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"
