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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.
P
Pamotot (pl.)
Hebrew Candlesticks
PaRDeS
Hebrew [lit. orchard] Fourfold method of textual interpretation
Parah
Hebrew 1. Regulations concerning the red heifer; 2. A tractate of Tohorot
Pareve
Yiddish [lit. neutral] Kosher food that is neither dairy nor meat
Parsha (Parshiot pl.)
Hebrew Torah portion
Parsha HaShavua
Hebrew Portion of the Torah read each week
Pasul
Hebrew Unfit
Peah
Hebrew 1. Laws of gleaning and charity; 2. A tractate of Zeraim
Peney
Hebrew Face of
Perek (Perakim pl.)
Hebrew Chapters
Pesach
Hebrew An eight day holiday celebrating the Exodus
Pesachdik
Hebrew Acceptable for eating on Pesach
Pesachim
Hebrew 1. Laws of chametz and matzah and the paschal sacrifice; 2. A tractate of Moed
Pesukei DeZimra
Hebrew Verse of Tehllim (Psalms)
Pey
Hebrew 1. Seventeenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; 2. Represents the number eighty
Pharisees
Hebrew Ancient Jewish sect that believed that G-d gave both a Written Torah and Oral Torah to the Jewish people, both of which are equally binding
Pidyon Haben
Hebrew Blessing for the redemption of the first-born son
Pikuach Nefesh
Hebrew Saving a life
Pirkei (pl.)
Hebrew Ethics
Porchim
Hebrew Flourished
Posek (Poskim pl.)
Hebrew [lit. decisor] Rabbi whose legal decision are authoritative
Pshat
Hebrew The plain meaning of a Scriptural passage
P'sukim
Hebrew Verses
Ptilot (pl.)
Hebrew Wicks
Purim
Hebrew [lit. lots] A minor Jewish holiday that celebrates Queen Esther's and Mordechai's salvation of the Jewish people
Q
Qorbanot
Hebrew Sacrifices and offerings in the Beit HaMikdash
R
Rabbi
Hebrew [lit. teacher] A Jewish teacher or leader who is authorized to make decisions regarding Jewish Law
Rabeinu
Hebrew Our teacher
Ram
Hebrew Exalted
Rasha
Hebrew Evil person
Rav
Hebrew Rabbi
Rebbe
Yiddish [lit. my rabbi] Chasidic spiritual leader
Rebbetizin
Hebrew 1. A rabbi's wife; 2. A Torah-learned female
Remez
Hebrew Hidden Illusion
Resh
Hebrew 1. Twentieth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; 2. Represents the number two-hundred
Resh Galuta
Hebrew [lit. head of the exile] Appointed head of the Babylonian Jewish community in the first millennium CE
Resha'im (pl.)
Hebrew Wicked ones
Reshit
Hebrew Beginning
Responsa
Hebrew Authoritative answers to questions on Jewish law
Rimon [picture]
Hebrew Pomegranate
Rosh Chodesh
Hebrew [lit. the head of the month] The holiday that occurs on the first and thirtieth day of each Jewish month
Rosh Hashanah
Hebrew [lit. head of the year] 1. The Jewish new year; 2. A tractate of Moed
Rut
Hebrew 1. Convert to Judaism and ancestor of King David; 2. The fifth book of the Ketuvim (Ruth)
S
Sabra
Hebrew 1. Fruit that is tough on the outside and sweet on the inside; 2. Describes a native-born Israeli
Safrut
Hebrew Laws pertaining to writing a Sefer Torah
Samech
Hebrew 1. Fifteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; 2. Represent the number sixty
Sandek
Hebrew "Godfather" who holds the child during the brit
Sanhedrin
Hebrew [lit. council] 1. Chief judicial and legislative body of the Jews in Israel in the late Greek and Roman times; 2. Name given to the Jewish assembly convoked by Napoleon in 1807; 3. A tractate of Nezikin
Sargel
Hebrew Non-base metal implement used to scribe guidelines on parchments used to write sacred scriptures
S'chach
Hebrew The covering of a Sukkah consisting of natural growth that allows the ability to see the sky
Seder (Sedarim pl.)
Hebrew [lit. order] 1. The meal and retelling of the Exodus from Egypt during Passover (Pesach); 2. A section of the Talmud
Sefer
Hebrew Book
Sefer Torah (Sifrei Torah pl.) [picture]
Hebrew Torah Scroll
Sefirat HaOmer
Hebrew Counting of the 49 days of the Omer between Passover and Shavuot
Sephardim
Hebrew Descendants of Jews from Spain, Portugal, North Africa
Se'udat Havra'ah
Hebrew Meal of Condolence
Se'udat Shlishit
Hebrew Third Shabbat meal
Shabbat (Shabbos) (Shabbatot pl.)
Hebrew 1. The Jewish Sabbath; 2. A tractate of Moed
Shabbat Bereishit
Hebrew First Shabbat after Simchat Torah
Shabbat Chazon
Hebrew [lit. Shabbat of Vision] Shabbat before Tish B'Av
Shabbat Goy
Hebrew A non-Jew who does work on Shabbat that is not permitted for a Jew
Shabbat HaChodesh
Hebrew The Shabbat prior to the first month of Nisan
Shabbat HaGadol
Hebrew [lit. Great Shabbat] The Shabbat prior to Pesach
Shabbat Mevarchim
Hebrew The Sabbath on which the coming month is blessed
Shabbat Nachamu
Hebrew The Sabbath following the Tish B'Av
Shabbat Parah
Hebrew Special Shabbat during which we read about the Red Heifer
Shabbat Shabbaton
Hebrew A High Sabbath
Shabbat Shalom
Hebrew [lit. Sabbath of peace] Shabbat greeting
Shabbat Shekalim
Hebrew A Sabbath where the Torah portion that recalls the contribution of a shekel to the Temple economy is read
Shabbat Shirah
Hebrew [lit. Shabbat of Song] Shabbat when Parsah Beshalach is read
Shabbat Shuvah
Hebrew [lit. Shabbat of Return] The Sabbath between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Shabbat Zachor
Hebrew The Sabbath of remembrance before Purim
Shabbaton (Shabbatonim pl.)
Hebrew 1. Term used in the Tanach to describe Yomim Tovim; 2. Special Shabbat program of learning and fellowship
Shacharit
Hebrew Morning prayer service
Shadchan
Hebrew Matchmaker
Shahid
Arabic Martyr
Shaliach (Shlichim pl.)
Hebrew A representative of a community or organization
Shaliach Tzibbur
Hebrew Prayer leader
Shalom
Hebrew [lit. peace] A greeting of hello or goodbye
Shalosh Seudot
Hebrew Three meals of Shabbat
Shamor
Hebrew 1. Safeguard; 2. Observe
Shamerim Yisraelim (pl.)
Hebrew Samaritans of Holon, Israel, Mount Gerizim, and Nablus
Shavua
Hebrew Week
Shavuot (pl.)
Hebrew [lit. weeks] A holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai
Shechinah
Hebrew The Divine Presence
Shechitah
Hebrew Ritual slaughtering
Shehecheyanu
Hebrew [lit. Who has granted us life] Blessing pronounced on seasonal and other occasions for thanksgiving
Shekalim
Hebrew 1. The shekel dues for the Temple and Temple ceremonies; 2. A tractate of Moed
Shekel
Hebrew Monetary unit used in Israel
Shema
Hebrew [lit. hear] A central Jewish prayer that proclaims the Oneness of Hashem and the Jewish dedication to Hashem
Shemenoeh Esrei
Hebrew [lit. eighteen] The main Amidah prayer
Shemini Atzeret
Hebrew [lit. assembly of the eighth] The last day of Sukkot
Shemitah
Hebrew The Sabbatical year that occurs every seven years in Israel
Shemot
Hebrew [lit. names] The second book of the Torah (Exodus)
Sheon Shabbat
Hebrew Shabbat clock
Sheva Berachot
Hebrew Seven marriage blessings
Shevat
Hebrew Eleventh month of the Jewish year
Shevatim (pl.)
Hebrew Tribes
Shevi'it
Hebrew 1. Laws of the sabbatical year; 2. A tractate of Zeraim
Shevuot
Hebrew 1. Oaths; 2. A tractate of Nezikin
Shin
Hebrew 1. Twenty-first letter of the Hebrew alphabet; 2. Represents the number three-hundred
Shir Hamalot
Hebrew The Psalm sung before bentching
Shir HaShirim
Hebrew The fourth book of the Ketuvim (Song of Songs)
Shirtut
Hebrew Top guideline for writing on parchment
Shiur
Hebrew Lesson in Talmud
Shiva
Hebrew [lit. seven] A seven-day mourning period observed by Jews who have lost a close relative
Shiva Azara B'Tammuz
Hebrew A day-fast commemorating the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people on this day
Shiva Mitzvot
Hebrew Seven mitzvot (of the B'nei Noach)
Shamayim
Hebrew Heaven
Shechitah
Hebrew Slaughter
Shir HaShirim
Hebrew Song of Songs
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
Hebrew Rabbinic midrash on Shir HaShirim
Shleph
Yiddish To carry
Sh'liach Tzibur
Hebrew Leader of the prayer service
Shmaltz
Hebrew Rendered chicken fat
Shmirat Lashon
Hebrew Guarding one's tongue
Shmirat Shabbat
Hebrew Observance of Shabbat
Shmooze
Yiddish A long, friendly chat
Shmuel
Hebrew 1. King of Israel; 2. The third and fourth books of the Nevi'im (I and II Samuel)
Shmutz
Yiddish Trivial amount of nuisance dirt
Shoah
Hebrew [lit. destruction] Holocaust
Shochet (Shochtim pl.)
Hebrew A religious Jew who is specially trained to slaughter meat according to kosher laws
Shofar
Hebrew A ram's horn blown during Rosh Hashanah services
Shoftim (pl.)
Hebrew [lit. judges] The second book of the Nevi'im
Shomer
Hebrew A Jew who reads Psalms while sitting with a deceased Jew prior to burial
Shomer Shabbat
Hebrew One who traditionally observes Shabbat
Shtetl
Yiddish [lit. little town] Small Jewish eastern European village in early modern times
Shtibl
Yiddish [lit. little house] Small Jewish eastern European synagogue in early modern times
Shuk
Yiddish Market
Shul
Yiddish [lit. school] A synagogue as described as a house of study
Shulchan Aruch
Hebrew [lit. a set table] The standard Code of Jewish Law compiled by Rabbi Yosef Caro in the mid-sixteenth century
Siddur (Siddurim pl.)
Hebrew [lit. arrangement] Jewish prayer book
Sifrei Deuteronomy
Hebrew Early tannaitic midrash to Deuteronomy
Sifrei Numbers
Hebrew Early tannaitic midrash to Numbers
Simcha
Hebrew [lit. happiness] A Jewish family or communal celebration
Simcha Bat
Hebrew Ceremony welcoming the birth of a daughter
Simchat Torah
Hebrew [lit. rejoicing of the Torah] Holiday immediately following Sukkot on which the yearly Torah-reading cycle is concluded and recommenced
Sin
Hebrew 1. Twenty-first letter of the Hebrew alphabet; 2. Represents the number three-hundred
Sivan
Hebrew Third month of the Jewish year
Siyyum
Hebrew [lit. conclusion] Celebration marking one's completion of the study of a portion of Torah or Talmud
Sofer
Hebrew [lit. the counter] A (male) Jewish scribe who writes religious texts
Soferet
Hebrew [lit. the counter] A (female) Jewish scribe who write religious texts
Sofrut
Hebrew Creation of sacred Hebrew texts
Sotah
Hebrew 1. Laws concerning adulteress, murder in which the perpetrator is unknown, and war; 2. A tractate of Nashim
Smicha
Hebrew Ordination
Stav
Hebrew Autumn
Sukkah [picture]
Hebrew 1. Special, temporary booths used during Sukkot; 2. A tractate of Moed
Sukkot
Hebrew A seven-day holiday of dwelling in a Sukkah
Synagogue
Greek [lit. house of assembly] Building in which Jews would congregate to meet, study, and/or worship
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