Ptolemais
(Greek). Also, called Akre, Acre, Akko. Means "cure." Port on
eastern Mediterranean coast. Mentioned in Judges 1:31 and Acts
21:7
Adam
From
earth. The first man.
Adonai
Eloheinu
Lord
our God.
Adonai
Lord.
My master.
Adoniyah
My
Lord is Adonai.
Aharon
Aaron.
Light bringer. Older brother of Moses.
Aharonic
B’rachah
Birkat
Cohanim.
Aleichem
shalom
Upon
you be peace. Shalom Aleichem. Peace be unto you.
Aliyah
(plural aliyot)
Going
up, ascend. A spiritual ascent. Called up to the Torah to read.
Amein.
Amen.
So be it. It is true.
Amidah
Standing.
Also known as Shemoneh Esrei. Main prayer in a service. Typically
18 categories depending on the day. Prayed while standing.
Amos
Burden.
Burden-bearer. Minor prophet.
Ark
Aron
(Hebrew). The Ark of the Covenant in the First (Solomon’s)
Temple (Beit HaMikdash) was originally a golden box or chest, with
the tablets of stone inscribed with the 10 Commandments, a jar of
manna and Aaron’s staff. In synagogues, a cabinet, facing east,
containing the Torah (Five books of Moses) and other scrolls of
the Jewish Canon.
Aron
Kodesh
In
a synagogue, the cabinet, facing east, where the scrolls are kept
for a service. All scrolls stayed in a side room or recess until a
need approached.
Aryeh
shel Y’hudah
Lion
of Judah.
Asaph
Gatherer.
Collector.
Aseret
HaD’varim
The
Ten Statements, Ten Words, Ten Commandments.
Atah
medaber Ivrit
You
speak Hebrew.
Atarah
Ornamented
fabric band collar on a tallit.
Atzei
chayim
Wooden
spindles or poles made for scrolls. Each a Tree of Life. Vimmoneen
are Torah finials. Keter Torah is the open crown. A breastplate
held by a small chain is usually silver with Jewish symbols.
Avigayil
Abigail.
Father’s joy. Exalted Father.
Avintas
Family
name of the Temple incense makers. They had a private workshop
near the Women’s Courtyard on the Temple Mount to grind the
ingredients.
Avodah
sh’belev
Worship
of the heart.
Avoteinu
Our
fathers.
Avraham
Abraham.
Father of many nations. Father of the Hebrews.
Avraham
Avinu
Abraham
Our Father.
Azarah
Temple
Court where the Altar and Laver stood.
B’ezrat
HaShem
With
God’s help.
B’rachah
(plural b’rachot)
Baruchah.
Blessing.
B’resheet
Genesis.
Beginning.
B’rit
Chadashah
New
Testament.
B’rit
Kadosh
Holy
covenant.
B’rit
Milah
The
covenant ritual of cutting away the foreskin. Circumcision. The
Covenant of the Word.
Baruch
Baruch.
Blessed.
B’samim
box
Holds
spices for the Havdalah ceremony.
Ba’al t’shuvah
Master
of repentance.
Bakashah
Prayers
of request.
B’midbar
Numbers.
Census of the Hebrews in the desert and follows their wanderings
as they approach the Promised Land. Fourth book of Moses in the
Torah or Pentateuch. Chumash is a printed and bound Torah.
Bar
Mitzvah
Son
of the Commandment at age 13. Bat Mitzvah for a girl aged 12. Man
of duty. Jewish Law becomes the person’s father and guide, and
he or she is the Law’s son or daughter.
Barechu
Call
to worship.
Bayit
House.
Beit
An’yah
House
of Poverty.
Beit
Din
House
of judgment. Tribunal. Religious court, sometimes made up of three
rabbis or if available 23; Great Sanhedrin 71 maximum.
Beit
HaKnesset (plural batay knesset)
House
of meeting or gathering. Beit knesset. synagogue (Greek).
Beit
HaMikdash
The
Holy Temple. The Holy House. Built in Jerusalem on the leveled-off
top of Mount Moriah. Har HaMoriyah.
Beit
Lechem
Bethlehem.
House of Bread.
Beit
Midrash
House
of Study.
Beit
Tefilah
House
of Prayer.
Beit
House
of.
Bekhor
Firstborn
male child.
Berachot
The
b’rachah said for lighting the Shabbat candles.
Beit
Din HaGadol
The
Great Court.
Beit
HaMoked
House
of Stoves. Central room within the indoor Second Temple precincts
where a fire is always kept burning for priests.
Bikkur
cholim
Visiting
the sick.
Bimah
A
raised table with a slanted top and a raised lip at the lower
edge. Raised platform where the Torah is read. Sometimes set in
the center of the synagogue, otherwise near the front.
Binah
Deeper
understanding.
Birkat
HaMazon
Prayer
of thanksgiving after meals; grace.
Boker
Tov
Good
Morning.
Breichat
HaShiloah
Pool
of Siloam.
Chacham
A
wise man.
Chag
sameach
Happy
holiday.
Chag
Feast.
Holiday. Root word meaning to dance or be joyous.
Chalil
Pipe
instrument.
Channah
Hannah.
Pleasant. Favor.
Chanukkah
The
Festival of Lights. Feast of Dedication of the Temple.
Chanukkiah
Nine-branch
menorah used for the eight nights of the holiday of Chanukkah.
Chatan
and kallah
Bride
and groom.
Chatzotzerah
Trumpet.
Chazak
Be
strong.
Chazzan
(Hazan)
Cantor.
Sheliach tzibur. deputy of the congregation. Overseer or director
of those assembled for worship. The office of the encompassed
diversified tasks such as seeing to the needs of the community.
Chel
Hel.
Terrace.
Chesed
Kind.
Kindness. Loving-kindness.
Chilazon
Mollusk.
Sea creature.
Chok
(plural chukim)
A
law or commandment in the Torah for which no reason is offered. We
do not understand Adonai’s purposes in our obedience. Divine
laws or statutes with no apparent or clear rationale, but
nonetheless commanded and observed on faith alone, precisely
because they are divine in origin.
Chorazim
Furnace
of smoke. The secret. Here is a mystery.
Cohen
HaGadol
The
High-Priest. Gadol means “very great.”
Cohen
Priest.
Descendant of Aaron.
Cubit
The
length of the forearm from the tip of the middle finger to the
elbow, or about 17 to 22 inches.
D’rashah
A
teaching. The plain meaning. Root word “seek” or
“investigate.”
D’varim
These
Are The Words. Deuteronomy. Fifth book of Moses in the Torah,
Pentateuch, Chumash.
T’horah
leilohim
Pure
for God.
Dani’el
Daniel.
God is my judge.
Dar’chay
Elohim
The
ways of God.
Debir
The
innermost part of the Holy of Holies. Kodesh - Holy of Holies.
Kodashim
Diaspora
Jews
communities in lands outside of Israel.
Dinah
Vindicated
or Judgment.
Dodh
Uncle.
Chochmah
Wisdom.
Duchan
Platform
at the Temple’s courtyard complex where priests would raise
their hands and administer the blessing to the congregation. Also
called Nesiat kapayim - Lifting up of the hands, or Birkat
Kohanim. The terms “going up to the duchan” and “lifting up
the hands” are part of the same activity. Located between the
Court of the Israelites and Court of the Priests.
Echad
One.
Edah
The
gathering together.
Eitz
Chayim
The
wooden spindles onto which a scroll is attached. Tree of life.
El
Shaddai
God
Almighty.
Elisha
God
is my salvation.
Elisheva
Elizabeth
(anglicized). Eli-sheba. God is my oath.
Eliyahu
Elijah.
Adonai is my God.
Elohay
Yisra’el
God
of Israel.
Eloheinu
Our
God.
Elohim
God.
Enosh
Mortal.
Male name.
Eretz
Tziyon v’Yerushalayim
The
land of Zion and Jerusalem.
Erusin
Betrothal
feast.
Eshet
Chayil
A
woman of valor. Blessing spoken to the wife on Erev Shabbat.
Proverbs 31:10-31.
Etrog
Citron.
The etrog is a medium-sized citrus fruit, with a color, scent and
taste similar to a lemon and has a bumpy rind. The etrog is used
in the waving rituals of the festival of Sukkot. The etrog is said
to represent the heart (because of its shape). Leviticus 23:40
Eve
Chavah
in Hebrew. Mother of all living things.
Even
HaShetiya
Foundation
Stone. Exposed bare bedrock in the Beit HaMikdash, in the Holy of
Holies (Kodesh HaKodashim) where the Ark of the Covenant had
previously rested in the First Temple. Gold tiles surrounded the
stone. The Cohen Gadol (High Priest) sprinkled animal blood on the
stone floor since the Ark was gone.
Ezion-geber
Backbone
of a man.
Ezrat
nashim
Court
of the Women, at the Temple. Named, not because it was used only
by women, but because under normal circumstances, this was as far
west as a woman would go. Also called the Treasury.
Gad
One
of the twelve tribes of Israel. Fortune. Luck.
Galil
Elyon
Upper
Galilee.
Galil
ma’aravi
Western
Galilee.
Galil
Galilee.
Province.
Gan
Elohim
Garden
of Eden.
Gavri’el
Gabriel.
Strong man of Adonai.
Gedil
(plural gedilim)
Tassel,
tassels.
Gentiles
Goyim.
Those persons not born of Hebrew parents or into the Jewish faith.
Some maintain that if a mother is a Jew, so is the child. In
Scripture, gentiles is translated “nations,” meaning, not of
the one nation of Yisra’el which God created.
Gevurah
Strict.
Strong.
Gihon
Burst
forth.
Glilah
The
rolling up the two ends of the Torah scroll by attendants. The
dressing of the Torah is next by tying a sash or belt around Torah
and placing an ornate covering over the scroll. Other items may be
added hanging to the upper spindles, such as breastplate or a yad
held by strap or small chain.
Gospel
A
gospel is an account describing the life, death, and resurrection
of Yeshua of Natzeret. Jesus of Nazareth. An Old English word
meaning “good news” or “glad tidings”. The word comes from
the Greek euangelion, or “good news”.
Haaretz
The
land (Israel implied). Eretz Yisra’el - the land of Israel.
Hadassah
Esther.
Myrtle. Hidden.
HaElyon
The
Most High.
Haftarah
Portion
of the Prophets. A concluding selection from the Prophets.
Hagbah
The
ritual of lifting the open Torah scroll and displaying it to the
congregation after the Torah reading. Typically, three columns of
script are visible. One man holds the Torah but others are close
to assist in safely laying it back down flat.
Halachah
The
going or way of walking. Law. Jewish law or requirements
determined by interpreting and legislation of God’s laws,
principles or ways. God’s laws are the mitzvot and the halachah
is the practical outworking or application of those mitzvot.
Extensive Rabbinical literature of minute ways to follow Torah.
HaShem
The
Name. God. YHVH.
Havdalah
Separation.
Ceremony marking the end of Shabbat by a ritual prayer said over a
cup of wine.
Chazak
ve’ematz
Be
strong and brave.
Hebron
Hevron.
Chevron. Habar. Town in Judea. Friend. To join. To couple.
Alliance.
Heichal
Temple.
HaKodesh
Holy
Place. The sacred space exclusive to priestly service before the
Holy of Holies.
Heman
Faithful.
Hevel
Vanity.
Hoda’ah
Prayers
of thanksgiving.
Hora’ah
Constant
teaching.
Hotza’ah
Ceremony
to remove and return the Torah scroll(s) from the Aron Kodesh, the
ornate sacred Ark or cabinet in a synagogue.
Huldah
Prophetess.
2 Kings 22:13-20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22-28. During the First
Temple period this prophetess probably held court in this area
between the two gates. Huldah is also the name for rodent, weasel
or mole. Huldah’s Gates (Sha’arei Chulda). Two gates on the
southern wall of the Second Temple were named after her. The
majority of Jerusalem’s population lived south of the Temple, so
these were the main entrance and exit.
Immah
(plural)
Immot). Mom. Mommy.
Im
yirtzeh HaShem
If
HaShem wills it.
K’far-Nachum
Capernaum.
Village of Nahum, on the shores of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).
Kaddish
Traditional
prayer of mourning for the deceased. Also used in daily liturgy
apart from observances for the dead.
Kadosh
Holy.
Kalev
Caleb.
Faithful. Whole-hearted. Like the heart of a dog.
Kavanah
Concentration.
Single-mindedness. An intention to fulfill the obligation to pray
or perform a mitzvah. An awareness that one is speaking to God.
Kavod
Honor.
Kein
y’hee’
Yes
may it be.
Ketoret
Incense.
Made by recipe strictly for priestly used twice in the daily
sacrifice on the inner altar of the Temple, also in the Temple’s
Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur by the High Priest. Ground
ingredients included: balm from the resin of balsam trees, onycha,
galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus,
aromatic bark, cinnamon, lye of Carshina, kabin, Cyprus wine, salt
of Sodom, and a secret smoke-raising herb.
Ketubah
Written.
Marriage contract. Similar to an engagement ceremony.
Ketuvim
Divided
into four sections, the Ketuvim include poetical writings (Psalms,
Proverbs, and Job), the Megillot, or Scrolls (Song of Solomon,
Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther),
prophecy (Dani’el), and history (Ezra, Nehemiah, and I and II
Chronicles). Ketuvim is a miscellaneous collection of liturgical
poetry, secular love poetry, wisdom literature, history,
apocalyptic literature, a short story, and a romantic tale. These
writings were in a variety of scroll lengths: I and II Chronicles
are two scrolls, hence the titles I and II Chronicles.
Kiddushin
Betrothal.
Sanctification. Set apart. The couple is set aside to prepare
themselves to enter into the covenant of marriage.
Kidron
Black,
turbid, dark.
Kippah
(plural kippot)
Male
head covering. Skullcap. A way of acknowledging there is someone
above us.
Kodesh
HaKodashim
Holy
of Holies. Most Holy Place. The Debir. A room inside the First and
Second Temples. The walls, ceiling, and most of the floor were
covered with gold tiles except for the exposed bedrock called the
(Even HaShetiya Foundation Stone). The rock is possibly where the
Ark of the Covenant rested.
Kodesh
Holy,
separate.
Kohelet
Ecclesiastes.
Kol
HaKavod
Congratulations.
L’
chaim
To
life.
L’hitpallel
Pray,
meaning to stand in self-judgment.
Levi’im
Levites.
Lake
Kinneret
Sea
of Galilee, Sea of Chinnereth, Sea of Tiberius, Lake of
Genneseret.
Lashon
HaKodesh
Holy
language.
Lashon
HaRa
Malicious
talk and slanderous gossip.
Layla
tov
Good
night.
Leah
Cow.
Weary. Tired. Grieved. A wife of Ya’akov.
Lechem
Hapanim
The
Bread of Presence.
Levites
Levi’im
in Hebrew.
Lishkat
HaGazith
The
Hall of Hewn Stone. Where the Sanhedrin of 71 judges met in
privacy on the Temple Mount.
M’yalledet
Midwife.
Ma’ariv
Evening
prayer services.
Maccabee
Hammer.
Family whose brothers led a successful rebellion in the second
century B.C. against the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes IV. The
holiday Chanukkah or Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication,
resulted from this.
Mal’ackhi
Malachi.
My messenger.
Malach
(plural malachim)
Angel,
angels.
Malcah
Queen.
Malkhut-HaShammayim
Kingdom
of heaven.
Mashiach
Messiah
(anglicized). Moshiach. Mashiach ben David. Descendant of David.
Anointed. Redeemer. The greatest of all Prophets of righteousness,
which began with Moses. A man, chosen of God, a Torah scholar, who
will put an end to all evil, rebuild the Temple (Beit HaMikdash),
bring back all Jews from the Diaspora, usher in an age of world
peace, a universal righteous society, make Jerusalem the capital
of the entire world, and change Nature (how animals interact). He
establishes God’s Kingdom on earth, ushering in the Eternal
Shabbat. A sign of God’s unbound love for the House of Israel.
Ma’asim
tovim
Good
deeds.
Massei
Journeys.
Mattah
Tribe.
Mattityahu
Matthew.
Gift of God. Gift of Yahweh.
Mayim
acharonim
The
after waters or final waters of ritual washing of hands.
Mayim
rishonim
The
first waters. Ritual washing of hands.
Mayim
Water.
Mechitzah
Wall,
partition or curtain down the middle of the synagogue to divide
the sexes.
Megiddo
Place
of troops. Town of Megiddo.
Megillah
Scroll.
Melech
HaOlam
King
or Ruler of the Universe.
Melech
Sh’aul
King
Saul.
Melech
Shlomo
King
Solomon.
Melech
Yisra’el
King
of Israel.
Melech
Haiy’hudim
King
of the Jews.
Menuchah
To
seek out a resting place.
Mesharetet
tznu’ah
Humble
female servant.
Metziltayim
Tzeltzelim.
Cymbals.
Mezuzah
Doorpost.
A piece of parchment (often contained in a decorative case)
inscribed with verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and
11:13-21). A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe of Jewish homes
to fulfill the mitzvah commandment to inscribe the words of the
Shema “on the doorposts of your house.”
Mikhah
Micah.
Who is like Adonai?
Mikraei
kodesh
Declarations
of holiness.
Mikveh
(plural mikvot)
Gathering
or collection (of water). Bath/pool-like structure for full
immersion, tevilah, for ritual purity, spiritual purification
instituted in the Torah. A river, spring, lake or ocean maybe
used. Never done for hygienic purposes. Usually performed without
assistant(s). Four or more centuries after the Resurrection of
Yeshua, with help of an aid(s), the concept of lying backwards to
signify death, burial and rising from the grave became popular
initiation for new disciples of Yeshua. But, immersion for the
original Torah and halachah purposes continued with the Jewish
people, even to today. The Greek word “baptism” implies the
common traditional Jewish ritual of full immersion, tevilah in
water
Minyan
Count.
Quorum of ten or more Hebrew men (over 13 years of age)
constitutes an assembly. Needed for perform certain duties,
prayers or rites. Connected to Numbers 14:27 and the assembly of
the 10 out of the 12 spies who returned with a negative report of
the Promised Land.
Miryam
Mary.
Wise woman. Lady. Bitterness. Rebellion.
Mishlei
Shlomo
Proverbs
of Solomon. King Solomon. Melech Shlomo.
Mishpachah
Family.
Mitzrayim
Egypt.
Mitzvah
(plural mitzvot)
Any
of the 613 commandments in the Torah. A religious obligation. Good
deed.
Mizbach
HaZahav
Golden
altar. In the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple), the altar where
incense burned.
Mizmor
A
psalm.
Mohar
Dowry
paid for a Hebrew bride.
Mohel
Trained
circumciser.
Moshe
Moses.
Drawn out of the water. An Egyptian name.
Moshe
Rabbenu
Moses
our Great One.
Har
HaMoriyah
Mount
Moriah. Har HaBayit. Mountain of the House. Temple Mount in
Yerushalayim Jerusalem.
Naimah
Pleasant.
Natzeret
Nazareth.
Navi
(plural Nevi’im)
Prophet,
prophets. In the Hebrew canon, the writings of the Prophets are
divided into (1) the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and
Kings), (2) the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and
the (3) Twelve, or Minor, Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah,
Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and
Malachi). These writings were in a variety of scroll lengths: I
and II Kings are two scrolls, hence the titles I and II Kings.
Neched
Grandson.
Neder
Kadosh
Holy
vow.
Nefesh
Soul.
Nefilat
apayim
Falling
on the face.
Neilah
The
Closing of the Gates prayer, sung by the priests at the end of the
day at the Temple.
Ner
Tamid
Eternal
Flame. Lamp or candles near the ark in a synagogue.
Nesi’ah
tovah
Have
a good trip.
Niddah
Menstruating
woman. Time before, during and after a woman’s menstruating has
ended. A mikveh ritual bath was required seven days after bleeding
ended. She was not to engage in sexual activity with her husband.
Nikanor
Gate
Double
doors in the complex of Temple Courts separating the Courtyard of
the Women and the Courtyard of the Israelites (for men). Nikanor
was the benefactor who paid craftsmen in Alexandria, Egypt, to
fashion the large brass doors used for this gate. Each door was
approximately seven feet by thirty-five feet. The brass was carved
with intricate designs and its finish exceedingly bright. All the
Temple doors were plated with gold except the Nikanor gate because
of its captivating appearance. The heavy doors required twenty men
to open them. The Nikanor Gate was opened only on the Sabbath,
festivals, and Rosh Chodesh. On all other days, smaller gateways
(to the left and right of Nikanor gate) were used. Also called the
Corinthian Gate.
Nissuin
The
actual marriage.
Nusach
Traditional
Jewish melodies to which Scriptural passages and prayers are
chanted. Synagogue songs and music with a motif for certain
prayers and different occasions.
Olam
HaBa
The
age to come.
Oneg
To
delight. Oneg Shabbat means joy of the Sabbath and usually refers
to a celebratory gathering held after Shabbat services, often with
food, singing, study, discussion, and socializing.
Onycha
Greek
word which means to roar as a lion. Hebrew shecheleth. One of the
ingredients written in the Torah for incense used in holy Temple
services.
Or
Holech
Growing
Light.
P’ninnah
K’tanah
Little
Gem. 1Samuel 1:2
P’teach
To
open. After opening the Ark, the procession of carrying the
dressed Torah through the synagogue before reading.
Parochet
Curtain
which covers the front of the Aron Kodesh, the cabinet where the
scrolls are kept.
Parshah
Section.
Weekly portion of the Torah. 54 parshot through the year.
Pesach
Holiday
of Passover.
Pidyon
HaBen
Redemption
of the firstborn son.
Par’oh
Pharaoh.
Puah
To
shine. Light. Splendid.
Rabbi
My
teacher.
Rachel
Beloved
ewe lamb. A wife of Ya’akov Jacob.
Reuel
Friend
of God.
Remez
Hint.
Retzu’ah
(plural retzu’ot)
Leather
strap of tefillin.
Rivkah
Rebekah.
Rebecca. To bind or tie. Wife of Yitz’chak Issac.
Rosh
Chodesh
Head
or first of the month.
Ruach
HaKodesh
The
Holy Spirit.
Ruach
Spirit.
Sabba
Moshe
A
grandfather like Moses.
Sabba
Grandfather.
(Aramaic.)
Samson
Shimshon.
Sandek
The
man who holds a male baby while during circumcision.
Sanhedrin
Sitting
together. Assembly. Council. Court. Provincial Court. The
Jerusalem Great Sanhedrin had 71 members, judges or elders. The
Mount Moriah complex had three courtrooms. Two for 23 judges and
one for 71 (including the high priest). Other provincial Sanhedrin
existed in different districts of Israel. When possible such
courts had 23. All courts only met on Mondays and Thursdays. 70
elders has its origins with Moshe and the 70 elders chosen during
the desert wanderings.
Meal
that follows fulfillment of a religious commandment.
Sefer
HaChaim
Scroll
of Life.
Sefer
Tehillim
Scroll
of Praises. Scroll of Psalms.
Sefer
Torah
Torah
scroll.
Sha’ul
Saul.
Prayed for. Asked for.
Sh’mot
Exodus.
The going-out. Names. Second book of Moses in theTorah,
Pentateuch, Chumash.
Sh’mu’el
Samuel.
God has heard. Heard of God.
Shabbat
Sabbath.
Day of Rest. Rest from toil. Cessation. Weekly festival. Seventh
day of the week. Holidays can also be a Shabbat any day or days of
the week. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on
Friday evening until the appearance of three stars in the sky on
Saturday night. Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. Shabbat is the
goal of the week, the destination. Judaism doesn’t have names
for the days of the week. Common names have pagan roots. So then,
Sunday is the first day toward Shabbat. Each day is referenced
according to its relationship to Shabbat. Shaharit Saturday
morning Shabbat service. Thus are the days Monday: yom shayni, the
second day. Tuesday: yom shli’shi, the third day. Wednesday: yom
revi’i, the fourth day. Thursday: yom khah’mi’shi, the fifth
day. Friday: yom shi’shi, the sixth day. Saturday: Shabbat, the
seventh day. Sunday: yom rishon, the first day.
Shaliach
Tzibbur
Emissary
of the Congregation.
Shalom
Aleichem
Peace
be unto you.
Shalom
Zachar
Welcome
to the Boy party. Circumcision party.
Shalom
Peace.
Hello. Goodbye. Wholeness.
Shalosh
Regalim
The
tri-annual holiday services and pilgrimage festivals, when
Yisra’elite males were commanded to travel to Jerusalem.
Shamayim
Heavens.
Shavu’ot
Festival
of Weeks. Chag ha-Bikkurim (Festival of First Fruits.) Pentecost
in Greek. Historically, it celebrates the giving of the Torah at
Mount Sinai, also known as Chag Matan Torateinu (the Festival of
the Giving of Our Torah).
Shechinah
Dwelling,
resting or Divine Presence.
Shekel
Coin.
Shel
rosh batim
The
leather tefillin box belonging to the head.
Shel
yad batim
The
leather tefillin box belonging to the hand.
Shevach
Prayers
of praise.
Shiphrah
Beautiful.
Fair one. Pleasing to the eye.
Shir
HaShirim
Song
of Songs. Written by King Solomon, Melech Shlomo.
Shirat
HaYam
The
Song of the Sea.
Shirel
Song
of God. Female name.
Shlomiyt
Salome.
Peace.
Shlomo
Solomon.
His God’s peace. Peace. Peaceable.
Shofar
Horn.
Ritual ram’s horn of Israel.
Shoshuin
Attendants.
As in a wedding party.
Shuk
Outdoor
marketplace.
Shushan
Gate
Susa
Gate. Golden Gate. The eastern entry gate to Mount Moriah and the
Temple. King Cyrus had the Jews who returned from the
Babylonian/Persian exile (Nehemiah/Ezra) carve the skyline city of
Shushan (the Persian capitol) at the gate - to signify their
appreciation to the Persian kingdom that was instrumental in
building the Second Temple by the returning Exiles.
Simchah
Joy.
Happiness. Delight. A celebration.
Simchat
Beit HaShoeivah
The
celebration of the House/Place for Drawing Water. During the
holiday of Sukkot in Jerusalem.
Sofer
(plural soferim)
Scribe,
scribes.
Soreg
On
the ancient Temple Mount, a stone fence apprx. five feet high,
serving as a barrier which gentiles and the ceremonially unclean
are forbidden to pass into the various sacred open courtyards
collectively known as the Azarah . Grave warning signs in Greek
and Latin were attached in places on the low wall.
Sukkah
Hut,
booth or any three-sided, roofed shelter temporarily constructed
for the holiday of Sukkot.
Sukkot
Booths.
Feast of Booths/Tabernacles/temporary dwelling place. Chag haOsif
Festival of Ingathering.
Synagogue
Greek
word for assembly. A Jewish house of worship. Hebrew Beit Knesset.
T
‘shuvah
Turn.
Return. Repentance.
Tadi
Gate
North
gate on Mount Moriah to the Second Temple. Tadi in Greek means
“high.” Instead a rectangle shaped door, the lintel was angled
like an upside down V, and so had a higher point than the other
gates. Thought to be a rarely used entrance or exit.
Taharah
Purity.
Tallit
Little
tent. Fringed and tasseled prayer shawl for Jewish men. In earlier
times this was a four-cornered garment.
To
guard, protect. (Greek) phylacteries. Related to tefilah (prayer).
A pair of tefillin. There are 1594 letters in each of the
Tefillin.
Tehillim
Praises.
Psalms. (Singular mizmor)
Terach
Father
of Abraham. Wild goat. Wanderer.
Tevilah
Immersion
in water.
Tikkun
olam
Perfection
or healing of the world.
Tohorot
Purities.
Toldot
Generations.
Torah
The
instruction/law of God as revealed to Moses and recorded in the
first five books or parshas of the Hebrew Scriptures: Genesis
(Bereshit-In the beginning…), Exodus (Shemot-The names…),
Leviticus (Vayikrah-And He called…), Numbers (Bamidbar-In the
wilderness…) and Deuteronomy (Devarim-The words…). The titles
are the first words of the book. Torah can also mean all of the
writings in the Hebrew Bible, the Tenakh. Typically, the writings
are not in a five scroll collection. There are no vowels.
A
Torah scroll is made of parchment from the spotless skin of any
kosher animal. Each sheet is six handbreadths or 24” tall. The
sheets are sewn together with sinew being tendon or ligament also
from a kosher animal. Torahs vary ranging from 62 to 84 sheets and
112’ to 148’ in length. Each sheet can have 42 to 50 scripted
lines in columns to 5” to 7” in width; there are 245 to 266
columns. A Torah has 304,805 words and can weigh 25 pounds or
more. The Torah is read through in one year 54 parshot or in three
years and 155 parshot. Scrolls were kept in a side room of a
synagogue called the genizah which means storage. The scrolls to
be used in the next meeting were taken from the various
indentations in the walls (niche) and brought out and placed in
the Ark ahead of the service.
Trumpet
Chatzotzerah.
Tunic
Halug.
Undershirt (with or without sleeves) which reached to or below the
knees. Made of leather, wool, linen or other materials.
Tzabi
Glory.
Gazelle. To move gracefully.
Tzaddik
(plural
tzaddikim) Heroic leader, man of renown, sage or saint.
Tzemah
The
Messiah will teach.
P’ninnah
Gem.
Jewel.
Tzippori
Sepphoris.
Tzippor means “bird.” (Moshe’s wife’s name was Tzippora.)
Tzitzit
Long
fringes or knots on corners of Jewish garments, especially a
tallit.
Tziyon
Zion.
Mount Zion. Indication. Marking. The city of Jerusalem. Mount
Moriah and the Temple. Hill where the City of David stood. Name
often used as a synonym for Jerusalem.
Ulam
The
outside porch and also the long and narrow antechamber entry of
the Beit HaMikdash structure, just before the Heichal. This priest
only area was a “T” shape to the north and south and around
the outer walls of Holy Place and Holy of Holies. This narrow
hallways contained storage rooms, offices, staff facilities, etc.
After entry through large double doors a massive heavy curtain
blocked the view into the holy places.
Uriyah
Adonai
is my light.
Vayigash
And
he came near.
Vayikrah
And
he called. Leviticus. Third book of Moses Torah, Pentateuch,
Chumash. After the tribe of Levi. Detailed instructions of Temple
service, duties and sacrifices.
Vehaya
And
It Will Be. The name of a particular section or cited chapter in
Deuteronomy.
Wadi
(plural wadies)
Ravine.
Water
Gate
Along
either long side of the Temple and inner courtyards there were
sizable buildings for various uses. Several gates, doors and
entrances of varying sizes led into and out of the entire
rectangular Temple facility. One of these walkways through a
building was called the Water Gate because of the holiday use.
Near the Chamber of Hewn Stone.
Y’hoshua
Joshua.
The Lord is salvation.
Y’hudah
Praise.
Let Him be praised.
Ya‘akov
Jacob.
To follow. To be behind. To supplant. To overreach. To follow at
the heel.
Yachad
Together.
Yad
(plural yadim)
Pointer,
pointers. Stylus. Rod with a carved or molded tiny finger pointing
from a closed hand at the tip. Used in scroll reading to follow
the text and not soil with a human fingertip.
Yahkin
Yah
(Yahweh) establishes.
Yarden
Jordan
River. Descender.
Yechezk’el
Ezekiel.
God strengthens.
Yeduthun
Praising.
Lauder. His Law.
Yehuda
HaMacabee
Judah
Maccabee.
Yehudim
Jews.
Yeladim
Children.
Yericho
Jericho.
His moon; his month; his sweet smell or fragrance.
Yerushalayim
Jerusalem.
City of Peace.
Yerushalayim
Hak’tanah
Little
Jerusalem.
Yesha‘yahu
Isaiah.
God is salvation.
Yeshivah
A
school for Jewish study.
Yeshua
Jesus
(Greek). Salvation.
Yetzer
HaRa
inner
impulse or tendency within the human heart to gravitate toward
selfish gratification.
Yirmeyahu
Jeremiah.
God will uplift or exalt.
Yishai
Jesse.
The Lord exists. Gift. Wealthy.
Yasher
koach
Be
strengthened.
Yishma’el
God
hears.
Yisra’el
Israel.
Fighter for God.
Yissakhar
Issachar.
There was a symbol for each tribe, with a flag and a color. The
color of each flag was like the color of the precious stones that
was over the heart of Aharon, the High Priest, on his
hoshen/breastplate. Issachar’s symbol is the sun and moon in
dark blue or black.
Yitz’chak
Issac.
Laughter.
Yoachim
Yehoyakim.
Established by God. He whom God has set up.
Yochanan
John.
God gives grace.
Yoel
The
Lord is God. Male name.
Yom
Kippur
Day
of Atonement. Day of Days. Climaxes a ten-day period of repentance
that begins with Rosh Hashanah. Known as the Days of Awe.
