Jewish Learning

Shabbat Guide

Shabbat Guide

JUF is pleased to provide this basic guide to celebrating Shabbat.

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Encyclopedia Britannica Holocaust Project

JUF partners with Encyclopedia Britannica to bring you their collection of Britannica's Holocaust Project resources.

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Jewish Word Glossary

Glossary Key

abbr. = abbreviated
esp .= especially
Heb. = Hebrew
lit. = literally
n = noun
pl. = plural
pron. = pronounced
usu. = usually
v = verb
Yid. = Yiddish

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L
M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

abba
(Heb.) father
Acharonim
lit.=the last ones: post-Rishonim commentators in the Talmud
Achashverosh
Persian king in Book of Esther
Adar
6th Jewish month (Feb-Mar), 14th is Purim
aderabah
"but, in actuality..."
adom
(Heb.) red
Adon Olam
"Master of the World," a concluding hymn
"Ad Mosai"
"Until when?"; "How long until Moshiach arrives, and we must endure this suffering?"
afikomen
last bit of matzah, eaten at end of Seder
Agadah
non-legal rabbinic writings
agunah
lit.=chained one: wife of an M.I.A.; woman whose husband refuses to grant a divorce
ahava
(Heb.) love [n]
aidel
(Yid.) refined, socially graceful
ainikle
(Yid.) grandchild
aitzeh
advice
Aleinu
"It is Upon Us," a concluding hymn
aleph-bet
the Hebrew alphabet
al kiddush HaShem
for the sanctification of G-d
alav hashalom
"(May he/she) rest in peace."
aliyah
lit.=ascent: immigration to Israel (accent on last syllable); ascent on the bimah when called to have the Torah read in one's honor (accent on the second syllable).
alrightnik
(English+Yid.) social climber
am ha'aretz
lit.=nation of the land: ignorant person
Amidah
lit.=standing: long prayer said while standing
Amora'im
lit.=explainers: Gemarah-era commentators (200-500 C.E.)
amud
lit.=stander: lectern, podium
Ani Ma’amin
lit.=I believe: phrase that begins each of Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles of Faith
Anglit
(Heb.) English langauge
Aninut
(Heb.) Period of intense mourning, until the funeral's conclusion
apikoros
lit.=Epicurean: unbeliever, skeptic; heretic
aravot
willow sprigs, used on Succot
arba kanfos
lit.=four corners: tzitzit
Arba Kanfos
The Four Corners of the Earth
Aretz
lit.=land: Israel
aroisgevorfen
(Yid) wasted 
aron (hakodesh)
(the holy) cabinet for Sefer Torah; burial casket/coffin
Artzrot HaBrit
lit.=Land of the Covenant (i.e. Constitution): Israeli name for the U.S.A.
Aseret HaDibrot
lit.= The Ten Declarations: The Ten Commandments
Aseret Yimei Teshuva
The Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, a time of introspection and semi-mourning
Ashkenazi
of Eastern European Jewish tradition
Ashrei
"Fortunate Are," a popular alphabetic prayer (Psalm 145)
Asoroh B'Tevet
winter fast for Babylonian siege of Jerusalem
asur
prohobitted under halachah
aufruf
event held the Shabbat before a wedding, the throwing of candy, etc. at a groom after he reads the Haftorah
Av
11th Jewish month (Jul-Aug), 9th is Tisha B'Av
av
(Heb.) father of...
Av HaRachamin
(Heb. merciful Father) memorial prayer said on Shabbat, certain holidays, and as part of the Yizkor service.
avel/avelut
mourner/mourning
aveyra
sin; transgression of a "shalt not"
aviron
lit.=air-thing: airplane
avnet
belt for a burial sash
avodah
work [n], esp. in service of G-d
avodah zarah
lit.=strange work: idolatry
ayef
(Heb.) tired, sleepy
ayrusin
marital engagement
ayin
(Heb.) eye
ayin harah
lit.= evil eye: hex, jinx, curse
ayshet chayil
a woman of valor
Ayshet Chayil
the entire last chapter of Proverbs, sung on Erev Shabbat and at weddings, describing a "woman of valor"
"Azoy?"
lit.= thus: "Really?"
"Azoy geyt doz!"
lit.=thus goes this: "That's how it goes!"