Glossary Glossary

Hebrew: Aharon – brother of Moshe and Miriam; first “Kohen Gadol,” “High Priest” of Israel.

Hebrew: Avraham – First of the “Avot,” the “Founding Fathers” of the Jewish People. Father of the Jewish People in particular and, by the name change of Avram to Avraham declared by the Almighty to be the father, as well, of “a multitude of nations.” (Bereshit 17:4) He re-discovered Monotheism, the belief in only One G-d, one of, if not the fundamental concept of the Jewish Religion. This principle was known obviously by Adam, but forgotten by most of his descendants, who built their societies on the basis of idol worship, until Avraham. Avraham re-discovered Monotheism on his own, according […]

[m., pl. “Acharonim”] the “last” or a “later one.” In Torah scholarship, the term has taken on the specific meaning of a Torah scholar who lived from approximately the sixteenth-seventeenth centuries through the nineteenth century. Some examples are Rabbi Akiva Eiger, the “Chatam Sofer” and the “Chofetz Chayim.”

Original Man; first human being created by G-d. He is created “B’tzelem Elokim,” “in the image of G-d.” One of the meanings of this is that he has “bechirah chofshit,” free will, and therefore the ability to choose between “Tov,” that which is good, and “Ra,” that which is evil.

the Name for G-d used most frequently in Berachot and in reading the Torah aloud. It means “Master,” as the Hebrew word for “master” is “adon.” The connotation is “Master of the universe” and “Master of the individual human being.” Compare HaShem.

[f.; pl. “ahavot”] love; as in “Ahavah mekalkelet et hashurah,” “Love removes one from the bounds of common sense”

[f., pl. “Akeidot”]; the binding; as in “Akeidat Yitzchak,” the “Binding (as a Sacrifice is bound) of Yitzchak, and his offering by Avraham to HaShem, as a sacrifice, according to His Command.” Until, at the last moment, while the sword was already in the air, an Angel of G-d intervened to stop the drama and pointed to a ram, to be substituted for Yitzchak (Bereshit 22:1-19), thus declaring for all time that human sacrifice was in fact abhorred by G-d. This was the primary expression of faithfulness to HaShem by Avraham and Yitzchak; Avraham, for his willingness to sacrifice his […]

one of the greatest of the Tannaim, Scholars of the Mishnah, the earliest written form of the Oral Torah. He was the Spiritual Leader of the Bar Kochba Revolt and it was he who initially proclaimed Bar Kochba the Mashiach. He was a Master of Transformation and Growth, as we see from the fact that he began to study Torah at the age of forty, and went on to become one of the greatest Torah Scholars. The death of 24,000 of his students constitute the traditional reason for the sadness of the Sefira, and the cessation of the plague on […]

[f.; pl. “Aliyot”] going up, rising; in location or in personal qualities; as in “Aliyah l’Eretz Yisrael,” “Going up to live in the Land of Israel” or “Aliyah La’Torah,” “Going up to make a blessing on the Torah”

[pl. “amot”] a unit of length, equal to six “tefachim,” or approximately 48 centimeters, or 19.2 inches. An example of its use in Jewish Law is in connection with the “Sukkah,” where the maximum height is 20 “amot,” approximately 960 cm., corresponding to about 384 inches or 32 feet.

[adverb] the response given upon hearing a blessing, meaning “so be it;” also interpreted as an abbreviation of “E-l Melech Ne’eman,” “The Mighty and Faithful King,” where we see the relationship between “Amen” and “Ne’eman,” “Faithful”

[Aramaic; plural: Amoraim] A scholar of the Gemara; examples: Abaye and Rava

Supplement to the “Shacharit” (Morning) Prayer, composed by medieval rabbinic authorities, expressing the basic philosophy of the Jewish Religion; based on the “Commentary to the Mishnah” of the Rambam on the chapter of the Talmud that deals most directly with philosophical matters. There are thirteen principles, and the twelfth (dealing with our steadfast belief in the Coming of the Mashiach) was sung by Jewish concentration camp martyrs during the Holocaust. The (abridged versions of the) principles are:

“Ani Maamin-1” – First of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century: “I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, creates and guides all creatures, and that He alone made, makes, and will make everything.”

“Ani Maamin-2” – Second of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century, and the second of the five principles relating to the Existence and Nature of G-d.

“Ani Maamin-3” – Third of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century, and the third of five principles relating to the Existence and Nature of G-d.

“Ani Maamin-4” – Fourth of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century, and the fourth of five principles relating to the Existence and Nature of G-d.

“Ani Maamin-5” – Fifth of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century, and the fifth and last of the five principles relating to the Existence and Nature of G-d.

“Ani Maamin-6” – Sixth of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century, and the first of the four principles relating to the Authority and Authenticity of the Torah, the nature of Prophecy, and the Prophecy of Moshe Rabbeinu, A”H.

“Ani Maamin-7” – Seventh of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century, and the second of the four principles relating to the Authority and Authenticity of the Torah, the nature of Prophecy, and the Prophecy of Moshe Rabbeinu, A”H.

“Ani Maamin-8” – Eighth of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century, and the third of the four principles relating to the Authority and Authenticity of the Torah, the nature of Prophecy, and the Prophecy of Moshe Rabbeinu, A”H.

“Ani Maamin-9” – Ninth of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century, and the fourth and last of the four principles relating to the Authority and Authenticity of the Torah, the nature of Prophecy, and the Prophecy of Moshe Rabbeinu, A”H.

“Ani Maamin-10” – Tenth of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century, and the first of the four principles relating to what we believe regarding G-d’s System of Rewards and Punishments for the individual, the ultimate Redemption of the Jewish People and of Humanity by the arrival of the Mashiach, and the Revival of the Dead

“Ani Maamin-11” – Eleventh of the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith laid down by the Rambam in the twelfth century, and the second of the four Principles relating to what we believe regarding G-d’s System of Rewards and Punishments for the individual, the ultimate Redemption of the Jewish People and of Humanity by the arrival of the Mashiach, and the Revival of the Dead.

“Ani Maamin” – “I Believe” – these are the first two words of each of the Thirteen Principles of Faith laid down by the Rambam (Maimonides) in the twelfth century. They are based, in turn, on Thirteen “Foundations” that appear in his “Peirush HaMishnayot,” “Explanations of the Mishnah” on Perek (Chapter) “Chelek.” The name of the chapter is based on the statement in Pirkei Avot, that each Jew has a share (a “chelek”) in the “World-to-Come.”

“Anshei Knesset HaGedolah” – Men of the Great Assembly; founded by Ezra in approximately 520 B.C.E., this institution of Torah Sages led the Jewish People at the beginning of the Second Temple Era (ca. 520 B.C.E. – 70 C.E.). It included Mordechai and the last of the prophetsChaggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Among the accomplishments of the “Anshei Knesset HaGedolah” were finalizing the contents of the “Tanach,” the 24-Book Hebrew Bible, instituting the “Shemoneh Esray” Prayer (recited at least three times daily, and ultimately to serve as a substitute for the Temple Sacrifices), and the enacting of many Laws to protect […]

[sing. “Aravah”] called by the Torah “Arvei Nachal,” “willows of the brook.” Two branches from this tree make up one of the “Arbaah Minim,” the “Four Species, or Types of Agricultural Produce” which the Jew is commanded by the Torah to hold together and wave in all directions. The symbolism of this act, at least according to one opinion in the Talmud, is to show the supremacy of G-d, its Creator, over Nature.

The “Four Species, or Types of Agricultural Produce” which the Jew is commanded by the Torah to hold together and wave in all directions. The symbolism of this act, at least according to one opinion in the Talmud, is to show the supremacy of G-d, its Creator, over Nature. The Four Species are the “Etrog,” the Citron Fruit, the “Lulav,” the branch of the date palm, “Hadasim,” three Myrtle Twigs, and “Aravot,” two Willow Branches. Another symbolic interpretation of the “Four Species” is based on the assumption that “Taam,” or Taste, represents knowledge of Torah while “Re-ach,” or Aroma, represents […]

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Tenth Day of Tevet, which commemorates the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by the Babylonians at the beginning of their Destruction of the First Temple.

English: Ten Commandments, or Ten Utterances; The following were the Ten Commandments, or Ten Utterances of G-d to the Jewish People at Mt. Sinai, which form the moral underpinning of human civilization. 1. “Anochi HaShem Elokecha…” – “I am the L-rd your G-d, etc.” – To have faith in G-d’s existence, His concern for the world, His intervention at will in the affairs of the world, and His infinite might. 2. “Lo Yiheheh Lecha …” – “You shall not recognize the gods of others in My presence, etc.” – the prohibition against idolatry. One of the three Cardinal Sins, for […]

the time period known as the Ten Days of Repentance, beginning with Rosh HaShanah, the Day of Judgment and ending with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Asher was the eighth son of Yaakov Avinu, and the second son of Zilpah, the handmaiden of Leah. He was born, according to the Midrash “Yalkut Shimoni” on the 20th of Shevat, and lived 123 years.Upon his birth, Leah said, “…It is my good fortune! For women have called me fortunate! And she called his name ‘Asher.’ ” (Bereshit 30:13) The Prayer “Ashrei,” that begins “Ashrei Yoshevei Vaysecha” “Fortunate are those who dwell in Your house.” (Tehilim 84:1) reflects the meaning of the common “shoresh” or “root” of the word “fortunate” and the name “Asher.” The most famous of Asher’s […]

[m.; pl. “Ashirim”]; a rich person; as in “Aizehu Ashir? HaSameach BeChelko!” “Who is the rich person? The one who is happy with what he has!”

Jews whose “recent” (within the last “thousand-or-so” years) ancestors were from Northern or Eastern Europe, as opposed to Sefardim. There are some limited variations in Jewish custom between the “Ashkenazic” communities [who generally follow the RAMA in disputes with the “Mechaber”] and the “Sefardic” communities [who follow the “Mechaber”].

[m.; pl. “avot”]; 1. Father, as in the “Avot” of the Jewish People; 2. Major Category, as in connection with Shabbat, one of the thirty nine “Avot Melachot” (each word of the combination should be “clicked” to get the “full” story;” 3. The saddest month in the Hebrew Calendar, which commemorates the Destruction of both of the Holy Temples.

[m.] our father; as in the Prayer “Avinu Malkeinu,” “Our Father, Our King,” authored by Rabbi Akiva

“Our Father, Our King” the name of a prayer recited on Fast Days and Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur; authored by Rabbi Akiva; successfully brought down rain from heaven when recited by R. Akiva, after the lengthy prayers of another Torah giant had failed to accomplish that goal.

[f.]; idol worship or, in general, worship of anything other than G-d; for example, worship of the sun or the moon or the stars or a particular river, or man-made objects, such as statues of various kinds. King David describes the contrast between HaShem and idols in “Tehilim”/Psalms 115:3-8: “Our G-d is in the heavens; whatever he pleases, he does. Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of man. They have a mouth, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear; they have a nose, but cannot smell. Their hands – they […]

the group of “forefathers,” or “Founding Fathers,” of the Jewish people. They were Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov: grandfather, father and grandson. Both Avraham (Abraham) and Yitzchak (Isaac) had children who were founders of dynasties who opposed the goals and purposes of the Jewish People; namely, Yishmael (Ishmael), son of Avraham, ancestor of the Muslim Civilization, and Esav, ancestor of Amalek and of Rome. But Yaakov, who for this reason is called the “chosen one of the Avot,” had twelve righteous sons. Although each was unique and had faults, ultimately, they were all righteous, and made up the Tribes of Israel, […]