Unit I Life Cycle Events: Birth
1. Shalom Zakhar Welcoming a son. Ceremony held on Friday night
before brit milah.
2. Brit Milah Ritual circumcision. Symbol of God's covenant
with Abraham and the Jewish people.
3. Sandek One who holds the baby during the brit milah.
4. Mohel Ritual circumciser.
5. Simhat Bat Naming celebration for girl.
6. Seudat mitzvah Festive meal which accompanies the observance
of a mitzvah.
7. Pidyon haben--Redemption of the first born son. Ceremony
obtains for a child only when all of the following apply:
a. First born child
b. No prior abortions or miscarriages
c. Male
d. Neither parent of a kohen or levi family.
8. Bar/Bat Mitzvah Coming of age for religious responsibility.
Custom of major party, "bar" mitzvah, relatively
recent.
Unit II Life Cycle Events: Marriage
1. Sefirah Between Pesach and Shavuot, the
Omer is counted. Weddings are not held on a portion of those
days.
2. Three weeks Time period between the 17th of Tammuz and the
9th of Av. Weddings are not held during this time period.
3. Halitzah Levirate marriage.
4. T'na-im Terms of dowry and marriage.
5. Aufrufin Pre-marriage aliyah taken before wedding
day.
6. Ketubah Jewish marriage contract.
7. Erusin Engagement portion of marriage ceremony.
8. Nisu-in Wedding portion of marriage ceremony.
9. Huppah Marriage canopy.
10. Shevah brakhot Seven marriage blessings said at the wedding
ceremony and at the festive meal afterwards.
11. Edim Witnesses
12. Get Jewish divorce decree.
Unit III Life Cycle Events: Death
1. Aninut Time period between death and funeral.
2. Avel Mourner
3. Hevra Kadisha "Holy Society." Group of people
who prepare body for burial through ritual washing.
4. Kri-ah Tearing of garment as sign of mourning.
5. K'vod hamet Respect for the dead.
6. Tahrihim Burial shrouds.
7. Sh'mirah Watching the body.
8. Levayah Funeral service.
9. Hesped Eulogy
10. Kaddish yatom Mourner's kaddish. Prayer of praise
of God, said by mourners.
11. Shivah First seven days of mourning.
12. Sh'loshim First 30 days of mourning.
13. Kevurah Interment
14. Hesed shel emet "True lovingkindness;" helping
with interment.
15. Seudat havra-ah Meal of condolence.
16. T'hiyat hametim Resurrection of the dead.
17. Nihum avelim Mitzvah of comforting mourners.
18. Yahrzeit Anniversary of date of death.
19. Yizkor Memorial service added to services on: Yom Kippur,
Shmini Atzeret, Pesach and Shavuot.
20. Hiyyuv: A religious obligation.
Unit IV Shabbat
1. Muktzeh Items not touched on Shabbat either because
they might lead to a violation of Shabbat or because it was
not prepared before Shabbat for use on Shabbat.
2. Melakha Creative work.
3. Kiddush Sanctification of the day, usually said using wine.
4. Menuha Rest.
5. Zemirot Special table songs for Shabbat.
6. Kabbalat Shabbat service of welcome for Shabbat.
7. Se-udah Shlishit Third meal on Shabbat
8. Havdalah Service of separation to mark end of Shabbat.
9. Motza-i Shabbat Leaving of Shabbat (Saturday night)
Unit V Worship A.
1. Tefilah Prayer
2. Bet midrash Study House = shul.
3. Bet k'nesset House of Assembly = synagogue.
4. Bet tefillah House of Prayer.
5. Nosah Melodic themes of prayer
6. Kippah Yarmulke, Head covering
7. Tallit Prayer shawl
8. Tzitzit Knots required in corners of four-corner garments.
9. Tefillin Phylacteries
10. Aron hakodesh Holy ark, resting place of Torah
scrolls.
11. Bimah Platform at front of sanctuary.
12. Shaliah tzibbur Congregation's representative in prayer.
(Cantor)
Unit VI Worship B.
1. Kavannah Devotional intent in worship
2. Kevah Fixed prayers
3. Minyan Quorum of 10 adults required for public worship.
4. Siddur Prayer book (except High Holy days)
5. Mahzor Prayer book for High Holy days.
6. Ma-ariv Evening service.
7. Shaharit Morning service.
8. Musaf Addtional service. Said on Shabbat, Rosh Hodesh
and major holidays.
9. Minha Afternoon service.
10. P'sukei d'zimra Introductory morning service.
11. Brakha Blessing; basic unit of Jewish prayer.
12. Amidah Private prayers, "The Prayer," recited
while standing.
13. Kedusha Prayer of sanctification in amidah.
14. Kaddish Prayer of praise; concludes service sections
15. Korbanot Sacrifices / section of prayers which reviews
sacrifices which were offered.
16. Hallel Psalms of praise added to service on selected holidays.
17. Yom Tov Yontif, Festival day - work prohibited.
18. Hol Hamo-ed Intermediate festival days.
Unit VII Text and Commentary
1. Torah Five books of Moses. Hebrew root means "to guide"
or "to teach." Also means the Law.
2. Tanakh Acronym for the Bible: Torah; Neviim (Prophets);
Ketuvim (Writings)
3. Pentateuch Five books of Moses
4. Decalogue Ten commandments
5. Asseret Hadibrot Ten commandments
6. Talmud Torah Mitzvah of study
7. Midrash Rabbinic Commentary, based on Biblical text
8. Mishnah Legal text, compiled around 200, by Judah the Prince
9. Gemara Commentary on Mishnah.
10. Talmud Combination of 8 & 9
11. Mitzvah Commandment; one of 613; not a good deed
12. Aggadah Legend
13. Halakha Law
14. Brit Covenant
15. Sefer Torah Torah Scroll
16. Kiddush HaShem Sanctifying God.
17. Hillul HaShem Desecrating God.
Unit VIII Holiday Vocabulary - High Holy Days
1. Yamim Nora-im Days of Awe
2. Selihot Prayers asking Divine forgiveness.
3. Yom Hadin Day of Judgment; a name for Rosh Hashanna
4. Yom Hazikarom Day of Remembering; a name for Rosh Hashanna
5. Yom Teruah Day of Shofar Sound; a name for Rosh Hashanna
6. Avinu Malkeinu "Our Father, our King," list of
brief supplications, all begin with that phrase.
7. Shevarim Shofar sound: three notes
8. Tekiah Shofar sound: one blast
9. Teruah Shofar sound: wavering sound of nine staccato notes
10. Akedah "Binding," Biblical account of near-sacrifice
of Isaac
11. Malkhuyot "Kingship verses," one of three special
additional sections added to Rosh Hashanna Musaf amidah.
12. Shofarot "Shofar verses," one of three
special additional sections added to Rosh Hashanna Musaf amidah.
13. Zikhronot "Remembrance verses," one of three
special additional sections added to Rosh Hashanna Musaf amidah.
14. Middat Hadin God's attribute of Divine justice.
15. Middat harahamim God's attribute of Divine mercy.
16. Piyyut Religious poem.
17. Viddui confession, included in every Yom Kippur amidah.
18. Al Het Series of confessions, alphabetically arranged,
said on Yom Kippur.
19. Kol Nidre Formula for absolution of vows, said immediately
before Yom Kippur begins.
20. Avodah Yom Kippur service of the High Priest in Temple.
21. Neilah Final service on Yom Kippur.
Unit IX Holiday Vocabulary - Sukkot / Shmini Atzeret/ Simhat
Torah
1. Sukkah Booth erected for Sukkot.
2. Sekhakh Roofing material for sukkah.
3. Arbah minim Four plant species used during Sukkot
services.
4. Lulav Palm; also name given for arbah minim.
5. Hadas Myrtle; twigs (3) used in "lulav."
6. Arava Willow; twigs (2) used in "lulav."
7. Etrog Citron
8. Hoshana "Save, I pray," prayer added each morning
during Sukkot. Extra verses are added on the last day of Sukkot,
Hoshanna Rabbah.
9. Hoshana Rabba Last day of hol hamo-ed Sukkot; last
chance for repentance.
10. Geshem Prayer for rain; said on Shmini Atzeret
at Musaf
11. Kohelet Ecclesiastes; megillah read on Sukkot
12. Shmini Atzeret Eighth day of assembly; last day of Sukkot
but, liturgically, a separate holiday.
13. Simhat Torah Rejoicing in the Torah; holiday marking
completion and beginning of Torah reading cycle.
14. Hakkafot Circuits around sanctuary with Torah Scrolls.
Unit X Holiday Vocabulary - Passover
1. Seder Special meal of retelling the Exodus from Egypt.
2. Bedikat Hametz Search for hametz, held night before
first seder.
3. Bittul Hametz Formula renouncing any hametz we
may have inadvertently missed in our cleaning. Said morning of the first
seder.
4. Be'ur Hametz Destruction of hametz, morning of
first seder, by 11:00.
5. Siyyum Bekhorim Ceremony of celebration of completing Rabbinic
section of study.
6. Hametz Fermented; wheat, oats, rye, barley or spelt after
they come in contact with water for 18 minutes after harvest. Also dishes
and utensils which have been in contact with hametz foods during
the year.
7. Mekhirat Hametz Symbolic selling of hametz to a
non-Jew.
8. Ma'ot Hittim Funds collected before Pesach to provide money
for matzah and other Passover essentials for the poor.
9. Hagadah Book used at seder to retell the story.
Unit XI Holiday Vocabulary - Shavuot
1. Shavuot Pentecost; feast of weeks. 50 days after second
day of Pesach.
2. Bikkurim First fruits, brought to Temple on Shavuot.
3. Ruth Megillah read on Shavuot.
4. Tikkun Lel Shavuot All night study session to recall giving
of Ten Commandments.
Unit XII Holiday Vocabulary - Minor Holidays
1. Hanukkah "Dedication," holiday celebrating the
victory of the Maccabees against the Assyrian-Greeks.
2. Hasmoneans Dynasty of kings set up by Judah the Maccabee.
3. Menorah 7 branch candelabra used in Temple.
4. Hanukkiah 9 branch candelabra used for Hanukkah
celebration.
5. Al Hanissim Prayer of thanksgiving added to amidah on
Hanukkah and Purim.
6. Latkes Potato pancakes; traditional Hanukkah meal.
7. Sufganiot Jelly doughnuts; traditional Hanukkah
meal.
8. Dreidel Top; used in children's games at Hanukkah.
9. Asara B'Tevet 10th of Tevet. Minor fast day noting
start of Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, 587 B.C.E.
10. Tu Bishevat Fifteenth of Shevat; "new year"
for trees.
11. Purim Lots; holiday celebrating the victory of Mordecai
and Esther over Haman.
12. Ta-anit Ester Fast day preceding Purim.
13. Megillat Ester Megillah read on Purim.
14. Mishloah manot Gifts of food (2 kinds) sent to friends
on Purim.
15. Matanot l'evyonim Gifts of tzedakah given to poor
on Purim.
16. Seudat Purim Special meal of celebration at Purim's
end.
17. Omer Sheaf offering brought to Temple on 16 Nisan;
name for period between the second day of Pesach and Shavuot.
18. Yom Hashoa Holocaust Commemoration day. 27 Nisan.
19. Yom Hazikaron Israel Memorial Day. 3 Iyar.
20. Yom Ha-atzmaut Israel Independence Day. 4 Iyar.
21. Lag B'omer 33rd day of omer. Minor festival day.
18 Iyar
22. Yom Yerushalyim Reunification of Jerusalem, 1967. 28
Iyar.
23. Shevah Asar B'Tammuz 17th of Tammuz; Minor fast
day noting Babylonians entering Jerusalem, 587 B.C.E.
24. Tisha B'av 9th of Av. Day of mourning for Jewish
tragedies, including: loss of two Temples, expulsion from Spain 1492.
25. Eikha Lamentations. Megillah read on Tisha
B'av.
26. Kinot Dirges of mourning read on Tisha B'av.
Prepared and copyright by Beth El Synagogue, Omaha, Nebraska.
A publication of H.E.L.P. Home Education Library Program
Prepared by Rabbi Paul Drazen and Cantor Emil Berkovits
Beth El Synagogue
14506 California Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68154
402-492-8550
