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Glossary and Index: Search the Judaism 101 Glossary and Site Index
Glossary of Jewish Terminology: Definitions and explanations of Jewish terminology, including Yiddish and Hebrew words, with links to pages that discuss the subject in more depth.

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Avinu Malkeinu (ah-VEE-noo mahl-KAY-noo): Lit.: Our Father, Our King. A penetential prayer sung repeatedly during services from Rosh Hashanah through the Days of Awe to Yom Kippur, asking G-d to forgive us and fulfull our needs in His role as our Father and our King. See Rosh Hashanah through the Days of Awe to Yom Kippur
Beards: Traditionally, Jewish men wore full beards and long sideburns called in Hebrew peyot (pay-OHT) to observe the commandment in Lev. 19:27 not to round the corners of your head or mar the corners of your beard. There are points of Jewish law that allow some shaving, so you may see Orthodox Jews without full beards or peyot. Chasidic Jews do not follow this leniency. This subject has not yet been addressed in a page.
Dahyenu (dahy-AY-noo): Lit. It would have been enough for us. A popular song sung joyously during the Passover seder, after the telling of the story of the exodus from Egypt, listing the many miracles that G-d performed for us and repeating that any any one of them would have been enough for us, how much more grateful we are that He performed all of them. See Pesach Music.
Four Parshiyot (pahr-shee-OHT): Four special Torah readings added to the weekly cycle of readings during the month before Pesach (Passover).
Gebrochts (geh-BRAWKHTS): Yiddish: lit. broken. An additional strictness that some observe during Pesach (Passover), to avoid eating any matzah product that has come into contact with liquid after being baked. No matzah ball soup for you if you follow this rule! See Pesach Laws and Customs.
Karaites (KAH-rah-ahyts): Lit. People of the Scripture. A sect of Judaism that, like the ancient Sadducees, does not accept the oral Torah, but relies solely on the written scriptures. By contrast, Rabbinical Judaism believes that G-d taught Moses an oral Torah at the same time that He gave the written one. The Karaites are now a very small sect, though they claim that at one time they attracted 40 percent of the Jewish population. See their website at Karaite Jews of America.
Kavanah (kuh-VAH-nuh; kah-vah-NAH): Concentration, intent. The frame of mind required for prayer or performance of a mitzvah (commandment).
Pesach (PEH-sahkh, PAY-sahkh): Lit. exemption.1) Known in English as Passover, one of the Shalosh R'galim (three pilgrimage festivals), a holiday commemorating the Exodus from Egypt, . The holiday also marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is sometimes called Chag he-Aviv (the Spring Festival), Chag ha-Matzot (the Festival of Matzahs), and Z'man Cheiruteinu (the Time of Our Freedom).
2) The paschal lamb that, in Temple times, was sacrificed on this holiday.
Peyot (pay-OHT): From the phrase Peyot ha-Rosh, meaning Corners of the Head. Traditionally, Jewish men wore long sideburns called in Hebrew peyot (pay-OHT) and full beards to observe the commandment in Lev. 19:27 not to round the corners of your head or mar the corners of your beard. There are points of Jewish law that allow some shaving, so you may see Orthodox Jews without full beards or peyot. Chasidic Jews do not follow this leniency. This subject has not yet been addressed in a page.
Polygamy: In Biblical times, a man was permitted to marry more than one wife, but this was never common. A woman could never marry more than one man. Around 1000 C.E., Ashkenazic Jewry banned polygamy, but it continued to be permitted for Sephardic Jews. Polygamy is not permitted in the state of Israel. See Marriage - The Marital Relationship
Sanhedrin (sahn-HEE-drin): The "Supreme Court" of the ancient Jewish state, in the tradition established in Exodus chapter 18. According to tradition, the Oral Torah was given to Moses and passed on a continuous line to Joshua, then to the elders, then to the prophets then to the Sanhedrin. It decided difficult cases and cases of capital punishment. It also fixed the calendar, taking testimony to determine when a new month began.
Sex: Sex is not shameful, sinful or obscene. It is not solely for the purpose of procreation. When sexual desire is satisfied between a husband and wife at the proper time, out of mutual love and desire, sex is a mitzvah. See also Marriage.
Shabbat Ha-Chodesh (shah-BAHT hah-CHOH-desh): The sabbath on which we read Parshat Ha-Chodesh, one of the Four Parshiyot, special Torah readings added to the weekly cycle of readings during the month before Pesach (Passover). Parshat Ha-Chodesh establishes the Hebrew calendar.
Shabbat Ha-Gadol (shah-BAHT hah-gah-DOHL): Lit. The Great Sabbath. The sabbath before Pesach (Passover). A special Haftarah reading regarding the End of Days and the return of the prophet Elijah is read.
Shabbat Hazon (shah-BAHT hah-ZOHN): Lit. The Sabbath of Vision. The sabbath before Tisha B'Av, a fast mourning the destruction of the Temple. A special Haftarah reading regarding Isaiah's vision of the Temple's destruction is read.
Shabbat Nachamu (shah-BAHT NAH-chah-moo): Lit. The Sabbath of Consolation. The sabbath after Tisha B'Av, a fast mourning the destruction of the Temple. On this week and the six following weeks, special Haftarah readings of consolation for the loss of the Temple are read.
Shabbat Parah (shah-BAHT pah-RAH): The sabbath on which we read Parshat Parah, one of the Four Parshiyot, special Torah readings added to the weekly cycle of readings during the month before Pesach (Passover). Parshat Parah explains the procedure for the offering of the Red Heifer (Parah Adumah), a ritual of purification.
Shabbat Sheqalim (shah-BAHT sh'-kah-LEEM): The sabbath on which we read Parshat Sheqalim, one of the Four Parshiyot, special Torah readings added to the weekly cycle of readings during the month before Pesach (Passover). Parshat Sheqalim discusses the census conducted through donations of a half-shekel coin.
Shabbat Shirah (shah-BAHT SHEE-rah): Lit. The Sabbath of the Song. The sabbath when we read Parshat Beshalach as part of our regular weekly Torah readings. Parshat Beshalach contains the Song at the Sea, one of the ten true Songs in history.
Shabbat Shuvah (shah-BAHT SHOO-vah): The sabbath between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Special Haftarah readings regarding repentance and Divine mercy are read.
Shabbat Zakhor (shah-BAHT zah-KHAWR): The sabbath on which we read Parshat Zakhor, one of the Four Parshiyot, special Torah readings added to the weekly cycle of readings during the month before Pesach (Passover). Parshat Zakhor contains the commandment regarding the tribe of Amalek.
Shavu'ot (shuh-VOO-oht; shah-VOO-uhs): Lit. weeks. One of the Shalosh R'galim (three pilgrimage festivals), a festival commemorating the giving of the Torah and the harvest of the first fruits.
Sukkot (soo-KOHT; SUK-uhs): Lit. booths. One of the Shalosh R'galim (three pilgrimage festivals). A festival commemorating the wandering in the desert and the final harvest. Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or the Festival of Ingathering. See also Sukkot Blessings.

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