Judaism
Glossary of Key Terms
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Judaism Glossary
Pronunciation Note
Jewish words may appear in Hebrew which is the written language of the Jews and also the official
language of Israel. Other words may appear in Aramaic or Yiddish. “Ch” is pronounced as in “loch” and
sometimes you see the word spelled with only the “h”. To pluralise a word you do not add an “s” but
endings like “im” and “ot” are added.
Adonai
One of the names for God
Afikomen
Name given to the matzah eaten at the conclusion of the Sedar Meal
of Peasah (Passover)
Aggadah
Narrative part of Talmud and Midrash (teaching of Moses and their
interpretation)
Alenu
Prayer used at the end of the synagogue service
Ark
In ancient times, the container for the tabletrs of stone on which the
Ten Commandments were written. In modern times the cupboard or
cabinet in a synagogue where the scrolls of the Torah are kept
Ashkenazim
The descendants of the Jews who settles in East and Central Europe
Atonement
Coming back to God after doing something wrong
Bar Mitzvah
When a boy reaches the age of 13 he is Bar Mitzvah (Son of
Commandments). It is also the name given to the special ceremony
celebrating this event
Bat Mitzvah
When a girl reaches the age of 12 she is Bat Mitzvah
Berachah
A blessing
Baruch Shepatrani
The declaration made by a father that their son or daughter is now
responsible for their own actions
Bimah
The platform in the synagogue used for prayer
Capel
Skull Cap (Yiddish) also Kippah and Yarmulkah
Cantor
A prayer leader in the synagogue chosen to sing prayers
Challah
Special braided loaf of bread eaten on the Sabbath
Chametz
Anything that is leavened (bread)
Chanukah
The feast which celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple. It lasts for
eight days – often referred to as the Festival of Lights
Charoset
A mixture of apples, wine and cinnamon and nuts made into a paste
and eaten during the Passover Meal
Chupah
Marriage Canopy (see Huppah)
Circumcision
The rite of cutting the foreskin of a baby boy eight days after birth. It is
a sign of the covenant Abraham made with God
Covenant
Found in the Tenach and it is a promise made by God to grant
blessings if Abraham and his descendant kept God’s law
Diaspora
The dispersion of the Jewish people throughout the world
Dreidel
A spinning top
Elohim
Hebrew name for God
Etrog
A citrus fruit resembling a lemon (symbol used at Sukkot)
Exodus
The flight of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, led by Moses.
Also the name of the second book of the Bible.
Haggadah
The prayer book used at Seder, the meal on the eve of the Passover
Havdalah
The service in the home at the end of the Sabbath (Shabbat) – literally
“separation”. A time to say farewell to the Sabbath
Hebrew
The language in which the Jewish scriptures are written
Huppah
(or Chupah) Canopy on four posts beneath which the Jewish bride and
groom stand for the marriage ceremony. Symbolic of the future home
Israel
The name given by God to Jacob and so his descendants were called
the “people of Israel”
Kaddish
Prayer said by a mourner praising God
Kashrut
Jewish food laws
Ketubah
Marriage contract, kept by the Jewish bride
Kippah
(also Carpel or Yarmulkah) A small round cap which Jewish boys and
men wear on their heads. Some wear these only when praying, others
wear them all day.
Kittel
A plain white garment worn by Jewish men on the Day of Atonement
Kosher
Categories of food permitted, and also the preparation process of such
food. Rules regarding these are given in the Torah. Kosher foods
include fruit and vegetable, cereals and foods which grown in or on
trees. Only fish with fins and scales are permitted and animals which
eat grass and vegetables and have split hooves, eg cows. Animal and
birds must be killed in a special way, ie blood is drained.
Lulav
Palm branch, one of the four plants used in prayer during the festival
of Sukkot.
Magen David
The six pointed star which is also the Shield of David
Matzah
Unleavened bread made from flour and water with no yeast. It is
eaten particularly during the Passover
Menorah
A seven branched candlestick. The original one burned continuously in
the Temple of Jerusalem
Messiah
The saviour of the Jews which they believe will one day come to earth
bringing lasting peace
Mezuzah
Small metal or wooden container which holds texts from the Torah
(Shema – found in Deuteronomy 6). It is fastened to the doorposts in a
Jewish home and touched each time someone enters the door
Mikveh
A pool of naturally gathered water (from either rain, river or sea)
which is used for ritual cleansing.
Mohel
A person who carries out circumcision
Orthodox Jews
Jews who follow strictly the teachings of Moses
Pesach
(also known as Passover) The festival which celebrates freedom from
slavery which came about during the Exodus from Egypt
Pentateuch
The first five books of the Bible, which make up the Torah
Phylacteries
(also Tefillin) These are small leather boxes containing religious texts
(Shema), worn on the forehead (to be close to the mind) and left arm
(to be close to the heart)
Purim
The Feast of Lots which celebrates the success of Esther in preventing
a massacre of the Jews by Haman
Rabbi
A teacher of the law. He/She is important in the community and has
authority over the people in the community
Rimmonim
Silver ornaments found decorating the Torah Scrolls
Rosh Hashanah
Jewish NewYear. This begins ten days of penitence culminating in Yom
Kippur, the Day of Atonement
Seder
The meal and service eof the Passover (Pesach)
Sephardi
The descendants of the Jews who settles in Spain/Portugal
Shabbat
The Sabbath – the day of rest (Saturday)
Shabbat Shalom
A greeting used at Sabbath
Shalom
Hello, goodbye peace
Shavuot
Festival of Weeks, celebrated 50 days after Passover. It marks the
beginning of the harvest and commemorates the giving of the Law to
Moses on Mount Sinai
Shema
The most important Jewish prayer. It is the first learned by children
and the last spoken by the dying. It is also put into the Mezuzah on the
door posts of Jewish homes. Taken from the book of Deuteronomy,
Chapter 6, it declares the oneness of God.
Shofar
The ram’s horn trumpet blown in the synagogue at the services of
Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur
Shul
(Yiddish) Synagogue
Sukkot
Fest of Tabernacles/Shelters. This harvest festival is a reminder of the
time when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after escaping
from Egypt with Moses
Tabernacle
The ten of meeting, prayer and sacrifice made by the Israelites in the
wilderness. The two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments
were engraved were kept there.
Tallit
Prayer shawl worn by Jewish men and boys
Talmud
The teachings and discussions of the oral law of Moses
Temple
The holy building in Jerusalem built by King Soloman, and the focal
point for Jewish worship. It was destroyed by fire in AD79.
Tenach
Hebrew for Bible
Ten Commandments
Laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai as a guide as to how to
live
Torah
Hebrew word for “Law”. It applies particularly to the Law of Moses
(Pentateuch)
Yom Kippur
The most solemn of Jewish Holy days. It marks the end of the ten days
of repentance of the festival of Rosh Hashanah