Jewish Calendar, Holidays, and Agricultural Laws

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering terms, holidays, Torah readings, and agricultural halachot.

The First of Elul

The day designated as Rosh Hashanah for the ma'aser of animals.

Yom Kippur Katan (יום כפור קטן)

A designation for every Erev Rosh Chodesh as a time for teshuvah, resembling a "minor Yom Kippur," during which special selichot are recited and some choose to fast.

Arba'ah Minim (ארבעה מינים)

The Four Species (etrog, lulav, hadasim, and aravot) commanded to be taken on the first day of Sukkot; following the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai instituted taking them with a brachah all seven days of Sukkot (except Shabbat).

Nisuch HaMayim (נסוך המים)

A halachah l'Moshe m'Sinai to pour water drawn from the Shiloach Spring onto the Mizbeach on Sukkot during the morning korban tamid at the time of nisuch ha-yayin, commemorating that Sukkot is when we are judged regarding water and pray for rain.

Chatan Torah (חתן תורה)

The individual on Simchat Torah who receives the aliyah that completes the reading of the entire Torah.

Chatan Bereishit (חתן בראשית)

The individual on Simchat Torah who receives the aliyah that begins the cycle of reading the Torah anew from Bereishit.

Shabbat Shirah (שבת שירה)

The Shabbat of Parshat Beshalach containing the Shirat HaYam, which usually falls out before Tu BiShvat.

Arba Parshiyot (ארבע פרשיות)

Four sections of the Torah read as maftir following parshat ha-shavua on four special Shabbatot, each accompanied by a special haftarah.

Parshat Shekalim

The parshah of machatzit ha-shekel (Shemot 30:1-16) read on the last Shabbat of Shevat (or on Rosh Chodesh Adar if it falls on Shabbat) to remember the annual half-shekel donation given in Adar to fund korbanot tzibbur.

Parshat Zachor

The parshah of "Zachor" (Devarim 25:17) read on the Shabbat before Purim to remember the mitzvah to wipe out Amalek prior to Purim and the reading of the Megillah.

Parshat Parah

The parshah of parah adumah (Bamidbar 19) read two Shabbatot before Rosh Chodesh Nissan (the Shabbat before Parshat HaChodesh) to review the laws of taharah so that those tamei l'meit become tahor before bringing the korban Pesach.

Parshat HaChodesh

The parshah from Shemot 12 read on the last Shabbat of Adar (or on Rosh Chodesh Nissan if it falls on Shabbat), stating Nissan is the first month, hinting to kiddush ha-chodesh, and discussing the laws of korban Pesach and Pesach.

Purim shel Perazim (פורים של פרזים)

The 14th of Adar, celebrated as Purim in all cities that were unwalled in the time of Yehoshua ben Nun.

Shushan Purim (שושן פורים)

The 15th of Adar, celebrated as Purim in cities walled in the time of Yehoshua ben Nun (in practice, Yerushalayim), commemorating the day the Jews of Shushan rested after defeating their enemies.

Purim Meshulash (פורים משולש)

The observance of Purim spread over three days in Yerushalayim when Shushan Purim falls on Shabbat: Megillah and matanot l'evyonim on Friday (14th), Al HaNissim on Shabbat (15th), and mishloach manot and the seudah on Sunday (16th).

Purim Katan (פורים קטן)

The 14th of Adar Rishon in a leap year, occurring when Purim itself is celebrated during Adar Sheini.

Kimcha D'Pischa (קמחא דפסחא)

Tzeddakah collected prior to Pesach to provide the poor with matzah and other Yom Tov necessities, also known as ma'ot chittim.

Ta'anit Bechorot (תענית בכורות)

A fast observed by firstborns on Erev Pesach to commemorate the sparing of the Jewish firstborns during Makkat Bechorot in Egypt, from which bechorim often exempt themselves by participating in a siyum.

Shabbat Chazon (שבת חזון)

The Shabbat before Tisha b'Av, named for the haftarah read that begins with the words "Chazon Yeshayahu ben Amotz…".

Shabbat Nachamu (שבת נחמו)

The Shabbat following Tisha b'Av, named for the haftarah that begins with "Nachamu nachamu ami…", which marks the first week of Shiva d'Nechemta.

Shiva d'Nechemta (שבע דנחמתא)

Seven haftorot of consolation read on the seven weeks following Tisha b'Av.

Tu B'Av (ט"ו באב)

A joyous day in Beit HaMikdash times when maidens danced in vineyards to find husbands; historic reasons include the end of deaths from Cheit HaMeraglim, permission for inter-tribal marriage and marriage with Binyamin, and King Hoshea ben Eilah removing road guards to Yerushalayim.

Tevel (טבל)

Produce from which terumot and ma'asrot have not been separated, or dough lacking challah separation; named as a contraction of "tav lo" (not good / unsuitable for consumption).

Matnot Aniyim (מתנות עניים)

Five agricultural gifts commanded by the Torah to be left for the poor, consisting of three left in the fields and two left in the vineyards.

Leket (לקט)

One of the five gifts for the poor consisting of one or two sheaves of grain that fall to the ground during the harvest, which the field owner is forbidden to gather.

Shichicha (שכחה)

A gift for the poor applying to fields, orchards, and vineyards, where one or two forgotten sheaves of grain or overlooked trees during harvest must be left for the poor.

Pei'ah (פאה)

A gift for the poor whereby a landowner is commanded by the Torah to leave standing produce at the edge of his field or orchard unharvested for the poor to gather.