Descriptionary

Bar Mitzvah the initiation rite of a 13-year-old boy, who reads aloud from the Torah and becomes accepted as an adult and as a member of the religious community.

Bas Mitzvah the equivalent of a Bar Mitzvah for 13-year-girls. Also known as Bat Mitzvah.

cantor the chief singer or prayer leader in a synagogue.

Chanukah see Hanukkah.

dietary laws in Orthodox Judaism, traditional laws pertaining to the consumption and preparation of foods; for example, pork, shellfish, and birds of prey cannot be eaten. Foods fit to be eaten are called kosher.

Elohim Hebrew name of God used in the Torah. Ezrat Nashim the women's section of a synagogue. Gehenna Greek name for hell; in Hebrew, Hinnom. Gentile anyone not a Jew.

Halakah the body of laws in the Torah and the Talmud.

Hanukkah a festival commemorating the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians in 165 b.c. and the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem. The festival is noted for its ritual of Jewish families lighting a candle every night for eight nights and placing each candle into a menorah (candelabra). Also known as the Festival of Lights. Also spelled Chanukah.

Hasidim strict Orthodox Jews, known for their black, widebrim hats, long black coats, and earlocks. Also spelled Chasidim.

Hebrew Bible the Old Testament of the Christian Bible; it contains the five books of the Law known collectively as the Torah.

Jehovah name of God.

Jew a believer in Judaism or a person descended from the Hebrew people. By Jewish law, must be a child of a Jewish mother.

kaddish a prayer recited when mourning the loss of a relative to help reaffirm faith.

kaftan the long, black coat worn by Hasidic Jews.

kashrut the code stating which foods are kosher.

kosher of food, fit to eat and unrestricted under Jewish dietary law.

matzoh the unleavened bread eaten for eight days by Jewish families over Passover to commemorate the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

menorah a seven- or nine-branched candelabra.

Messiah the representative of God who will come to earth at the end of the age to established the King­dom of God on earth.

mezuzah a scroll with passages from the Hebrew Bible, kept in a box on every doorpost of a Jewish home.

Mishnah Jewish oral law, passed down through the ages.

mitzvah a commandment or duty; a good deed or charitable act.

mohel a Jew who performs circumcisions.

ner tamid in a synagogue, the everburning oil lamp in front of the ark.

Orthodox Judaism traditional Judaism, known for its strict adherence to the Law, or Torah; for example, no Orthodox Jew shall marry a gentile, no nonkosher foods shall be eaten under any circumstance.

Passover the eight-day festival commemorating the flight of the Jews from slavery in Egypt and their exo­dus to the Promised Land. Also known as Pesach or the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

rabbi a Jewish minister.

Rosh Hashanah the Jewish New Year, celebrated in late September or early October.

Sabbath Saturday, the seventh day of the week; a day of rest to honor God.

seder the Passover meal commemorating the Israel­ites' escape from Egypt. Features of the meal include unleavened bread, four glasses of wine each, a bone of lamb, and green vegetables.

sheitel a wig worn by Orthodox Jewish women in accordance to the rabbinical rule that holds that a woman must keep her hair covered in the presence of any man other than her husband.

Shema a prayer said in the morning and in the eve­ning in Jewish homes. It begins, "Hear O Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is one. . . ."

siddur a Jewish prayer book.

synagogue a Jewish house of worship.

tallith a prayer shawl worn by Jewish men during morning prayers.

Talmud a collection of rabbinical writings form­ing, along with the Torah, the basis of authority for Judaism. It includes scriptural interpretations, dietary rules, advice for daily living, and sermons, among other writings.

tefillin two small leather boxes containing scrolls from the Torah and strapped to the forehead and left arm of Jewish men during weekday morning services.

Torah the Hebrew Bible; the five books of the Old Testament attributed to Moses.

Weeks, Feast of a summer festival commemorating the receiving of the Ten Commandments by Moses.

Western Wall the Wailing Wall. A vestige of the foundation of the Temple of Jerusalem, where Jews go to pray.

Yahweh the name for God; it is always written as YHWH and never spoken aloud because of its sacred- ness. See Adonai, Jehovah.

yarmulke the skullcap worn by Jewish men.

Yom Kippur the holiest of all Jewish holidays, devoted to prayer, confession of sins, repentance, and fasting. Also known as the Day of Atonement.

s

CIENCE

anthropology and archaeology

aborigine a native inhabitant.