aliyah Going up; used to refer to going up to the bimah to
recite blessings over the Torah or immigrating to Israel
Aron Hakodesh Holy ark; cabinet or niche where the Torah scrolls are
kept
atzei chayim
Trees of life; the wooden rollers around which the Torah scroll
is wrapped
ba'al k'riah
The person who reads the Torah scroll
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
bikur cholim Visiting the sick
bimah The raised platform from which the Torah is read
Birkat Hagomeil
Blessing that expresses
gratitude to God when a person recovers from a serious illness, returns from a
long journey, or has survived any type of danger
b'rit
Covenant, binding agreement
choshen
Breastplate
Gabai Person responsible for the logistics of the Torah service
including calling up the aliyot, reciting Mi Shebeirach, and
correcting the pronunciation of the Torah reader when necessary
g'lilah
Rolling and dressing of the Torah scroll after
hagbah
g'milut chasadim Personal acts of loving-kindness
haftarah Section from the Prophets or Writings read after the Torah
reading
hagbah Raising and display of the Torah scroll after
reading
hakafah Circling; a processional
with the Torah through the congregation
Hallel Six psalms (113–118) said as a unit on joyous occasions,
including festivals
keter
Crown
kibeil Torah
Receiving and acceptance of the Torah
ma'achil r'eivim
Feeding the hungry
maftir
Last section of the week’s Torah reading
matan Torah
Giving of the Torah
m'gillah
Scroll. There are five
m’gillot in Bible: Ruth, Esther, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Song of
Songs. Each m’gillah is read on a specific Jewish holiday
milchamah
War
Mi Shebeirach
“May the one who blessed;” refers to any of a number of
blessings that begin with this phrase
Mishlei
The Book of Proverbs
mitzvah
A commandment; obligation; Jewish responsibility;
mitzvot (pl)
pikuach nefesh
Saving a life
rimonim Crowns placed on the top of the atzei chayim
rodef shalom
Pursuer or seeker of peace
seder k'riat haTorah Service for the reading of the Torah
sefer Torah
The Torah scroll
shalom Peace, wholeness,
completion, fulfillment; hello and goodbye
Sheol The place of spiritual punishment and/or purification in
Judaism
sh'liach tzibur
Person who leads the congregation in worship
shulchan
Table where the Torah scrolls are placed for
reading
Tanach Acronym for the Hebrew Bible coming from the first letters of
the three sections of the Bible: Torah, N'vi-im, K'tuvim
T'hillim
Psalms
tikkun olam Repairing the world as God's partner
tza'ar ba'alei chayim
Compassion toward all living creatures
