Night terms

Aryan

a non-Jewish Caucasian, especially of Nordic stock

Talmud

the collection of Jewish law and tradition

Kabbalah

an ancient Jewish mystical tradition based on an esoteric interpretation of the Old Testament

Synagoguge

a Jewish house of worship, often having facilities for religious instruction

Zohar

a medieval mystical work, consisting chiefly of interpretations of and commentaries on the Pentateuch(first five books of the Old Testament)

Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish new Year that occurs in autumn

Beadle

someone who works at a church or a Jewish synagogue and helps the clergy

Passover

a Jewish festival that commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and is marked chiefly by the Seder ritual and the eating of matzoth. it begins on the 14th day of Nisan and is celebrated for eight days by Orthodox ad Conservative Jews outside of Israel and for seven days for Reform Jews and Jews in Israel

Rebbe

Usually translated to mean “Grand Rabbi.” The leader of a Hasidic community, often believed to have special, mystical power

The Red army

The Russian Army. Russia, England, and the United States were allies against Germany during World War Ii

Zionism

The Jewish national movement of rebirth and renewal in the land of Israel - the historical birthplace of the Jewish people

Palestine

a country in the historical region of southwest Asia at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea and roughly coextensive with modern Israel and the West Bank

Fascism

A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. These people believe in glorifying the state

Anti-semitic

One who discriminates against or who is hostile towards or prejudiced against Jews

Hassid/Hasidic

A member of the Jewish mystical movement founded in the 18th century in Eastern Europe by Baal Shem Tov that reacted against Talmudic learning and maintained that god’s presence was in all of one’s surroundings and that one should serve God in one’s every deed and word

Ghetto

A quarter in the European city to which Jews were restricted

Shauvuot

a festival, celebrated on the sixth and seventh days of Sivan by Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside Israel but only on the sixth day of Reform Jews and Jews in Israel, that commemorates God’s giving of the ten commandments to Moses

Gestapo

The German state secret police during the Nazi regime, organized in 1933 and notorious for its brutal methods and operations

Kaddish

a Jewish prayer for the dead

Messiah

the promised and expected deliverer of the Jewish people. Christians believe that is Jesus Christ, but Jews do not think this person has yet come

Mystic

a person who claims to attain, or believes in the possibility of attaining, insight into mysteries transcending ordinary human knowledge, as by direct communication with the divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy

Yom Kippur

The Day of Atonement. A day set aside for fasting, depriving oneself of pleasures, and repenting from the sins of the previous year. This is the day in which it is believed that each individual stands before God to be judged. it falls ten days after Rosh hashanah