Judaism and the Gospel
Terms
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- Shabbat
- The Jewish Sabbath, from Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown.
- Kiddush
- Ceremonial family blessing and meal Friday night to welcome the Sabbath
- Challah
- (or Hallah) The special braided bread baked specially for the Sabbath meal
- Havdalah
- A family ceremony on Saturday night marking the end of Sabbath
- Kashrut
- (noun) The term which describes the Jewish "kosher" dietary laws
- Kosher
- (adjective) The term describing food "fit" or "proper" in Judaism
- Treif
- (or Trayf) The word means "torn" and describes un-kosher food
- Pareve
- (or Parve) This word describes foods which are considered neutral
- Brit Mila
- (or Bris) Covenant biblical circumcision for Jewish males
- Bar Mitzvah
- A ceremony where 13 year old Jewish boys become "sons of the commandment"
- Bat Mitzvah
- A similar ceremony (in Reform Judaism) for girls who have turned 12 years old.
- Halakah
- The term means "walk" or "way" -- describes the body of Jewish Law and practice
- Shema
- The most sacred prayer in Judaism - repetition in Hebrew of Deuteronomy 6:4-9
- Talit
- (or Talis) The Jewish "prayer shawl" with colored bands and fringes
- Talit Katan
- ("Small Talis") A linen undershirt with fringes worn by some Orthodox men
- Tzitzit
- The biblical term for "fringe" - the fringes on the Talit prayer shawl
- Tefilin
- (Phylacteries) Small leather prayer boxes bound to the head and arm during prayer
- Mezuza
- The word means "doorpost" -- a small container with a scripture passage inside
- Kippa
- (or Yarmulke) Jewish "skull cap" worn by males for prayer and sacred occasions.
- Shofar
- Hebrew term for the ram's horn blown on Rosh Ha-Shannah and holy occasions.
- Menorah
- Hebrew term for "lamp" with multiple arms (like the 7 armed temple menorah)
- Rosh Ha-Shannah
- The Jewish New Year, beginning day of the month of Fall holidays
- Yom Kippur
- The biblical Day of Atonement, a solemn day of fasting in Judaism
- High Holy Days
- Rosh Ha-Shannah, followed by Yom Kippur, ten days later.
- Sukkot
- (or Sukkos) The weeklong Feat of Tabernacles (or Booths) each Fall
- Sehmini Atzeret
- The "eight" additional holday right after the seven days of Sukkot
- Simhat Torah
- The "joyful days of Torah" at the end of the Sukkot weeks each Fall
- Pessah/Pessach
- (or Pessakh) The biblical Spring festival of Passover (Unleavened Bread)
- Seder
- The ritual feast (meal) of Passover - the term Seder means "order"
- Shavuot/Shavuos
- The biblical Feast of Weeks, wearly Summer festival 50 days after Pessah
- Tisha Be-Av
- The "Ninth of Av" - summer day of mourning destruction of the temple
- Hanukah/Chanukah
- The term means "dedication" - refers to the Winter "Feast of Dedication"
- Hanukiah
- This is a specific term for the nine-armed Hanukah Menorah
- Dreidel
- A small, four sided top which children play at Hanukah
- Purim (Lots)
- The early Spring celebration involving the reading of the story of Esther
- Kabalah
- The term for mystical (even magical) Jewish traditions of the middle ages
- Synagogue
- The Jewish meeting house or house of worship (house of assembly)
- Matza (Matzos)
- unleavened bread
- Maror
- bitter herbs, eaten at the "seder" supper, usually horseradish, but also radish or onion
- Afikomen
- the final piece of Matza, divided and eaten together by the family at the "seder"
- Hagaddah
- "telling" / a book of the story or "telling" of the Exodus and Passover
- Diaspora
- This is a Greek word meaning "dispersion." Jews use the word "diaspora" to describe any and all Jews living outside the Land of Israel (or holy Land). After the return from Babylon (537 BC) Jews living outside the Holy Land were referred to as being in "dispersion." For all intents and purposes, in modern times "diaspora" refers to non-Israeli Jews.
- Haskalah
- This word means "smartness" and has the connotation of the Jewish people waking up to modern realities. The "haskalah" took place in Europe of the 1800s, when Jewish intellectuals there made an effort to have European Jews take more part in modern European life. "Haskalah" is called the Jewish "enlightenment."
- Hoshanna Rabbah
- The seventh day of Sukkot. Hold prayers and petitioning God to send the winter rains.