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

Abolish – Improperly interpret

Achashverosh – Ahasuerus

Ad-nai – Hebrew for “my L-rd”; pronounced “Ah-doh-neye”

Afikoman – “I came”; pronounced “Afee-komin”

Aharon – Aaron; pronounced “Aha-rone”

Ahava – Love; pronounced “Aha-va”

Akedah - Binding of Isaac; pronounced “Akay-da”

Aleinu - It is Our Duty Prayer; pronounced “Alay-nu”

Aliyah - Going up; the honor extended a worshipper who is called up to the reading of the Torah to recite the blessings; pronounced “Alee-ya”

Amidah – Standing Prayer; one of the major sections of each service; recited while standing; pronounced “Amee-dah”

Aravot – Willows; pronounced “Ara-vote”

Arba’ah Minim - Four Species; pronounced “Arba-ah Mee-neem”

Avraham – Abraham; pronounced “Av-ra-hahm”

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B’midbar – Name for the Book of Numbers; means “In the desert”; pronounced “Ba-mid-bar”

B'nai - Sons of; plural of Bar; pertains to two or more boys or two or more girls; pronounced “Ba-nay”

B'not - Daughters of; plural of Bat; pertains to two or more girls; pronounced “Ba-note”

B’resheet - Name for the Book of Genesis; means “In the beginning”; pronounced “Bear-a-sheet”

B’rit – Covenant; pronounced “Breet”

B’rit Hadashah - Apostolic Writings/Renewed Covenant Scriptures; pronounced “Breet-ha-da-shah”

Bar – Son

Bar Mitzvah - Son of the Commandment; a boy becomes a Bar Mitzvah, a religiously responsible adult, at age thirteen

Bat – Daughter; pronounced “Baht”

Bat Mitzvah - Daughter of the Commandment; a girl becomes a Bat Mitzvah, a religiously responsible adult, at age thirteen

Beit HaMikdash - The Holy House/The Temple; pronounced “Bait HaMik-dah-sh”

Beit Lechem - The House of Bread; pronounced “Bait Le-chem”

Beitzah - Roasted Egg representing the festival offering presented in the Beit HaMikdash; also represents eternal life; pronounced “Bait-zah”

Ben - Son

Berakah – Blessing; pronounced “Berah-kah”

Besamim – Spices; a prayer is recited over the spices as part of the Havdalah ceremony; pronounced “Besa-meem”

Bikkurim – Feast of First Fruits; pronounced “Bee-ku-reem”

Bimah – Pulpit; the elevated portion of the Sanctuary; pronounced “Bee-ma”

Birchat Ha-Mazon - The blessings and prayers recited at the conclusion of a meal; pronounced “Beerkat-Ha-Mazone”

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Chadar – Chamber; pronounced “Ha-dahr”

Charoset - Sweet Paste (usually apple, walnut, grape juice mixture); pronounced “Har-o-set”

Chazeret - Romaine Lettuce; pronounced “Haz-e-ret”

Chesed – Lovingkindness, mercy, grace; pronounced “Heh-said”

Chumash – Bible; the book containing the Five Books of Moses and the prophetic passages (Haftarot) read each week; pronounced “Who-Mosh”

Chuppah - Bridal chamber or canopy; pronounced “Hoo-pah”

Cohen - Priest; pronounced “Ko-hen”

Cohen Gadol - High Priest; pronounced “Ko-hen Gah-dole”

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D’varim – Name for the Book of Deuteronomy; means “Words”; pronounced “De-va-reem”

Davening - To pray individually and yet with the congregation at the same time; pronounced “Dah-vening”

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Ekklesia – Greek for Called Out Ones; pronounced “Ekk-leh-see-a”

El-him – G-d or Judge; pronounced “Eh-lo-heem”

Eliyahu – Elijah; pronounced “Elee-yahoo”

Epiphanes – G-d manifest; pronounced “Epi-fanees”

Etrog – Citron; pronounced “Eh-trog”

Eyrusin - Betrothal stage; pronounced “Eh-ru-seen”

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Fulfill – Properly interpret

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Goral – Lot; pronounced “Go-rahl”

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Hadas – Myrtle; pronounced “Ha-dahs”

Hadlakat HaNerot - Lighting the festival candles; pronounced “Had-la-cot Ha-Neh-rote”

Haftarah – Conclusion; passages from the second part of the Hebrew Bible, the Prophets, read after the Torah reading, thematically related to that reading; A haftarah is read on Sabbath and festival mornings; pronounced “Hof-torah”

Hag - Festival; pronounced “Hog”

Hag haAsif - Festival of Ingathering; pronounced “Hog ha-Aseef”

Haggadah - “The Telling”; a booklet which is read during the Seder which contains the story of the Exodus, the order of the Seder and songs; pronounced “Ha-gadah”

Hallah – Braided bread; pronounced “Hollah”

HaMatzot – Feast of Unleavened Bread; pronounced “Ha-Mot-zote”

Hametz – Leaven; pronounced “Ha-mets”

Hammentashen - “Haman’s pockets”; pronounced “Hammen-tah-shen”

Hanukkah - Feast of Dedication; pronounced “Hanoo-kah”

Hanukkiah - Special menorah with nine branches; pronounced “Hanoo-kiah”

Har HaZetim – Mount of Olives; pronounced “Har Ha-Zeh-teem”

HaShem – “The Name”; a circumlocution (indirect expression to avoid straightforward way of saying something) of Ad-nai, El-him, G-d, etc. used to avoid taking the L-rd’s name in vain; pronounced “Ha-Shehm”

Hassava - Reclining; pronounced “Ha-savah”

Hatan – Bridegroom; also means “One who enters the covenant”; pronounced “Ha-tahn”

Havdalah – Separation, distinction or the dividing; a ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath and then begins the new week; wine, a spice box, and a braided candle are incorporated into this sensual, evocative service; pronounced “Hav-dah-lah”

Hester Panim - “The concealed face of G-d”; pronounced “Hes-tehr Pa-neem”

Hoshana Rabbah - Great Save Us; pronounced “Ho-Shana Ra-bah”

HoshiaNa - Hosanna/Save Us; pronounced “Ho-shi-a-nah”

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Ka'arat HaSeder - Seder Plate; pronounced “Ka-ah-rot Ha-Say-der”

Kaddish – Holy; the ancient prayer in Aramaic, declaring and blessing the greatness and holiness of G-d; the Kaddish is recited several times during services; it divides and concludes sections of each service; it is also recited in memory of close relatives; pronounced “Kah-dish”

Kadosh – Holy; pronounced “Kah-doh-sh”

Kallah – Bride; also means “Complete” or “Enclosed One”; pronounced “Ka-lah”

Kapot Temarim - Branches of palm trees; pronounced “Ka-pote Te-ma-reem”

Karpas - Vegetable (usually parsley); pronounced “Kar-pus”

Kedushah – Sanctification; a portion of the Amidah that acknowledges the majesty and holiness of G-d; it is recited in the form of alternate chanting; ; pronounced “Keh-doosha”

Kehilat - Ekklesia/Congregation of Israel/Messianic Community/Called Out Ones; pronounced “Keh-hee-lat”

Ketubah - Marriage covenant; pronounced “Keh-too-bah”

Keylitsh – Special Purim Challah bread; pronounced “Keh-litsch”

Kiddush - Sanctification of the Shabbat; Blessing over the wine sanctifying the day; On Shabbat morning refreshments are served and once a month a light lunch is provided; pronounced “Kih-dusch”

Kiddushin – Betrothal stage or setting apart of man and woman for each other; the Marriage also begins at this point however it has been consummated yet – this occurs during the Nissuin stage; pronounced “Kih-dusch-een”

Kippah - Head covering; also known as Yarmulka; the head covering for males at a religious service, worn as a form of respect to the Almighty; pronounced “Kee-pa”

Kittel - A white robe that looks somewhat like a bathrobe; it is a garment worn at Passover; it is also warn by the Groom at a wedding; the word Kittel is rooted in the Hebrew word Katal - To Slay; pronounced “Kit-tell”

Kohelet – Ecclesiastes; pronounced “Ko-heh-let”

Kohen - Temple Priest; From the line of Aaron, the Kohen receives a special honor as the first to be called to the Torah to recite the blessings

Kol Nidrei - All Vows Service of Yom Kippur; pronounced “Kole Nee-dray”

Kos Eliyahu - Fifth cup of wine reserved for Eliyahu; pronounced “Kahs Elee-yahoo”

Kos HaGeulah - The cup of redemption; third cup drunk at the Seder; pronounced “Kahs Ha-Geh-oo-lah”

Kos HaHallel - The cup of praise and intimacy; fourth cup drunk at the Seder; pronounced “Kahs Ha-Hallel”

Kos HaKiddush - The cup of deliverance or sanctification; first cup drunk at the Seder; pronounced “Kahs Ha-Kih-dusch”

Kos HaMakkot - The cup of judgment or plagues; second cup drunk at the Seder; pronounced “Kahs Ha-Mah-kote”

Kos Revii - Fourth cup drunk at the Seder; pronounced “Kahs Re-vee”

Kos Rishon - First cup drunk at the Seder; pronounced “Kahs Ree-shone”

Kos Sh’lishi - Third cup drunk at the Seder; pronounced “Kahs Sh-lish-ee”

Kos Sheni - Second cup drunk at the Seder; pronounced “Kahs Sheh-nee”

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La Shana Tovah Tekatevu - “May you be inscribed for a good year”; pronounced “La Sha-na To-vah Teka-tay-vu”

Latkes – Potato pancakes; pronounced “Latkas”

Lechem Chayim - Bread of Life; pronounced “Le-kem Keye-eem”

Levi - Descendants of the Tribe of Levi; the Levi is accorded the honor of being called up for the second Aliyah to the Torah; pronounced “Levee”

Lulav - Palm branch; pronounced “Loo-lahv”

Lunisolar – Calendar that is both lunar and solar based; the Hebrew Calendar is such

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Ma’ariv - Evening Service; the first of the three daily services; the prayers of Ma'ariv are recited after sundown; pronounced “Mah-ah-reev”

Maftir – Conclusion; the person who concludes the portion of the Torah read on Sabbath and holidays, who will read the Haftarah; it also refers to the concluding Torah portion itself; pronounced “Mahf-teer”

Makkaba - Hammer; pronounced “Mah-kah-bah”

Makkebet - Hammer; pronounced “Mah-keh-bet”

Maror - Bitter Herbs; pronounced “Mah-roar”

Mashiach - Messiah; pronounced “Mah-shee-ock”

Matanot L’Evyonim - Custom of sending gifts to the poor; pronounced “Mah-tah-note L-Ev-yo-neem”

Mattan - The offering of a gift or gifts to the bride; pronounced “Mot-tahn”

Matzah - Unleavened bread; pronounced “Mah-tzah”

Matzah Tash - White bag that holds matzah; pronounced “Mah-tzah Tosh”

Mayim Chaim - Living Water; pronounced “Mah-yeem Cheye-yeem”

Mazal Tov - Means both "good luck," (most literally) and, in more popular usage "congratulations"

Megillah - Scroll; pronounced “Meh-gee-lah”

Mei Melach - Salt water; pronounced “May Meh-lock”

Melekh Mashiach - King Messiah; pronounced “Meh-lek Mah-shee-ock”

Menorah – A candelabra with seven branches; pronounced “Meh-no-rah”

Messianic Banquet - Wedding Feast

Mi Chamocha Ba’alim Ad-nai - “Who is like You O L-rd among the gods?”; pronounced “Me Kah-mo-kah Beye-leem Ah-doh-neye”

Mikveh – Ritual immersion pool to make one ritually clean; equivalent to baptism; pronounced “Mik-vah”

Mincha – Afternoon Service; the third of the three daily services; the Mincha prayers are recited in the afternoon up to sunset; pronounced “Min-ka”

Minyan - Number of quorum; a minimum of ten Jewish adults, above the age of thirteen, are required for public worship

Miryam - Mary; pronounced “Mir-yahm”

Mishkan – Tabernacle; pronounced “Mish-kahn”

Mishloach Manot - Custom of sending gifts of food to neighbors; pronounced “Mish-lo-ock Mah-note”

Mitzvah – Commandment; pronounced “Mitz-vah”

Mitzvot - Commandments; pronounced “Mitz-vote”

Mo'edim – Appointed times/holy days/festival days; these are the times appointed by G-d in Leviticus 23; pronounced “Mo-eh-deem”

Mohar - Bridal payment given to the father for the bride; pronounced “Mo-hahr”

Moshe – Moses; pronounced “Mo-shay”

Motzi - Who brings forth; the blessing over bread, recited to begin a meal; pronounced “Mo-tzee”

Mount Horev - Mount Sinai; pronounced “Mount Ho-rev”

Musaf - Additional service; a collection of prayers recited after the morning service (Shacharit) and the reading of the Torah; contains the Amidah; the Musaf is recited on the Sabbath, holidays and Rosh Hodesh, the first of a new month; pronounced “Moo-sahf”

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Neilah - Closing Service of Yom Kippur; pronounced “Nay-lah”

Ner Havdalah - The braided candle over which a blessing is recited during the Havdalah ceremony

Nissuin – Nuptials and consummation of the Marriage; also the Wedding feast; pronounced “Nis-oo-een”

Nisukh HaMayim - Water libation ceremony; pronounced “Nis-ookh Ha-Mah-yeem”

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Ohel Mo’ed – Tent of Meeting; pronounced “Oh-hel Moh-ed”

Olam Haba - World to Come or Age to Come; pronounced “Oh-lahm Hah-bah”

Olam Hazeh – Present World or Present Age; pronounced “Oh-lahm Hah-zeh”

Oneg Shabbat – Joy of the Shabbat referring to a celebratory gathering held after Shabbat services, often with food, singing, study, discussion and socializing; simcha is another word also meaning joy but it is reserved for holy days other than Shabbat; pronounced “Oh-negg Shah-bot”

Or HaOlam - The Light of the World; pronounced “Oar Ha-Oh-lahm”

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Parashah - A section; the specific section of the Torah assigned for reading each week

Parush – Pharisee; pronounced “Pah-roosh”

Parushim – Pharisees; pronounced “Pah-roosh-eem”

Pesach – Feast of Passover; pronounced “Pay-sock”

Pri Etz Hadar - Literally “Fruit of goodly trees”; pronounced “Pree Ehtz Ha-dahr”

Pur – Lot; pronounced “Poohr”

Purim – Lots; pronounced “Poohr-eem”

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Ra’ashanim - Graggers; pronounced “Rah-osh-ah-neem”

Rachamim – Compassion; pronounced “Rock-a-meem”

Rosh HaShanah – Head of the Year; pronounced “Roche Ha-Shah-nah”

Rosh Hodesh - The first day of the new month; a minor festival

Ruach - Spirit; pronounced “Roo-ock”

Ruach HaKodesh - Holy Spirit; pronounced “Roo-ock Ha-Koh-desh”

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Seder – Order; pronounced “Say-der”

Sefer HaHayyim - Book of Life; pronounced “Say-fehr Ha-Hah-yeem”

Sefer Rashim - Book of the Wholly Wicked; pronounced “Say-fehr Rahsh-eem”

Sefer Torah - The Scroll of the Torah containing the Five Books of Moses; pronounced “Say-fehr To-rah”

Seudat Purim - Special festive meal eaten in the afternoon; pronounced “Sue-daht Poohr-eem”

Shabbat – Sabbath; means “rest” or “cessation”; pronounced “Shah-bot”

Shabbat HaGadol - Great Shabbat just before Pesach; there are other special Shabbats throughout the year as well; pronounced “Shah-bot Ha-Gah-dole”

Shabbat Shalom - Sabbath peace; greeting used on the Sabbath, "Good Sabbath"

Shacharit - Morning Service; the second of the three daily services; pronounced “Sha-kah-reet”

Shakan - Sukkah/Dwell with; pronounced “Shah-kahn”

Shamash – Servant; pronounced “Shah-mosh”

Shavuah - Week; pronounced “Shah-voo-ah”

Shavuot - Feast of Weeks or Feast of Pentecost; pronounced “Shah-voo-ote”

Shekinah - Divine Presence/Glory Cloud; pronounced “Sheh-kee-nah”

Shemini Atzeret - The eighth (day) of assembly or eighth conclusion; pronounced “Sheh-mee-nee Atz-eh-reht”

Shemittah years - Sabbath year of release which occur every 7 years; pronounced “Sheh-mee-tah”

Shemonei Esrei - 18 Benedictions Prayer; also known as the Amidah; pronounced “Sheh-mo-nay Es-ray”

Shemot – Name for the Book of Exodus; means “Names”; pronounced “Sheh-mote”

Shevarim - A "broken," sighing sound of three short calls; pronounced “Sheh-vah-reem”

Shiloach - Siloam (which means sent); pronounced “Shih-lo-ock”

Shiluhim - Gifts given to the bride by her father; these are literally "parting gifts"; pronounced “Shil-oo-heem”

Shir HaShirim - Song of Songs; pronounced “Sheer Ha-Sheer-eem”

Shlichim – Apostles, emissaries or sent ones; pronounced “Shlee-keem”

Shlomo – Solomon; pronounced “Shlo-mo”

Shofar – Ram’s horn; pronounced “Show-far”

Siddur - Prayer book containing the prayers for a given service, and arranged in a given order; usually there are separate prayer books for the Sabbath and Festivals, Daily Services, and High Holy Day Services; pronounced “Sid-oohr”

Sidrah - Torah portion of the week; the Torah does not contain chapters; it is divided into 54 portions (Parshiyot) which are read during the year; pronounced “Sid-ra”

Simcha – Joy; a joyful occasion; pronounced “Sim-ka”

Simchat Beit Hasho’evah - Rejoicing at the House of the Water Drawing; pronounced “Sim-kaht Bait Ha-sho-eh-vah”

Sufganiyot - A kind of doughnut without the hole, covered in powdered sugar; pronounced “Soof-gan-ih-yote”

Sukkah - Temporary shelter/booth; pronounced “Sook-ah”

Sukkot - Feast of Booths/Tabernacles; temporary shelters/booths; pronounced “Sue-kote”

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Ta’anit Esther - Fast of Esther; pronounced “Tah-ah-neet Esther”

Tallit - A fringed prayer shawl, traditionally worn by Jews over the age of thirteen during the morning service; also worn during the Kol Nidrei Service; pronounced “Tah-leet”

Talmid - Disciple; pronounced “Tal-meed”

Talmidim - Disciples; pronounced “Tal-mee-deem”

Tanakh - Torah, Navi’im (Prophets) and Khetuvim (Writings); pronounced “Tah-nock”

Tashlik - “You shall cast”; pronounced “Tah-shleek”

Tefillin - Small leather boxes which contain four handwritten sections of the Torah and to which straps are attached; traditionally worn by Jews from age thirteen and placed on the head and arm during morning services except on Sabbath and holidays

Tekiah - The "blast," one long blast with a clear tone; pronounced “Teh-kee-ah”

Tekiah Gedolah - "The great Tekiah," a single unbroken blast, held as long as possible; pronounced “Teh-keeh-ah Geh-dole-ah”

Teruah - The "alarm," a rapid series of nine or more very short notes; pronounced “Teh-roo-ah”

Teshuvah – Repent; pronounced “Teh-shoo-vah”

Torah – Instruction; pronounced “Toe-rah”

Trop - The ancient musical signs used to indicate to the reader of the Torah, the Haftarah and other parts of the Bible, the melodies in which they are to be chanted; pronounced “Trope”

Tz’dukim - Sadducees; pronounced “Tze-doo-keem”

Tzitzit - Fringes of the tallit; pronounced “Zeet-zeet”

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Ushpizin - Guests; pronounced "Oosh-piz-in"

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Vayikra – Name for the Book of Leviticus; means “He called”; pronounced “Veye-yee-kra”

Viddui - Confession; pronounced “Vid-doo-ee”

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Ya’akov – Jacob; pronounced “Yah-ah-cove”

Yahrzeit - Annual remembrance of the death anniversary of a loved one; pronounced “Yar-zite”

Yarah – To shoot or hit the mark; pronounced “Yah-rah”

Yasher Koach - The vernacular for the Hebrew "Yishar (or Y'Yasher) kohaha [male] or koheh [fem.]" meaning "congratulations" and "well done," (literally, "more power to you"); Often said to someone who has had an Aliyah; The traditional response is "Baruch tihyeh," ("May it be for a blessing"); pronounced “Yah-share ko-ock”

Yayin - Wine; pronounced “Yah-yeen”

Yehuda – Judah; pronounced “Yeh-hoo-dah”

Yeshua – Jesus; pronounced “Yeh-shoo-ah”

Yisrael - Today, every Jew who does not have the distinction of being a Kohen or a Levi is a Yisrael; traditionally, a Kohen and Levi are accorded the first and second honors respectively; the Yisrael is honored with an Aliyah, beginning with the third honor

Yitzchak – Isaac; pronounced “Yitz-ock”

Yochanan the Immerser - John the Baptist; pronounced “Yo-ka-nahn”

Yom Ad-nai - The Day of the L-rd; pronounced “Yohm Ah-doh-neye”

Yom HaDin - The Day of Judgment; pronounced “Yohm Ha-Deen”

Yom HaZikaron - The Day of Remembrance; pronounced “Yohm Ha-Zik-ahrone”

Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement; pronounced “Yohm Kee-poohr”

Yom T’ruah - Day of Blowing Shofars/Trumpets/Rosh HaShanah; pronounced “Yohm Teh-roo-ah”

Yomim Noraim - The Days of Awe; pronounced “Yo-meem Nor-ah-eem”

Yosef – Joseph; pronounced “Yo-sef”

Yovel - Jubilee year; pronounced “Yo-vehl”

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Zeman Simchateinu - The Season of our Rejoicing; pronounced “Zeh-mahn Sim-kah-tay-noo”

Zeroah – Shankbone; also can mean “arm” or “wing” symbolizing the outstretched arm with which G-d delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt; pronounced “Zeh-ro-ah”