Judaism - key vocabulary

Jewish beliefs and teaching, Jewish practices - AQA GCSE

Torah

The Written law - first 5 Books of Moses.

Talmud

The Oral law

Mishnah

Oral law written down by Rabbi - 200 CE

Gemara

commentary around the Mishnah - written by scholars 500 CE

Ketuv’im

8 books of the Prophets

Nev’im

11 books of poems, Psalms, stories

Tenakh

the combination of the Torah, Nev’im and Ketuv’im

Mitzvot

Jewish word meaning ‘law’

Chuppah

a canopy under which the betrothal ceremony takes place

Kashrut

the food laws

Shiva

period of intense mourning (1 week after a death)

Tallit

a prayer shawl, with tassels on the end

Mezuzah

a box containing words of the Shema on each doorpost of Jewish homes

Tefillin

A box containing extracts of the Torah, wrapped around arms/forehead of Orthodox men during prayer

Kosher

adjective describing food that is allowed under Jewish law

Ketubah

Marriage contract

Get

divorce contract

Yichud

private room in which couple spends short period of time after wedding ceremony

Bimah

reading platform in centre of Synagogue where Torah is read

Aron Hakadesh (Ark)

Cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept

Ner Tamid

everlasting light, a reminder of G-ds eternal presence

Yad

pointer used to read the Torah scrolls

39 Melachot

laws outlining what Jews can and can’t do on Shabbat

Kaddish prayer

Prayer said during periods of mourning, praising God and asking for peace

Shema prayer

main prayer in Jewish faith

Amidah prayer

‘standing prayer’ containing 3 blessings praising G-d, 13 blessings asking for help, 3 blessings praying for peace

Brit Milah

Circumcision ceremony of 8 week old boy

Mohel

professional who carries out circumcision

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish new year

Pesach

celebration commemorating Jews freedom from Egypt

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement - the holiest day in Jewish Calendar, where Gods judgement from Rosh Hashanah is finalised

Shabbat

period of rest for Jews, given as a gift from God

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

ceremony for Jewish 13 year olds, in which they become son/daughter of the law and responsible for their faith

Shekinah

The presence of G-d on earth or the female aspect of G-d

Cheers Kadisha

group of volunteers who cleanse a body in preparation for burial

Ingathering of the exiles

when the messiah will bring together all the Jews back to Jerusalem

Covenant

Messiah

a person chosen by G-d who will restore peace of earth

Messianic era

belief by reform Jews, a time of peace

mechitzah

screen which separates men and women in Orthodox tradition

Shochet

professional who kills animals in a kosher way

kosher

allowed in Jewish food laws

Trefah

forbidden by Jewish food laws

Parev

neutral in Jewish food laws

Shofar

Jewish rams horn which is blown on Rosh Hashanah

Seder meal

meal eaten on Pesach - including red wine, unleavened bread, parsley, lamb, egg and horseradish