Glossary of Jewish terms
Shabbat, kosher, kippah, minhag, halakhah… Short explanations of terms that come up often in Jewish life, with links to the full articles.
- Aliyahעֲלִיָּהalija
- Literally "ascent": Jewish immigration to Israel. The same word denotes being called up to the Torah reading in the synagogue. In depth: Israel
- Amidahעֲמִידָהamida
- The central prayer of every service, recited standing and silently. On weekdays it is also called the *Shemoneh Esreh* ("eighteen" blessings). In depth: Prayer and Blessings
- Ashkenazimאַשְׁכְּנַזִּיםaškenazim
- Jews of Central and Eastern European origin. Their traditions also shaped Jewish life in the Czech lands; their traditional language was Yiddish. In depth: Ashkenazim
- Bar mitzvahבַּר מִצְוָהbar micva
- A boy's religious coming of age at 13, from which he is obligated in the commandments. It is usually marked by being called up to the Torah. In depth: Bar and Bat Mitzvah
- Bat mitzvahבַּת מִצְוָהbat micva
- A girl's religious coming of age at 12. The form of celebration varies by movement – from a family celebration to reading from the Torah in non-Orthodox congregations. In depth: Bar and Bat Mitzvah
- Brit milahבְּרִית מִילָהbrit mila
- The circumcision of a boy on the eighth day after birth as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham. It is performed by a *mohel*. In depth: Brit Milah
- Challahחַלָּהchala
- The festive bread over which a blessing is said on Shabbat and holidays. In Ashkenazi tradition it is usually braided; the shape differs between communities. In depth: Challah
- Chametzחָמֵץchamec
- Leavened products from the five species of grain, which may be neither eaten nor owned during Passover. They are thoroughly removed from the home before the holiday. In depth: Kashrut for Passover
- Chuppahחֻפָּהchupa
- The wedding canopy under which a Jewish marriage takes place. It symbolizes the couple's shared home. In depth: Jewish Wedding
- Diasporaתְּפוּצוֹת
- Jewish communities living outside the Land of Israel. In the diaspora some holidays last one day longer than in Israel. In depth: Diaspora
- Goyגּוֹיgoj
- Hebrew for "nation"; in the Bible the word is used even for Israel. In later usage it means "non-Jew" and can sound neutral or pejorative depending on context.
- Gut vochgut voch
- A Yiddish greeting, "good week", exchanged after Shabbat ends. In Hebrew *shavua tov*. In depth: Havdalah
- Haggadahהַגָּדָהhagada
- The book read at the Passover seder. It tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt and sets the order of the evening. In depth: Passover
- Halakhahהֲלָכָהhalacha
- Jewish religious law, literally "the way". It draws on the Torah, the Talmud and later codes; movements understand its binding force differently.
- Hamsaחַמְסָהchamsa
- A hand-shaped amulet, common mainly in North Africa and the Middle East. It is a folk protective symbol, not a religious requirement.
- Hanukkahחֲנֻכָּהchanuka
- An eight-day winter festival of lights commemorating the rededication of the Temple during the Maccabean revolt. Each evening one more light is kindled. In depth: Hanukkah
- Hanukkiahחֲנֻכִּיָּהchanukija
- The Hanukkah lamp with eight lights and a helper light, the *shamash*. It differs from the seven-branched Temple menorah. In depth: Hanukkiah
- Havdalahהַבְדָּלָהhavdala
- The ceremony at the end of Shabbat and holidays, "separating" holy time from ordinary time. It includes wine, fragrant spices and a braided candle. In depth: Havdalah
- Hebrewעִבְרִיתivrit
- The language of the Hebrew Bible and the liturgy, traditionally called the "holy tongue". In its modern form it is the official language of Israel.
- Kaddishקַדִּישׁkadiš
- An Aramaic prayer sanctifying God's name that separates parts of the service. It is known as the mourners' prayer recited for the deceased; it requires a minyan. In depth: Kaddish
- Kashrutכַּשְׁרוּתkašrut
- The body of Jewish dietary rules: permitted animals, prescribed slaughter, separation of meat and milk. Levels of observance vary between families and movements. In depth: Kashrut
- Ketubahכְּתֻבָּהketuba
- The marriage contract, traditionally in Aramaic, setting out the husband's obligations to his wife. It is often richly decorated. In depth: Jewish Wedding
- Kibbutzקִבּוּץkibuc
- A collective settlement in Israel, originally based on shared ownership. The first were founded in the early 20th century; many have since privatized. In depth: Israel
- Kiddushקִדּוּשׁkiduš
- The blessing over wine that "sanctifies" Shabbat or a holiday. It is recited at the start of the festive meal. In depth: Kiddush
- Kippahכִּפָּהkipa
- A small head covering (Yiddish *yarmulke*) expressing reverence for God. It is a custom rather than a biblical commandment; practice varies by movement. In depth: Kippah
- Kosherכָּשֵׁרkašer
- Literally "fit": food that conforms to the rules of kashrut. It is also used for objects, such as a kosher Torah scroll. In depth: Kashrut
- Ladinoלָדִינוֹladino
- Judeo-Spanish, the traditional language of Sephardi Jews after the expulsion from Spain. Today it is an endangered language. In depth: Sephardim
- Matzahמַצָּהmaca
- Unleavened bread made of flour and water, eaten on Passover in memory of the hasty departure from Egypt. In depth: Passover
- Mazel tovמַזָּל טוֹבmazel tov / mazal tov
- A congratulation, "good luck", on joyful occasions such as a wedding, birth or bar mitzvah. *Mazel tov* is the Ashkenazi pronunciation; the Israeli one is *mazal tov*.
- Menorahמְנוֹרָהmenora
- The seven-branched lampstand of the Jerusalem Temple, one of the oldest Jewish symbols. It also appears in the emblem of the State of Israel. In depth: Menorah
- Mezuzahמְזוּזָהmezuza
- A case holding a parchment scroll with verses of the *Shema*, fixed to the right doorpost. It follows the biblical command to write the words of the Torah "on the doorposts of your house". In depth: Mezuzah
- Mikvehמִקְוֶהmikve
- A ritual bath of natural water used for ritual purification, for example by women under the laws of family purity or at conversion. New dishes are also immersed in it. In depth: Family Life
- Minhagמִנְהָגminhag
- The established custom of a particular community or family. That is why the practice of Ashkenazim, Sephardim and others differs in many details.
- Minyanמִנְיָןminjan
- The quorum of ten adults required for communal prayer with Kaddish and the Torah reading. In Orthodox practice only men are counted; in non-Orthodox congregations usually women too. In depth: Synagogue
- Mishnahמִשְׁנָהmišna
- The first written collection of the Oral Torah, compiled around the year 200 in the Land of Israel. It forms the basis of the Talmud. In depth: Torah Study
- Mitzvahמִצְוָהmicva
- A commandment; tradition counts 613 in the Torah. Colloquially also "a good deed".
- Mizrahimמִזְרָחִיםmizrachim
- Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, for example from Iraq, Iran or Morocco. Liturgically they are close to the Sephardim. In depth: Mizrahim
- Pareveפַּרְוֶהparve
- Food that is neither dairy nor meat – such as vegetables, fruit, eggs or fish. Under kashrut it may be eaten with either. In depth: Parve and Fish
- Passover (Pesach)פֶּסַחpesach
- The spring festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. It lasts seven days in Israel and eight in the diaspora; matzah is eaten and the seder is held. In depth: Passover
- Purimפּוּרִיםpurim
- A joyful festival based on the biblical Book of Esther about the rescue of the Jews in Persia. The Esther scroll is read, gifts of food are sent and people wear costumes. In depth: Purim
- Rabbiרַבrav
- A teacher and expert in halakhah who decides religious questions and leads the community. A rabbi is not a priest and does not mediate the relationship with God. In depth: Synagogue
- Rosh Hashanahרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָהroš ha-šana
- The Jewish New Year in autumn, a day of judgment and the start of the Ten Days of Repentance. The shofar is blown and apple with honey is eaten. In depth: Rosh Hashanah
- Sabraצַבָּרcabar / sabra
- A colloquial term for a native-born Israeli, after the prickly pear: prickly outside, sweet inside. In depth: Israel
- Sederסֵדֶרseder
- The festive meal on the first night of Passover (in the diaspora usually also the second), following the Haggadah. Literally "order". In depth: Passover
- Sephardimסְפָרַדִּיםsefaradim
- Descendants of the Jews of the Iberian Peninsula, expelled from Spain in 1492 and from Portugal shortly after. They settled mainly around the Mediterranean, in the Ottoman Empire and in Western Europe. In depth: Sephardim
- Shabbatשַׁבָּתšabat
- The weekly day of rest from Friday sunset to Saturday night. It begins with candles and Kiddush and ends with Havdalah. In depth: Shabbat
- Shabbat shalomשַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹםšabat šalom
- A Hebrew greeting, "peaceful Shabbat", used from Friday to Saturday. Ashkenazim also say the Yiddish *gut shabbes*. In depth: Shabbat
- Shalomשָׁלוֹםšalom
- Hebrew for "peace", also the everyday greeting for hello and goodbye.
- Shavuotשָׁבוּעוֹתšavuot
- The Feast of Weeks, seven weeks after Passover, commemorating the giving of the Torah at Sinai. Dairy foods and all-night study are widespread customs. In depth: Shavuot
- Shechitahשְׁחִיטָהšchita
- The ritual slaughter of animals and poultry according to halakhah, performed by a trained *shochet* with a single cut of a very sharp knife. In depth: Shechitah and Preparing Meat
- Shema Yisraelשְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵלšema jisrael
- The fundamental declaration of faith in one God ("Hear, O Israel…", Deut. 6:4), recited morning and evening. In depth: Shema Yisrael
- Shivaשִׁבְעָהšiva
- The seven-day period of mourning after the burial of a close relative. Mourners stay at home and friends visit to comfort them. In depth: Mourning and Burial
- Shoahשׁוֹאָהšoa
- The Hebrew name for the Holocaust, the Nazi genocide of European Jews in which about six million people were murdered. It is commemorated on Yom HaShoah. In depth: Yom HaShoah
- Shofarשׁוֹפָרšofar
- A ram's horn that is blown, best known from Rosh Hashanah and the end of Yom Kippur. In depth: Shofar
- Shulšul
- The Yiddish word for synagogue, literally "school". It is used mainly by Ashkenazim; Prague's Old-New Synagogue is known as the *Altneuschul*. In depth: Synagogue
- Siddurסִדּוּרsidur
- The prayer book for weekdays and Shabbat. The text varies by rite (*nusach*) – Ashkenazi, Sephardi and others. In depth: Prayer and Blessings
- Simchat Torahשִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָהsimchat tora
- The festival of "rejoicing in the Torah" at the end of the autumn holidays, when the annual cycle of Torah readings is completed and begun again. In Israel it coincides with Shemini Atzeret; in the diaspora it falls on the following day. In depth: Simchat Torah
- Star of David (Magen David)מָגֵן דָּוִדmagen David
- A six-pointed star, literally "shield of David". It became a general Jewish symbol in the modern era; Prague is one of the places where it appears early as a community emblem.
- Sukkahסֻכָּהsuka
- A temporary hut roofed with branches in which people eat and spend time during Sukkot. It recalls the shelters of the Israelites in the desert. In depth: Sukkah
- Sukkotסֻכּוֹתsukot
- The autumn Feast of Booths recalling the wandering in the desert. People eat (and sometimes sleep) in a temporary hut, the *sukkah*, and bless the four species of plants. In depth: Sukkot
- Synagogueבֵּית כְּנֶסֶתbejt kneset
- A place of communal prayer, study and gathering. Its focus is the Torah ark (*aron ha-kodesh*) facing Jerusalem. In depth: Synagogue
- Tallitטַלִּיתtalit
- A prayer shawl with fringes (*tzitzit*) on its four corners, worn during morning prayer. Who wears it varies by community and movement. In depth: Tallit
- Talmudתַּלְמוּדtalmud
- A vast record of rabbinic discussions on the Mishnah (the *Gemara*). There is a Jerusalem Talmud and the more influential Babylonian Talmud. In depth: Torah Study
- Tanakhתַּנַ״ךְtanach
- The Hebrew Bible. The name is an acronym of its three parts: Torah, Nevi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings).
- Tefillinתְּפִלִּיןtfilin
- Two leather boxes containing Torah verses, bound with straps to the arm and head during weekday morning prayer. In depth: Tefillin
- Tisha B'Avתִּשְׁעָה בְּאָבtiša be-av
- The fast day of 9 Av, commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and other catastrophes of Jewish history. In depth: Tisha B'Av
- Torahתּוֹרָהtora
- The Five Books of Moses, handwritten on a scroll from which the synagogue reading is chanted. In a broader sense, the whole of Jewish teaching. In depth: Torah scroll
- Tu BiShvatט״וּ בִּשְׁבָטtu bi-švat
- The New Year of the Trees on 15 Shevat. Fruits, especially those of the Land of Israel, are eaten, and in Israel trees are planted. In depth: Tu BiShvat
- Tzedakahצְדָקָהcedaka
- Charity, literally "righteousness". In Judaism it is not a voluntary gesture but an obligation to help those in need. In depth: Community Life
- Yahrzeitjorcajt
- Yiddish for "year's time": the anniversary of a relative's death according to the Hebrew calendar. A day-long candle is lit and Kaddish is recited. In depth: Mourning and Burial
- Yeshivaיְשִׁיבָהješiva
- A school for the study of Talmud and halakhah, traditionally in pairs (*chavruta*). Literally "sitting". In depth: Torah Study
- Yiddishיִידִישׁjidiš
- The language of Ashkenazi Jews, based on medieval German with Hebrew and Slavic elements and written in Hebrew script. It remains alive especially in Hasidic communities. In depth: Ashkenazim
- Yom Kippurיוֹם כִּפּוּרjom kipur
- The Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year. It is marked by a full-day fast, prayer and repentance. In depth: Yom Kippur