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Hebrew Glossary
A-C | D-G | H-K | L-O | P-S | T-X | Y-Z
Each entry in this glossary includes the transliteration, language, and definition. All entries are listed alphabetically by transliteration spellings. Some transliterated spellings vary. If you look for a word under "H" but do not find it, please look under "C/CH" (example: Hanukah would be listed under Chanukah). If you look for a word under "TS" or "TZ" but do not find it, please look under "Z" (example: Tzion or Tsion would be listed under Zion) and vice versa.
L
Lag B'Omer
Hebrew The thirty-third day in the counting of the Omer
Lamah
Hebrew Why
Lamed
Hebrew 1. Twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; 2. Represents the number thirty
Lashon Hara
Hebrew Speaking any form of evil/gossip about another Jew
Latke [picture]
Hebrew Potato pancake traditionally eaten during Chanukah
Lechem Mishneh [picture]
Hebrew [lit. two breads] The two challahs used for Hamotzi
L'shem Shamayim
Hebrew For the sake of Heaven
Luchot
Hebrew Tablets
Lulav
Hebrew [lit. palm frond] 1. One of the four species used on Sukkot; 2. The four species used on Sukkot
M
Maachalos Assuros
Hebrew Forbidden foods
Ma'ariv
Hebrew Evening Prayer
Ma'aser Sheni
Hebrew 1. The second tithe and bringing it to Jerusalem; 2. A tractate of Zeraim
Ma'asering
Hebrew Tithing
Ma'aserot
Hebrew 1. Tithes for the Levites and the poor; 2. A tractate of Zeraim
Machmir
Hebrew Stringent
Machshirin
Hebrew 1. Liquids and foods that are susceptible to ritual uncleanness; 2. A tractate of Tohorot
Machsom
Hebrew Checkpoint
Machzor
Hebrew [lit. repetition] A prayer book used during the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur)
Machzor Vitry
Hebrew Halachic commentary on the liturgy of the entire year
Madricha
Hebrew Counselor
Maftir
Hebrew The last part of the Torah reading during Shabbat or a festival
Magen David
Hebrew 1. Shield of David or Star of David; 2. Six-pointed star used as a Jewish symbol since the seventeenth century CE
Maghrebim (pl.)
Hebrew Jews from North Africa and parts of North-West Africa
Makil
Hebrew Lenient
Makkos
Hebrew 1. False witnesses, cities of refuge, corporal punishment; 2. A tractate of Nezikin
Malach
Hebrew [lit. messenger] Angel
Malach HaMavet
Hebrew Angel of Death
Malachi
Hebrew 1. Prophet of the Jews; 2. The twenty-first book of the Nevi'im
Malkut
Hebrew Sovereignty
Mamzer
Hebrew A child conceived from a forbidden relationship
Manna
Hebrew Food Hashem provided the Jews in the desert during the Exodus
Mara D'Atra
Hebrew Authoritative leader
Marrano
Spanish [lit. pig] Jews of Spain and Portugal who converted to Christianity yet continued to practice Judaism in secret
Marror [picture]
Hebrew Bitter herbs (usually horseradish) eaten at the Passover
Mashiach
Hebrew [lit. annointed one] 1. Messiah; 2. Annointed kings, priests, and prophets of Israel
Mashiach Sheker
Hebrew False messiah
Maskil
Hebrew A Jew participating in the Haskalah
Masoret
Hebrew Tradition
Masorti
Hebrew [lit. traditional] Term used for Conservative Judaism outside North America
Masorti Olami
Hebrew International body of synagogues affiliated with the Conservative/Masorti Movement
Matan Torah
Hebrew Giving of the Torah
Matzah
Hebrew Unleavened bread eaten during Pesach
Matzav
Hebrew Situation
Matzevah
Hebrew Headstone
Mayim Achronim
Hebrew [lit. after waters] The washing of the fingertips at the conclusion of a meal in preparation for bentching
Mazal
Hebrew Good luck
Mazal Tov
Hebrew Good luck, congratulations
Mechitzah [picture]
Hebrew A physical barrier that separates men and women in the synagogue
Mechoa
Hebrew Protest
Medinat Yisrael
Hebrew State of Israel
Megillah (Megillot pl.)
Hebrew [lit. scroll] 1. One of five Tanach books read on special days (Esther, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, and Ecclesiastes); 2. A tractate of Moed
Me'ila
Hebrew 1. Sacrilegious treatment of Temple property; 2. A tractate of Kodashim
Mekabel Shabbat
Hebrew Accepting Shabbat
Melacha (Melachot pl.)
Hebrew [lit. work] Forbidden labor on Shabbat
Melaveh Malkah
Hebrew Festive meal held after the end of Shabbat
Melech (Melechim pl.)
Hebrew 1. King; 2. The fifth and sixth books of the Nevi'im (I and II Kings)
Mem
Hebrew 1. Thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; 2. Represent the number forty
Menashos
Hebrew 1. Flour offerings and wine libations; 2. A tractate of Kodashim
Menorah [picture]
Hebrew 1.Six-branched candelabrum used by Jews in the Holy Temple; 2. Eight-branched candelabrum (also known as a Chanukiah) used during the Chanukah celebration
Meratefet
Hebrew Hovering
Mercaz Klita
Hebrew Absoprtion Center
Meshumad
Hebrew An apostate Jew (one who has converted to another religion)
Messorah
Hebrew Tradition
Mevushal
Hebrew Pasteurization process used to ensure wine and grape juice is kosher
Mezuzah (Mezuzot pl.) [picture]
Hebrew Small parchment scroll, containing the first two paragraphs of the Shema, written by a scribe and affixed to the doorpost
Michah
Hebrew 1. Prophet of the Jews; 2. The fifteenth book of the Nevi'im (Micah)
Middot
Hebrew 1. Temple architecture; 2. A tractate of Kodashim
Midot
Hebrew Ethics
Midrash (Midrashim pl.)
Hebrew [lit. interpretation] Commentary and interpretations on Jewish laws, customs, and rituals
Midrash Rabbah
Hebrew Collection of aggadic Midrashim to the Torah and the five Megillot
Migdal Bavel
Hebrew Tower of Babel
Mikdash Ma'at
Hebrew [lit. minor sanctuary] Synagogue
Miklatim (pl.)
Hebrew Shelters
Mikveh (Mikavot pl.) [picture]
Hebrew 1. Ritual bath and immersion; 2. A tractate of Tohorot
Minchah
Hebrew Afternoon prayer
Minhag (Minhagim pl.)
Hebrew Long-standing custom that has become religious practice
Minyan (Minyanim pl.)
Hebrew [lit. number] Quorum of ten men required for communal prayer (Can be of ten men and/or women in non-Orthodox Judaism)
Misheberach L'Cholim
Hebrew Prayer for the sick
Mishkan
Hebrew The Tabernacle
Mishlei
Hebrew The second book of the Ketuvim (Proverbs)
Mishnah
Hebrew [lit. repetition or teaching] Oral Torah
Mishnah Torah
Hebrew [lit. Second Torah, repetition of the Torah] Master work on Jewish Law written by Maimonides
Mishpachah
Hebrew (Hebrew/Yiddish) Family, relatives
Mishpat (Mishpatim pl.)
Hebrew [lit. judgment] Ethical commandments of the Torah
Mitzraim
Hebrew Egypt
Mitzvah (Mitzvot pl.)
Hebrew 1. A religious obligation; 2. One of the 613 Commandments written in the Torah
Mitzvah Aseh
Hebrew A commandment to do
Mitzvah Lo Tasseh
Hebrew A commandment of something not to do
Mitzvot HaTeluyot B'Aretz
Hebrew Special laws that are only performed in the Land of Israel (specifically during the time the Temple stood)
Mitzvot Lo Tasseh
Hebrew Negative commandments
Mizrach [picture]
Hebrew A small plaque placed on the Eastern wall of a home
Mizrachi
Hebrew [lit. eastern] Orthodox Zionist movement founded in 1902
Mizrachim (pl.)
Hebrew Jews from the Middle-East and Asia
M'lo
Hebrew Filled
Modim
Hebrew Prayer of thanksgiving said near the end of the Amidah
Moed
Hebrew 1. A fixed time or season; 2. A festival; 3. The second seder of the Mishnah/Talmud
Moed Katan
Hebrew 1. A minor festival; 2. Intermediate festival days; 3. A tractate of Moed
Moetzet Gedolai HaTorah
Hebrew Council of Torah Sages
Mohel (Mohelim pl.)
Hebrew A religious Jew who is specially trained to perform ritual circumcisions
Moshav (Moshavim pl.)
Hebrew 1. Cooperative agricultural settlements established in Israel since 1921; 2.Base
Moshe Rabbenu
Hebrew Moses our teacher
Moshiach
Hebrew [lit. annointed one] 1. Messiah; 2. Any king or prophet of Israel
Motzi
Hebrew Blessing recited over bread before a meal is eaten
Motzi Shabbat
Hebrew Saturday night after Shabbos concludes
Muktzah
Hebrew [lit. set apart] Object forbidden to be used or carried on Shabbat or festivals
Musmahim
Hebrew Fully-ordained rabbis
Mussaf
Hebrew The additional prayer of Shabbat and other Jewish holidays
N
Nachas
Hebrew Joy, happiness
Nachum
Hebrew 1. Prophet of the Jews; 2. The sixteenth book of the Nevi'im (Nahum)
Nashim (pl.)
Hebrew [lit. women] 1. The third seder of the Mishnah/Talmud
Nasi
Hebrew [lit. prince] 1. Head of a tribe in the Tanach; 2. During Roman times - the chief of the Sanhedrin
Navi (Nevi'im pl.)
Hebrew Prophet
Nazir
Hebrew [lit. to separate] 1. A Jew who chooses to separate himself from wine and cutting one's hair and acceptance of stricter behaviors in order to become closer to G-d; 2. A tractate of Nashim
Nechemiah
Hebrew The eleventh book of the Ketuvim (Nehemiah)
Nedarim
Hebrew 1. Various types of vows; 2. A tractate of Nashim
Negaim
Hebrew 1. Complex laws of tzareet; 2. A tractate of Tohorot
Negidim (pl.)
Hebrew Commissioners
Ner Tamid [picture]
Hebrew A light that hangs in front of the ark where the Torah scrolls are kept in the synagogue
Nerot (pl.)
Hebrew Candles
Nesi'im (pl.)
Hebrew Magistrates
Netilat Yadayim
Hebrew [lit. washing of the hands] Ritual washing of the hands
Netzach
Hebrew Victory
Nevi'im (pl.)
Hebrew [lit. prophets] The second section of the Tanach
Nezikin
Hebrew [lit. damages] The fourth seder of the Mishnah/Talmud
Niddah
Hebrew 1. The time when a woman is menstruating and is in a state of separation from her husband; 2. A tractate of Tohorot
Nigun (Nigunim pl.)
Hebrew Wordless melody
Nissan
Hebrew First month of the Jewish year
Nochri
Hebrew Stranger
Nu
Yiddish Well, So, Wassup - a word generally used to elicit a response
Nun
Hebrew 1. Fourteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; 2. Represents the number fifty
Nusah
Hebrew Specific musical notes for reciting Jewish liturgy and Torah
O
Od
Hebrew Again
Oholot
Hebrew 1. Defilement caused by a corpse to houses; 2. A tractate of Tohorot
Olam
Hebrew World
Olam Ha-Ba
Hebrew The World to Come
Oleh (Olim pl.)
Hebrew Immigrant to Israel
Omer
Hebrew [lit. shead] 1. A dry measure spoken of in Torah of the barley that was brought as an offering on the second day of Pesach; 2. The 49 day period of counting from the time of this offering until the Festival of Shavuot
Orlah
Hebrew 1. Prohibition against harvesting tress for four years; 2. A tractate of Zeraim
Ot Rabati
Hebrew Large letter
Ovadiah
Hebrew 1. Prophet of the Jews; 2. The thirteenth book of the Nevi'im (Obadiah)
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