Judaism Terms

Aliyah

Going up; immigration to Israel or being called to Torah

Anti-Semitism

Prejudice and discrimination against Jewish people

Ark of the Covenant

Sacred chest in Jerusalem Temple holding the Torah and Ten Commandments

Bar(male)/bat(female) mitzvah

Jewish coming-of-age ceremony at age 12-13, marking responsibility

Chosen people

Belief that Jews are God's specially chosen people to receive the Torah

Circumcision

Surgical removal of foreskin; Jewish ritual marking covenant with God

Covenant

Agreement between God and Jewish people; foundation of Judaism

Diaspora

Scattering of Jewish people outside Israel after 586 BCE

Exodus

Hebrew Bible's account of Jews leaving Egypt and slavery under Moses

Genocide

Deliberate mass killing; specifically the Holocaust (systematic murder of 6 million Jews)

Gerut

Non-Jewish convert to Judaism

Ghetto

Enclosed area outside city walls where Jews were forced to live

Haggadah

Annual Jewish spring festival commemorating the Exodus

Hanukkah

Jewish festival of lights celebrating rededication of the Temple; 8 days

Holocaust

Systematic Nazi murder of 6 million Jews during World War II (1941-1945)

Judaica

Jewish name taken on conversion to Judaism; also refers to belonging to Judaism

Kiddush

Followers or students of Jesus; used in Christian tradition

Kippah

Skull cap worn by Jewish men as a sign of respect

Menorah

Candelabra with seven or nine branches; Jewish religious symbol

Messiah

Expected redeemer/liberator in Jewish tradition; prophesied future savior

Midrash

Rabbinic commentaries and interpretations of Jewish law

Minyan

Minimum group of 10 Jewish adults needed for prayer service

Mishnah

Compilation of Jewish oral law and rabbinical discussions

Mitzvah

Commandment or religious obligation in Jewish law

Pesach

Passover; Jewish spring festival commemorating escape from Egypt

Promised Land

​​Land of Israel; believed to be divinely promised to Jewish people

Prophet

Person who receives and communicates God's messages to humanity

Rabbi

Jewish religious teacher and leader of synagogue community

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish New Year; solemn celebration in fall

Seder

Ceremonial dinner during Passover retelling Exodus story

Shiva

Seven-day period of mourning for deceased family members

Shoah

​​Hebrew term for the Holocaust; systematic Nazi genocide

Shofar

Ram's horn blown during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services

Star of David

Six-pointed star; symbol of Judaism and Israel

Synagogue

Jewish place of worship and prayer; Jewish community center

Tallis

​​​​Prayer shawl worn during prayer service

Talmud

Jewish oral law and rabbinical discussions and interpretations

Tanakh

Hebrew Bible; Jewish scriptures (Torah, Prophets, Writings)

Tefillin

​​Small boxes containing Torah passages worn on arm and forehead

Torah

Jewish scriptures; first five books of Hebrew Bible

Western Wall

Remaining wall of Second Temple; sacred pilgrimage site in Jerusalem

Yarmulke

Skull cap worn by Jewish men as a sign of respect

Yom Kippur

Jewish Day of Atonement; solemn fast day for repentance

Zionism

Jewish movement for self-determination and national sovereignty