Vocabulary

Shabbat
Shabbat Sabbath
Erev Shabbat Sabbath Eve
Shabbat Shalom Peace of Shabbat (used as a greeting)
“Good shabbes” greeting in Yiddish
Kabbalat Shabbat Welcoming the Sabbath
Berachah / Berachot Blessing / Blessings
Hadlakat HaNeirot Lighting the candles
Kiddush Sanctification–used for ceremony blessing the day
Netilat Yada’yim Washing the hands
Ha’Motzi Blessing over the bread
Yayin Wine
Lechem Bread
Challah/ challot Special twisted bread for Shabbat/festival Kiddush
Challah Deckeh Cloth to go over the Challah at Kiddush
Zemirah/ Zemirot Song/ songs (sung at table after the meal)
Birkat HaMazon Blessings after the meal
Bensching Yiddish – blessings after the meal
Shulchan Table
Shabbes Shluff Afternoon sleep on Saturday!
Neir/ Neirot Candle/ Candles
Besamim Spices for Havdalah
Havdalah ‘Separation’ – ceremony to end Shabbat
Koss/ Becher Cup (used for wine in ceremony)
Shavu’a Tov “A good week” (said after Havdalah)

Synagogue
Rav/Rabbanim Rabbi/ Rabbis
Chazan/Chazanim Cantor/ Cantors
Shaliach Tzibbur prayer leader
Ba’al Tefillah prayer leader
Ba’al Korei Torah reader
Bimah Platform from which Torah is read
Aron Ha’Kodesh Ark in which scrolls are kept
Sefer Torah/Sifrei Torah Scroll/ Scrolls
Neir Tamid Eternal Light (above Ark)
Torah Torah/ sometimes used to refer to scrolls
Chumash Pentateuch – ordered in the weekly readings with
Haftarah Weekly reading from the prophets (lit conclusion)
Sidrah/ Parashah Weekly reading from Torah
Tanach Bible (torah, nevi’im, ketuvim)
Aliyah Going up/call up to the reading of the scroll
Yad Hand – pointer used with scroll
K’tonet Mantle over the scroll
Rimmonim Bells on the scroll
Hoshen Breast-plate on the scroll
Hag’ba’ah Lifting the Scroll in the service
Gelilah Undressing/dressing the scroll
“Yishar Koach” Also (she’co’ach)–acclamation to participant
Mitzvah An act of participation in service (lit commandment)
Siddur Prayer book (daily and Sabbaths)
Machzor Festival prayer book
Yamim Noraim High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur)
Shalosh Regalim Three pilgrim festivals (Sukkot, Pesach, Shavuot)
Tallit/Tallis Prayer Shawl
Kippah/ Yamulka Small cap used for head covering
Tzitzit Fringes – on the prayer shawl
Minyan Quorum of ten to indicate a community
Tefillin Phylacteries
Tefillah / Tefillot Prayer/ Prayers
Ma’ariv / Arvit Evening service
Shacharit Morning service
Mussaf Additional service (Shabbat and Festivals)
Minchah Afternoon service

Feasts and Fasts
Luach Calendar
Rosh Chodesh New Month (New Moon)
Hallel Praise! (psalms 113-118) sung in some services
Shabbat Sabbath
Rosh Hashanah New Year
Shanah Tovah “A good year” (greeting)
Machzor Festival Prayer Book
Shofar Ram’s horn
Yamim Nora’im Days of Awe (High Holy Days)
Teshuvah Repentance
Shabbat Shuvah Sabbath between RoshHashanah and Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur Day for Atonement
Kol Nidrei Service for Eve of Yom Kippur
Selichah/ Selichot Forgiveness/ Service of supplications
Yizkor Memorial Service
Ne’ilah Final Service of Yom Kippur
Yom Tov Festival Day (lit a good day)
Chag Same’ach “A Happy Festival” (greeting)
Sukkah/ Succot Tabernacle – Festival of Booths
Chol Ha’Mo’ed Middle days of Pesach and Sukkot
Arba’a Minim Lit 4 species – artefact used at Succot made up of Lulav - Palm Branch - Aravo, Willow branches, Haddassim - Myrtle twigs - Etrog - Citron fruit
Simchat Torah Lit rejoicing in Torah – marking the cycle of reading
Chatan/Kallat Torah Person called to read end of Deuteronomy
Chatan/Kallat Bereishit Person called to read beginning of Genesis
Hakkafah/ Hakkafot Circuit/s of the synagogue
Chanukah Festival of Dedication
Chanukiah/Chanukiot Candlestick with 8 branches for Chanukah
Menorah Candlestick sometimes used to refer to Chanukiah
Shamash ‘Servant’ – candle used for lighting the others
Shammes Yiddish as above
Sevivon Chanukah top used for playing
Dreidle Yiddish as above
Sufganiah/Sufganiyot Doughnut/s
Chanukah gelt Money given on Chanukah
Purim Feast of Lots
Megillah/ Megillat Ester Scroll / scroll of Esther
Sh’lach Manot Gifts given out
Pesach Passover festival
Chametz leaven
Bedikat chometz the search for leaven before the festival starts
Seder Lit. order – the meal and ritual domestic service
Haggadah Lit. narration – the book of the narrative for Pesach
Afikoman The last piece of matzah to be eaten
Koss Eliyahu Elijah’s cup
Yom Ha’Zikkaron Memorial Day in Israel, held the day before:
Yom Ha’Atzma’ut Israel Independence Day
Shavuot Feast of Weeks
Mattan Torah The Giving of the Torah (at Sinai)
Mitzvah/ Mitzvot Commandment/s
Tisha b’Av Ninth of Av
Kinah/ Kinnot Lamenting prayers

Life Cycle
Brit Milah Covenant of Circumcision on boy 8 days old
Briss Yiddish as above
Mohel Ritual Circumciser
Pidyon HaBen Redemption of the first born (son)
Bar Mitzvah(m) lit. ‘Son of Commandment’ – age of ritual maturity
Bat Mitzvah (f) lit. Daughter of Commandment – “ “
Kiddushin Marriage Ceremony
Chatunah Marriage
Hatan Bridegroom
Kallah Bride
M’hatonim In-laws
Chuppah Marriage Canopy (also used for the service)
Ketubah Marriage Contract
Bedecken Ceremony of veiling the bride
Shevah Berachot 7 Blessings (in wedding liturgy)
Mazal Tov Good luck
Chanukat Ha’Bayit The dedication of the house
Mezuzah Artefact on doorpost of house
Magen David Shield (Star) of David
Get Religious Divorce Document
Beit Din Rabbinic Court
Aveil Mourner
Levoyah Funeral
Shivah lit Seven – Seven days of sitting in mourning
Sheloshim lit 30 – initial days of mourning
Kaddish Prayer of sanctification (said by mourners)
Yahrzeit Anniversary of death
Ha’Olam Ha’ba lit – the world to come
Kiddush HaShem Dying in sanctification of God’s name

Study Terms
Tanach Hebrew Bible – abbreviation of - Torah - Five Books of Moses; Nevi’im - Prophetic Books of Bible; Ketuvim - Later writings in Bible
Mishnah lit. ‘Repetition’ teaching (oral law)
Gemara lit. ‘completion’ – discussion of Mishnah
Talmud lit. learning/teaching – the Mishnah plus Gemara
Yeshiva Academy of Torah Study
Shiur Lesson

Ethical Terms
Yetzer HaTov inclination towards good / altruism
Yetzer HaRa inclination towards selfishness
Gemilut Hassadim Acts of kindness
Hassid A pious person
Tzaddik A saintly person
Tzedakah Righteousness – (used as charity)
Derech Eretz lit. the way of the land – proper behaviour
Kasher Appropriate/ fit for use
Hachnassat Orechim Hospitality (lit. bringing in guests)
Bikkur Cholim Visiting the sick
Refuah Shley’mah ‘a full recovery’
Emet Truth
Rechilut Slander
Bal Tash’cheet lit. ‘do not destroy’ – environmental awareness
Tikkun Olam Maintaining/repairing the world

Conversion
Ger/ Ger Tzedek Proselyte
Mikveh Ritual pool or bath
Tevilah Ritual immersion

Israel
Eretz Yisrael The Land of Israel
Medinat Yisrael The State of Israel
Kibbutz Communal Settlement
Moshav Co-operative Settlement
HaTikvah lit. ‘The Hope’ – National Anthem

Miscellaneous
Kasher (Kosher) Fit/appropriate for use
Kashrut (Kashrus) Fitness
Shochet Ritual Slaughterer
Shechitah Ritual Slaughter
Hechsher Certification of Kashrut
Tereifah lit. ‘torn’ – unfit for use
Chalavee/ Milchig Milk based
Basaree/ Fleishig Meat based
Stamee /Parev Neutral
Passul Invalid for use – not only food
Lechayim ‘To Life’