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Glossary Abba: Father Abba shel Shabbat: “Sabbath father” Akeidah: Binding of Isaac Amidah: The standing prayer Birkat Hamazon: Grace after meals bracha/brachot: Blessing/s Brit Milah: Ritual circumcision chattan: groom chazzan/im: Cantor/s or prayer leader/s chesed: Loving kindness chevruta: partner learning chumash: Bible daven/ing: Prayer Derech Eretz: Ways of the land (or politeness or etiquette) dinim: Laws Dvar Torah: Sermon/speech Erev Pesach: Passover Eve Erev Shabbos/Shabbat: Sabbath Eve ervah: Nakedness, or forbidden sexual relationships frum: religious Gemara: The Talmud hafrashat challah: The commandment of separating a portion of the dough before braiding. This portion of dough is set aside as a tithe for the Kohen (priest). haftarah: A series of selections from the Books of Prophets of the Bible that is publicly read in synagogue as part of Jewish religious practice. The haftarah reading follows the Torah reading on each Sabbath and on Jewish festivals and fast days. Haggadah/Haggadot/Haggados: book/s used on Passover to guide the seder. halakha: Jewish law Hallel: Prayer of praise recited on the first of the month, and holidays. hashkafa: Religious outlook Havdalah: Meaning “separation”; is a Jewish religious ceremony that marks the symbolic end of Shabbat and holidays, and ushers in the new week. Havdalah is intended to require a person to use all five senses—to taste the wine, smell the spices, see the flame of the candle, and feel its heat, and hear the blessings. Hatzena lechet: “You shall go modestly ”: principle and book title about women’s dress according to Jewish law. Ima: Mother Ima shel Shabbat: Sabbath mother Kaddish: Prayer recited in the synagogue by mourners after the death of members of the immediate family. kallah: Bride kavanah: Literally “intent”; an expression of meaning in prayer. Kedushah: Holiness kiddush: Sanctification of the wine on Friday night. kippah/kippot: Skullcap/s lashon hara: Gossip (literally, “the evil tongue”). layn: Read the Scriptures with cantillations. lulav: A closed frond of the date palm 324 glossary tree, used for ritual worship during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot (Tabernacles). maaser: Tithe Medinat Yisrael: The State of Israel. megillah/megillot/megillos: Scroll/s (of Esther, for example). middot: Ethics, or elements of character midrash: A homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings of the Bible. mikveh: Ritual bath mincha: Afternoon prayers Mishnah: The name for the sixty-­three tractates in which Rabbi Judah set down the Oral Law. minyan: Quorum for prayer mishpacha: Family mitzvah/mitzvoth: Commandment/s mussar: Literally, reproach; a discipline of study focused on proper ethical behavior. navi: Prophets nefesh: Soul negiya: Literally, “touch”; abstinence from all forms of touching between unmarried members of the opposite sex. niddah: Impurity/menstruation niggun: Tune Omer: Period of fifty days between holidays of Passover and Shavuot. parsha: Torah portion parnassah: Livelihood passuk: Verse Pirkei Avot: “Ethics of the Fathers” posek: Halakhic adjudicator posul: Invalid, unacceptable psak: Halakhic ruling professorit: Female professor rebbetzin: Rabbi’s wife safa: Language seder: Literally, “order”; refers to the ritual meal on the first night of Passover , or alternatively, to a segment of the Mishnah. Shabbat/Shabbos: Sabbath shacharit: Morning prayers shaliach tzibur: The person leading the congregation in public prayers. shalom bayit: Peace in the home. Shelo asani isha: The morning prayer “thank God for not making me a woman.” Shema: “Hear o Israel” prayer. shidduch: Arranged marriage shiurim: Religious classes shul: Synagogue siddur: Prayer book siyyum/siyyumim: Completion of a section of Jewish learning. sukkah/sukkot/succos: Tabernacles tallith: Ritual shawl Tanach/Tanakh: Bible tefillah/tefillot: Prayer/prayers tefillin: Phylacteries teshuva: Repentance tisch: Literally, “table”; a lively get-­ together around a table. Torah: Bible Tzadika: Righteous woman tzelem Elohim: Divine image tzitzit: Ritual fringes tzniut/tsnius: Modesty yeshivah/yeshivot: Religious school/s zimmun: Quorum for reciting the grace after meals. ...

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