Glossery
 

 Admor:

Hebrew initials for: Adonenu Morenu VeRabenu (Our master, Our teacher our Rabbi). This is a title commonly used with Chassidic Rebbes. Admor of Ger, Admor of Satmer etc.

 Akeida:

1. Hebrew literally ‘binding’ Refers to the binding of Yitzchok on the altar.
2. Jewish scholarly book dealing with the funda mentals of the Jewish religion al Kiddish HaShem: Heb. for the sanctification of HaShem.
Refers to someone who is killed for being a Jew.

 Alsheich:

Jewish Biblical commentator Rabbi Moshe Al Sheich

 Am HaAretz:

Hebrew means ‘people of the land’ and refers to those who are ignorant of the Torah.

 Amidah:

Refers to the main silent prayer said standing

 Amora(Amoraim):

Rabbis of the period of the Mishnah

 Amorah:

Biblical city filled with wicked people Anshei Knesses

 HaGadolah:

Hebrew for Men of the great assembly.

 Apikorsim:

Heretics who reject the teachings of the Rabbis

 Ari Z’L:

Hebrew initials of the words: Adoni Rabbenu Yitzchok Zechorono LeVaracha our master Rabbi Yitzchok. Better known as Yitzchok Luria the great 16th century Kabbalist

 Aron Kodesh:

Hebrew for ‘the holy ark’ place in the synagogue where the Torah scrolls are kept. avodah: Hebrew word meaning ‘service’.
Refers to any type of service to HaShem

 Avraham Aveinu:

Hebrew name of Abraham

 Baal Shem Tov:

Founder of the Chassidic movement

 Baal Tshuva (Baalei    Tshuva):

Hebrew for someone who is a repentant sinner.

 Baal(es) Tzaddakah:

Hebrew word meaning a philanthropist

 Bamidbar:

Fourth book of the Torah. Called in English “Numbers”

 Bava Basra:

Tractate of the Talmud

 Bava Kama:

Tractate of the Talmud

 bechina(bechinos):

a subdivision of an *Inyan. Every Inyan has many bechinos.

 Beis HaKnesses:

Jewish house of worship

 Beis HaMedrash:

Jewish house of study

 Beis HaMikdash:

Heb. The Holy Temple

 Beis Midrash:

Jewish house of study

 Bereishis:

First book of the Torah. Called Genesis in English

 Betza:

Tractate of the Talmud

 Brachos:

Tractate of the talmud

 bris:

Hebrew for circumcision

 bucharim:

Hebrew/Yiddish for young men who are learning in a Yeshiva

 caftan:

Type of long garment worn by Chasidim

 Chas V’Shalom:

Hebrew for ‘G-d forbid’

 Chasid:

Hebrew for a ‘pious person’

 chason:

Hebrew/Yiddish for a man who is engaged to be married

 Chazal:

Hebrew initials for: Chochmenu Zichrona Levaracha (Our sages of Blessed memory) Used to refer to Rabbis of the Talmud

 Cheder:

School for young Jewish children

 Chesed:

Hebrew word meaning acts of mercy

 Cheshvon:

Eighth month of the hebrew calendar

 Chocham (Chochomim):

Hebrew for ‘sage’ or scholar

 Chol HaMoed:

Intermediate days of a holiday

 Chometz:

Hebrew for leavening

 choson:

Hebrew/Yiddish for groom

 Chovos HaLavavos:

a moralistic and philosophical sefer

 Chozeh:

Hebrew for seer (prophet). Rebbe Yakov Yitzchok of Lublin was called the Chozeh because of his *Ruach HaKodesh.

 Chukos:

Weekly portion where the Torah is read from Bamidbar (Numbers) 19:1-22:1

 daas:

Hebrew word meaning knowledge

 Dayanim:

Hebrew for judge. Refers to religious judges.

 Days of Awe:

The days around the holidays of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, so called because they are days of judgement.

 derech:

Heb ‘way’ refers to a path in serving HaShem

 Devorim:

Fifth book of the Torah. Called in English ‘Deuteronomy’.

 doven(davening):

Yiddish for pray.

 Drash:

A method of Biblical interpretation ascribing moral or ethical meaning to verses in the Torah.

 Eichah:

The Hebrew name for the book of Lamantations

 Eliyahu HaNavi:

Hebrew for the prophet Elijah

 Elul:

Sixth month of the Jewish year

 Eruv:

A legal act that causes different residences to be considered as one.

 Eruvin:

Tractate of the Talmud

 Eyov:

The Hebrew name for the book of Job

 gabbai:

Hebrew for an attendant

 Gan Eden:

Hebrew name for paradise

 gematria:

Numerical value of the letters of the Hebrew words

 Gemilos Chasadim:

Hebrew word referring to acts of mercy.

 Ger Toshiv:

A ‘partial’ convert who agrees not to worship idols

 Gitten:

Tractate of the Talmud

 Gao:

Hebrew title of one who is an especially learned scholar in Torah

 gehennim:

Place where one is punished for one’s sins after death. The Talmud says that except for especially wicked souls, the normal stay is up to one year.

 gematria:

The numerical value of the Hebrew letters.

 Haftorah:

A portion of the Tenach read after the Torah is read on Shabbos

 Haggadah:

Sefer that relates the story of the Exodus from Egypt and other things related to the night of Pesach.

 HaKohen:

Hebrew for ‘the Priest’ refers to someone who is a direct paternal descendant from Aaron in the Torah

 halacha:

Hebrew word meaning ‘law’

 HaRav:

The Rov (see Rov).

 HaRav HaKodesh:

The Holy Rov (see Rov)

 HaShem

Noun used in place of G-d. Lit. The Name

 house bocher:

Young man who lived in the house of a Rebbe and took care of private matters as needed.

 Hoshanah Rabbah:

Last day of the intermediate days of Succos. It is considered to be similar to Yom Kippur in that it is a time of repentance.

 HY’D:

Heb. HaShem Yimkom Domov: HaShem should avenge their blood.

 Inyan:

A spiritual concept or idea. A general idea as opposed to specifics. The specifics would be *bechinos.

 Ivdah:

A story that shows or teaches a specific method of serving HaShem

 kallah:

Hebrew/Yiddish for bride

 Kavanah(Kavanos):

Hebrew word for ‘intention’.

 Kesuvim:

Third part of the Tenach. Lit. Writings

 Kiddish:

Ceremony performed on Friday night over a cup of wine.

 Koheles:

One of the books of the Tenach, called in English Ecclesiastes.

 Kohen(Kohanim):

Hebrew for ‘the Priest’ refers to someone who is a direct paternal descendant from Aaron in the Torah

 Kol Nidrei:

First prayer of Yom KIppur kol v’chomer: Inference from a thing that is lesser/lighter to a thing which is greater/more stringent

 kosel marovi:

Hebrew for Western Wall, the only remaining standing part of the Temple.

 kosher:

Heb. fit. Refers to food that is permitted to eat.

 kvitel:

A note with names given to a Rebbe for him to pray for these people

 L’Chaim:

Refers to a custom of drinking and wishing L’Chaim - to life one to the other

 machiton:

Yiddish word that refers to ones child’s in-laws

 MaHarsha:

Hebrew initials for : Moreinu HaRav Shmuel Eliezer (our teacher Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer) a famous Talmud commentator

 Maggid:

In Europe this was a person who would give sermons on moral subjects. Many of the first Rebbes were Maggidim (pl. of Maggid).

 Malachi:

One of the books of the Tenach.

 Man:

Hebrew for manna. The bread that fell from Heaven in the desert.

 mazel tov:

Hebrew for ‘good luck’. Used for a wish of congratulations on various occasions

 matonos l’evyonim:

Hebrew for gifts to the poor. One of the mitzvos of Purim.

 Megilla:

1. Tractate of the Talmud
2. Another name for the Biblical book of Esther

 Megillas Esther:

Hebrew for the book of Esther

 melamed:

Hebrew for a teacher of young children

 Menuchos:

Tractate of the Talmud

 mesiros nefesh:

Hebrew for self sacrifice

 mezuzah:

parchment with various portions of the Torah which is hung on the side of the door.

 midah(midos:

A character trait, either good or bad.

 midah kenegid midah:

Heb. measure for measure

 Midrash:

Rabbinical work with homiletic interpretations

 Midrash Pleah:

A specific Midrash which contains Midrashic teachings that are difficult to understand.

 mikdash:

Hebrew of temple, lit. place of holiness

 mikvah:

Hebrew word referring to a ritual bath used for purification

 Minchah:

Name of the afternoon prayer

 minyan:

Group of Jewish men (at least ten) who have gathered for prayer.

 mishkan:

Hebrew for tabernacle

 Mishleh:

One of the books of the Tenach, called in English Proverbs.

 Mishloach Monos:

Hebrew for the sending of delicacies. One of the mitzvos of Purim.

 Mishnah:

An ancient Jewish work made of specific laws.

 Mispor Katon:

Type of gematria where the value of the letters is added. For example 26= 2 + 6 = 8.

 Mitzrayim:

Hebrew name for the land of Egypt

 mitzvah(mitzvos):

One of the commandments of the Torah.

 mohel:

Hebrew/Yiddish word for the person who performs a circumcision

 Mori:

Hebrew for my teacher.

 Moshe Rabbeinu:

Hebrew for Moses our teacher. A common Jewish way of referring to Moses.

 Moshiach:

Heb. Messiah

 Motzeh Shabbos:

Hebrew for Saturday night

 musar:

Hebrew for moral instruction.

 nashama:

Hebrew word for soul.

 Neviium:

Second part of the Tenach. Lit. Prophets

 niggunim:

Hebrew for songs. Usually used to refer to tunes composed and sung by Chasidim and their Rebbes.

 Nissan:

First month of the Hebrew calendar

 O’H:

Hebrew initials for the words: Olav HaShalom (may he rest in peace)

 Orach Chaim:

One of 4 sections of the Shulchan Aruch. This deals with the laws that apply to each person on a daily basis, throughout the year.

 Or HaChaim:

Jewish Torah commentary

 Parah:

Tractate of the Mishnah

 Parsha (Parshos):

lit. ‘portion’ refers to the portion of the Torah read each week.

 Parshas HaChodesh:

Special Parsha of the Torah read on the Shabbos before the first of the month of Nissan.

 Parshas Porah:

Special Parsha of the Torah read the Shabbos after Purim.

 payyut:

A type of prayer similar to a poem said on Jewish holidays

 Peah:

Tractate of the Mishnah

 Pesach:

Hebrew for Passover

 Pesachim:

One of the Tractates of the Talmud

 peshat:

A method of Biblical interpretation based on finding the simple meaning in the Torah.

 posek:

A verse in the Torah or Tenach

 Pilishtim:

Hebrew for Philistines

 pilpul (pilpulim):

Method of learning which involves hair-splitting logic.

 Pirkei Avos:

A Tractate of the Mishnah

 Rambam:

Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon also called Maimonides

 Ramban:

Rabbi Nachman ben Moshe, also called Nachmanides

 Rashi:

The primary commentary on the Tenach.

 Rav:

An official rabbi who renders legal decisions. Many of the Rebbes were both a Rebbe of Chasidim, and the Rov of the city in which they lived.

 Reb:

A title added to a persons name as a sign of respect.

 Rebbe:

Leader of a Chassidic group or a teacher

 Rebbe Reb:

A title added to a few special Rebbes as a sign of their higher spiritual stature.

 remez:

A method of Biblical interpretation based on finding hints in the Torah for various concepts.

 Rosh HaShanah:

1. Heb. New Year Holiday at the beginning of the year.
2. A tractate of the Talmud

 Rov:

see Rav

 Ruach HaKodesh:

Heb spirit of holiness. Refers to one who can see events, and understand things that are not apparent to the human eye.

 Rus:

Hebrew name the book of Ruth

 amech Mem:

Two Hebrew letters from the traditional name of the angel also called Satan. They are used instead of the name itself.

 Sanhedrin:

Tractate in the Talmud

 Seder:

Meal eaten the night of Passover where the Exodus from Egypt is remembered.

 sefer(seforim):

A Jewish religious book.

 Sefer Yitzerah:

Hebrew Kabbalistic work.

 Seferah:

The mitzvah of counting the days from Pesach to Shevous

 Segal:

Hebrew for ‘Segan L’Kohen’ assistant to the priest. refers to one who is of the tribe of Levi.

 Shabbos:

1. Tractate in the Talmud
2. Seventh day of the week

 Shabbos Chazon:

Shabbos before Tisha B’Av

 Shabbos Hefsakah:

The Shabbos between Shabbos Shekalim and Shabbos Zachor.

 Shabbos Nachmu:

Shabbos after Tisha B’Av

 Shabbos Shekalim:

Shabbos before the 1st of Adar

 Shabbos Tshuva:

Shabbos between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur

 Shabbos Zachor:

Shabbos before the holiday of Purim

 Shalom Bayis:

Hebrew phrase referring to peaceful relations between husband and wife

 Shechina:

Hebrew word denoting the divine presence.

 Shekalim:

See Shabbos Shekalim

 Shemos:

Second book of the Torah. Called Exodus in English

 sheiner yid:

Yiddish phrase referring to a Jew who considers himself better then others.

 Sheolos v’Tshuvos:

Heb. Questions and Answers. This refers to Jewish scholarly books which are based on legal questions asked of Rabbis and their answers.

 Shevous:

Jewish holiday

 Shemini Atzeres:

Eighth day of the holiday of Succos. it is a holiday for itself y 50 days after Pesach

 Shema:

Main Jewish prayer of the confession of faith. Contains 3 parshas. Devorim 6.5-9; 11.13-21 and Bamidbar 15.37-41

 Shemos:

The second book of the Torah. Called in English Exodus.

 Shevi’i Shel Pesach:

Seventh day of the holiday of Pesach

 Shir HaShirim:

Hebrew name for the Song of Songs

 Shir HaShirimRabbah:

Rabbinic Midrash on Song of Songs

 Shlah:

Jewish scholarly commentary on the Torah, and Jewish holidays by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz

 Shlita:

Hebrew Initials for the words: Sh’Yichiya L’Aruch Yomim Tovim Amen. (He should have a good long life amen)

 Shmuel:

Hebrew name of the book of Samuel

 shochet:

Hebrew word for a person who performs ritual slaughter of animals.

 Shofar:

A ram’s horn blown on Rosh HaShanah

 shtender:

A stand of lectern, where books were placed during learning, or where a prayer book was placed by prayers.

 Shul:

Yiddish name for a synagogue

 Shulchan Aruch:

15th/16th century book of Jewish law

 Siddur:

Jewish prayer book.

 Sifrei:

Midrashic work on Devorim

 Simchas Torah:

Second day of Shemini Atzeres (in Israel there is only a single day), where one celebrates the completion of the readings of the Torah for that year.

 Slichos:

Penitential prayers said on the days before Rosh HaShanah and Yom KIppur

 sod:

A method of Biblical interpretation based on describing secret teachings in the Torah.

 Sodom:

Biblical city filled with wicked people

 Sota:

A tractate of the Talmud

 strakes:

Strips of velvet sown into the garments of some of the Rebbes, or great Rabbis.

 Succos:

Holiday after Yom Kippur where people sit in booths

 Sukkah:

One of the tractates of the Talmud

 Taanis:

One of the tractates of the Talmud.

 Talis(talesim):

A special garment that is used to cover a person in prayer.

 talmidei:

Hebrew for ‘disciples of’ Talmid (Talmidim): Disciples of a Rebbe.

 Talmud:

An ancient work of Jewish law.

 Talmud Chocham
   (Talmidei Chochomim):

Hebrew for Talmud sage, refers to one who is learned in Jewish legal texts.

 Tanna(Tannaim):

Rabbis of the Talmud

 Tanya:

Important chassidic work By Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi.

 Targum Onkeles:

Aramaic translation of the Torah by Onkeles

 Taz:

One of the major commentators on the Shulchan Aruch

 techalis:

thread of blue wool attached to a talis

 Tehillim:

Hebrew name for Psalms.

 Tekunei Zohar:

The most esoteric section of the Zohar

 Tenach:

First letters from the three Hebrew words: Torah, Neviium, Kesuvim, which are the divisions of the jewish Bible. Torah is the first five books, Neviium are the prophetic works and Kesuvim are the other books.

 tephilin:

Special boxes that contain passages of the Torah which are worn by men in daily prayer.

 terumah:

Hebrew word for offering

 Tisha B’Av:

9th day of the month of Av, a major fast day

 Tisch:

Yiddish for ‘table’ Refers to a meal eaten by a Rebbe with his Chasidim

 Tishrei:

Seventh Month of the Hebrew calendar

 Torah:

a. First 5 books of the Jewish Bible
b. Also refers to the whole of Jewish law
c. also common term for a chassidic teaching

 Tosephos:

commentary on the talmud by the talmidim of Rashi

 Tshuva:

Hebrew word for repentance

 Three Weeks:

Period of time from 17 of Tammuz to 9 of Av

 Tzaddakah:

Hebrew for charity

 Tzaddekus:

righteous women

 Tzaddik (Tzaddikim):

lit. Righteous. Another name for a Chassidic Rebbe.

 tzitzis:

Strands that hang from the corners of a talis

 V’yikra:

Hebrew for the book of Leviticus

 Yakov:

Hebrew for Jacob

 Yakov Aveinu:

Hebrew for ‘our father jacob’

 Yavatz:

Hebrew initials for Yaakov ben Tzvi. Name of Rabbi Yaakov Emden

 Yechzkel:

Hebrew name for the book of Ezekiel

 Yehoshua:

Hebrew for Joshua

 Yerushalmi:

Talmud that was compiled in Pales tine as opposed to the standard one that was compiled in Babylonia called the Bavli

 Yeshaya:

Hebrew name for book of Isaiah

 Yeshiva:

School for older boys

 Yetzer:

lit. Inclination. It is Jewish belief that every Jew has both an evil and good inclination within him, that are at ‘war’ to see which of them the person will follow.

 Yetzer HaRah:

Heb. Evil Inclination.

 Yetzer Tov:

Heb. Good Inclination

 Yirmiya:

Hebrew name for the book of Jeremiah

 Yitzchok:

Hebrew for Isaac

 YM’Sh:

Heb. Yimach Shimoh V’Zichro : Their name should be erased Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement, the most holy day of the Jewish year.

 Yom Suf:

Hebrew ‘sea of reeds’.

 Yom Tov:

Hebrew name for ‘holiday’

 Yortzheit:

Yiddish for the day of the anniversary of a death

 Z’L:

Hebrew initials of the words: Zechorono LeVaracha (His memory is a blessing.)

 Zachor:

See Shabbos Zachor

 Zemeros:

sefer of songs sung on various occasions

 Zohar:

Hebrew/Aramaic Rabbinical Kabbalistical work that is one of the most important sources for Kabbalah, and was very influential with Chasidim

 Zohar Chadash:

Literally ‘new Zohar’. A section of the Zohar.

 ZT’L:

Hebrew initials of the words: Zechor
Tzaddik LeVaracha (The memory of a Tzaddik - Righteous person is a blessing.)

 ZTvK’L:

Hebrew initials of the words: Zechor Tzaddik veKadosh LeVaracha (The memory of a Tzaddik - Righteous man and a Kodosh - a holy man is a blessing)

 ZY’A:

Hebrew initials for Zechiso Yugan Aleini, His merit should protect us