"Cliff Notes" Jewish Day School 2020-2021 5780-5781 - Temple Beth Am
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Jewish Day School “Cliff Notes” 2020-2021 5780-5781 A quick run-down with need-to-know info on: • Jewish holidays • Jewish language • Jewish terms related to prayer service
SOURCES
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE INFORMATION
FOR THIS BOOKLET WAS TAKEN FROM:
• www.interfaithfamily.com
• Living a Jewish Life by Anita Diamant with
Howard Cooper
FOR MORE LEARNING, YOU MAY BE
INTERESTED IN THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES:
• www.reformjudaism.org
• www.myjewishlearning.com
• Jewish Literacy by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
• The Jewish Book of Why by Alfred J. Kolatch
• The Jewish Home by Daniel B. Syme
• Judaism for Dummies by Rabbi Ted Falcon
and David Blatner
Table of Contents ABOUT THE CALENDAR 5 JEWISH HOLIDAYS Rosh haShanah 6 Yom Kippur 7 Sukkot 8 Simchat Torah 9 Chanukah 10 Tu B’Shevat 11 Purim 12 Pesach (Passover) 13 Yom haShoah 14 Yom haAtzmaut 15 Shavuot 16 Tisha B’Av 17 Shabbat 18 TERMS TO KNOW A TO Z 20
About the calendar... JEWISH TIME- For over 2,000 years, Jews have juggled two calendars. According to the secular calendar, the date changes at midnight, the week begins on Sunday, and the year starts in the winter. According to the Hebrew calendar, the day begins at sunset, the week begins on Saturday night, and the new year is celebrated in the fall. The secular, or Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar, based on the fact that it takes 365.25 days for the earth to circle the sun. With only 365 days in a year, after four years an extra day is added to February and there is a leap year. The Hebrew calendar is both solar and lunar. The months are lunar and made up of either 29 or 30 days, which add up to a 354-day year, 11.25 days short of a solar year. The discrepancy is corrected with the occasional addition of a leap month tucked between the spring months of Adar and Nisan. A word on "time of year": the Jewish calendar and the secular, Gregorian calendar are not in sync, so (sometimes) people will have to look at a calendar to know exactly when a Jewish holiday is. This might lead to someone saying that a holiday falls "early" or "late" this year, in comparison to the Gregorian calendar. Page 5
JEWISH HOLIDAYS ROSH HASHANAH Hebrew name means: Head of the year—idiomatically, New Year. What's It About? A solemn holiday beginning the calendar year with repentance from sin and the hope of renewal. Pronounce it: Some say rashashanuh (like it's one word) and some rohsh ha-shah-nah. When is it? Starts the evening of September 18, 2020 Foods: Apples and honey, round challah with raisins, honey cake, pomegranates, pumpkins and other round foods, sweet foods and foods that are gold-colored, like carrots. Activities: Many Jews who never come to synagogue the rest of the year go for the marathon of synagogue services on Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur. One special activity that they don't want to miss is the sounding of the shofar, or ram's horn. At home, a special activity is eating apples dipped in honey. Many Jews send New Year's cards for this holiday. Probably the most important activity associated with this holiday comes between Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur: trying to repair relationships and make apologies for bad behavior in the previous year. Symbols of Holiday: The shofar or ram's horn, apples and honey, pomegranates, the Book of Life. Greeting? You can say Happy New Year, or try the Hebrew version, Shanah Tovah. If you want to give a more complete version of the greeting, try L'shanah tovah tikatevu, May you be inscribed for a good year (in the Book of Life). Yiddish-speaking Jews say "Gut yontev." Page 6
YOM KIPPUR Hebrew name means: Day of Atonement. What's It About? A fast day of prayer and collective confession. Pronounce it: Some say yohm kee-poor, and some yohm kipper. When is it? Starts the evening of September 27, 2020 Foods: None. It's a fast day! Well, families do have traditions about what to eat when the fast is over, like a dairy meal, but there's nothing universal. Children under age 13 and other people whose health might be harmed don't fast. We also have a food drive for those who go hungry the other 364 days of the year. Activities: In addition to all the negatives involved in fasting—not eating, not drinking, not washing, not wearing leather, not having sexual relations—there are a lot of things to do on Yom Kippur. Mainly there are a lot of traditional prayers and things to read in the synagogue. For a lot of Jews who aren't very observant, Yom Kippur is special because it's the day they go to a memorial service, called Yizkor, to honor dead relatives. Symbols of Holiday: White clothing, sneakers worn with dress clothes (because of the prohibition on leather). Greeting? You can say Happy New Year or "have an easy fast." Some say Shanah Tovah, which is Hebrew for Happy New Year. The more targeted greeting for Yom Kippur is Gamar hatimah tovah--May you be sealed in the Book of Life. Page 7
SUKKOT Hebrew name means: Booths or tabernacles. The singular is sukkah. What's it about? In ancient times when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, this was a pilgrimage holiday to celebrate the harvest. In our time it still coincides with the harvest. Pronounce it: Some say sue coat and some say sukkiss. When is it ? Starts the evening of October 2, 2020 Foods: No specific special food, just more big sumptuous meals. Activities: Before the holiday, communities and some individual families build a sukkah or hut in the back yard or on the back porch. The sukkah is open to the elements. During the holiday an important activity is eating in the sukkah. There is also a ritual involving blessing and waving the etrog—a citron—and the lulav—a palm branch bound with myrtle and willow. Symbols of Holiday: The sukkah, the lulav and the etrog. Greeting? Hag Sameah (Happy holiday) with a heavy gutteral h at the beginning of the first word and the end of the second. Or if you are really sophisticated, Moadim l'simcha, which means "festivals for joy." You may also hear "gut yontev," which is Yiddish for happy holiday. Page 8
SIMCHAT TORAH Hebrew name means: Rejoicing in the Torah. What's it about? At the end of Sukkot, there is one more holiday to celebrate finishing the reading of the Torah scroll for the year and starting it over again. Pronounce it: The ch in Simchat is one of those heavy gutteral ones. Some say simchas to-rah instead. When is it? Some celebrate Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly) and Simchat Torah on two days, as Reform Jews we follow the same calendar as our Israeli family and celebrate both on one day. Starts the evening of October 10, 2020. Foods: No specific special food, just more big sumptuous meals. Activities: This is a synagogue holiday with another really long service, but in the middle of it, people get up, process through their building with the scrolls and then dance with them. The more traditional they are, the crazier they get with the dancing. It's also a chance to honor a lot of people by calling them up to make blessings on the Torah, because there is a reading from the end of the scroll—the death of Moses—and another from the beginning--the creation of the world. In some congregations the assembled people unroll the Torah scroll and stand in the middle of the parchment before they start the cycle again. Symbols of Holiday: The Torah scroll, flags that children carry, dancing people. Greeting? Hag sameah (Happy holiday) with a heavy gutteral h at the beginning of the first word and the end of the second. Or if you are really sophisticated, Moadim l'simcha, which means "festivals for joy." You may also hear "gut yontev," which is Yiddish for happy holiday. Page 9
CHANUKAH Hebrew name means: Dedication. What's it about? Chanukah is an 8-day holiday that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians and the Jewish recapture and rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE. Pronounce it: The initial Ch in Chanukah is a gutteral one, like the j in José. So Hhhhhhanooka. You'll be fine, don't worry. When is it? We light our first candle the evening of December 10, 2020 (ends December 18) Foods: Fried foods, especially potato pancakes, called latkes, and jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot. Activities: The main observance is lighting the candles in a ceremonial lamp called a hanukkiah or Chanukah menorah. Playing with a top called a dreidel is another fun tradition. Chanukah is a minor holiday in the sense that there is no requirement to abstain from work. Symbols of the holiday: Menorah, candles, dreidel. Greeting? Happy Chanukah! Page 10
TU B’SHEVAT, THE NEW YEAR FOR TREES Hebrew name means: 15th day of Hebrew month of Shevat What's it about? When the Temple in Jerusalem was still standing, Jews offered the first fruits of their trees on the Shavuot holiday. The trees had to be at least four years old, and this date was for figuring out the age of the trees. You could call it the official tree birthday. These days it's a great time to think about trees and the environment. Pronounce it: too beesh'vat When is it? Starts the evening of January 27, 2021 Foods: Fruit, nuts and other things that grow on or in trees Activities: Many ordinary Jews have reclaimed the mystical practice of the Tu B’Shevat Seder, or ritual meal—a great opportunity to explore environmentalist themes in Judaism. Another practice is to plant trees. This is a minor holiday in that there is no traditional obligation not to work. Symbols of holiday: Trees and tree fruit Greeting? There is no official greeting for this holiday. Hag Sameah (Happy holiday) with a heavy gutteral h at the beginning of the first word and the end of the second. Page 11
PURIM Hebrew name means: Lots. Refers to Esther 3:7, in which the villain Haman draws lots to set the date for the Jews' destruction. What's it about? Celebration of a narrow escape from genocide described in the biblical Book of Esther. Pronounce it: Poor-im. When is it? Starts the evening of February 25, 2021 Foods: Triangular pastries called hamantashen (Haman's pockets), named for the bad guy in the Book of Esther. Some Jews also eat other foods with things hidden inside, like dumplings, other sweets and goodies, and drink alcoholic beverages. Activities: On Purim we read the Book of Esther, wear costumes, eat triangular cookies and other treats, and use noisemakers. It's also traditional to give money to charity, send anonymous packages of goodies to your friends (called mishloach manot or shaloch mones) and to get drunk. This is a minor holiday in that there is no traditional obligation not to work. Symbols of Holiday: Masks, costumes, noisemakers called graggers, hamantashen. Greeting? Happy Purim! You can say "Purim Sameah," which means "happy Purim," if you can pronounce the heavy gutteral h at the end of Sameah. Page 12
PESACH OR PASSOVER Hebrew name means: Pesach means Passover. It refers to Exodus 12:23, when God passed over the Israelites. What's it about? Passover celebrates God liberating the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and is probably the single most theologically important holiday in the Jewish calendar (no pressure). The holiday lasts eight days, though some communities may celebrate only a week. Pronounce it: If you can't say the guttural h sound represented by the ch in Pey-sach, say Passover. When is it? Starts the evening of March 27, 2021 (ends 4/3) Foods: Traditionally, Jews eat no bread or leavened food on Passover and do eat matzah, an unleavened bread. There are many food traditions that spring from this, including all the many foods made of ground matzah (called "matzah meal"). These include things like matzah balls, gefilte fish and sponge cake. Cookies and cakes made out of nuts, like macaroons, are also big on Passover, as are candies that follow the special rules of keeping kosher for this holiday. Activities: Observant Jews don't eat bread or other leavened foods and have big holiday meal called a seder where they retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt. This is a major holiday, meaning that traditional Jews take days off of work at the beginning and end of the eight days of the holiday, but work in the middle. Symbols of Holiday: Matzah, lambs (because of the historical Passover sacrifice), eggs, horseradish root, salt water. Greeting? It's fine to say "Happy Pesach" or "Happy Passover." Some people say "Hag Sameah v'kasher"—have a happy and kosher holiday. Page 13
YOM HASHOAH — HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY Hebrew name means: Holocaust day. What's it about? Europeans commemorate the Holocaust on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Jan. 27, 1945, but the Israeli government wanted a date that would honor Jewish resistance to the Nazi genocide of World War II. After some debate, the Jewish community as a whole agreed on the 27th day of the Hebrew month Nisan, since it was during the period of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, an act of Jewish heroism and resistance, but still falls after Passover. Pronounce it: Yohm ha-show-ah. When is it? Starts the evening of April 7, 2021 Foods: This is a new holiday. It's not traditional to fast, nor to eat particular foods. Activities: Because this is a new holiday, there are no traditional activities. In many Jewish communities, there are commemorative events. Some light special yahrzeit (annual memorial) candles. Symbols of holiday: Memorial candles, yellow stars of David, images of the Holocaust. Greeting? None. Page 14
YOM HA-ATZMAUT — ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY Hebrew name means: Independence day. What's it about? The modern State of Israel formally declared independence from Great Britain on May 14, 1948. In order to make this political milestone into a religious holiday, Jews decided to tie the holiday to the Hebrew date, Iyar 5. Jews outside the Land of Israel also celebrate this as a holiday. (The day before—April 13th— we remember those who have given their lives establishing and defending the State of Israel on Yom HaZikaron—the Day of Remembrance.) Pronounce it: Yohm ha-aatz-mah-oot. When is it? Starts the evening of April 14, 2021 Foods: Jewish communities hold fairs or other big events serv-ing falafel and other Israeli foods. Activities: In many U.S. Jewish communities, it's the custom to have a fair or other celebration. Some religious Jews add celebratory liturgy to weekday prayers. Symbols of holiday: Israeli flags, music, foods. Greeting? No official greeting, but some might like to hear "Happy Israel Independence Day." Page 15
SHAVUOT Hebrew name means: Weeks, because it was traditional to count the weeks between Passover and Shavuot. What's it about? Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. It was a pilgrimage holiday when the Temple was standing in Jerusalem, when farmers brought the first fruits of their four-year-old trees. It's a one day holiday in the land of Israel, though Orthodox and Conservative Jews in the Diaspora keep it for two days. Pronounce it: Shah-voo-oat. Some Jews also say Shah- voo-iss. When is it? To determine when we celebrate, we count 7 weeks from the second night of Passover. This year it starts the evening of May 16, 2021. Foods: Dairy foods are traditional on Shavuot, some say because the Jews learned that all their meat was not kosher when they received the Torah! Traditional foods include blintzes and cheesecake. Activities: One of the traditional texts for Shavuot is the book of Ruth. Reform Judaism therefore chose Shavuot as the holiday on which to hold Confirmation ceremonies, when teenagers reaffirm their Jewish beliefs. Some Jews follow the mystical custom of an all- night study session, called a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, on the eve of Shavuot. Symbols of holiday: The Ten Commandment tablets, blintzes, cheesecake. Greeting? Hag Sameah (Happy holiday) with a heavy gutteral h at the beginning of the first word and the end of the second. Or if you are really sophisticated, Moadim l'simcha, which means "festivals for joy." You may also hear "gut yontev," which is Yiddish for “happy holiday”. Page 16
TISHA B'AV Hebrew name means: Ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av. What's it about? This fast day commemorates the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE. In the medieval period, Jews began attaching other calamities to the day, including the expulsion from Spain in 1492, making it an all-purpose day of mourning. Pronounce it: Teesha beh-ahv. When is it? Starts the evening of July 17, 2021 Foods: A fast day with no food or water. Activities: Though this is a major fast day with no food, water or washing, it is a minor holiday in the sense that there is no requirement to abstain from work. The main activity is the chanting of the book of Lamentations in the synagogue, during which it's traditional to sit on the floor in the dark. Medieval Jews wrote long dirges for the holiday that are also part of the services for this holiday in some synagogues. Symbols of the holiday: No major visual symbols—some might remember it by photos of Jerusalem. Greeting? An odd feature of Tisha B'Av is that it's traditional not to greet people during the fast. This comes from Jewish mourning practices. When one visits a house of mourning, it's not usual to greet people either. It's OK if you slip up and say hello by accident in either case—you'd be surprised how polite people are. Page 17
But the most important holiday of all is… SHABBAT Hebrew name means: Sabbath—though the English word actually came from Shabbat! What's it about? A day of rest and enjoyment at the end of every week that religious people undertake in imitation of God, who rested on the seventh day of creation. Pronounce it: Shah-baht. It's sometimes spelled Shabbos and pronounced shabiss. When is it? Once a week! Shabbat lasts from 18 minutes before sundown on Friday until an hour after sundown on Saturday evening. Foods: Religious Jews try to eat especially delicious food on Shabbat, so if you are having Shabbat for the first time, the rule is yummy. It's traditional to have two loaves of special bread—among Jews in the United States, the bread is challah, a braided egg bread. It's also an old custom to make stew called hamin or cholent (with a normal English ch, not a heavy h sound) that is cooked overnight so that one can have hot food for Saturday lunch without having to do the work of cooking. Activities: Shabbat begins with the lighting of candles. There are special synagogue services and blessings to say at meals. The point of Shabbat is not to work. Some use a strict set of rabbinic definitions to figure out what does and doesn't count as work, and those folks don't drive, carry money, write or watch TV on Shabbat. Others don't use these definitions, but they just take the day off. Whether one is a strict constructionist or a loose constructionist, Shabbat is a great day to hang out with family and friends, eat a lot, take walks, study Torah, sing songs, read stories to children, take a nap, and just generally relax and unplug. Symbols of the holiday: Candles, challah, wine, flowers. Greeting? Shabbat shalom, which means peaceful sabbath. Yiddish speakers say gut Shabbos, pronounced goot shabiss. Page 18
TERMS TO KNOW A TO Z
TERMS TO KNOW A TO Z
ALEF BET
The Hebrew alphabet, of which alef and bet are the first two
letters.
BET ALEF
ASHKENAZI
Having Jewish family origins in Germany or Eastern Europe.
BAR MITZVAH
Hebrew for "son of the commandment." In modern Jewish
practice, Jewish boys come of age at 13. When a boy comes of
age, he is officially a bar mitzvah and considered an adult. The
term is commonly used as a short-hand for the bar mitzvah's
coming-of-age ceremony and/or celebration. The female
equivalent is "bat mitzvah" (“daughter of the commandment”).
BARUCH ATAH ADONAI
Hebrew for "Blessed are You my God." Introductory words to
many Jewish prayers. "Adonai" may be translated in other
ways, such as Lord or Ruler.
BENCHING
In Yiddish, "bentshn" means "to bless." It means "blessing" and
refers to saying the blessing after meals, "Birkat
Hamazon" (Hebrew for "Blessing on Nourishment").
BIBLE: SEE TANAKH
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BIMAH
The elevated area or platform in a synagogue, from which the
Torah is read. Worship service leaders, such as clergy, may
lead services from the bimah as well.
BIRKAT HA’MAZON
Hebrew for “Blessing on Nourishment,” the blessing after
meals.
BOKER TOV
Hebrew for “good morning.” If someone greets you with
“Boker Tov” you can reply “BOKER OR” (Hebrew meaning
“morning light”).
CANTOR
A leader of synagogue services trained in Jewish liturgical
(worship) music ("Hazzan" in Hebrew).
CELEBRATION DAYS
AT TEMPLE BETH AM DAY SCHOOL
When school falls on a Jewish holiday, we do not hold class as
usual. Instead, we have a celebration day in which classroom
time is devoted to learning and celebrating the holiday. The
Elementary School also participates in the congregation’s
holiday services. Parents are invited and encouraged to join
their children for services from 10:30am—noon. The entire
school is dismissed at half day.
CHALLAH
A braided loaf of egg bread. It is customary to begin
Sabbath and holiday meals by saying blessings and eating
challah.
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CHUTZPAH
A Yiddish word meaning audacity, for good or for bad;
commonly used to imply something was gutsy.
CHUMASH
One of the terms used for the Torah or Five Books
of Moses. From the Hebrew for “five.”
CONSERVATIVE
Religious movement developed in the United States during the
20th Century as a more traditional response to modernity than
that offered by the Reform movement.
DAVEN
Yiddish for "prayer." It is often used as a verb in English.
("I'm going to daven Saturday morning.")
DREIDEL
Yiddish for "spin," a four-sided spinning top played with during
the Jewish holiday of Chanukah; in Hebrew a sevivon.
D'VAR TORAH
Hebrew for "word of Torah," a lesson or sermon based on the
weekly reading of the Torah. At Temple Beth Am Day School,
each of our 5th grade students has the opportunity to deliver a
d’var Torah to the student body.
GEFILTE FISH
Yiddish for "stuffed fish," a patty made of ground up
varieties of fish, matzah meal and spices, boiled in fish broth.
A popular dish on Passover, sometimes served on Shabbat and
other holidays as well.
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GELT
Yiddish for "money," usually refers to chocolate coins given
on Chanukah (and used as bets during the dreidel game).
HA'SHEM
Hebrew for "The Name." Used as a substitute for the
Hebrew name for God, which traditional Orthodox Jews
are forbidden from uttering outside of prayer.
HAVDALAH
Hebrew for "separation" or "distinction," the Saturday
evening ceremony that separates Shabbat from the rest of
the week. The Rabbis of the Talmud teach we can extend
Shabbat and make Havdalah as late as Tuesday! As a school,
we begin the week with a communal Havdalah on Monday
morning.
Havdalah braided candle,
spices and wine used in
ceremony
HORAH
Hebrew, derived from the Greek word for "dance." A variety
of dances often done in a circle, popular in Israel and danced at
Jewish celebrations such as weddings.
KABBALAT SHABBAT
Special Friday night service that welcomes in the Sabbath. On
Friday mornings we have a Kabbalat Shabbat assembly to bring
the school together to pray, learn, sing, and help us end the
week peacefully.
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KASHRUT
Hebrew for "fit" (as in, "fit for consumption"), system of laws
that govern what Jews may and may not eat. One practices
“kashrut”; individual foods are deemed “kosher” or not. Our
campus does practice kashrut. Please see the parent-student
manual for acceptable and unacceptable food choices for your
child.
KIDDUSH
Hebrew for "sanctification," a blessing recited over wine or
grape juice to sanctify the Sabbath and Jewish holidays.
KIPPAH
Hebrew for "skullcap," also known in Yiddish as a "yarmulke,"
the small, circular headcovering worn by male Jews in most
synagogues, and female Jews in more liberal congregations.
Traditional Jews wear kippot (plural of kippah) all the time.
Worn as a sign of reverence for God. Reform Judaism
recognizes the kippah as an important ritual object but does
not require it to be worn. As a school, we teach our students
about the kippah, and they are given their own to wear; then it
is their choice if they would like to wear it to services or at
other times.
KOSHER: SEE KASHRUT
L'CHAYIM
Hebrew for "to life," usually said as a celebratory toast. When
couples become engaged, a celebration for them is often called
a "l'chayim" as friends and family will offer the couple toasts.
for a happy life together.
L'DOR VA'DOR
Hebrew for "from generation to generation."
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MACHZOR
The special High Holiday prayer book. Hebrew for
“cycle” (referring to the cycle of the year).
MAGEN DAVID
Hebrew for "shield of David," it is more commonly recognized
as the Star of David, a six-point star. The symbol has origins
in the Torah, and has been used as a symbol of Jewish identity
and Judaism in Europe since the Middle Ages.
MAZAL TOV
Hebrew for "good luck," a phrase used to express
congratulations for happy and significant occasions.
Yiddish spelling and pronunciation is Mazel Tov.
MENSCH
Yiddish term for an honorable, decent person, usually means "a
person of integrity and honor," someone of good character and
a deep sense of what is right. One of our goals as a school is
that your child learn to be a mensch.
MEZUZAH
Hebrew for "doorpost." It now refers to a small box containing
a parchment scroll inscribed with the Hebrew text of the
Shema prayer, which is affixed to the doorposts of Jewish
homes. Strictly speaking, mezuzah only refers to the scroll
itself, not the case in which it's housed. Each of our
classrooms has a mezuzah.
MIDDAH
A value or character trait. Part of our curriculum is character
development. Every month your child will learn about a new
middah; we call it the “Middah of the Month.”
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MINYAN
Hebrew for "count," it refers to the quorum of ten Jewish
adults (in some communities only men are counted; in others,
like ours, both men and women) required to hold a Torah
service, recite some communal prayers, and the home-based
recitation of the Kaddish.
MITZVAH
Hebrew for "commandment." It has two meanings. The first
is the commandments given in the Torah. ("You should obey
the mitzvah of honoring your parents!") The second is a good
deed. ("Helping her grandmother carry her groceries home
was such a mitzvah!") Plural form of mitzvah is mitzvot.
MOTZI
Hebrew for "brings forth" or "expels," the first unique or
identifying word of the blessing over bread ("...brings forth
bread from the earth"). Some say this blessing over bread,
others recite it as a catch-all before a meal. At Temple Beth
Am Day School, the motzi is said as a class before every
meal.
ONEG SHABBAT
Hebrew for "Sabbath joy," the term for the light
refreshments served after a Shabbat service.
ORTHODOX
An Orthodox Jew is one who believes that all of Jewish law is
binding and must be followed.
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PARASHAH
Hebrew for “portion.” The weekly Torah portion read during
Shabbat services. The Torah is divided into 54 sections
(parshiyot, plural form of parashah). One (and occasionally
two) is read each week. At Temple Beth Am Day School,
every Friday, a student or the rabbi will tell the school what
the parashah is for that week and will teach some of the
lessons we glean from it.
Alternate spellings: Parasha, parsha, parshah.
RABBI
Hebrew for "teacher", a seminary-ordained member of the
clergy. “The Rabbis” refers to the men who codified the
Talmud.
RECONSTRUCTIONISM
Religious movement begun in the United States in the
twentieth century by Mordecai Kaplan, which views Judaism
as an evolving religious civilization.
REFORM
A movement begun in nineteenth century Germany that
sought to reconcile Jewish tradition with modernity. Reform
Judaism does not recognize the divine authority of Halachah
(an umbrella term for the entire body of Jewish law).
SEPHARDIC
Referring to the culture of Jews who are descendants of the
Jews of Medieval Spain and now used to describe Jews of the
Mediterranean region. Sephardim are distinguished from
Ashkenazim (having Jewish family origins in Germany or
Eastern Europe) and have slightly differing customs and
practices.
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SHABBAT
The Hebrew word for the Jewish Sabbath, from sunset on
Friday to nightfall on Saturday.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Hebrew for "Sabbath [of] peace," a greeting on or before the
Jewish Sabbath.
SHALOM
A universal Hebrew greeting which means “hello,” “good-bye”
and “peace.”
SHAVUAH TOV
Hebrew for "a good week," a typical greeting on Saturday
night, after Havdalah, as the new week starts.
SHEHECHEYANU
Hebrew for "Who has given us life," part of a blessing thanking
God for bringing us to a special or new moment. This is a great
blessing to say when you or your child have a unique or joyful
experience.
SHEMA
Hebrew for "hear" or “listen,” the first word and name of
the central Jewish prayer and statement of faith. The most
often-recited Jewish statement that declares God’s One-
ness, “Listen, Israel, Adonai our God is One” (Deuteronomy
6:4). It is written on the scroll of a mezuzah.
SHUL
Yiddish for "synagogue" or “temple”.
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SIDDUR
Hebrew for "prayer book," the plural is "siddurim." At Temple
Beth Am Day School, every year, the siddur is written by the
graduating 5th grade class.
SIMCHAH
Hebrew for "gladness" or "joy," it is often used to refer to a
festive occasion or celebration, like a wedding, bat mitzvah, or
bris.
STAR OF DAVID
Known in Hebrew as "magen David" (literally, "shield of
David"), it is more commonly recognized as the Star of David,
a six-point star. The symbol has origins in the Torah, and has
been used as a symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism in
Europe since the Middle Ages.
SYNAGOGUE
Derived from the Greek word for "assembly," a Jewish house
of prayer. Synagogue refers to both the room where prayer
services are held and the building where it occurs. In Yiddish,
"shul." Reform synagogues are often called "temples."
TALLIT
Hebrew for "prayer shawl," a ritual item that is worn,
generally at morning worship services, and has specially
knotted fringes (tzitzit) attached to the four corners. The
plural form is "tallitot." “Tallis” in Yiddish (the plural form is
"talleisim.")
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TALMUD
Hebrew for "instruction" or "learning," a central text of
Judaism, recording the Rabbinic discussions pertaining to
Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history. It has two
parts: Mishnah (redacted c. 200 CE) and Gemara (c. 500 CE),
an elucidation of the Mishnah.
TANAKH
Hebrew acronym for the Bible. It stands for "Torah (Five
Books of Moses), Nevi'im (Prophets), Ketuvim (Writings)."
TEFILLAH
Hebrew for "prayer." The plural form is "tefillot."
TEMPLE
Reform synagogues are often called "temples." "The Temple"
refers to either the First Temple, built by King Solomon in
957 BCE in Jerusalem, or the Second Temple, which replaced
the First Temple and stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
from 516 BCE to 70 CE.
TORAH
The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), or the scroll that contains
them.
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TZEDAKAH
Literally means “justice”; in practice it is righteous giving;
charity.
YARMULKE: SEE KIPPAH
YIDDISH
A language, literally meaning "Jewish," once widely used by
Ashkenazi communities. It is influenced by German, Hebrew
and Slavic languages, and is written with the Hebrew alphabet.
It is comparable to the language of many Sephardi
communities, Ladino.
ZION
Hebrew term, synonymous with Jerusalem.
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