ahavat Yisrael Love of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel
Al tifrosh min hatzibur Do not separate yourself from the community (Pirkei Avot 2:4)
Am Yisrael The Jewish people; descendants of Jacob/Israel
Amidah Standing; the name of the central part of the worship service, which consists of nineteen benedictions
avodat perech Hard labor, exploitative or oppressive labor practices
Avot v'imahot Patriarchs and matriarchs; the name of the first blessing of the Amidah
bakashah Request, petition
bakashot Requests or petitions; another name for the middle section of the Amidah
barak Lightning
beit din Panel of three rabbis and/or knowledgeable Jews who rule on issues of Jewish law
b'rit milah Circumcision performed on the 8th day of life in a ceremony which formally enters the child into the Jewish people
b'tzelem Elohim In the image of God; a description of how people are created in Genesis 1:27; a fundamental Jewish value, the basis for the belief in the inherent dignity of every human being
bushah Embarrassment or shame
Canaan In biblical times, the name of the country we now know as Israel
chazak Strong, courageous
chevrah kadisha “Holy society”; the organization of Jews who ritually prepare the deceased for Jewish burial
ger (pl. gerim) A male convert; in biblical Hebrew, a stranger
giyoret A female convert
G'vurot Mighty deeds; the name of the second blessing in the Amidah
Hat'filah "The prayer," another name for the Amidah section of the service
Kaddish A prayer that praises and affirms faith in God; one form of the Kaddish is recited by mourners
kavod Honor
K'dushah Holiness; name of the third blessing of the Amidah
K'dushat HaYom Sacredness of the day; blessings said during the Amidah on Shabbat and holidays in place of the bakashot (petitions)
keiruv Drawing near those who are far; reaching out
k'hilah Community
K'lal Yisrael The community of Israel; the Jewish people; the world community of Jews
Kol Yisrael areivim zeh ba-zeh. All Israel is responsible for one another (Shavuot 39a)
K'tuvim Writings; the third section of the Tanach, consisting of the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra/Nehemiah, I and II Chronicles
k'vod hamet Honoring the dead
lapidot Torches (singular: lapid)
lishmah For its (her) own sake, as in Torah lishmah, the study of Torah simply for the joy of studying Torah
midrash Rabbinic interpretation of Biblical text
mikveh Ritual bath
minyan A quorum of ten; the smallest legitimate number for community required to be present for the recitation of certain prayers
mishpat Justice
navi Prophet
n'vu-ah Prophecy
N'vi-im Prophets; the second section of the Tanach, consisting of the books of Joshua, Judges, I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets
pikuach nefesh Saving a life
Shiloh An important center of worship during the early days of the conquest of Canaan (described in the books of Joshua and Judges)
shivah The seven-day period of intense mourning following burial
Sh'moneh Esreih Eighteen; another name for the Amidah because it originally included eighteen blessings
shomer Guard
shoresh Root; in Hebrew grammar, the (usually) 3-letters upon which the word is built
tachrichim Linen shrouds
taharah Ritual washing of deceased
tzedakah Righteous giving
tzedek
Righteousness, justice
<td colspan="2>
Tzedek, tzedek tirdof Justice, justice shall you pursue (Deuteronomy 16:20)
Un'taticha l'or goyim Phrase from Isaiah 49:6: “I will also make you a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach the ends of the earth”
