aron kodesh Holy ark; cabinet or niche where the Torah scrolls are
kept
aveirah
Sin; transgression
bal tashchit Do not destroy; a Jewish value conveying our responsibility to
protect the environment, preserve the earth and conserve resources; based on
Deuteronomy 20:19
Baruch atah Adonai
Eloheinu Melech haolam Praised are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the
universe..."; the opening sentence of a Hebrew blessing
b'seder
OK; in order
Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek Be strong, and let us
strenghthen one another. Said at the completion of reading a book of
Torah
chevruta Small groups or pairs of students engaged in the study of Jewish
texts
Eilu d'varim sh'ein
lahem shiur
"These are the responsibilities without measure whose reward
too is without measure”; a prayerbook text based on Mishnah Pei-ah 1:1
and Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 127a
goreret
Leads to (f.)
hachnasat orchim
Welcoming guests
kadosh Holy
karov
Near
kasher Fit or suitable according to the laws of kashrut
kashrut
The system of dietary laws for Jews
K'doshim The parashah that contains the Holiness Code (Leviticus
19)
K'dushah Holiness; name of the third blessing of the Amidah
kibud av va-eim Honoring parents
kibud z'keinim Honoring the elderly
k'lal Yisrael
The community of Israel; the Jewish people; the world community
of Jews
korban Offering
korbanot
Offerings
ma'achil r'eivim
Feeding the hungry
magen David
Shield of David
malbish arumim
Clothing the
naked
maot chittim
Wheat money; a community fund that provides Passover food to
Jewish needy individuals and families
m'lachah
The type of work not engaged in during Shabbat
mitzvot
Commandments from God (plural of mitzvah)
ner tamid Eternal light that hangs over the ark, representing God’s
eternal presence
parashah Weekly Torah portion
Pesach Passover; celebration of the liberation from slavery in
Egypt
Pirkei Avot
Chapters of the Fathers; a tractate, or section, of the Mishnah
containing the wisdom, sayings, and ethical teachings expressed by the teachers
of the Mishnah
Purim
Lottery; the name of a holiday on which Haman cast lots to
determine the day on which he would slay all the Jews of Shushan
seder Order; also the order of the service of the festive meal for
Passover
Shabbat Shalom
Sabbath peace, Sabbath wholeness; a traditional greeting on
Shabbat
Shabbatot Plural of Shabbat
Shaddai
Almighty; a name for God commonly found on mezuzot
because the letters of the word can stand for “shomer d’latot Yisrael,” a
phrase which means "guarding the doorways of the Jewish people"
shalach manot
Gifts sent to family and friends; a mitzvah for the holiday of
Purim (see Esther 9:22)
shin A letter often found on the outside of a mezuzah ,
representing the first letter of God's name Shaddai
Sh'nat Shabbaton Sabbatical year, the seventh year in which we are commanded to
let the earth rest from planting and harvesting crops
simchah A joyous occassion
Simchat Torah Rejoicing in the Torah; a
holiday celebrating the Torah on which the annual cycle of reading from the
Torah is completed and the beginning of the new cycle
begins
Sukkot Festival of Booths; a joyous harvest holiday in which we are
commanded to build a sukkah (booth) and dwell in it for seven
days
Talmud The comprehensive body of Jewish law, comprised of
the Mishnah and Gemara
tochecha
Rebuke; term found in Leviticus 19:17
Torah
The first five books of the Bible, as well as all Jewish
learning and sacred texts
Tu Bish'vat
The 15th of Sh'vat, a Jewish holiday that celebrates
trees
tza'ar ba'alei chayim
Compassion toward all living creatures
Vayikra
Leviticus; the third book of the Torah
Yisrael
Israel; Jacob's name received after he wrestles an angel in
Genesis 32:29; "wrestle with God"
