Appendix 2: Glossary

Al biur chametz	The berachah recited before searching the home for chametz.
Aleinu	The prayer that marks the end of all three daily prayer services.
Aliya (pl. aliyot)	Calling of a Jewish member of the congregation to the bimah for a segment of the Torah reading.
Am ha’aretz	Lit., the people of the Land. In rabbinic literature it refers to Jewish people who are less scrupulous in their observance.
Amidah	HaTefillah (The prayer). Amidah is Aramaic for “standing,” called the “standing prayer.” It is the center of all three Jewish daily prayers. It is also called the Shemoneh Esrei, for the original 18 blessings in the prayer.
Apostolic Writings	Brit Chadasha, Newer Testament
Avinu	Lit., “Our father”
Ayshet hayil	“Woman of valor.” A poem from Proverbs 31:10–31 that is said each Shabbat in honor of the woman of the home.
Basic practice	Refers to standards of observance that members of the MJRC are themselves committed to follow in their own lives.
Bar mitzvah	“Daughter of commandment.” A coming-of-age commemoration of a Jewish boy becoming 13 years old at which time he is obligated to perform the mitzvot.
B’rit milah	Ritual circumcision of a boy on the 8^th day – ritual acceptance of a son into the covenant
Bat mitzvah	“Daughter of commandment.” A coming-of-age commemoration of a Jewish girl becoming 12 years old at which time she is obligated to perform the mitzvot.
Bedi’avad	“In retrospect”
Beit din	Lit., “House of judgement.” A rabbinical court usually consisting of three Jews knowledgeable in Jewish law.
Benei Yisrael	“Children of Israel”
Berachah	“Blessing.” The manner in which we acknowledge and thank God for everything (cf. Prov. 3:8).
Besorah; pl., besorot	Good news, Gospel
Beyn hashamashot	The time “between the suns.” Begins with the setting of the sun and concludes with the appearance of the stars.
Birkat hamazon	Blessing after meals
Borey p’ri hagafen	Lit., creator of the fruit of the vine.” Berachah said over wine or grape juice.
Chag; pl., chaggim	Jewish Holiday or Festival
Chametz	Lit., “leaven, something fermented.” Often translated “yeast.” Refers to foods forbidden for Jews to eat on Pesach.
Chanukah	Commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. Also known as the “Festival of Lights.”
Charoset	One of the symbolic foods eaten at the Pesach seder. It is made from fruits, nuts and wine to resemble the mortar and brick made by Jews as slaves in Egypt.
Chol haMoed	“Regular days of the festival”. Specifically, Chol HaMoed refers to the intermediate days of Pesach and Sukkot.
Cholent	Yiddish. Refers to a traditional Jewish stew prepared on Friday and cooked overnight to be eaten on Shabbat.
D’oraita	Aramaic, “of the Torah.” Ordained by the Torah.
D’rabbanan	Aramaic, “of the rabbis.” Established by rabbinic authority.”
Davven; davvening	Yiddish, “to pray”
Decalogue	Latin from Gk., lit., “ten words/sayings.” The Ten Commandments (Ex. 20: 2–17)
Diaspora	Refers to Jews living outside of Israel or the land in which they live.
Divrey Torah	Discussion of Torah
Ekklesia	Assembly of Believers in Yeshua
El Malei Rachamim	Memorial prayer recited for the deceased,
Etrog	“Citron.” One of the four species required during Sukkot.
Expanded practice	refers to a more demanding level of observance, beyond basic practice, that includes a fuller expression of traditional forms of Jewish life.
Gezeirah; pl., gezeirot	Preventative halakhic legislation; legal fences.
Get (pl. Gittin)	Divorce
Hagbah	Lit., “lifting.” Refers to the lifting the Sefer Torah after it has been read.
Halakhah	The authoritative application of the rules of the Torah in the form of concrete decisions in response to the circumstances of daily life – all in the context of the covenant life of the people of Israel.
Halbanat panim	Lit., “whitening of the face.” Means shame or disgrace.
Hamotzi	“who brings forth.” The name of the blessing spoken to God over bread: “…who brings forth bread from the earth.”
Hanotzri/t	“The Christian”
Havdalah	Lit., “Separation.” Refers to the ritual ceremony held at the close of Shabbat.
Hazan et hakol	Lit., “Nourishes all:” In Birkat HaMazon it means “providing food for all.”
Huppah	Canopy under which the bride and groom stand in a Jewish wedding.
Imeinu	“Our mother”
Inuy nefesh	Self-affliction commanded on Yom Kippur
Ishah hachamah	“A wise woman”
Kabbalat Torah	Confirmation
Kashrut	Lit., “fitness.” Dietary laws dealing with permitted and forbidden foods
Kehillot kodesh	Holy communities
Kehuna	Priesthood
Ketubah (pl., kettubot)	Marriage certificate
Kevod habriyot	The honoring of one another.
Kiddush	Lit., “sanctification.” Refers to a blessing recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify Shabbat or Jewish holiday.
Kitniyot	Lit., “Legumes.” Refers to a larger group of foods that are traditionally prohibited for Ashkenazi Jews during Pesach, e.g., legumes, rice, grains, rice, corn and seeds.
Klal Israel	All of Israel. Parallel term to Am Israel.
Kohen (pl., kohanim)	A priest. A man who is born to a father who is a Kohen and a mother who is born to a Jewish mother.
Kol sefeka d’rabbanan l’kula	A matter of doubt which arises concerning an issue that is d’rabbanan is resolved in leniency.
Kosher	Lit., “fit or appropriate.” Any food permitted by Jewish dietary laws.
Levi (Levite)	A man who is born of a father who is a Levi and a mother who is either herself born to a Jewish mother or a convert to Judaism.
Lizkor et meshicho	A mitzvah berachah recited before eating bread in Zichron Mashiach.
Lulav	A closed palm frond. One of the four species bound together at Sukkot, which together are called “the lulav.”
Ma’ariv	The evening prayer service
Mara d’Atra	Aramaic. Lit., “Master of the Place.” The Mara d’Atra serves her/her community as Mentor, guide, and authority in matters of religious practice and teaching, encouraging growth and unity that express the life of the Spirit of God.
Matrilineal	Kinship based on the mother’s lineage
Matronymic	A name derived from the name of the mother or matriarchal ancestor.
Megillah	Lit., “scroll.” The Megillah refers to the biblical Book of Esther read at Purim.
Melechet avodah	Servile work
Mezuzah	Lit., “Doorpost.” Refers to a piece of parchment (klaf) with Deut. 6:4–9 and Deut. 11:13–21 written on it that is encased in a decorative case and affixed to the doorposts of Jewish homes.
Mikra’ey kodesh	Holy assemblies
Mikveh	A Jewish ritual immersion
Minchah	The afternoon prayer service and the afternoon sacrifice in the Temple
Miney mezonot	Blessing over grains and grain products
Minhag	Tradition.
Minhag shtut	Redundant or banned tradition
Minyan	Quorum of ten Jews
Mishmerah	Priestly order in 2^nd Temple Period
Mishnah	First and oldest major work of rabbinic literature
Mitzvah (mitzvot)	Lit., “commandment.” Applies to commandments, ordinances, laws and statutes in the Torah.
Mitzvah berachah	The berachah (blessing) before performing a mitzvah
Mitzvot Mashiach	Commandments derived from the Apostolic Writings that are not otherwise made explicit in the written Torah.
Moed; pl., moadim	Appointed time(s)
Na’aseh v’nishma	We will do and we will hear (understand).
Netilat yadaim	Ritual handwashing
Niddah	Lit., “One who is excluded.” Applies to a woman during menstruation.
Okhel nefesh	Lit., “Food for the soul.” Applies to food allowed on Yom Tov (cf. Exodus 12:16).
Omer; Counting the Omer	Sheaf; counting the 50 days (barley sheafs) from Pesach to Shavuot
Ona’at devarim	Verbal abuse
P’ri ha’adamah	Lit., “Fruits of the ground” (including vegetables). The name of the blessing for food that the grows in the ground.
P’ri haetz	Lit., “Fruit of the tree.” The name of the blessing for food that grows on a tree.
P’sak; pl., p’sakim	Halakhic ruling.
P’shat	Literal meaning
Pareve	Yiddish. Lit., “neutral.” Food that is neither meat or milk.
Patrilineal	Kinship based on the father’s lineage.
Patronymic	Name derived from the name of the father or patrilineal ancestor.
Pesach	Festival of Passover, as well as the Passover lamb
Pidyon haBen	Lit., “Redemption of the son.” It is a Jewish ritual ceremony in which the first-born son is redeemed by giving silver coins to a kohen (Ex. 13:12–15).
Ploni	Hebrew expression indicating an anonymous person, similar to “John/Jane Doe” in English.
Posek; pl., poskim	A rabbi or scholar who makes halachic decisions.
Porging	The processing and preparation of meat after shechitah.
Purim	Persian. Lit., “Lots.” The holiday celebrates the saving of the Jews from massacre as recounted in the Book of Esther.
Responsa	Lat., lit., “answer.” In modern times a responsa describes decisions and rulings made by Jewish scholars on religious law.
Rosh Chodesh	Lit., “Head of the month.” Rosh Chodesh celebrates the arrival of the new moon on the Jewish Calendar.
Rosh Hashanah	Lit., “Head of the year.” The Jewish New Year (Yom Teruah, Leviticus 23:23–25).
Seder; pl., sedarim	Lit., “Order.” The traditional ceremonial Passover meal
Sefer Torah	Torah scroll
Sekhakh	Lit., “Covering.” The material used as the roof of a sukkah.
Shabbat	Sabbath, Saturday, 7^th day of the week
Shacharit	The first of the daily prayers, said in the morning to coincide with the time of the morning burnt offering.
Shaliach tzibur	A person who leads a Jewish congregation in prayer and fulfills the obligation to pray on their behalf.
Shavuot	Lit., “Weeks.” Feast of Weeks celebrated 50 days after Pesach at the end of the counting of the Omer.
Shechitah	Jewish ritual slaughter of animals
Shehakol	Blessing for all foods that do not grow from the ground or on a tree (e.g., meat, chicken, eggs, milk, fish).
Shehecheyanu	A blessing that celebrates special occasions, said when doing something for the first time or the first time that year.
Shema	“Hear of Israel…” (Deut. 6:4) followed by three Scripture passages Deut. 6:5–9, Deut. 11:13–21 and Num. 15:37–41.
Shemoneh Esreh	See Amidah.
Sheva Brachot	The seven blessings recited over the bride and groom in a Jewish wedding.
Simchat or bat brit	Public events initiating ritual acceptance of a daughter into the covenant
Sukkah	A temporary structure used during the 7 days of Sukkot
Sukkot	Feast of Tabernacles
Tahor	Ritually pure
Takanah; pl. takanot	Lit., “Ordinance.” A major legal decree by halakhic authority that revises an ordinance that no longer satisfies the requirements of time or circumstances. Takanot are enacted for the good of the community and its spiritual development.
Tallit	A Jewish prayer shawl with tzitzit on the four corners
Talmud(s)	The central text of Rabbinic Judaism that contains Mishnah and Gemara
Tamei	Ritually impure
Tefillin	A set of two black-leather boxes with Scripture verses written on parchment inside that are worn during morning prayer services. (Deut. 6:8)
Teshuvah (teshuvot)	Repentance
Tevilah	Immersion
Tevilat Mashiach	Lit., “Immersion of Messiah.” Refers to immersion into the Body of Messiah.
Tikkun olam	Lit., “Repairing the World.” Has become synonymous with repairing this earthy world through social actions and pursuit of justice.
Tumah	The state of ritual impurity
Tzedakah	Bible: “righteousness, justice.” In modernity it refers to righteous behavior through charity or philanthropy.
Tzitzit	Fringes on a four-cornered garment
V’ahavta	A continuation of the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:5–9. It is the first of three scripture passages in the Shema.
Ya’aleh ve Yavo	“May [our remembrance] arise and come.” A special prayer inserted into the Amidah and Birkat HaMazon on Chaggim.
Yahrzeit	Yiddish, “Anniversary.” Anniversary of the death of a loved one where mourners remember and honor the life of the deceased.
Yom HaAtzma’ut	Israel’s Independence day
Yom HaShoah	Israel’s Holocaust remembrance day
Yom Kippur	Day of Atonement
Zemirot	Songs sung at the Shabbat table.
Zichron Mashiach	Lit., “Remembrance of Messiah.” Eucharist, Lord’s supper