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Arizal: Hebrew initials of the words: Adoni Rabbenu Yitzchok
Zechorono LeVaracha our master Rabbi Yitzchok. Better known as
Yitzchok Luria the great 16th century
Kabbalist |
| Baal
Medraigah: refers to a person on a high level of service to HaShem |
|
Bamidbar: Fourth book of the Torah. Called in English Numbers |
|
beis din: A Jewish court of law |
| Beis
HaMikdash: Heb. The Holy Temple |
|
Beis Midrash: Jewish house of study |
|
Beis HaChaim: A Jewish cemetery |
|
Bereishis: First book of the Torah. Called Genesis in English |
|
Brachos: Tractate of the talmud |
|
bris: Hebrew for circumcision |
|
Chazal: Hebrew initials for: Chochmenu Zichrona Levaracha (Our
sages of Blessed memory) Used to refer to Rabbis of the Talmud. |
|
Chesed L'Avraham: A sefer of
Kabbalistic and moral teachings |
|
Cheshvon: Eighth month of the
Hebrew calendar
gematria: Numerical value of the letters of the Hebrew words |
| derech:
Heb 'way' refers to a path in serving HaShem |
|
HaShem: Noun used in place of G-d. Lit. The Name |
|
HY'D: Heb. HaShem Yimkom Domov: HaShem should avenge their blood. |
|
Koheles: One of the books of the Tenach, called in English
Ecclesiastes. |
|
Kavanah (Kavanos): Hebrew word for 'intention'. |
|
Krias
Shema: Recitation of the main Jewish prayer of the confession of
faith. Contains 3 parshas. Devorim 6.5-9; 11.13-21 and Bamidbar 15.37-41 |
|
kol v'chomer: Inference from a thing that this lesser/lighter
to a thing which is greater/more stringent |
|
kugel: a type of food eaten of Shabbos. It is made of either noodles or
potatoes baked into a kind of thick pudding |
Maggid: In Europe this was a person who would give sermons on moral
subjects. Many of the first Rebbes was Maggidim (pl. of Maggid). |
|
melamed: Hebrew for a teacher of young children |
|
mesiros nefesh: Hebrew for self sacrifice |
|
midah (midos): A character trait, either good or bad. |
|
Midrash: Rabbinical work with homiletic interpretations |
|
Minchah: Name of the afternoon prayer |
|
Mishleh: One of the books of the Tenach, called in English
Proverbs. |
|
Mitzvah (mitzvos):
One of the commandments of the Torah. |
|
Mori: Hebrew for my teacher. |
|
nashama: Hebrew word for soul. |
|
peshat: A method of Biblical interpretation based on finding the
simple meaning in the Torah. |
|
Pirkei Avos: A Tractate of the Mishnah |
|
Ploni ben Ploni: Hebrew for 'So and so the son of so and so' |
|
Rashi: The primary commentary on the Tenach. |
|
Rav: An official rabbi who renders legal decisions. Many of the
Rebbes were both a Rebbe of Chasidim, and the Rov of the city inwhich they lived. |
|
Reb: A title added to a persons name as a sign of respect. |
|
Rebbe: Leader of a Chassidic group or a teacher |
|
Rebbe Reb: A title added to a few special Rebbes as a sign of their
higher spiritual stature. |
|
Reishis Chochmah: A sefer of Kabbalistic and moral teachings remez: A
method of Biblical interpretation based on finding hints in the Torah for
various concepts. |
remez: A method of Biblical interpretation based on finding hints
in the Torah for various concepts. |
|
sefer (seforim): A Jewish religious book. |
|
Shabbos:
Tractate in the Talmud |
|
Shechina: Hebrew word denoting the divine presence. |
|
Shelah: Jewish scholarly commentary on the Torah, and Jewish holidays
by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz |
Shema: Main Jewish prayer of the confession of faith. Contains 3
parshas. Devorim 6.5-9; 11.13-21 and Bamidbar 15.37-41 |
|
Shemos: Second book of the Torah. Called Exodus in English |
|
Talmid (Talmidim): Disciples of a Rebbe. |
|
Talmud: An ancient work of Jewish law. |
|
Tanna (Tannaim): Rabbis of the Talmud |
| Tanna d'bei Eliyahu: The name of an ancient Midrash. |
|
Tanya: Important chassidic work By Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi. |
|
Tehillim: Hebrew name for Psalms. |
|
Tefillin:
also called phylacteries, are leather objects
used in Jewish prayer, containing Biblical verses.
They are an essential part of morning prayer services,
and are worn on a daily basis (except the Sabbath
and festivals) by many Jews |
|
Tishrei: Seventh Month of the
Hebrew
calendar |
Torah: a. First 5 books of the Jewish Bible
b. Also refers to
the whole of Jewish law
c. also common term
for a chassidic teaching |
|
Tshuva: Hebrew word for repentance |
|
Tzaddik (Tzaddikim): lit. Righteous. Another name for a Chassidic
Rebbe. |
|
tzitzis: Strands that hang from the corners of a talis |
| V'yikra: Hebrew for the book of Leviticus |
|
Yetzer: lit. Inclination. It is Jewish belief that every Jew has
both an evil and good inclination within him, that are at 'war' to see
which of them the person will follow. |
|
Yetzer Tov: Heb. Good Inclination |
|
Yetzer HaRah: Heb. Evil Inclination. |
|
Zohar: Hebrew/Aramaic Rabbinical Kabbalistical work that is one of
the most important sources for Kabbalah, and was very influential
with Chasidim |
|
ZT'L: Hebrew initials of the words: Zechor Tzaddik LeVaracha (The
memory of a Tzaddik - Righteous person is a blessing.) |
|
ZY'A: Hebrew initials of the words: Zechiso Yagan Aleinu (His
merit should protect us.) |
