Am Olam Literally �Eternal Nation.� A Jewish movement which originated in Russia following the pogroms of 1881-2. Its aim was to seek a solution to the economic and social problems of the Jews, by emigration from Russia and a return to physical work, particularly farming.

Amora, Amoraim From the Aramaic omer, one who explains or lectures. The term was originally used to designate someone who presented, interpreted or translated the words of a sage for the public. In time it came to refer only to the Talmudic sages active from the time of the completion of the Mishnah to the completion of the Talmud. Their primary work was in interpreting the words of the Tannaim and resolving the differences between the Mishnah and the Baraitha (the writings of the Tannaim which Rabbi Yehudah ha-Nasi did not include in the Mishnah). The Amoraim in Israel were given the title Rabbi; in Babylonia they were known as Rav or Mar.

Amot A Talmudic measurement

Antiquities of the Jews A book by Josephus Flavius (c. 37-100 CE) comprising twenty sections that present a thorough survey of the history of Israel from the beginning of the biblical period to the generation before the destruction of the Temple. The book was written in Greek and its aim was to acquaint the Gentiles with the Jews and Judaism. The author claimed that hatred of the Jews stemmed from ignorance of them, and attempted to prove the antiquity, and therefore special status, of the Jewish people. See also Flavius' The Jewish Wars.

Aravah (n) - The branch of a willow tree. Two aravos (pl.) are used for the mitzvah of 'arbah minim' (four species) on the Succos holiday.

Arbah Minim (n) - The four species used for the mitzvah on Succos. To do this mitzvah, one needs an esrog, lulov, 2 aravos and 3 hadassim.

Ark of the Covenant Chest placed in the Holy of Holies in the Temple where the "Tablets of the Covenant" were kept; by extension, the special place in the synagogue where the Torah scroll is kept (named also Ark of the Law, Torah Ark, Holy Ark).

Asefat ha-Nivharim Literal1y " Assembly of Representatives. " The supreme representative body of the Yishuv in Palestine during the British Mandate. It was first elected in 1920, and its functions and authority were transferred to the Knesset in 1949.

Ashkenazi, Ashkenazim A term designating Jews of Eastern and Central European extraction.

Av Eleventh month of the Hebrew calendar, corresponding approximately to July-August; the 9th of Av (Tishah be-Av) is a day of fasting commemorating the destruction of the Temple.

Bakasha, Bakashot Literally "request." Liturgical hymns

Bar "Son of..." in Aramaic. Bar-Giora An underground defence league established by a group of immigrants of the Paolei Zion movement in 1907. It propounded Jewish labour, guard duty, and defence in order to realize the Zionist- socialist vision. The league formed the nucleus for the establishment of Ho- Shamer, a national defense organization. during the Second Alivoh

Bar Mitsvah �Son of the Commandment,� Ceremony of initiation celebrated on a boy's 13th birthday, marking his entrance into the adult Jewish community, thus being responsible for his own deeds.

Beit Din, Batei Din Any rabbinical court. According to the Bible (Deut. 16: 18), the Children of Israel were commanded to appoint a court in each city. A panel of three judges sat in civil matters; a panel of five judges determined the intercalation of the month and heard criminal cases. The higher courts were the Great and Small Sanhedrin. Jewish courts existed in every generation throughout the Diaspora. In the Middle Ages they were elected by the community. The Jews preferred their own courts to those of the Gentiles, and appealed to them in matters in which only Jews were involved, and at times even in the case of a dispute with a non-Jew. Today rabbinical courts in Israel have jurisdiction only in matters of personal status.

Beit Hamikdash, The Holy Temple in ancient Jerusalem. There were two Holy Temples which stood on the same site in different eras. The Kotel Hama'aravi (Western Wall) in Jerusalem is a remnant of the wall which surrounded the second Beit Hamikdash which was destroyed by Titus of Rome in 70 C.E. In the Messianic Era, the third Beit Hamikdash will be rebuilt on the same site.

Beit midrash School for rabbinical studies, often attached to a synagogue.

Ben "Son of..." in Hebrew.

Besamim spices, with reference to those used in the spice box for the Havdalah ceremony.

BETAR The Hebrew acronym for "Joseph Trumpeldor Hebrew Youth Society," the youth movement allied with the World Herut Movement (Ha-Tsohar). Its ideals --territorial integrity of the homeland, ingathering of the exiles, individual freedom, and social justice. The movement also supports a sports society of the same name. Prior to 1948 BETAR members were active in IZL.

Bilu Acronym of Bet Ya'acov Lekhu ve-Nelekhah ("House of Jacob, let us walk in the light of
the Lord"; lsaiah 2:5); A Zionist society whose members -from the non- religious, Jewish-Russian intelligentsia -advocated immigration to and settlement in Israel. The motivation for the founding of the society came from the pogroms of 1882. Its members were influenced by socialistic ideals and sought to establish a farming community based on the cooperative principle.

Bimah the raised platform in the synagogue from which the Torah is read

Bishul Yisrael, food cooked by a Jew.

B'Nei Yeshivah (n) - Students of the Yeshivah (place of Torah study).

Borchu The call to prayer that precedes the main part of the morning and evening services.

Bracha (pi. brachot) Benediction, Blessing; formula of thanksgiving in Jewish prayers. A bracha is made before and after eating and drinking. Brachot are also said before performing certain mitzvot.

Brit Milah the name given the ceremony of circumcision. Brit means convenant; milah means circumcision.

Bund "General Union of Jewish Workers in Lithuania, Poland, and Russia": Socialist party, autonomist and anti-Zionist, founded in Vilna in 1897.

Chabad Acronym of Chochmah, Binah, Da'at ("Wisdom. understanding, knowledge"): Hasidic movement founded in Byelorussia in the late 18th century by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, and still active today.

Chag Sameach the festival greeting, which means �happy holiday�.

Chalav Yisrael, Milk supervised by a Jew throughout preocessing, from hte beginning of the milking until the end of production. This term also refers to dairy products made from such milk.

Challah, challot 1)Traditional Shabbat and Yom Tov loavzes of bread,often braided. 2) Portion of dough donated to the Kohanim in times of the Beit Hamikdash. Today, challah is a small piece of dough which is removed from the entire dough before baking. It is then burned.

Chametz (lit. "leavening") All food, drink and other products made of weat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt which ahs come into contact with water, other liquid, or a leavening agent for 18 minutes or longer.

Chanukkah Literally "dedication." An eight-day holiday celebrated from the 25th of Kislev (Jewish month coinciding with December), commemorating the rededication of the altar at the Holy Temple, after it was purified by Judah the Maccabee. Another reason for the holiday is given in the Sabbath Tractate (21 ) of the Talmud: the Greeks, who ruled the country in 164 BCE, entered the Temple and contaminated all the oil there. After the Hasmoneans' victory, a search for oil was made, but only one jar was found, and this jar miraculously lasted for eight days. Therefore the holiday is celebrated by lighting candles, and each day another is added until eight are reached.

Chassid {pi. Chassidim) "Pious." Member of one of the pietistic movements at any stage of Jewish history. Hasidism proper designates the pietistic movement founded by Israel Ba'al Shem Tov in the first half of the 18th century.

Chavrei Kollel (n) - Married students that learn Torah exclusively in study groups.

Chazal (n) - An acronym which stands for, 'CHachameynu Zichronam Li'Brachah'. Which means: "Our Elders, may their memory be blessed." This acronym is used collectively when referring to the Rabbis of the Talmud.

Chazzan Cantor in the synagogue; in earlier times, a synagogue official.

Cheder Literally �room� A school for young children, where they are taught Hebrew reading, writing and prayers.

Chevra Kaddisha �holy brotherhood�, referring to the society or committee of Jews who performed the mitzvah of watching over arranging the dead for burial.

Chol HaMoed (n) - (lit.weekday of the festival). Intermediate days of the festivals of Pesach and Succot, during which some forms of work forbidden on the Festival itself, may be permitted.

Coele-Syria In Seleucid geographical terminology, the area of Palestine and
southern Syria, conquered by Antiochus III from the Ptolemy�s c. 200 BC. The name appears in earlier sources where its precise geographical designation is uncertain.

Consistory Governing body of French Jewry at the local or national level, established by imperial decree in March 1808.

Converso Jew who converted to Christianity in Spain or Portugal. See also Marrano.

El maaleh rachamim a prayer recited in memoriam of the dead

Elul Twelfth month of the Hebrew calendar, corresponding approximately to August- September.

Eretz Yisrael Land of Israel.

Erev 1) the day before (e.g. Erev Shabbat is Friday); 2) the evening of (e.g. Friday night)

Eshet Chayil �woman of valor�, refers to a poem in the Book of Proverbs. The father of the house recites this poem on Shabbat eve in honor of his wife.

Etrog (n) - The citron; a rare citrus fruit. This is a yellow bumpy-skinned fruit that resembles a lemon and has a fragrant scent. One esrog is used along with the other 'arbah minim' (four species) on the Succos holiday.

Etz Chaim - the tree of life. This phrase is also used to prescribe the rollers on which the Torah is wound.

Exilarch "Head of the Exile" (Rosh ha-Golah in Hebrew, Resh Galuta in Aramaic): lay leader of certain Jewish communities, particularly in Babylonia.

Exodus from Egypt, The The Exodus from Egypt is one of the major events of Jewish history. In the national memory it bas become a symbol of freedom and release from bondage. The story of the slavery in Egypt, the Exodus, and the miracles that accompanied it is told in Exodus 12-15. The obligation to remember the Exodus and recount it is one of the biblical commandments.

Exodus 1947 An illegal immigrant ship which sailed to Palestine from a French port on Jul) 11, 1947 with some 4.500 illegal immigrants. The British spotted the ship in the first stages of its journey , and took it by force as soon as it neared the Pales-tine coast. Three of the immigrants were killed in their attempts to resist the British. The passengers were sent back to France where the British forcibly removed them to shore. The incident generated worldwide publicity for the plight of Jewish Holocaust refugees in Europe who were prohibited by the British from coming to Palestine.

Galut "Exile," the condition of the Jewish people in dispersion. See also Go/ah.

Gaon, Geonim A title given the heads of two yeshivoth in Babylonia, Sura and Pumbedita, between the sixth and eleventh centuries. The heads of yeshivoth in Erez Israel, Baghdad and Damascus similarly held this title, as did the great Torah scholars and sages such as the Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Eliahu Ben Shlomo Zalman (1720-1797). The Geonim of Babylonia (and of Erez Israel at a certain period) were regarded as supreme authorities by Jews throughout the world. To this day, the responsa of the Geonim constitute a highly valuable source both for knowledge of the practises common at the time they lived and taught, and for an understanding of Talmudic exegesis.

Gedolim (n)- (lit.) Great ones. This term refers to the Jewish rabbinic leaders accepted by all Torah observant Jewish communities.

Gemara (n) Commentaries, discussions and rulings concerning the Mishnah; the Mishnah and Gemara together form the Talmud. The Talmud, which forms the main body of the Oral Torah.

Gematria a system that assigns a numerical value to each letter in the Hebrew alphabet.

Genizah Depository of sacred books, preserved in a room attached to the synagogue or
buried in a cemetery. The most important Genizah is the one that was found in the synagogue in Cairo.

Ghetto A word designating the quarter of the "foundry" (getto of ghetto) in Venice which in 1516 was walled and reserved for Jews as their obligatory residence. By extension, a quarter where Jews congregated voluntarily or forcibly in certain European towns. The ghettos disappeared in Europe after Emancipation but were reconstituted by the Nazis as centres for assembling the Jews before their deportation to the camps.

Golah Hebrew equivalent of Diaspora. See also Galut

Gomel, ha- the blessing said after danger or serious illness has passed.

Goy (pi. Goyim) Literally, people or nation; designating non-Jews or Gentiles.

Guide to the Perplexed A complex and recondite book, both in content and form, written by Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides) in the 12th century, in which he presents his philosophy. The intended audience for the book are the perplexed -those who studied and understood the truth of the written and oral law, and then turned to the sciences, .where they reached the outer limits of physics and mathematics, and were disquieted by the discrepancies they found between the words of the prophets and the conclusions to which their studies had led them

Gut Yom Tov (Yid) - The greeting of, "Have a happy holiday".

Hadar (adj) - Pleasant looking.

Hadas (n) - The branch of the myrtle tree. Three hadassim (pl.) are used for the mitzvah of 'arbah minim' (four species) on the Succos holiday.

Hadassah The federation of Zionist women in America, founded in 1912 at the instigation of Henrietta Szold. Its activities in Erez lsrael were limited at first to health and medical care, and then extended to include social and educational projects. Hadassah played a significant role in the development of medical institutions in Erez Israel. The organization is one of the major supporters of Youth Aliyah.

Haftarah the selection from the prophets that is read after the Torah on Shabbat and holidays.

Haganah Literally, "defence": clandestine military organization of the Jewish community in Palestine during the British Mandate, and the core of the State of Israel's army.

Haggadah Ritual recital of the story of the Exodus from Egypt on Passover eve. The Haggadah was composed in the 7th century out of biblical passages, midrashim , fragments of Halakhah and prayers. The Haggadah has been published in thousands of editions throughout the ages, often richly illustrated. See also Pesah and Seder.

Hakham, Hakhamim A wise man, well-versed in the Bible. An honorary title, given to rabbis and Jewish community leaders.

Hakham bashi Title of the chief rabbi in the Ottoman Empire as well as of principal rabbis in provincial towns. In the Jewish tradition, the word Hakaham, "sage" designates a scholar of Jewish law.

Hakkafot parades around the synagogue led by men and boys carrying the Scrolls of the Torah.

Halachot (n) - Jewish laws.

Halakhah Literally ..walking" (poetic allusion to walking along the path of righteousness). The part of the Talmud containing a system of laws and regulations determined by the Sages. A product of many centuries of negotiation and discussion. of explanation and commentary on the Bible. often using the techniques of analogy and inference for interpretation. Rabbinical legal decision (pi. halakhot); more generally, the body of rabbinical literature which constitutes Jewish religious law.

Hallel a collection of psalms recited on festivals

Halutz A Jewish pioneer in Palestine.

Haskalah "Enlightenment": movement for spreading modern European culture among the Jews between the mid-18th century and the late 19th century.

Hashem (n) - (lit. The Name). G-d.

Havdalah the ritual marking the end of Shabbat and holidays

Heshvan (or Marheshvan), second month of the Hebrew calendar, corresponding approximately to October-November.

Hibbat Zion "Love of Zion," a proto-Zionist movement of Hovevei Zion ("Lovers of Zion") founded in Russia in the late-19th century.

Histadrut The General Federation of Labour in Israel, founded in 1920. A trade union associating all the salaried and independent workers in Israel � Jews and Arabs alike.

Holocaust Genocide perpetrated by the Nazis. The word derives from the sacrifice in the Temple.

Hoshana Rabbah, the seventh day of Succot

Kabbalah "Received tradition" in Hebrew; the sum of Jewish mystical traditions and precepts.

Kaddish a basic prayer recited at various points in the liturgy; one version (the version most known) is recited by mourners.

Kahal (pi. kehalim) Sephardi Jewish congregation; in Ashkenazi Poland, the term designates the leadership of the community.

Karaite Member of a Jewish sect originating in the 8th century which rejected rabbinical Judaism and accepted only the Scriptures (Mikra).

Kasher (ar Kasher) Ritually permissible food.

Kashrut (n) - Kosher status. The laws that refer to the types of food and drink which are permitted to eat, or to the manner of preparation required to render food kasher and thus suitable to eat.

Kefar Village (in Arabic, Kafr); appears as first part of the name of many settlements in the land of Israel.

Kehilla community

Keren Hayesod Literally �Foundation Fund�. The central fiscal institution of the World Zionist Organisation.

Keren Kayemet The Jewish national Fund. The central body appointed by the Zionist Organisation to acquire and develop land in Erez Israel.

Ketubah Marriage contract. The written contract which a man gives to his wife at the wedding ceremony. In the ketubbah, the man undertakes to support his wife honourably and to provide her with all her needs so long as she is his wife, and to give or leave her a specific sum of money if he should divorce her or if she is widowed.

Kibbutz (pi. Kibbutzim) literally, "gathering"; a commune based essentially on agriculture,
first in Mandatory Palestine, then in the State of Israel.

Kiddush the sanctification of the day recited over wine at the beginning of festivals and Shabbat

Kiddush ha-Shem "Sanctification of the Name," an expression designating martyrdom for the Jewish faith.
Kiddushin a form of the word �holy�, referring to the marriage ceremony, because marriage makes holy the sharing of two people�s lives.

Kislev Third month of the Hebrew calendar, corresponding approximately at November- December.

Klezmerim Literally �musical instruments� Bands of musicians who play Jewish folk music at celebrations such a weddings, bnei mitzvah, and parties given by the Polish nobility.

Knesset "Assembly"; today the word designates the parliament of the State of Israel.

Kohen (pi. kohanim) (ar: Cohen, cohanim); priest in the Temple; by extension, a Jew who according at his family's tradition is of priestly descent.

Kol Nidre the opening prayer of the Yom Kippur eve service.

Ma�ariv the evening service

Ma'barah Transit camp for new immigrants during the large waves of immigration to Israel in the 1950s.

Machlokes (n) - Disagreement.

Maftir the concluding portion read from the Torah on Shabbat and festivals

Magen David Literally �shield of David� , The Star of David, the religious and national symbol of the Jewish people.

Maggid "Sayer"; popular preacher.

Maghreb "West" in Arabic, designating North Africa, and in the Middle Ages Spain as well.

Mahzor Book of prayers for the festivals. See also Siddur.

Mandate The responsibility for the administration and development of Palestine conferred on Great Britain at the end of World War I by the victorious powers, and later ratified by the league of Nations.

Maot Chittim �weat-money�, refers to the money given to the poor to buy matzah and other necessities for Pesach.

M�rrano In Spain and Portugal, derogatory term for New Christians suspected of "Judaizing," also applied to their descendants in the Sephardi Diaspora.

Mashrek "East" or "Orient" in Arabic, applied to the Levant.

Maskil (pi. maskilim) Adherent of the Haskalah .

Masorah Body of traditions regarding the correct spelling, writing and pronunciation of the Hebrew Bible.

Matzah Unleavened bread for Passover, "bread of affliction" commemorating the tribulations of the Hebrews in the desert after the Exodus.
Matzevah the monument or headstone put over a grave.

Mechusa (adj) - Covered.

Megillah/Megillot scroll(s); refers to the five books that are often written on separate small scrolls. These include Esther, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations and Ecclesiastes. The Megillah of the Book of Esther (generally referred to as �The Megillah�) is read on Purim.

Mellah Jewish quarter or ghetto in Morocco; the first mellah was established in Fez in the first half of the 15th century.

Menorah Seven-branched oil candelabra used in the Temple (today, the emblem of the State of Israel); also, the eight-branched candelabra used on Hanukkah.

Mevushal (adj) - Cooked

Mezuzah a box, usualy of metal or ceramic, holding a parchment on which is written the beginning verses of the Shema. The Mezuzah is nailed to the doorpost of a Jewish home.

Midrash (pi. midrashim) Method of interpreting the Bible, to elucidate lessons or legal points; a midrash comprises elements from the Aggadah and the Halakhah.

Mikveh Ritual bath.

Minchah "afternoon", refers to the afternoon service

Minhag custom

Minim (n) - Species.

Minyan "Number" in Hebrew; a quorum of ten male adults required in order to hold public prayer.

Mishkan The portable sanctuary (tabernacle) which the Israelites constructed when they wandered trough the desert after their Exodus from Egypt. The Mishkan went with them into Erez Israel and served until the permanent Temple was built.

Mishnah First codification of Jewish Oral Law. See also Talmud.

Mitnagged (pi. mitnaggedim) "Opponent" of Hasidism in eastern Europe.

Mitzvah (n) - G-d given or rabbinical commandment. To do a Mitzvah is to do what G-d asks from us; to do a good or kind deed.

Mizrach, "east". For Jews living in Europe, North Africa and the Americas it is the direction of Jerusalem.

Mosad Literally "institution"; the Israeli security service for special assignments abroad.

Mosad Le-Aliyah Bet Organization responsible for "illegal" immigration during the British Mandate.

Moshav (pi. moshavim) Cooperative settlement in Israel.

Moshavah (pi. moshavot) Jewish village in Palestine, largely based on privately-owned farms.

Mussaf the additional service recited on Shabbat and holidays

Mussar "Ethics," "morals"; traditional literature concerned with ethical questions; also, a moralist orthodox movement founded in the late 19th century in Lithuania.

Palmah Hebrew acronym of Peluggot Mahaz. "Shock Companies," the elite units of the Haganah.

Parnas Elected lay leader of a Jewish community; originally, chief synagogue functionary.

Parokhet Richly-embroidered curtain for the Torah Ark in the synagogue.

Paytan Composer of piyyutim.

Pesah Jewish Passover. The word signifies "passage": "For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians and... the Lord will pass over the door [of the Hebrews]."(Exodus 12:23). It is the spring holiday of matza and of freedom. It celebrates the deliverance od the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery.

Pidyon Haben, redemption of the first-born son, a ceremony held thirty days after the birth.

Pilpul Dialectic method used in discussion of talmudic commentaries, introduced in the Polish yeshivot during the 16th century.

Piyyut (pi. piyyutim) Liturgical Hebrew hymns.

Poskim (n) - (pl.) The Rabbis that are have the authority to clarify the Halachah (law) and render a final ruling on that Halachah. The final rulings can differ between Poskim.

Posul (adj) - Unfit. E.g. in reference to anything that is not in a condition fit for use in a mitzvah.

Purim From the word pur ("die"): joyous festival celebrating the deliverance of the Jews of Persia thanks to the victory of Queen Esther and Mordechai over Evil Haman.

Sanhedrin Assembly of scholars which acted as the supreme religious, judicial, and legislative body of the Jewish community in Palestine during the Roman period. The name was applied to the assembly representing the Jews of France convoked by Napoleon in 1807.

Savora (pi. savoraim) Last generation of the Babylonian Sages during the Talmud period. successors of the amoraim, active between the late 5th century and the early 7th century.

Sea Peoples Tribes from Asia Minor who invaded the shores of the eastern Mediterranean in the 13th century BC. It is generally assumed that the Philistines were one of these "Sea Peoples."

Seder "order", refers to the ceremony, and the meal that is part of the ceremony, opening the Pesach festival. The Passover meal at which the Haggadah is read.

Sefirah, "counting", are the days of the counting of the Omer.

Sefirot Mystical term denoting the ten emanations through which the Divine manifests itself to the initiated.

Sephardi "Spanish" in Hebrew; descendant of Spanish or Portuguese Jews; extended to apply to Jews of Mediterranean countries in contradistinction to Ashkenazim.

Shabbat ha-Gadol, the "Great" Shabbat, is the one preceding Pesach.

Shabbat Shalom, the Shabbat greeting, "the peace of the Shabbat".

Shabbat Shuvah, "Sgabbat of Return", the Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Shacharit , morning, refers to the morning service

Shalach-Manot, gifts, generally food, given to friends and neighbors during Purim

Shavua Tov, "good week", is a greeting said after the Shabbat

Shavuot Literally, "Weeks"; the festival of Weeks, celebrated seven weeks after Pesach, commemorating the receipt of the Torah at Mt. Sinai.

She-he-heyanu the blessing recited at special occasions

Shekhinah the indwelling presence of G-d

Shel Rosh, the Tefillin orn on the head

Shel Yad, the Tefillin worn on the arm

Shem Tov, a good name

Shema "Hear [Israel]", the first word in the Jewish confession of faith proclaiming the unity of G-d (Deut. 6:4).

Shemini Azeret " Assembly on the Eighth (and last day) of Sukkot"; in the Land of Israel it coincides with Simhas Torah.

Shemittah The Sabbatical Year. In practise, an ordinance in the Torah, forbidding one to work the soil on the last year in a cycle of seven years. On this year there is also a remission of debts.

Shevat Fifth month of the Hebrew calendar, approximately corresponding to January- February.

Shin Bet Hebrew initials of Security Service, a body responsible for internal security in the State of Israel. See also Mosad.

Shiur (n) - Designated size/portion. Lesson.

Shiva, "seven" refers to the seven days of deep mourning following the death of a member of the immediate family.

Shoah Hebrew word for the Holocaust, literally meaning "catastrophe."

Shofar the ram's horn that was the signal and warning horn of the ancient Hebrews. It is commanded to be sounded in the synagogue on Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur.

Shomer, ha- "The Guard", organization of Jewish workers in Palestine founded in 1909 to defend agricultural settlements.

Shtetl Yiddish word designating a Jewish townlet in Eastern Europe.

Shul (n) - Synogogue.

Shulhan Arukh Literally, "Prepared Table"; name of Joseph Caro's code of Jewish Law, composed in the 16th century and accepted, with minor modifications, throughout the Jewish world.

Siddur Volume of the daily prayers in the Ashkenazi community (in distinction to the Mahzor).

Simchat Torah "Joy of the Torah"; holiday marking the completion of the annual cycle of reading the Pentateuch in the synagogue; in Israel it coincides with the last day of Sukkot (Shemini Azeret); in the Diaspora it is celebrated on the following day.

Sivan Ninth month of the Hebrew year, corresponding approximately to May-June.

Succot (n) - The Tabernacles holiday. The Succos holiday is celebrated every year following the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and Yom Kippur, beginning on the 15th of Tishri, seven days during which Jews dwell in a sukkah (booth) in commemoration of living in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt.

Ta'anit Esther "Fast of Esther" on 13th of Adar, the day preceding the festival of Purim.

Tablets of the Law (of the Covenant) Text of the Decalogue engraved on stone and given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

Tachanun a penitential prayer in the daily service deleted on joyous occasions

Tallit prayer shawl

Talmud "Doctrine," "Teaching," "Study": the fundamental work of Halakhah comprising the Mishnah and the Gemara, as taught in the great yeshivot of the first centuries AD (1 st- 5th centuries). The Talmud exists in two versions: the Jerusalem Talmud composed in Palestine, and the Babylonian Talmud.

Tamar (n) - Date palm

Tammuz Tenth month of the Hebrew year, approximately corresponding to June-July.

Tanna (pi. tannaim) Teacher of the Law in Palestine during the period of the Mishnah.

Tefillin phylacteries. The square boxes worn on the forehead (Shel Rosh) and upper arm (Shel Yad) during morning prayers on weekdays. Inside the boxes are parchments with verses from the Torah.

Tell ("Mound" in Arabic), archeological site, generally composed of several strata of ancient civilizations.

Teshuvah repentance

Tevet Fourth month of the Hebrew year, approximately corresponding to December- January.

Tisha be-Av, the 9th day of the month of Av, a fast day marking the destruction of the Temple.

Tishri First month of the Hebrew year, approximately corresponding to September- October.

Torah "Teaching": in the strict sense, the Pentateuch (the first of the three parts of the Tanach). The Torah contains the first five books known as the books of Moses. It is written on a scroll and kept in the Ark in the synagogue. The books of the Torah are: Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar, Devarim. By extension, the entire body of Jewish religious teaching.

Tosafot Literally, "additions": glosses added to Rashi's commentary by talmudic scholars in France (the tosafists) in the 12th-14th centuries.

Tosefta Collection of tannaim teachings added to the Mishnah.

Tu bi-Shevat, the 15th day of the month of Shevat, the day on which the New Year of the Trees is celebrated.

Tzaddik "Pious," "Just": a person of outstanding virtue and piety; ascribed to Chassidic rabbis.

Tzedakka "righteousness", has come to mean acts of righteousness or of charity.

Yahrzeit anniversary of the date of death.

Yamim Noraim The days of Awe, the ten days that begins with Rosh Hashanah and end with Yom Kippur.

Yeshivah (pi. yeshivot) Academy for rabbinical studies. Originally, the yeshivot were the institutions for higher religious studies in Palestine and in Babylonia whose work of compilation and clarification produced the two Talmuds; during the time of the Geonim, the two great Babylonian yeshivot in Sura and Pumbedita. as well as the academy in the Land of Israel, served as spiritual and juridical centres for the entire Jewish wor1d; in medieval and modern Europe, the number of yeshivot multiplied until they evolved into their present form: schools for talmudic studies.

Yeshivaleit (n) - Students of the Yeshivah (house of study).

Yishuv "Settlement": the Jewish community in Palestine in the pre-State period. The "Old 'r1shuv" designates the Jewish community in Palestine prior to the Zionist aliyot, and the "New 'r1shuv" -the community which evolved from the 1880s on.

Yizkor "remember", Memorial prayer said on Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, Pesach, and Shavuot, in memory of deceased parent(s).

Yom Kippur, Yom ha-Kippurim Day of Atonement, a day of fasting and prayers on the 1Oth of Tishri.

Yom Tov (n) - A Jewish Holiday.