Glossary

Abba
Aramaic for Father
Amud
A page, one side of a folio
Aron
"Ark", The place in they Synagogue where the Sifrei Torah are kept
Ashkenazi
Jews from European countries excluding Spain
Aveirah
Sin, transgression of Torah
Avraham (Avrohom)
The Father of the Jewish People
Avinu
Our Father
Avodah
Service, Worship
Avodah Zara
"Strange Worship", Idolatry
Ba'al T'shuvah
Someone who repents, has returned to Torah observance
Bar
Aramaic for "Son of.."
Bas (Bat)
Daughter
Basar
Meat, Flesh
Beis (Beit, Beth)
House
Beis Din
"House of Judgement", a court of Jewish law
Beis Hamikdosh
"House of the Holy One", the Jewish Temple in Yerushalayim
Beis K'nesses
"House of Assembly", Synagogue
Beis Midrash
"House of Study", a place set aside for learning Torah
Bench
To say "Birkat HaMazon", "Grace After Meals", Blessings recited after eating a meal which includes bread
Bencher
A book which includes the text of the Grace after meals
Ben
Son
Benei Noach
"Son of Noah", typically refers to a non-Jew who keeps the seven commandments given to all humanity
Bimah
Platform the Torah is read from in Shul
B'rachah
A blessing
Chai (Chaim)
Life
Chanukah
"Feast of Dedications"
Chareidi
Chasid
"Pious One", One who follows the appraoch to Judaism of the Baal Shem Tov
Chassidus
"Piety", The approach to Judaism taught by the Baal Shem Tov
Chazal
The Sages of Blessed Memory
Cheder
Hebrew school
Chein
Cholov
Milk
Cholov Stam
"Regular milk", milk whose kashrus status is dependant on Government laws against adulterating milk
Cholov Yisrael
Milk that has been under constant supervision by a Jew to insure Kashrus
Chumash
The five books of the Torah written by Moshe, often accompanied by Rashi's commentary and Targum Onkelos
Daf
Folio, a page including both sides
Daf Yomi
A Talmud study program which includes reading one folio page a day
Daven
Pray
Emunah
Frum
Gadol HaDor
Geir (גֵר)
Someone who has become Jewish through the laws of conversion
Gemora
Goy
A Nation, commonly Israel. Also a non-Jew, not derogatory
Goyim
Nations, i.e. no8n-Jews.
Halachah
Jewish Law
Imma
Mother
Kashrus
Fit according to halachah. Typically refers to the Jewish Dietary Laws
K'dushah
Kiddush
The ceremony for verbally declaring the Shabbos (Sabbath) holy, typically done over a glass of wine
Kippah
Kohen
"Priest", someone who is a direct paternal descendant of Aaron in the Torah
Kosher
In accordance with Jewish Law, particularly but not exclusively used regarding food items prepared in accordance with the dietary laws
Machzor
Prayer book used on the High Holy Days
Melachah
Menorah
Mezuzah
Mifal HaShas
A Talmud study program begun by the Klausenburger Rebbe Yekusiel Yehu8dah Halberstam z'tl were the student studies between 20 and 70 blatt of Gemora a month and has written exams.
Mikvah
A ritual bath made from naturally gathered water (or connected to such water) used for ritual purification particularly from a womans monthly cycle and conversion
Minhag
Minyan
Mishnah
Mitzvah
A commandment, something which one is obligated to do by Torah
Mohel
Someone who is qualified to preform ritual circumcision "Birs Milah"
Moshiach
"The Anointed One", the King descended from David predicted by the T'nakh to return all Israel to their land and rebuild the Beis HaMikdosh in Yerushalayim
Muter
Permitted, not a violation of Torah
Nach
"Nevi'im and K'tuvim" The parts of the Jewish Bible other than the Torah
Navi
Prophet
Ner
Light
Niddah
A woman after her monthly cycle starts until she goes to the mikvah
Nochrim
"Others", those who do not practice Judaism
Nosh
Food/Eating
Patur
Exempt, not liable for punishment. Often used technically to refer to something that is "permitted" by Torah strictly speaking but was forbidden by the Sages as inconsistant with Torah. As such one is not liable to be punished for a Biblical level transgression but one may be liable for punishment for transgressing the words of the Sages (which is a Torah level prohibition itself).
Payos
Purim
Festival from the Biblical book of Ester commemorating the Jewish peoples miraculou's escape from genocide
Rabbi
Rebbe
Sefardic
Sefer
A book.
Sefer Torah
Shabbos (Shabbat/Shabbath)
Sabbath. The Seventh day, Friday night to Saturday night, which the Torah commands Jews to observe as a day of rest and to do no "work" (melachah) on it
Shas
Shalom Aleichem
A traditional greeting, "Peace to you"
Shochet
Someone qualified to preform the slaughter of animals in the way prescribed by Jewish dietary laws
Shomer Shabbos
Sabbath observant
Shul
A Jewish house of worship
Siddur
Jewish prayer book
Simchah
Joy, Enthusiasm
S'michah
Sofer
Someone who is qualified to write Torah scrolls, Mezuzos, T'fillin etc in accordance with Jewish law
Succah
Succos
Synagogue
A Jewish house of worship
Talmid Chacham
"Wise Student", a Torah scholar
Talmud Bavli
Talmud Yerushalami
Taryag Mitzvos
613 Mitzvos found in Torah
T'fillin
Tish
Torah
"Law of Moses", the Revelation G-d gave to Moshe in the presence of all Israel at Sinai. Transitted in writting in the first 5 books of the Bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy) and orally from the sages to disciple and eventually recorded so it would not be lost during exile
Tovel
T'nach
T'shuvah
Repentance
Treif
"Torn", by extension anything which in not kosher
Tzadik
Righteous Person
Tzedakah
Tzitzis
Tznius
Yerushalayim
Jerusalem, the capital of Israel and the historic and future home of the Beis HaMikdosh
Yeshivah
Yid
Jew
Yiddish
Yisroel
"Israel", the Jewish People or their homeland
Yiras Cheit
"Fear of Sin"
Yiras Shomayim
"Fear/Awe of Heaven"
Yom Tov
"Good Day", A Jewish Festival
Yontif
Yiddish for "Yom Tov"
Zchus
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