The vocabulary of this site.

Synagogue & Prayer

Shul שול also: Shule · synagogue · beis knesses

Yiddish for synagogue — a Jewish house of prayer, study, and gathering. The most common everyday word for it. See: Shuls in NorCal →

Synagogue בית כנסת also: Beit Knesset · Beis Knesses

The English/Greek word for shul. Literally "house of assembly" — the formal Hebrew name is beit knesset.

Minyan מניין also: Minyon

The quorum of ten Jewish men (over bar mitzvah age) required for communal prayer and certain other rites. Also used for the prayer service itself ("the 7am minyan").

Davening דאַווענען Yiddish · verb: to daven

Praying — specifically, the standardized Jewish liturgy. "Where do you daven?" means "which shul do you go to?"

Tefillah תפילה plural: Tefillos / Tefillot

Prayer. The Hebrew counterpart to davening.

Siddur סידור plural: Siddurim

The everyday prayerbook. Different communities use different siddurim (Ashkenaz, Sefard, Edot HaMizrach, Chabad/Tehillas Hashem).

Machzor מחזור plural: Machzorim

The festival prayerbook — used on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the three pilgrimage holidays.

Shacharis שחרית also: Shacharit

The morning prayer service.

Mincha מנחה also: Minha

The afternoon prayer service.

Maariv מעריב also: Arvit · Arvis

The evening prayer service, said after nightfall.

Aliyah עלייה plural: Aliyot

"Going up" — being called to recite blessings over a Torah reading. Also used for emigrating to Israel.

Bimah בימה also: Bima

The raised platform in a shul where the Torah is read.

Aron Kodesh ארון קודש also: Holy Ark

The cabinet at the front of the shul that holds the Torah scrolls.

Mechitzah מחיצה also: Mechitza

The partition separating men's and women's seating in an Orthodox shul.

Kiddush קידוש "sanctification"

The blessing recited over wine to sanctify Shabbos and holidays. Also: the light reception held in shul after Shabbos morning davening ("come to kiddush").

Havdalah הבדלה "separation"

The short ceremony after Shabbos ends — wine, spices, and a braided candle — separating the holy from the ordinary.

Tehillim תהילים also: Psalms

The Book of Psalms. Recited communally for healing, in times of trouble, and on yahrzeits.

Lifecycle

Bris ברית מילה also: Brit Milah · Bris Milah

The covenantal circumcision of a Jewish boy on the eighth day of life. Performed by a mohel — not a doctor. See: Lifecycle →

Pidyon HaBen פדיון הבן "redemption of the firstborn"

The ceremony at 30 days old, redeeming a firstborn son from a Kohen. Only applies in specific cases.

Bar Mitzvah בר מצווה "son of the commandment"

A Jewish boy's coming of age at 13 — when he becomes obligated in the mitzvos. Also the celebration that marks it. See: Lifecycle →

Bat Mitzvah בת מצווה also: Bas Mitzvah

A Jewish girl's coming of age at 12. The corresponding celebration. See: Lifecycle →

Upsherin אַפּשערן Yiddish · also: Chalaka (Sephardi)

A boy's first haircut at age three — typically celebrated with a small gathering and the start of wearing a yarmulke and tzitzis.

Chuppah חופה also: Huppah

The wedding canopy under which a Jewish marriage takes place. Also used as shorthand for the wedding ceremony itself.

Kiddushin קידושין "sanctification" / Jewish marriage

Halachic Jewish marriage. The first half of the wedding ceremony — the ring-and-vow component — is technically the kiddushin.

Get גט plural: Gittin

The Jewish religious divorce document. Required to dissolve a Jewish marriage in halacha — separate from civil divorce.

Mikvah מקווה also: Mikveh · Mikva · Mikve

A pool of natural water used for ritual immersion — central to family purity, conversion, and the immersion of new utensils. See: Mikvahs in NorCal →

Shiva שבעה "seven"

The seven-day mourning period after the burial of a close relative. Mourners stay home; community comes to them.

Shloshim שלושים "thirty"

The 30-day mourning period that includes shiva. Some restrictions extend through shloshim; for a parent, certain mourning practices last twelve months.

Yahrzeit יאָרצײַט Yiddish · "year-time"

The Hebrew-calendar anniversary of a person's death. Marked by lighting a 24-hour candle and saying Kaddish.

Kaddish קדיש "sanctification"

An Aramaic prayer praising God. The mourner's Kaddish is recited by mourners daily during the mourning period and on each yahrzeit. Requires a minyan.

Chevra Kadisha חברה קדישא "holy society" · Aramaic

The volunteer society that prepares Jewish bodies for burial — performing the tahara (purification) and dressing the deceased in shrouds. See: Lifecycle →

Kashrut & Food

Kosher כשר "fit" · adjective from kashrut / kashrus

Permitted under Jewish dietary law. Applies to ingredients, slaughter, processing, and the kitchen the food is made in. See: Kosher →

Pareve פארעווע also: Parve

Neutral — neither meat nor dairy. Eggs, fish, fruit, vegetables, and grains are pareve. Pareve foods can be eaten with either a meat or dairy meal.

Fleishig פליישיג Yiddish · Hebrew: basari

Meat (or made with meat). Fleishig food cannot be eaten with dairy and requires a waiting period before dairy.

Milchig מילכיג Yiddish · Hebrew: chalavi

Dairy (or made with dairy). Milchig food cannot be eaten together with meat.

Hechsher הכשר plural: Hechsherim

The kosher certification symbol on a food package or in a restaurant. Different agencies use different symbols (OU, OK, Star-K, Kof-K, cRc, local Vaads). See: Kosher →

Vaad ועד "committee" · in full: Vaad HaKashrus

A local rabbinical board that certifies kosher establishments in its region. The Bay Area Vaad and the Sacramento Vaad both certify here. See: Kosher →

Mashgiach משגיח "supervisor"

The person who supervises a kosher kitchen, bakery, or production line on behalf of a certifying agency.

Shochet שוחט plural: Shochtim

A trained ritual slaughterer who performs shechita — the only method of slaughter that produces kosher meat or poultry.

Glatt גלאַט Yiddish · "smooth" · Sephardi: halak

A higher standard of kosher meat — from animals whose lungs were free of adhesions. In practice "glatt kosher" is shorthand for the most reliable kosher standard.

Cholov Yisroel חלב ישראל also: Chalav Yisrael

Dairy products made under continuous Jewish supervision from milking onward. Chabad and many Orthodox communities consume only cholov yisroel.

Pas Yisroel פת ישראל also: Pat Yisrael

Bread baked with a Jew involved in the baking process. Some communities require pas yisroel year-round; many do during the Ten Days of Repentance.

Shmurah Matzah מצה שמורה "guarded matzah"

Matzah made from wheat watched against contact with water from the moment of harvest. Round, hand-baked, used at the Pesach Seder. See: Judaica →

Objects & Ritual Items

Mezuzah מזוזה plural: Mezuzos / Mezuzot

The parchment scroll, in a case, affixed to the doorposts of a Jewish home. Contains the Shema and must be hand-written by a sofer. See: Judaica →

Tallis טלית also: Tallit · plural: Tallisim / Tallitot

The four-cornered prayer shawl worn during morning prayers (and on Yom Kippur eve). Has tzitzis on each corner. See: Judaica →

Tzitzis ציצית also: Tzitzit

The knotted fringes on the corners of a tallis (and on the four-cornered tallis katan worn under one's shirt by observant men).

Tefillin תפילין also: Phylacteries

Two small black leather boxes containing parchment scrolls, worn on the arm and head during weekday morning prayers. See: Judaica →

Yarmulke כיפה also: Kippah · Kippa

The small head covering worn by Jewish men. "Yarmulke" is Yiddish; "kippah" is Hebrew. Same object. See: Judaica →

Lulav & Esrog לולב ואתרוג also: Etrog · the Four Species · arba minim

The palm branch (lulav, bound with myrtle and willow) and the citron (esrog) — held and shaken together during Sukkos prayers. See: Holidays →

Sukkah סוכה plural: Sukkos / Sukkot

The temporary hut, with a roof of plant material, in which Jews eat (and some sleep) during the seven days of Sukkos.

Menorah מנורה Chanukah-specific: Chanukiah

A candelabrum. The seven-branch menorah was in the Temple; the nine-branch chanukiah is what's lit on Chanukah. Often used loosely for both. See: Judaica →

Kiddush Cup כוס של קידוש Yiddish: becher

The wine cup used for Kiddush on Shabbos and holidays. By halacha must hold at least about 3.3 fluid ounces.

Shofar שופר plural: Shofarot

A ram's horn sounded during the month of Elul, on Rosh Hashanah, and at the close of Yom Kippur.

Holidays & Calendar

Shabbos שבת also: Shabbat · Shabbes · Sabbath

The Jewish day of rest — Friday sundown to Saturday nightfall. Work, money, electricity, driving, and writing are among the activities suspended.

Yom Tov יום טוב "good day" · plural: Yamim Tovim

A major Jewish festival on which work is forbidden — Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the first/last days of Sukkos, Pesach, and Shavuos.

Chol HaMoed חול המועד "the weekday of the festival"

The intermediate days of Sukkos and Pesach — semi-festive: most weekday work continues, but with a holiday character.

Rosh Hashanah ראש השנה "head of the year"

The Jewish New Year — two days in early autumn marking the world's anniversary and the start of the Ten Days of Repentance. Shofar is sounded.

Yom Kippur יום כיפור "Day of Atonement"

The holiest day of the Jewish year — a 25-hour fast spent largely in shul, ten days after Rosh Hashanah.

Sukkos סוכות also: Sukkot · Tabernacles

The seven-day autumn festival of huts — meals are eaten in the sukkah, the lulav and esrog are taken. Followed by Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah.

Simchas Torah שמחת תורה also: Simchat Torah

"The joy of the Torah" — the festival immediately after Sukkos when the annual Torah cycle is completed and restarted, with dancing in shul.

Chanukah חנוכה also: Hanukkah

The eight-day winter festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple. A candle is added each night on the chanukiah.

Purim פורים "lots"

The late-winter festival celebrating the rescue of the Jews of Persia, recorded in the Book of Esther. Megillah reading, costumes, gifts of food.

Pesach פסח also: Passover

The eight-day spring festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. Marked by the seder, matzah, and the removal of all chametz from one's home.

Seder סדר "order" · plural: Sedarim

The ritual meal on the first (and outside Israel, second) night of Pesach — fifteen prescribed steps, retelling the Exodus, eating matzah and maror.

Shavuos שבועות also: Shavuot

The two-day late-spring festival commemorating the giving of the Torah at Sinai. Dairy foods, all-night learning, hearing the Ten Commandments.

Tisha B'Av תשעה באב "the ninth of Av"

The midsummer fast day mourning the destruction of both Temples and other Jewish tragedies. The most somber day of the year.

People & Roles

Rabbi רב also: Rav · plural: Rabbonim

An ordained Jewish teacher and decisor of Jewish law. In a community context: the spiritual leader of a shul or congregation.

Rebbe רבי Yiddish · plural: Rebbeim

A Hasidic master — the spiritual leader of a Hasidic dynasty. "The Rebbe" capitalized usually refers to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

Rebbetzin רביצין Yiddish

A rabbi's wife — and, in Chabad, often a co-emissary with her own communal role.

Mohel מוהל plural: Mohelim

A trained practitioner who performs a bris. See: Lifecycle →

Sofer סופר plural: Sofrim

A scribe who hand-writes Torah scrolls, mezuzos, tefillin parchments, and gittin. Trained for years; one error can disqualify a scroll.

Chazzan חזן also: Cantor · Hazzan

The prayer leader who chants the service from the bimah. In smaller shuls anyone competent may chazzan; larger shuls hire a professional.

Shliach שליח plural: Shluchim · "emissary"

A Chabad emissary — a rabbi (and rebbetzin) sent by the Rebbe to establish and run a Chabad House in a particular city or community.

Frum פֿרום Yiddish

Religiously observant — keeps Shabbos, kosher, and the broader framework of halacha. Used as adjective ("a frum family") and as a standard ("frum-approved caterer").

Baal Teshuvah בעל תשובה "master of return" · plural: Baalei Teshuva · abbreviated BT

A Jew who has become observant after growing up otherwise. Literally "one who has returned." Often shortened to "BT" in conversation.

Kohen כהן also: Cohen · plural: Kohanim

A Jew descended from Aaron the Priest. Kohanim have specific privileges (the first aliyah, the Priestly Blessing) and restrictions (avoiding contact with the dead, certain marriages).

Levi לוי also: Levite · plural: Leviim

A Jew descended from the tribe of Levi (excluding Kohanim). Receives the second aliyah; once served in the Temple as singers and gatekeepers.

Learning & Texts

Torah תורה "teaching"

The Five Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy). Also used loosely for the entire body of Jewish religious teaching.

Tanach תנ״ך also: Tanakh · Hebrew Bible

The Hebrew Bible — an acronym for Torah, Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).

Chumash חומש "five" · plural: Chumashim

A printed book of the Five Books of Moses, usually with traditional commentary. The everyday format for studying the weekly Torah portion.

Talmud תלמוד also: Shas

The central work of rabbinic Judaism — the Mishna plus its centuries of commentary (the Gemara). Sixty-three tractates.

Mishna משנה "teaching"

The first written compilation of the Oral Torah, redacted around 200 CE. Forms the foundation of the Talmud.

Gemara גמרא "completion" · Aramaic

The rabbinic discussion and analysis of the Mishna. Together, Mishna + Gemara = the Talmud.

Halacha הלכה also: Halakha

Jewish law — the binding body of practice derived from Torah, Talmud, and subsequent rabbinic literature. "Halachic" is the adjective.

Chassidus חסידות also: Chassidut · Hasidism (the movement)

The mystical-pietistic movement founded in 18th-century Eastern Europe by the Baal Shem Tov. Also: the body of teachings of that movement.

Daf Yomi דף יומי "daily page"

The worldwide cycle of studying one folio (two-sided page) of Talmud per day. Completes the entire Talmud in roughly 7.5 years.

Chabad, Mysticism & Movements

Chabad חב״ד also: Chabad-Lubavitch · acronym for Chochmah · Binah · Da'as

The Hasidic movement founded by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (the Alter Rebbe). The acronym names the three intellectual faculties — wisdom, understanding, knowledge — through which the movement teaches the service of God. See: Organizations →

Lubavitch ליובאוויטש place name

The town in present-day Russia where the Chabad movement was based for over a century. Today used interchangeably with "Chabad."

Kabbalah קבלה "received" tradition

Jewish mysticism — the inner dimension of Torah. Classical kabbalah is found in works like the Zohar; Chassidus expounds and applies it.

Mivtzaim מבצעים "campaigns" · singular: Mivtza

The Lubavitcher Rebbe's ten Mitzvah Campaigns — including tefillin, mezuzah, candle-lighting, kashrut, ahavas yisrael, and Torah study — taken to every Jew, anywhere.

Moshiach משיח also: Mashiach · Messiah

The Messiah — the descendant of King David who will redeem the Jewish people, rebuild the Temple, and usher in an era of peace. A core tenet of Jewish belief.