Back to About The Jew And Israel
Keys to Pronunciation
1: A syllable in capital letters is accented
2:The most common sound is "a" as in "father," which appears here as "ah"
3:An "e" at the end of a syllable is like the English silent "e", which makes the preceding vowel "long".
4: The "kh" is a sound not found in English. It is a "guttural" sound, much like clearing your throat.
5: Generally, an "im" at the end of a word makes it plural. IE "cherub"-singular; "cherubim"-plural.
Alenu
(ah-LAY-noo) A concluding prayer that affirms God's ultimate reign and the unique destiny of the people of Israel.Aliyah (ah-lee-YAH or ah-LEE-yah) Literally, "going up". Term usually used regarding immigrants "going up" to Israel. Also used when speaking of traveling to Jerusalem, which is "up" from any direction.
Amidah (an-mee-DAH or ah-MEE-dah) "The standing prayer", one of two main prayers in most Jewish services. Another name for this prayer is "Tefillah".
Amora'im (ah-moe-rah-EEM) The Rabbis from the 3rd to the 7th centuries who composed the Talmud. (Singular: Amorah-(ah-MOE-rah)
Ashkenazim (ash-k'nah-ZEEM or ash-k'NAH-zeem) Jews whose ancestry is traced back to northern and eastern Europe, as opposed to the Sephardim whose history goes back to Spain and Portugal.
Bar mitzvah (bahr-MITS-vah) The age at which a boy becomes religiously responsible for his actions, and the ceremony celebrating his achieving this status, usually held around his 13th birthday.
Bat-mitzvah (baht-MITS-vah) Same as above except for a young woman.
Bench (bentch) to "bench" is to say the Grace after meals, from the Yiddish word benshcn (BEN-sh'n). To say a blessing; Jews say "Let's bench," and then proceed to say Grace.
Bet hakenesset (BAYT hah-K'NES-set) Literally "a place of gathering", one of three traditional Hebrew names for a "synagogue".
Bet hamidrash (BAYT hah-meed-RAHSH) Literally, "a place of study". One of three traditional names for "synagogue" but also a place where people come to study Torah.
Bet hatefillah (BAYT hah-t'fee-LAH) Literally, "a place of prayer," another traditional Hebrew name for "synagogue".
Birkat Hamazon (berr-KAHT hah-mah-ZONE) The Grace after Meals, sometimes refereed to as "the BEER-kaht"
Brit milah (BREET mee;LAH) Literally, "covenant of circumcision," the ceremony of circumcision, also referred to by the Yiddish shortened form "B'ris" pronounced as it looks: "bris".
Challah (KHAH-lah) The twisted egg bread used on Shabbat (Sabbath) and other festival dinners.
Chanukah (KHAH-noo-kah or KHAH-nuh-kuh) Also known as the "Feast of Lights".
Commemorates the Jewish people's victory in the first recorded battle for religious liberty. Also Spelled "Hanukah".Chasidim (khah-see-DEEM or khah-SEE-dim) Ultra-Orthodox Jews who follow an 18th century mystical interpretation of Judaism.
Chazzan (khah-ZAHN or KHAH-z'n) A cantor
Daf yomi (DAHF YOH-mee or DAHF yoh-MEE) The study of the Talmud one page every day.
Daven (DAH-v'n) Traditional style of Jewish worship, and a word often substituted for the English word "pray". Jews say "It is time to daven".
Erev (EH-rev) the "eve' of a holy day. For example "Erev Shabbat, the day before Shabbat (Sabbath) and often used for late Friday, the time when Jews prepare for Shabbat. (The Jewish Sabbath starts at sundown Friday and lasts until sundown Saturday).
Gemara (g'MAHR-ah) Another word for Talmud.
Ge'onim (g'oh-NEEM) Babylonian rabbinic leaders who initiated the writing of Responsa from approximately the eighth to the twelfth centuries.
Haftarah (hahf-tah-RAH or hahf-TOE-rah) The reading from the prophets at Sabbath and festival services.
Haggadah (hah-GAH-dah or hah-gah-DAH) The prayer book for the Passover seder.
Halachah (hah-lah-KHAH or hah-LAH-khah) Jewish Law. ( "HA" is often connected to a Hebrew word and means "the".
Hamotzi (hah-MOE-tsee) A blessing given over bread, therefore the name by which Jews refer to the blessing before meals, sometimes referred to as "the Motzi".
Havdalah (hahv-dah-LAH or hahv-DAH-lah) The ritual that marks the end of the Sabbath and festivals.
Kabbalah (kah-bah-LAH or kah-BAH-lah) The most influential stream of Jewish Mysticism.
Kadosh (kah-DOSH) The Hebrew word for "Holy".
Kashrut (kahsh-ROOT) The dietary laws, "keeping kosher".
Kedushah (k'doo-SHAH or k'DOO-shah) A prayer declaring God's sanctity with the words of Isaiah: "Holy, Holy, Holy".
Ketubah (k'TOO-bah) The religious marriage document.
Ketuvim (k'too-VEEM) the 3rd section of the Jewish Bible. (Tanakh) Literally, "The Writings" IE Psalms, Proverbs, Job, etc. The other two sections of the Tanakh are "Torah" and "Nevi'im"
Kibbutz (kee-BOOTS or ki-BUTS) Name for "collective" farms in Israel governed under principles that combine Israeli nationalism with socialism. (Plural: Kibbutzim)
Kiddush (kee-DOOSH or KID-ish) The prayer accompanied by wine or grape juice and recited before dinner on the eve of the Sabbath or a festival, or the food and wine that is served in the synagogue after morning services on the Sabbath or a festival.
Kippah (kee-PAH) A ritual head covering also called a yarmulke (YAHR-m'l-kuh). Plural: kippot (kee-POTE)
Kohen (koe-HAYN or KOE-hayn) Someone of priestly descent. Jews with the last name of "Cohen" stem from this priestly line also. Plural: Kohanim (koe-hah-NEEM)
Kol Nidre (kole need-RAY or KOLE NID-ray) The opening Yom Kippur prayer, sung to a famous melody.
Kosher (KOE-sh'r) Literally "clean". Describes type of food that may be eaten by Jews, according to the dietary laws. It is also used to describe someone who keeps these laws.
Kotel (KOE-tel) The only remaining structure of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, its western wall, the most holy site for Jews.
Labriyut (lah-bree-YOOT) The Hebrew equivalent of "Gesundheit!", what to say when someone sneezes.
L'chayim (l'KHAH-yim) Literally: "To Life", the normal Jewish exclamation before taking a drink of wine or alcohol, or when making a toast.
Magen David (mah-GAYN dah-VEED) "Shield of David", the six-pointed Jewish star that appears on the flag of the State of Israel.
Matzah (MAHT-sah) The unleavened bread eaten on Passover.
Mazal tov (MAH-z'l tuff or mah-ZAHL TOVE) Literally: "Congratulations".
Megillah (m'gee-LAH or m'GIL-ah) "a scroll" used for one of five biblical books that are customarily printed on scrolls and read on specific holidays, especially used for the scroll of Esther that is read on Purim. (Plural: Megillot - m'gee-LOTE)
Menorah (m'NOE-rah) A seven or eight-branched candelabrum. If the latter, used expressly to hold Chanukah candles.
Mezuzah (m'ZOO-zah) Small wooden, metal, ceramic, or glass case, about 3" in length, that is placed on the door post of a Jewish home. Inside the case is a parchment on which are inscribed 15 verses from the book of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. The first sentence is the "Shema"
Midrash (mid-RAHSH or MID-rahsh) A collection of rabbinical commentary on the Bible.
Mikvah (MIK-vah) A ritual bath used In a conversion ceremony.
Minyan (MIN-y'n or min-YAHN) A quorum of ten, traditionally required for public worship.
Mishnah (MISH-nah) The first comprehensive book of Jewish law, compiled around 200 C.E. (Common Era = B.C.)
Mitzvah (MITS-vuh or meets-VAH) A commandment, or more generally, a good deed.
Mohel (MOE-hayl) A ritual circumcisor. (Plural - mohalim)
Navi (nah-VEE) Hebrew for "prophet".
Ni'illah (n'ee-LAH or n'EE-lah) The concluding service for Yom Kippur.
Nevi'im (n'vee-EEM) The second of three sections into which the Jews divide the Old Testament (The Tanakh), known as the "prophets".
Pesach (PEH-sakh) The festival of Passover, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. Purim (POO-rim) The festival commemorating the victory of the Jews over Haman, who instigated the murder the Jews in the Book of Esther.
Rosh Chodesh (rosh KHO-desh) The new moon, the first day of each new month.
Rosh Hashanah (ROSH hah-SHAH-nah or ROSH hah-shah-NAH) The Jewish New Year.
Seder (SAY-der) The evening meal and ritual with which Passover begins.
Sefer torah (SAY-fer TOE-rah) A Torah Scroll.
Sephardim (s'far-DEEM or S'FAR-deem) Jews who trace their roots to Spain or Portugal.
Shabbat (shah-BAHT) The Sabbath, also pronounced in its Yiddish form, Shabbos (SHAH-b's) People wish each other "Shabbat Shalom".
Shabbat shalom (shah-BAHT shah-LOME) "A peaceful Sabbath to you". This is the normal greeting on the Sabbath, or the way a Jew says "goodbye" on a Thursday or Friday to someone whom they do not expect to see again before the Sabbath arrives.
Shalom (shah-LOME) "Peace".
Shanah tovah (shah-NAH toe-VAH) Traditional greeting for the new year.
Shavuot (shah-voo-OTE) The "Festival of Weeks" commemorating the giving of Torah on Mount Sinai.
Shema (sh'MAH) The most famous Jewish prayer, a biblical exclamation confirming the "oneness" of God. The prayer in Hebrew reads as follows: "Shema Yisra'el Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad" (Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God; The Lord is One!)
Sho'ah (SHOA-ah) The Holocaust.
Shofar (sho-FAHR or SHO-fahr) The ram's horn sounded during worship on the New Year.
Shul (shool) The Yiddish word for synagogue.
Sukkot (soo-KOTE) The harvest festival marked by erecting booths and thanking God for the food He has brought to the Earth.
Talmud (TAL-m'd) The most famous collection of Jewish teaching, assembled by the rabbis from about the third to the seventh centuries.
Tallit (tah-LEET) A prayer shawl.
Tanakh (tah-NAHKH) The Hebrew Bible, consisting of the Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.
Tefillin (T'FIL-in or t'fee-LEEN) Small black boxes, also called phylacteries, containing passages from the Torah, to which leather straps are attached. Worshipers affix these boxes to their left arm and forehead while they pray.
Teshuvah (t'shoo-VAH or TSHOO-vah) Repentance; Jews speak of "doing teshuvah."
Tu Bishvat (too bish-VAHT) Jewish "Arbor Day" when trees are planted, especially in Israel.
Yad (yahd) A thin pointer that is shaped like a hand at the end. Used by a reader of the Torah to keep from losing his place.
Yarmulke (Yiddish word for the head covering used by Orthodox Jews, also known as a kippah.
Yiddish (YID-ish) The folk language of Ashkenazic Jews, a mixture of Hebrew and German, with some eastern European words added as well.
Yizkor (The memorial prayer recited on certain holidays, particularly Yom Kippur).
Yom Ha'atsmaut (yome hah-ahts-mah-OOT) Israeli independence Day.
Yom Hashoah (yome hah-SHOA-ah) Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Yom Hazikaron (yome hah-zee-kah-RONE) Remembrance Day in Israel, the day on which Israelis remember their fallen soldiers from all their wars.
Yom Kippur (yuhm KIP'r or YOME kee-POOP) The Day of Atonement.
Yom Yerushalayim (home y'roo-shah-LAH-yeem) Jerusalem Day, a holiday celebrating the reunification of Jerusalem in the 1967 war.
Zohar (ZOE-hahr) Long set of medieval mystical writings.
Back To Table Of Contents Page
Back to About The Jew And Israel