Final Flashcards
Ahasurus
Persian king and husband of Esther
Aliya
immigration of the jews from dispora to the land of Israel
Amida
Core prayer to Jewish Worship
Antiochus IV
a Hellenistic Greek king of the Seleucid Empire from 175 BCE until his death in 164 BCE
Aron Kodesh
Ark in the Synagogue used to store the Torah scrolls
Beit Knesset
House of assemble, synagogue
Beit Midrash
House of Study, synagogue
Beit Tefilah
House of Prayer, synagogue
Berakhot
Jewish Benediction found in the Mishnah
Bimah
platform or podium in the synagogue from which the Torah and the Prophets is read
Brit Milah
Circumcision ceremony of male jewish infants
Cantor
person who leads the synagogue congregation in the chants
Challah
Jewish Sabbath‑and‑holiday bread
Chametz/Khametz
leavened foods that are forbidden on the Jewish holiday of Passover
Charoset
sweet relish eaten at the Seder meal of passover that represents the mortar that the slaves used to build the cities.
Chazzan
a Jewish musician, or precentor, trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer
Cholent
a traditional Jewish stew. It is usually simmered overnight for 12 hours or more, and eaten for lunch on Shabbat
Counting of the Omer
an important verbal counting of each of the forty-nine days between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot as stated in the Hebrew Bible
Daven
Eastern Yiddish word meaning to recite the prescribed prayers in a Jewish liturgy
Day of Atonement
Holiest day of the Jewish Calendar, known also as Yom Kippur. Allows you to atone or offending God
Omer
unit of measure of grain
Days of Awe
The 10 high holy days that begins with Rosh Hashanah and ends with Yom Kippur
Dreidel
a Jewish variant on the teetotum, a gambling toy found in many European cultures. Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew alphabet
Esther
is the eponymous heroine of the Book of Esther. According to the Hebrew Bible, Esther was a Jewish queen of the Persian king
Etrog
is the yellow citron or Citrus medica used by Jewish people during the week-long holiday of Sukkot
Gelt
to money as well as chocolate coins given to Jewish children on the festival of Hanukkah
Haftarah
a series of selections from the books of Nevi’im (“Prophets”) of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) that is publicly read in synagogue as part of Jewish religious practice
Haggadah
Jewish text that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder as well as the retelling of exodus
Haman
main antagonist in the Book of Esther, who, according to the Hebrew Bible, was a vizier in the Persian empire under King Ahasuerus
Hamantaschen
filled-pocket cookie or pastry recognizable for its triangular shape
Hanukkah/Chanukah
a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt
Hanukkiah
a special type of menorah made just for Hanukkah
Havdalah
a Jewish religious ceremony or formal prayer marking the end of the Sabbath
HIgh Holy Days
more properly known as the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe), may mean: strictly, the holidays of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Huppah
a canopy under which a Jewish couple stand during their wedding ceremony
Kaballat Shabbat
a mystical ritual designed to welcome Shabbat