Key Terms Flashcards
Aron Hakodesh
The Ark. A part of the synagogue containing Torah scrolls.
Bar Mitzvah
Celebration of a boy coming of age at 13. Literally ‘Son of the Commandment’.
Bat Mitzvah
Celebration of a girl coming of age at 12, in reform synagogue. Literally ‘Daughter of Commandment’.
Bet Din
Religious court made of Rabbis
Bimah
A platform in a synagogue from which the Torah is read.
Brit Milah
Circumcision; the removal of the foreskin for religious reasons.
Chametz
Leavened food, prohibited during the festival of Pesach (Passover).
Chazzan
A person who leads or chants prayers in the synagogue
The covenant
The word covenant is best described as a way of understanding God’s relationship with man. God’s agreement to look after the Jews as his chosen people.
Days of Repentance
The time when Jews say sorry for what they have done or failed to do
Discrimination
To act against someone on the bases of race, religion, sex, etc. Discrimination is usually seen as wrong.
Divorce
Legal ending of a marriage
Equality
That people should be given rights and opportunities regardless of religion, race, sex, etc.
Gemara
A commentary on the Mishnah
Haggadah
Text read during the Passover Seder recounting the story of the Exodus
Halakhah
The code of conduct of Jewish life. Ever changing. The way in which to keep the 613 Jewish commandments
Hashem
A name used by many Jews in ordinary conversation to refer to God
Holocaust
The murder of six million Jews (and others) during World War 2
Israel
- The ancient name for Jewish people
- The modern Jewish county in the Middle East
- Literally means ‘one who struggles with God’.
Justice
Bringing about what is right, fair according to the law or making up for a wrong that has been committed.
Kaddish
An important and central prayer in the Jewish prayer service.
Ketuvim
The third section of the Tenakh - the writings.
Kippah
A skull cap.
Kol Nidre
The opening prayer on the eve of Yom Kippur.
Kosher
Foods which the Jewish laws allow.
Marriage
A legal union between a man and a woman.
Matzah
The unleavened bread eaten at Passover (Pesach).
Menorah
A seven-branched candle stick.
Messianic Age
When God’s Anointed One will come and lead the Jews.
Mezuzah
A scroll, containing the Shema.
Minyan
A quorum of then men required for a service.
Mishnah
The first written version of the oral tradition; the authoritative document was put together in 200 C.E.
Mitzvoth
Jewish rules or commandments.
Ner Tamid
A light kept burning in the synagogue - continual light.
Nevi’im
The second section of the Tenakh - the prophets.
Orthodox Jews
Jews who believe God gave the complete Torah to Moses and therefore live according to Jewish laws and tradition.
Persecution
Oppression or maltreatment of people because of their beliefs, race, religion.
Pesach (Passover)
Festival in remembrance of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. Celebrated in spring.
Pilgrimage
A journey by a Christian to a holy site, e.g. Lourdes. Pilgrimage is itself an act of worship and devotion.
Prejudice
Unfairly judging someone before the facts are known. Holding biased opinions about an individual or group.
Rabbi
A religious leader or teacher.
Redeemer
One who redeems and saves themselves from the consequences of sin. Often used to describe God.
Reform Jews
Jews who believe the Torah was inspired by God and was developed through their history - therefore Jewish laws may be changed or adapted as modern life changes.
Responsa
The correspondence of Rabbis concerning religious decisions.
Rosh Hashanah
The Jewish New Year.
Sanctifier
Makes Holy.
Shabbat
Holy day of the week; day of spiritual renewal beginning at Sunset on Friday and continuing to nightfall on Saturday.
Shema
Jewish prayer affirming belief in one God (Monotheism), found in the Torah.
Star of David
This symbol is known as the Magen David, literally ‘Shield of David’, and the star has six points which symbolise that God rules over the universe and protects us from all six directions: North, South, East, West, up and down.
Synagogue
Building for Jewish public prayer, study and gathering.
Tallit
A prayer shawl.
Talmud
Commentary by the rabbis on the Torah - Mishnah and Gemara together in one collection.
Tefillin
Small leather boxes containing extracts from the Torah (law), Nevi’im (writings) and Ketuvim (prophets).
Torah
The five books of Moses and first section of the Tenakh - the law. The whole of Jewish teaching.
Trefah
Forbidden Food - means ‘torn’.
Western Wall
The only part of the ancient Temple Of Herod remaining - Jews come to pray there - a place of pilgrimage.
Yad Vashem
A memorial to the Holocaust victims in Jerusalem - means ‘a memorial and a name’.
Yeshiva
A college where the Torah and Talmud are studied.
Yom Kippur
The Day of Atonement - a day of fasting on the tenth day after Rosh Hashanah.
Seder
One of six sections of the Mishnah. Each one deals with a different aspect of the Oral Law.
Amidah
Standing prayer said at all services
Atonement
Restoring a relationship usually with God
Judgement
The process by which God reviews behaviour and decides the future of Jews
Shechita
The process of slaughter in a perscribed manner
Shochet
A rabbi who slaughters animals
Chalef
A sharp smooth bladed knife
Kashrut
The collective term for Jewish dietary laws
Salting
Meat is salted in a special way to remove the blood
Parev
Foods which do not contain any meat or milk ingredients
Shomer
Kosher supervisor
Tznuit
The principle of modesty in appearance and attitude
Kittel
White - knee-length overgarment
Mohel
Effects the circumcision by removing the baby’s foreskin
Sandek
Honourable Job - baby sits on the knee of the Sandek - holds him.
Shadchan
Matchmaker. Orthodox Jews believe that he is actively working on Gods behalf by pairing up people for marriage
Shiva
A 7 day period of intense mourning
Sheol
Described as a shadowy place of darkness and silence where ALL souls exist without consciousness.
