The words you will hear at shul, in plain English. Spellings vary, so try more than one. If a word is missing, ask us and we will add it.
- Aliyahעֲלִיָּה
- Being called up to the Torah to say the blessings over a reading. It also means moving to Israel.
- Bar Mitzvahבַּר מִצְוָה
- A boy at 13 and a girl at 12 become responsible for the mitzvot. The word also names the celebration.Also spelled: bat mitzvah
- Bimahבִּימָה
- The raised table in the synagogue where the Torah is read.
- Brisבְּרִית
- The covenant of circumcision, held on the eighth day of a baby boy’s life.Also spelled: brit milah
- Chabadחב״ד
- A Chassidic movement. The name stands for three Hebrew words for wisdom, understanding and knowledge.
- Challahחַלָּה
- The braided bread eaten on Shabbat and holidays.
- Chametzחָמֵץ
- Leavened grain products. They are not eaten or kept during Passover.Also spelled: chometz
- Chassidחָסִיד
- A follower of Chassidus, the Jewish teaching that stresses joy, heartfelt prayer and the inner meaning of Torah.Also spelled: hasid, chasid
- Chassidusחסידות
- The inner dimension of Torah, taught in a way that can be understood and lived.Also spelled: hasidism, chasidus
- Chavrusaחַבְרוּתָא
- A study partner. Two people learn the text together and talk it through.
- Chazzanחַזָּן
- The person who leads the prayers.Also spelled: cantor, hazzan
- Chevra Kadishaחברא קדישא
- The holy society of volunteers who prepare a person for burial with care and dignity.
- Chitasחת״ת
- A short daily study of the Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya. The name is made from the first letters of those three.Also spelled: chitat
- Chol HaMoedחול המועד
- The middle days of Passover and Sukkot, between the first and last days of the holiday.
- Chumashחומש
- The Five Books of Moses, printed as a book with commentary.
- Daven
- To pray. A Yiddish word.Also spelled: davening
- Eruvעירוב
- A boundary that lets a community carry within it on Shabbat.
- Etrogאתרוג
- A citron. It is one of the four species held together on Sukkot.Also spelled: esrog
- Farbrengen
- A Chassidic gathering with stories, teachings, song and a l’chaim. A Yiddish word for “coming together.”
- Gabbaiגַּבַּאי
- The person who organizes the synagogue service and calls people up to the Torah.Also spelled: gabai
- Gelt
- Money. Chanukah gelt is given to children on Chanukah.
- Gemaraגְּמָרָא
- The central text of the Oral Torah, which records the discussions of the sages.Also spelled: talmud
- Haftarahהפטרה
- A reading from the Prophets, read after the Torah reading on Shabbat and holidays.Also spelled: haftorah
- Halachaהֲלָכָה
- Jewish law, the way a mitzvah is carried out in practice.Also spelled: halakha, halachah
- Havdalahהַבְדָּלָה
- The ceremony at the end of Shabbat, with a cup of wine, a braided candle and spices.
- Kaddishקַדִּישׁ
- A prayer praising G-d. Mourners say it in memory of a loved one.
- Kashrutכַּשְׁרוּת
- The laws of what Jews may eat and how food is prepared. Food that fits them is kosher.Also spelled: kosher, kashrus
- Kiddushקִדּוּשׁ
- The blessing over wine that marks Shabbat and holidays. It also names the small meal after services.
- Kippahכִּיפָּה
- The head covering Jewish men wear.Also spelled: yarmulke, kipa, skullcap
- Kol Nidreכל נדרי
- The prayer that opens Yom Kippur at nightfall.
- L’chaimלְחַיִּים
- To life. The toast said over a drink.Also spelled: lechaim, lchaim
- Lag BaOmerל״ג בעומר
- The 33rd day of the Omer count. It is a day of joy, with bonfires, outings and parades.
- Lulavלולב
- A palm branch bound with myrtle and willow. It is held with the etrog on Sukkot.
- Maarivמעריב
- The evening prayer.Also spelled: arvit
- Maaserמעשר
- Giving a tenth of one’s income to tzedakah.Also spelled: ma’aser, tithe
- Mashiachמשיח
- The Messiah, who will bring a time of peace and knowledge of G-d for the whole world.Also spelled: moshiach, messiah
- Matzahמַצָּה
- The flat unleavened bread eaten on Passover.Also spelled: matzo
- Mazal tovמזל טוב
- Congratulations.Also spelled: mazel tov
- Mechitzahמחיצה
- The divider between the men’s and women’s sections of an Orthodox synagogue.Also spelled: mechitza
- Melachahמלאכה
- The kinds of work that are set aside on Shabbat and holidays.Also spelled: melacha
- Menorahמְנוֹרָה
- A lamp with branches. The Chanukah menorah has eight lights and a ninth, the shamash, used to kindle the rest.Also spelled: chanukiah, hanukkiah
- Mezuzahמְזוּזָה
- A scroll in a case on the doorpost of a Jewish home.
- Mikvahמִקְוֶה
- A pool of water used for ritual immersion.Also spelled: mikveh
- Minyanמִנְיָן
- A group of ten Jewish adults, which is needed for certain prayers.
- Mishloach manotמשלוח מנות
- Gifts of food sent to friends on Purim.Also spelled: shalach manos
- Mitzvahמִצְוָה
- A commandment. In everyday speech it also means a good deed.Also spelled: mitzvot
- Mivtzoim
- The Rebbe’s mitzvah campaigns, which invite every Jew to do a mitzvah such as putting on tefillin or lighting Shabbat candles.Also spelled: mivtzaim, mitzvah campaigns
- Nigunניגון
- A wordless Chassidic melody.Also spelled: niggun
- Ohelאוהל
- The Rebbe’s resting place in Queens, New York, where many go to pray.
- Omerעֹמֶר
- The 49 days counted from the second night of Passover to Shavuot.Also spelled: sefirat haomer, counting of the omer
- Parshaפרשה
- The weekly Torah portion. The whole Torah is read in a year.Also spelled: parashah, parasha, parshah
- Pushka
- A box for coins given to charity.Also spelled: pushke, tzedakah box
- Rebbe
- A Chassidic leader and teacher. Chabad’s seventh Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, is called “the Rebbe.”
- Rebbetzin
- The wife of a rabbi.Also spelled: rebbitzen
- Rosh Chodeshראש חודש
- The first day of a Hebrew month, which is marked by added prayers.
- Sederסֵדֶר
- The festive meal on the first nights of Passover. The word means “order.”
- Shacharitשחרית
- The morning prayer.Also spelled: shacharis
- Shabbatשַׁבָּת
- The day of rest, from just before sunset on Friday to nightfall on Saturday.Also spelled: shabbos, sabbath
- Shaliachשליח
- An emissary. Chabad sends shluchim to communities around the world.Also spelled: shliach, shluchim, shlucha, emissary
- Shemaשְׁמַע
- The central prayer of Jewish faith, which begins “Hear, O Israel.”
- Shivaשִׁבְעָה
- The seven days of mourning after a burial. Friends and family visit the mourners at home.
- Shofarשׁוֹפָר
- A ram’s horn blown on Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur.
- Shul
- A synagogue. A Yiddish word.
- Siddurסִדּוּר
- The prayer book.
- Simchaשִׂמְחָה
- Joy. It also names a happy occasion such as a wedding.Also spelled: simchah
- Sukkahסֻכָּה
- The temporary hut Jews eat in during Sukkot.Also spelled: succah
- Tallitטַלִּית
- A prayer shawl with fringes on its four corners.Also spelled: tallis, talis
- Tanyaתניא
- The foundational book of Chabad Chassidus, written by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi.
- Tefillinתְּפִילִּין
- Two small leather boxes with Torah scrolls inside, worn on the arm and head during weekday morning prayer.Also spelled: phylacteries
- Tehillimתְּהִלִּים
- The Book of Psalms. Many say Tehillim for the sick and for those who need a blessing.Also spelled: psalms, tehillem
- Teshuvahתְּשׁוּבָה
- Returning to G-d. It is often translated as repentance.Also spelled: teshuva
- Torahתּוֹרָה
- The Five Books of Moses. It can also mean all of Jewish teaching.
- Tzedakahצְדָקָה
- Charity, given as a matter of justice.Also spelled: tzedaka, charity
- Tzitzitצִיצִית
- The fringes on the corners of a four-cornered garment.Also spelled: tzitzis
- Yahrzeit
- The anniversary of a death on the Hebrew calendar. It is marked with Kaddish, a lit candle and learning.
- Yeshivaיְשִׁיבָה
- A school for Torah study.
- Yizkorיזכור
- The memorial prayer said on certain holidays for loved ones who have passed.
- Yom Tovיום טוב
- A Jewish holiday. It means “a good day.”Also spelled: yontif
- Zmanimזמנים
- The times of day that prayers and mitzvot depend on, such as candle lighting and sunset.Also spelled: zemanim