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Judaism 101
Vocabulary for Jewish Living
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Hol ha-moed | The intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot |
| Rosh Hodesh | Literally "head of the month," Rosh Hodesh marks the beginning of each new month in the Jewish calendar. It is traditionally associated with the renewal of the moon and is celebrated with special prayers and customs. |
| Shlosh-Regalim | The three major pilgrimage festivals of Judaism: Passover (Pesach), Shavuot, and Sukkot. In ancient times, Israelites traveled to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate these festivals. |
| Tisha B'Av | The ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, a solemn day of fasting and mourning commemorating the destruction of both ancient Temples in Jerusalem and other tragedies in Jewish history. |
| Hallel | A collection of Psalms (113–118) recited or sung in praise and thanksgiving to God on Jewish festivals and other joyous occasions. The word Hallel means "praise." |
| Shacharit, Mincha & Ma'ariv | The three traditional daily Jewish prayer services: Shacharit in the morning, Mincha in the afternoon, and Ma'ariv in the evening. Together, they establish a daily rhythm of prayer and spiritual reflection. |
| Halacha/Minhag | Halacha refers to Jewish religious law, governing religious practice. Minhag means "custom" and refers to practices developed and passed down within particular Jewish communities or families. |
| Yizkor | A special memorial prayer service recited in remembrance of deceased loved ones on Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Pesach, and Shavuot. The word Yizkor means "may [God] remember." |
| Yahrzeit | The annual anniversary of a person's death, traditionally observed according to the Hebrew calendar. Loved ones often mark the occasion by lighting a memorial candle, reciting Kaddish, and remembering the deceased. |
| Shiva & Shloshim | Shiva, meaning "seven," refers to the first seven days of mourning following the burial of a loved one. Shloshim, meaning "thirty," refers to the broader thirty-day mourning period. |
| Chumash | A book containing the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and typically includes additional commentaries. |
| Parasha / Parashat ha-shavua | A parasha is the Hebrew word for a single portion or section of the Torah. Parashat ha-shavuah literally means "The Portion of the Week," referring to the specific Torah portion read in synagogue each week as part of teh annual cycle of Torah reading. |
| Geniza | A special storage place for worn-out Jewish religious books, papers, and other materials containing God's name that should not be casually discarded. These sacred materials are traditionally stored until they can be respectfully buried. |
| Shliach/chat Tzibur | Literally "representative of the congregation," this is the person who leads the community in prayer. Often called the Shatz for short, this person helps guide the congregation through the prayer service. |
| Minyan | A quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain communal prayers and rituals. Traditionally, Orthodox communities count ten Jewish men, while many Conservative, Reform, and other egalitarian communities count Jewish adults of all genders. |
Created by:
dparmenter