IB World Religions Judaism Vocab

Aleinu

Prayer recited at the end of daily services, expressing gratitude and hope.

Amidah

Central Jewish prayer, also known as “standing prayer,” recited silently while standing.

Ashkenazic

Jews from Central and Eastern Europe.

Bar mitzvah

Coming of age celebration for 13 year old Jewish boys.

Bat mitzvah

Coming of age ceremony for 12 year old Jewish girls.

Berakah

A blessing often beginning with “Blessed are you…”

Bris

Covenant of circumcision performed on Jewish boys 8 days after they’re born.

Chevra Kadisha

The “holy society” that prepares the dead for burial.

Conservative

In between Orthodox and Reform; a major Jewish denomination that balances tradition with modern changes.

Covenant

A sacred agreement between God and the Jewish people.

Gemara

The commentary and discussion of the rabbis on the Mishnah; part of the Talmud.

Get

A Jewish religious divorce agreement. If a woman does not have it she cannot remarry.

Halakah

Jewish religious law, covering all aspects of life.

Israel

The Jewish homeland and modern state, also the name for the people of Israel in the Bible.

Kaddish

A prayer praising God, often recited by mourners.

Ketubah

A Jewish marriage contract.

Kosher

Foods permitted by Jewish dietary laws.

Ma’ariv

The Jewish evening prayer service.

Messiah

The future anointed leader who will bring peace and redemption.

Mezuzah

A small case attached to Jewish doorpost, containing a scroll with verses from the Torah.

Mincha

The Jewish afternoon prayer service.

Minyan

A quorum for 10 Jewish adults required for certain prayers.

Mitzvot

Commandments; good deeds/religious observations in Judaism. 613 in the Torah.

Mishnah

The first written collection of Jewish oral law.

Mohel

A trained person who performs Bris (circumcision).

Olam ha ba

“The world to come,” the afterlife or messianic age.

Orthodox

A Jewish denomination that strictly follows traditional law and practices.

Passover

Holiday commemorating the Exodus from Egypt and freedom from slavery.

Reconstructionist

A modern Jewish movement viewing Judaism as evolving.

Reform

a liberal Jewish denomination that adapts tradition to modern values; focuses on the ethical rather than the rituals.

Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish New Year, marking the start of the high holy days.

Sephardic

Jews whose ancestors lived in Spain, Portugal, North Africa, or the Middle East.

Shabbat

A day of rest, from Friday evening to Saturday Evening.

Shacharit

The Jewish morning prayer service.

Shavuot

Festival celebrating the giving of the Torah at mount Sinai.

Shema

Central declaration of Jewish faith; talks about the oneness of God, the covenant, tefillin, mezuzah, and tzitzit.

Shiva

A seven-day morning period after the death of a close relative.

Siddur

The Jewish prayer book.

Sukkot

Festival remembering the Israelites’ journey through the dessert, celebrated with temporary huts.

Tallit

A prayer shawl worn during morning prayers with tzitzit.

Talmud

The central text of rabbinic Judaism, combing Mishnah and Gemara.

Tanakh

The Hebrew Bible containing Torah, prophets, writings.

Tefillin

Small black boxes with Torah verses, worn during weekday morning prayers.

Tikkun Olam

“Repairing the World,” a Jewish interpretation of the messianic age in which we fix the world ourselves by doing good.

Torah

The first five books of the Hebrew bible, the foundation of Jewish teaching. The Old Testament in Christian Bible.

Yom Kippur

The day of Atonement, the holiest day in Judaism focused on fasting and repentance of communal sins; held in synagogue.