Defining a religious or ritual Hebrew word is comparatively simple; however, the spelling of that word in transliteration is quite another matter.  Not only do variations occur from Ashkenazi Hebrew to Sephardi Hebrew, but also popular recognizable spellings change from one country to another, from one period of time to another, and even from one authority or scholar to another.  The proof of this is in the publication of a monograph entitled How Do You Spell Chanukah? by Werner Weinberg.

            In preparing this catalog, the editors chose to use as their standard for spelling the Encyclopedia Judaica.  Sometimes the spelling of a particular term may seem strange or even wrong to the modern American reader.  Examples of this are dreidl in place of the more recognizable dreidel or kitel instead of kittel.  The most controversial sound is the ch in Hebrew, which is written h or ch in English.  The newest method is to put a dot under an h to represent a ch.  B and v are sometimes interchangeable and a kh is sometimes used in place of a ch.

            In trying to respond to the many valid opinions and choices, additional spellings have been included in the glossary of this catalog.  In short, there is no one approved English spelling for Hebrew words, and though Ashkenazi spelling is commonplace in some American communities, Sephardi spelling is the accepted academic standard.

Aramaic  A northwest Semitic language which from c. 300 B.C.E. to 650 C.E. was the common language of nearly all of southwest Asia; source of Hebrew script.

Arba kanfot, Heb.  (ritual garment)  Worn by some observant male Jews.

Aron kodesh, Heb.  (holy ark) Cabinet containing the Torah scrolls in every synagogue.

Ashkenazim, Heb.  The Jews of Germany and Eastern Europe.

Atarah, Heb. (neckpiece)   The part of the prayer shawl covering the neck.  Also a term for Torah crown.

Azei hayyim, Heb. (trees of life)  Wooden spindles on which the parchment of the Torah scroll is fastened.

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Bar (masc.), Bat (fem.) mitzvah, Heb.  (son/daughter of the commandment)  Ceremony of coming of religious age.

B.C.E.  Before the Common Era.

Bencher Colloquial term for prayer books used after completing a meal; derived from benschen (to pray).

Berit milah, Heb. (circumcision)  Also B’rit, Brit.  Sign of the Jewish people’s covenant with God.

Besamim, Heb.  (spices) Part of the havdalah ritual at the conclusion of the Sabbath.

Bet Din, Heb.  A Jewish court of law, in modern times usually dealing with religious matters.

Bimah, Gr.  Raised platform.

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C.E.  Common Era.

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Diaspora, Gr.  Dispersion of Jews after the Babylonian exile.

Dreidl, Yid.   Four-sided top inscribed with the Hebrew initial letters standing for “ness gadol haya sham” (A great miracle happened there).

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Elijah  The prophet who will come to announce the arrival of the Messiah and the Age of Peace.

Erev, Heb.  The day preceding the commencement of a holy day.

Etrog, Heb. (citron)  The lemon-like, sweet-smelling fruit used only for ritual purpose on Sukkot.

Ezrat na shim, Heb.  Women’s court or gallery in a synagogue.

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Gematria, Heb. (numerology)  Numerical formulas for solving religious questions.

Get, Heb.  Document of divorce.

Giddin, Heb.  A special thread made of tendon tissue taken from the foot muscles of a kosher animal.

Gregger, Yid. (noisemaker)  Used during the reading of the Megillat Esther to “blot out” the name of Haman.  Also spelled grogger. 

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Hadas, Heb. (spice box)  Holder of spices used in the havdalah service at the conclusion of the Sabbath.

Hagaddah, Heb. (narration)  Story, prayers, and songs read during the Passover ritual meal.

Halakhah, Heb.  Law.

Halitzah, Heb.   Shoe used in ritual divorce ceremony required of a traditional childless widow.

Hallah, Heb. (braided white bread)  Also challah.  Bread blessed and served on Sabbath and special occasions.

Hamantaschen  Three-cornered pocket pastry eaten on Purim.

Ha Melekh, Heb. (the King)  Describes rare Purim scrolls that begin each column with the words “The King” symbolizing God’s omnipresence throughout the story of Esther.

Hanukkah, Heb. (Festival of Lights)   An eight-day Festival of Freedom beginning on the 25th day of  Kislev that commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the overthrow of the Greeks (i.e., Syrians) by the Hasmonean family in the first century B.C.E.

Hanukkiah, Heb. (Hanukkah lamp)  An eight-branched holder for light with a ninth, separated holder for the helper light called the shamash (Heb.).

Hatan, Heb.  Bridegroom.

Havdalah, Heb. (separation)  Ceremony concluding the Sabbath on Saturday evening.

Havdalah Candle  Braided kosher candle with multiple wicks.

Hevra (Havurah) kaddisha, Heb. (charitable confraternity)  Today, it is generally limited to associations for the burial of the dead.

Hiddur mitzvah, Heb.  Exodus 15:2 states the importance of beautifying the ritual to fulfill the Commandments.

Huppah, Heb. (marriage canopy)  Also chuppah.  Representation of the Jewish home used during the wedding ceremony.

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Judenstern, Ger. (hanging sabbath lamp)  Star-form, oil-burning lamp.

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Kaddish, Heb.  A prayer of sanctification in Aramaic, said in praise of God, remembering the deceased at every prayer service.

Kallah, Heb.  Bride.

Kamea, Heb. (amulet, talisman)  Picture or east wall decoration.  (Psalm 16:8: I shall set the Lord always before me)

Kaporet, Heb. (valance)  Top portion of the ark curtain.

Kashrut, Heb. (kosher)  The system of dietary laws.

Keter, Heb. (crown)  A Torah scroll ornament that fits over the staves.

Ketubbah, Heb.  Marriage contract.

Kiddush, Heb.  Prayer of sanctification said over ceremonial wine.

Kippa, Kippot (pl.), Heb. (skullcap)  Custom of covering one’s head as a sign of respect before God.

Kitel, Yid. (garment)  Also kittel. White garment worn by males in some Ashkenazi rites and the raiment in which the dead are clothed for burial.

Klaf, Heb.  Page of parchment.

Kosher, Heb.  Fit for use.

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Ladino (Judeo-Spanish)   The language of Spanish Jews blending Hebrew with fifteenth-century Spanish.

Lag Ba-omer, Heb.  The 33rd day of the counting of the omer, a minor festival.

Luah, Heb. (Calendar)  Jewish/Hebrew lunar calendar.

Lulav, Heb.  Willow used during Sukkot.

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Magen David, Heb. (shield of David)  Also Mogen David.  Six-pointed star first used as a major symbol of Judaism after the first Zionist Congress of 1897.

Mahzor, Heb.  Prayer book for the festivals of the High Holy Days and Sukkot.

Mappah, Heb. (cloth)  Decorative fabric used as Torah binder.

Matzah, Heb. (bread of affliction)  Unleavened bread, the only bread permitted during the days of Passover.

Mazzal Tov, Heb.  Also mazal, mazol, mazel.  A formal expression of congratulations.

Megillah, Heb. (scroll)   A book written on a single parchment roll, primarily referring to the story of Esther.

Me’il, Heb. (Torah cover)  Protective cover for the Torah Scroll.

Menorah, Heb.  Seven-branched lamp used in the Tabernacle in the Jerusalem Temple.  This is the oldest symbol of Judaism.

Mezuzah, Heb. (doorpost case)  Encased scroll inscribed with passages from Deuteronomy that is affixed to the right hand doorpost as one enters.

Micrography  Creation of drawings by using miniature Hebrew text which fills in the picture.

Midrash, Heb. (to search)  A type of rabbinic literature consisting of biblical exegesis and sermons.

Mikvah, Heb.  Ritual bath house.

Minhag, Minhagim (pl.), Heb. Ritual custom, synagogal rites, especially of a specific sector of Jewry.

Minyan, Heb.  The presence of ten Jewish adults required for a prayer service.

Mishlo’ah manot, Heb.  (portions)  Given to others on Purim.

Mitzvah, Heb. (commandment)  Obligation or duty.

Mizrah, Heb. (East)  Wall hanging or ornament used to designate the direction to face when praying.

Mohel, Heb. (circumcisor)  The professional performer of the berit milah.

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Ner Tamid, Heb.  Eternal light.

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Omer, Heb.  Sheaf of barley.

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Parokhet, Heb. (curtain)  Hanging cloth in front of the opening of the holy ark.

Passul, Heb. (ritually invalid)  Opposite of kosher.

Pesah, Heb. (Passover)  One of the three ancient Hebrew times for pilgrimages to the Temple in Jerusalem (15 Nissan) marking the exodus from bondage in Egypt.

Pidyon haben, Heb. (redemption of the first son)   Ritual ceremony for the first-born son of a mother other than of the tribes of Kohen or Levites (two of the twelve tribes) who must be dedicated to the service of God or bought back by the father on the thirty-first day after birth.

Pittam, Heb.  The pistil end of the etrog.

Purim, Heb. (Feast of Lots)  Celebrated on 14 Adar, it commemorates the miraculous deliverance of the Jews of Persia as told in the Scroll of Esther.

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Rimmon, Rimmonim (pl.), Heb. (pomegranate)  Ornament placed on the top ends of the Sefer Torah stave.

Rosh Ha-shanah, Heb. (New Year)  The head of the year (1 Tishri) which begins the cycle of yearly events but is not the first month of the Hebrew calendar.

Rosh Hodesh, Heb.  First day of each month.

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Sandak, Heb.  (holder) The man who is chosen to hold the infant boy during circumcision.

Sargenes, Heb.  White garment worn by males in some Ashkenazi rites and the raiment in which the dead are clothed for burial.

Seder, Heb. (order of service)  The ritual of the Passover dinner.

Sefer Torah, Heb. (Torah scroll)  Long roll of kosher parchment on which is written the Law (Five Books of Moses–Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

Sephardim  Jews from the Iberian peninsula from the time of the Middle Ages.

Shabbat, Heb. (Sabbath)  From sundown Friday evening to sundown Saturday evening.

Shamash, Heb.  Leader candle on the hanukkiah.

Shavuot, Heb. (Festival of Weeks)  In ancient times, it was one of the three pilgrimages to the Temple in Jerusalem.  In modern times, it marks the time of the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai.

Shehita, Heb. (ritual slaughtering knives)   The slaughtering of ritually pure animals according to Jewish law.

Shewbread, Heb. (showbread)  The bread laid out in the ancient Temple of Jerusalem on the golden table (Ex. 25:30, I Sam. 21:7) used as an offering.

Shivah, Heb.  Mourning period of seven days.

Shivviti, Heb.  (amulet, talisman)  Also shiviti.  Picture or East wall decoration.  (Psalm 16:8, “I shall set the Lord always before me.”)

Shofar, Heb. (ram’s horn)  Trumpet made from a hollowed-out ram’s horn.

Siddur, Heb. (order, arrangement)   Daily prayer book used on days other than festivals and holy days.

Simhat Torah, Heb. (Feast of the Rejoicing of the Law)  Celebrated on Shemini Atzeret (23rd day of Tishri) the eighth day of Sukkot, during which the last verse of Deuteronomy is read followed immediately by the reading of the first verses of Genesis.

Sofer, Heb.  Scribe.

Spanier arbeit, Yid. (Spanish work)  Textiles of silver or gold-wrapped thread.

Streimel, Yid. (hat)  Fur-trimmed, wide-brimmed hat worn by some Hasidic males.

Sukkah, Heb. (booth)  The temporary structure symbolizing the dwellings of Hebrews during the time of the exodus from Egypt.

Sukkot, Heb. (Feast of Tabernacles) This holiday is a time for thanking God for bringing the Israelites through the wilderness to the Land of Milk and Honey.

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Taharah, Heb.  Ritual washing of a dead body.

Tallit, Heb. (prayer shawl)  Four-cornered, fringed shawl worn by adults during prayer.

Tallit katan, Heb. (small ritual garment)  Worn perpetually under outer garment during waking hours.

Tas, Heb. (Torah Breast Plate (Shield))  Torah scroll ornament.

Tefillin, Heb.  Prayer boxes containing scriptural verses.  One box is marked with the Hebrew letters shel rosh, designated to be strapped onto the forehead, and the other box, which is strapped to the left arm, bears the Hebrew letters shel yad.

Tik, Heb. (Torah scroll holder)  Used by Sephardi and Oriental Jews.

Torah, Heb.  Written and oral law contained in the Five Books of Moses.

Tsitsit, Heb. (ritual fringe)  Knotted fringes on each corner of the tallit.

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Ushpizin, Aram.  From Latin hospes meaning guest.  From kabbalistic tradition, seven mystical guests Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David, visit the sukkah during the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles (Zohar 5:103b).  The spiritual guests are invited one each day, in chronological order, before the meal, with a specific liturgy: “Enter exalted holy guests.”

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Wimpel, Ger. (Torah binder)  Fabric used to hold the two rolls of parchment together.

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Yad, Heb. (hand)   A pointer used to follow text of the Torah, usually tipped with a pointing finger.

Yahrzeit candle, Yid.  Memorial light.

Yarmulka, Yid. (skullcap)   See kippa, kippot.  Head covering worn by Jews as a sign of respect.

Yiddish  A language blending Hebrew with medieval Germanic and Slavic elements.

Yizkor, Heb. (remembrance)  Memorial prayer said during four services in each year.

Yom Kippur, Heb. (Day of Atonement)  Solemn day of prayer and fasting on the 10th day of Tishrei.  It is the holiest day of the Hebrew calendar.

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Zedakah, Heb.  (charity)   Also tzedakah.  The giving of charity according to the rules of justice and righteousness.  A righteous act. 

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