Glossary

Here, you will find a few explanations of common Hebrew terms

  • A

    A

     

    Acharon

    Calling up of an extra person to the Reading of the Torah, near the end of the reading.

    Aliyah

    (Plural aliyot). From Hebrew meaning ‘ascent’, going up to the Torah to read the blessings for one of the call-ups. Click here to find audio recordings of the Torah blessings for Shabbat.

    Aron Hakodesh

    (Literally ‘holy ark’). Where the Torah scrolls are kept in a synagogue.

    Aufruf

    Pre-wedding calling up to the Reading of the Torah, usually the Shabbat before a wedding.

     

  • B

    B

     

    Bimah

    The raised platform or table from which the service is conducted.

    Birkat hamazon

    Grace after meals.

    B’nei Mitzvah

    Plural of Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

    Berakhah

    Blessing.

  • C

    C

     

    Chanukah

    8-day festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

    Click here for ‘How to light Chanukah Candles’ video and resource sheet.

    Chevrutah

    A traditional way of learning in pairs.

    Cohen

    (Plural – cohanim). Someone descending from the priestly tribe. In contemporary Judaism they hold a special status.

     

  • D

    D

     

    D’rasha

    Sermon on the Torah portion.

    D’var Torah

    A short discourse on the Torah portion.

     

  • G

    G

     

    Gabbai

    The organiser/manager of the service including aliyot, mitzvot, etc.

    Gelilah

    Literally ‘rolling’, this means closing the Torah scroll and covering it with the mantle and pointer after it has been read.

     

  • H

    H

     

    Hadracha

    Youth leadership.

    Haftarah

    (Plural = haftarot). A reading from the Book of Prophets, read just after the Torah portion on Shabbat.

    Hagbahah

    Lifting and displaying the Torah to the congregation after it has been read.

    Havdalah

    Ceremony marking the end of shabbat. Find melodies and prayers here.

  • K

    K

     

    Kabbalat Shabbat

    Literally ‘Receiving Shabbat’ – the Kabbalat Shabbat service is the first part of the Friday night service. Click here for Kabbalat Shabbat audio recordings and resources, and here for Friday night Ma’ariv (evening service) recordings.

    Kaddish

    Kaddish is said at every service, and by mourners after the death of a close relative. Click here for Mourners Kaddish recordings.

    Kiddush

    The blessing over wine sanctifying Shabbat or a holiday. Recordings of Kiddush for Friday night and Shabbat morning at home can be found here.

    Kippah

    (Plural = kippot). Head covering.

     

  • L

    L

     

    Lag B’Omer

    33rd day of the Omer on which mourning restrictions are eased.

    Levi

    (Plural levi’im). Someone descending from the Tribe of Levi. In contemporary Judaism they hold a special status.

    Leyn

    Read/chant from the Torah.

     

  • M

    M

     

    Ma’ariv

    The evening service. Click here for Friday night Ma’ariv (evening service) recordings.

    Machzor

    Prayer book used on festivals.

    Maftir

    The last section of the Torah reading that is read on Shabbat morning (often by B’nei Mitzvah).

    Mazal Tov

    Literally ‘Good luck’ but used to congratulate people.

    Minchah

    The afternoon service.

    Minyan

    Quorum of 10 people over the age of 13 needed for a prayer service.

    Mitzvah

    (Plural: Mitzvot). Commandment.

    Mussaf

    The additional service recited on shabbat and festivals. Click here for Shabbat Mussaf recordings.

     

  • O

    O

     

    Omer

    The seven-week period between Passover and Shavuot. A semi-mourning period.

     

  • P

    P

     

    Parashah

    The weekly Torah portion.

    Petichah

    The act of opening the ark during the Torah service.

  • R

    R

     

    Rosh Chodesh

    Jewish new month. As the Jewish calendar is lunar based, it always occurs around a new moon. You can find recordings of the Blessing that is said on the Shabbat before the New Month here.

  • S

    S

     

    Sedra

    The Torah portion to be read on a particular date.

    Sefer Torah

    Torah scroll.

    Shacharit

    The morning service.

    Shamash

    The ‘helper’ candle that lights the Chanukah candles. See ‘How to light Chanukah candles’ video here.

    Shammas

    The organiser of the service including aliyot, mitzvot, etc.

    Shiur

    A discussion or learning session, usually about a particular Torah reading.

    Siddur

    Shabbat and daily prayer book.

    Simchah

    Meaning ‘happiness’ or ‘joy’. Refers to a celebration.

  • T

    T

     

    Tallit

    Prayer shawl.

    Tefillah

    Prayer.

    Tefillin

    A set of small black leather boxes with leather straps containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah. Worn during morning services except on Shabbat or festivals.

    Tisha B’Av

    The 9th day of the month of Av – 25-hour fast; a day of mourning commemorating many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people starting with the destruction of the First Temple. The 9th of Av usually falls in July/August.

    Tishrei

    Seventh month; noted for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Succot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

    Torah

    Five books of the Old Testament.

    Trop

    Musical notation for Bible – Ta’amei HaMikrah, cantillation.

    Tzedakah

    Charity.

  • V

    V

     

    Vayikra

    Leviticus – the third book of the Bible. Literally, ‘and he called’.

     

  • Y

    Y

     

    Yad

    Pointer used when reading from the Torah scroll. Watch video ‘How to have an aliyah – some background explanation’ here.

    Yahrzeit

    The anniversary of someone’s death. Literally, ‘time of the year’ (Yiddish).

    Yasher Koach

    Literally, ‘more power to you’ (Yiddish) – greeting given to anyone who has performed a mitzvah, eg after Petichah, Aliyah, Kriat Ha’Torah, Hagbahah, Gelilah, Haftarah, Drasha or Davening.

    Yisrael

    Israelites – anyone who is not a Cohen or Levi for aliyot after the first two.

    Yizkor

    Literally, ‘remember’ – memorial service after Torah reading on Yom Kippur morning, Shemini Atzeret, 8th day Pesach and 2nd day Shavuot.

    Yom Kippur

    Day of Atonement – 25-hour fast on the 10th day of the month of Tishrei.

    Yom Tov

    Literally, ‘good day’ – religious holiday, e.g. Pesach, Shavuot, or Succot (plural – Yamim Tovim)