Unit 2: Jewish Terms

Unit 2: Jewish Terms

Levels of Jewish Law - Halacha

• Torah Law (De’oraita):

  • Laws directly from the Torah.

  • Considered the highest level of Jewish law.

• Rabbinic Law (De’rabbanan):

  • Laws enacted by rabbis for safeguarding Torah laws.

  • Address specific new situations.

• Customs (Minhag):

  • Practices not obligatory but significant within communities or individuals.

  • Example: Local customs during holidays.

Halacha l’Moshe MiSinai

• Laws orally transmitted to Moses at Mount Sinai.

• Not explicitly written in the Torah.

• Universally accepted as binding; considered a direct extension of Torah law.

Gezeira

• A rabbinic decree to prevent accidental violations of a Torah law.

• Example: Activities prohibited on Shabbat to avoid unintentional Torah transgressions.

Leniency in Jewish Law

• When to be Lenient:

  • Cases of doubt regarding rabbinic laws: safek de’rabbanan l’kula.

  • In situations of significant need or hardship.

  • When saving a life (pikuach nefesh), leniency applies even with Torah laws.

Stringency in Jewish Law

• When to be Strict:

  • Doubt concerning Torah laws: safek de’oraita l’chumra.

  • Stricter interpretations that preserve the sanctity of mitzvot or prevent confusion.

  • Community customs that require stringency.

Important Hebrew/Yiddish Terms

• Assur (רוּסאָ): Prohibited or forbidden.Example: "It is assur to eat non-kosher food."

• Mutar (רָתוּמ): Permitted or allowed.Example: "It is mutar to eat the meal after Yom Kippur."

• Heter: Permission or leniency in Jewish law. Example: "The rabbi gave a heter to allow the activity in special circumstances."

• Chumra:

  • A stringency in Jewish law.Example: "She follows a chumra to avoid questionable ingredients during Passover."

• Machmir: Someone stringent in Jewish law.Example: "He is machmir about kosher certification and only buys products with specific symbols."

• Kula: A leniency in Jewish law.Example: "In certain cases, there is a kula for traveling on a festival if it’s for a mitzvah."

• Shavua Tov: “Have a good week.”Example: "Shavua Tov! I hope your week goes well."

• Gut Vuch: Yiddish for “Good week.”Example: "Gut Vuch! How was your Shabbat?"

• Good Yuntif: Yiddish for “Happy holiday.”Example: "Good Yuntif! Enjoy your celebrations."

• Chag Sameach: “Happy holiday.”Example: "Chag Sameach! May this festival bring you joy."

• Good Shabbos: Yiddish for “Good Sabbath.”Example: "Good Shabbos! See you at synagogue tomorrow."

• Shabbat Shalom: “Peaceful Sabbath.”Example: "Shabbat Shalom! I hope you have a good evening."

• Shalom Aleichem – Aleichem Shalom: “Peace upon you” and the response. Example: "Shalom Aleichem, welcome to our home!"

• Beit Midrash/Beis Medrash: House of study.Example: "The Beit Midrash is open for anyone who wants to learn."

• Midrash: Rabbinic commentary on the Torah.Example: "The Midrash explains this verse with a parable."

• Beit haKnesset: Synagogue (House of Assembly).Example: "We’ll meet at the Beit haKnesset for evening prayers."

• Aveira: Sin or transgression.Example: "Speaking lashon hara is considered an aveira."

• B’shogeg: Accidentally or unintentionally.Example: "If someone breaks Shabbat b’shogeg, they are not held fully accountable."

• B’Meizid: Intentionally or deliberately.Example: "He was warned not to violate the rule, but he did so b’meizid."

• Refuah Sheleimah: A complete recovery.Example: "We pray for a refuah sheleimah for all those who are ill."

• Aufruf: Pre-wedding celebration where the groom is called to the Torah. Example: "The aufruf will be held the Shabbat before their wedding."

• Chasuna/Chatuna: Wedding.Example: "The chasuna was filled with joy and dancing."

• Levayah: Funeral.Example: "The levayah will take place tomorrow afternoon."

• Shiur: A lesson or class, often Torah-related.Example: "Tonight’s shiur will focus on the laws of Hanukkah."

• Z’miros/Zemirot: Songs sung at the Shabbat table.Example: "We love singing z’miros with our family after dinner."

• Benching: Reciting the Grace After Meals (Birkat HaMazon).Example: "Don’t forget to bench after the meal."

• Bencher: A booklet containing blessings, including Birkat HaMazon.Example: "They gave out personalized benchers as wedding favors."

• Halacha: Jewish law.Example: "He studies halacha every morning before work."

• Hashkafa: Philosophy or outlook in a Jewish context.Example: "Her hashkafa aligns closely with modern Orthodox principles."

• Lechatchila: Ideally or in the first place.Example: "Lechatchila, one should avoid working on Shabbat."

• B’dieved: After the fact or as a backup option.Example: "B’dieved, the blessing was still valid despite the error."

• Safek: Doubt or uncertainty.Example: "When there is a safek about a blessing, we often don’t say it."

• Mamesh: Really, truly, or literally (used for emphasis).Example: "This cake is mamesh delicious—I’ve never tasted anything like it!"

Patriarchs and Matriarchs

• Patriarchs (Avot):

  1. Abraham - (Avraham)

  2. Isaac - (Yitzchak)

  3. Jacob - (Yaakov)

• Matriarchs (Imahot):

  1. Sarah - (Sarah)

  2. Rebecca - (Rivka)

  3. Rachel - (Rachel)

  4. Leah - (Leah)

Other Seminal Biblical Figures

• Adam: The first man created by God.

• Chava (Eve): The first woman, created from Adam’s rib.

• Kayin (Cain): First son of Adam and Eve; became the first murderer.

• Hevel (Abel): Second son of Adam and Eve; murdered by Cain.

• Yosef (Joseph): Jacob’s favorite son, sold into slavery, eventually saved his family during a famine.

• Yehuda (Judah): Ancestor of Tribe of Judah, linked to King David and the Messiah.

• Binyamin (Benjamin): Jacob’s youngest son and founder of Tribe of Benjamin.

• Moshe (Moses): Greatest prophet, led the Israelites out of Egypt, received Torah.

• Yehoshua (Joshua): Moses’ successor; led Israelites into the Promised Land.

• Devorah (Deborah): Prophetess and judge of Israel.

• Shlomo (Solomon): Son of King David; known for wisdom and the First Temple.

• Eliyahu (Elijah): Opposed idolatry and was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot.

• Yeshayahu (Isaiah): Major prophet known for justice and Messianic prophecies.

• Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah): Warned of First Temple destruction; encouraged repentance.

• Yechezkel (Ezekiel): Had visions of Divine Chariot; prophesied Israel's restoration.