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
