מילון
Glossary
78 of 78 terms
- Aliyah LaRegelעלייה לרגל
ah-lee-YAH la-REH-gel · literally ‘going up on foot’
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem on the three pilgrimage festivals, Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot.
Related: Shalosh Regalim
- Amahאמה
ah-MAH (plural amot) · literally ‘forearm, cubit’
The cubit, six handbreadths. Its modern length is disputed: about 48 cm (Rabbi Chaim Naeh) or about 58 cm (Chazon Ish) in common halachic estimates.
Related: Tefach
- Amidahעמידה
ah-mee-DAH · literally ‘standing’
The central standing prayer, recited three times on weekdays facing Jerusalem, with an additional Musaf Amidah on Shabbat and festivals.
Related: Retzei
- Arba Minimארבעה מינים
ar-bah-AH mee-NEEM · literally ‘four species’
The palm branch (lulav), citron (etrog), myrtle and willow held on Sukkot.
Related: Sukkot
- Aron HaBritארון הברית
ah-ROHN ha-BREET · literally ‘ark of the covenant’
The gold-covered chest holding the Tablets, with two cherubim on its cover. Rabbinic tradition holds it was absent from the Second Temple; traditions differ on where it was hidden.
Related: Keruvim, Kodesh HaKodashim
- Ashamאשם
ah-SHAHM · literally ‘guilt’
The guilt offering, brought in specific cases such as misappropriation, which required first repaying the victim plus a fifth.
Related: Chatat
- Avodahעבודה
ah-voh-DAH · literally ‘service, work’
The sacred service of the Temple. Later applied to prayer, 'the service of the heart'. In Retzei, Jews ask God to 'restore the avodah to Your House'.
- Azarahעזרה
ah-zah-RAH · literally ‘enclosure, court’
The inner Temple courtyard containing the altar and the Sanctuary building, 187 by 135 amot in Mishnah Middot.
Related: Ezrat Yisrael, Ezrat Kohanim
- Beit HaMikdashבית המקדש
beit ha-mik-DASH (also Beis HaMikdash) · literally ‘the House of the Sanctuary’
The Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The First stood about four centuries until the Babylonian destruction; the Second stood until 70 CE. Jewish prayer asks for a Third.
- Bikkurimביכורים
bee-koo-REEM · literally ‘first fruits’
The first ripe fruits brought in baskets to the Temple with a declaration of thanks.
Related: Shavuot
- Birkat HaMazonברכת המזון
beer-KAHT ha-mah-ZOHN · literally ‘blessing for the food’
Grace after meals. Its third blessing asks for mercy on Jerusalem, Zion, the Davidic kingdom and 'the great and holy House'.
Related: Amidah
- Chatatחטאת
khah-TAHT · literally ‘purification, sin-offering’
An offering for certain unintentional transgressions and for purification. It did not atone for deliberate wrongdoing without repentance.
- Cheilחיל
KHEYL · literally ‘rampart’
A terrace 10 amot wide inside the soreg, below the courts.
Related: Soreg
- Choshenחושן
KHOH-shen · literally ‘breastplate’
The High Priest's breastplate with twelve stones for the twelve tribes.
Related: Kohen Gadol, Ephod
- Ephodאפוד
eh-FOHD · literally ‘apron’
A woven apron-like garment of the High Priest, of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and linen.
Related: Choshen
- Even HaShetiyahאבן השתייה
EH-ven ha-sh-tee-YAH · literally ‘foundation stone’
The bedrock in the Holy of Holies, 'three fingers above the ground', on which the High Priest placed the incense on Yom Kippur after the Ark was gone. Tradition says the world was founded from it.
Related: Kodesh HaKodashim
- Ezrat Kohanimעזרת כהנים
ez-RAHT ko-hah-NEEM · literally ‘court of the priests’
The strip beyond the Court of Israel, 11 amot deep, reserved for priests except when an Israelite needed to lay hands on, slaughter or wave an offering.
Related: Azarah
- Ezrat Nashimעזרת נשים
ez-RAHT nah-SHEEM · literally ‘the women's court’
The large court east of the Azarah, open to men and women alike, with four corner chambers. Named because women did not usually go further in; it was where the Sukkot water-drawing celebration took place.
Related: Azarah, Simchat Beit HaShoevah
- Ezrat Yisraelעזרת ישראל
ez-RAHT yis-rah-EL · literally ‘court of Israel’
A strip 11 amot deep inside the Nicanor Gate where Israelites stood.
Related: Azarah
- Geulahגאולה
geh-oo-LAH · literally ‘redemption’
The future redemption in Jewish thought, whose order of events Rambam says is not known in advance.
Related: Mashiach
- Hallelהלל
hah-LEL · literally ‘praise’
Psalms 113 to 118, sung by the Levites during the Pesach offering and still recited on festivals.
Related: Pesach
- Har HaBayitהר הבית
har ha-BAH-yit · literally ‘the Mountain of the House’
The Temple Mount. In Middot, an enclosure of 500 by 500 amot.
- Heichalהיכל
hay-KHAHL · literally ‘palace, great hall’
The Sanctuary building; in the narrow sense, its main hall (the Kodesh) holding the Menorah, the Table and the incense altar.
Related: Ulam, Kodesh HaKodashim
- Keruvimכרובים
keh-roo-VEEM · literally ‘cherubim’
Two golden winged figures on the Ark cover, facing each other; also guardians east of Eden. Not chubby cupids.
Related: Aron HaBrit
- Ketoretקטורת
keh-TOH-ret · literally ‘incense, fragrant smoke’
The incense burned on the golden altar every morning and evening, and brought into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur.
Related: Mizbach HaZahav
- Keveshכבש
KEH-vesh · literally ‘ramp’
The ramp on the south side of the altar. The Torah forbids steps up to the altar (Exodus 20:23).
Related: Mizbeach
- Kiyorכיור
kee-YOHR · literally ‘laver, basin’
The bronze basin at which kohanim washed hands and feet before service.
Related: Mizbeach
- Kodeshקודש
KOH-desh · literally ‘holy’
The Holy chamber of the Sanctuary, 40 by 20 amot inside.
Related: Heichal, Kodesh HaKodashim
- Kodesh HaKodashimקודש הקודשים
KOH-desh ha-kod-ah-SHEEM · literally ‘holy of holies’
The innermost chamber, 20 by 20 amot. In the Second Temple it was empty except for the Foundation Stone, and only the High Priest entered, on Yom Kippur.
Related: Even HaShetiyah, Kohen Gadol, Parochet
- Kohenכהן
ko-HEN (plural kohanim) · literally ‘priest’
A male descendant of Aaron, brother of Moses, charged with the Temple service. Kohanim still exist today by family tradition and still bless the congregation, but have no Temple service to perform.
Related: Kohen Gadol, Levi, Avodah
- Kohen Gadolכהן גדול
ko-HEN ga-DOHL · literally ‘great priest’
The High Priest, who wore eight garments and alone entered the Holy of Holies, on Yom Kippur only.
Related: Kohen, Yom Kippur, Kodesh HaKodashim
- Korbanקרבן
kor-BAHN (plural korbanot) · literally ‘something brought near’
An offering. From the root k-r-v, 'near'. It includes animal, grain, wine, oil and incense offerings. The root illuminates the idea of drawing near to God but does not by itself define the institution.
- Lechem HaPanimלחם הפנים
LEH-khem ha-pah-NEEM · literally ‘bread of the face / presence’
The showbread: twelve loaves set out each Shabbat and eaten by the kohanim the following week.
Related: Shulchan
- Leviלוי
lay-VEE (plural leviim) · literally ‘one who is joined’
A member of the tribe of Levi who is not a kohen. Levites sang and played in the Temple and guarded its gates.
Related: Kohen
- Lishkat HaGazitלשכת הגזית
lish-KAHT ha-gah-ZEET · literally ‘chamber of hewn stone’
The chamber where the Great Sanhedrin sat and from which 'instruction issued to all Israel'.
Related: Sanhedrin
- Maamadמעמד
mah-ah-MAHD · literally ‘standing’
Lay representatives of the people who stood by the offerings, while their towns read the Creation account.
Related: Mishmar
- Mashiachמשיח
mah-SHEE-akh · literally ‘anointed one’
In Jewish thought, a future king from David's line. Rambam writes that he will restore the Davidic kingdom, build the Mikdash and gather the dispersed of Israel.
Related: Geulah
- Menorahמנורה
meh-noh-RAH · literally ‘lamp-stand’
The seven-branched golden lamp-stand of the Sanctuary, hammered from one piece of gold and lit every evening.
Related: Heichal
- Mikdashמקדש
mik-DASH · literally ‘a place made holy’
Sanctuary. The Torah's word in 'Let them make Me a sanctuary' (Exodus 25:8). Used for the Mishkan and the Temple alike.
Related: Beit HaMikdash, Mishkan
- Mikvehמקוה
mik-VEH · literally ‘gathering (of water)’
A pool of natural water for ritual immersion. Many have been excavated around the Temple Mount.
Related: Taharah
- Minchahמנחה
min-KHAH · literally ‘gift’
A grain offering of fine flour with oil and frankincense. Also the name of the afternoon prayer service.
Related: Korban
- Mishkanמשכן
mish-KAHN · literally ‘dwelling place’
The portable Sanctuary (Tabernacle) built in the wilderness under Moses, carried through the desert and later set up at Gilgal, Shiloh, Nov and Givon.
Related: Mikdash
- Mishmarמשמר
mish-MAHR (plural mishmarot) · literally ‘watch’
One of the 24 priestly divisions, each serving a week in turn.
- Mizbach HaZahavמזבח הזהב
miz-BACH ha-zah-HAHV · literally ‘the golden altar’
The incense altar inside the Sanctuary, between the Menorah and the Table.
Related: Ketoret
- Mizbeachמזבח
miz-BAY-ach · literally ‘place of offering’
Altar. The outer altar of stone in the courtyard (32 by 32 amot at its base in Middot) and the small golden incense altar inside the Sanctuary.
- Musafמוסף
moo-SAHF · literally ‘addition’
The additional offerings of Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and festivals, and the additional prayer service that recalls them.
Related: Tamid
- Nesachimנסכים
neh-sah-KHEEM · literally ‘libations’
Wine poured on the altar with offerings; on Sukkot, water was poured as well.
Related: Nisuch HaMayim
- Nisuch HaMayimניסוך המים
nee-SOOKH ha-MAH-yeem · literally ‘pouring of the water’
The Sukkot water libation, drawn from the Shiloach spring and poured on the altar.
Related: Simchat Beit HaShoevah
- Olahעולה
oh-LAH · literally ‘that which goes up’
An offering burned entirely on the altar, apart from the hide. The Tamid is an olah.
Related: Korban
- Parochetפרוכת
pah-ROH-khet · literally ‘curtain’
The woven curtain separating the Holy from the Holy of Holies. The Mishnah records two curtains a cubit apart; Rabbi Yose held there was one.
Related: Kodesh HaKodashim
- Pesachפסח
PEH-sakh · literally ‘passing over’
The spring pilgrimage festival of Passover, with the Pesach offering brought in the Temple courts in three groups.
Related: Shalosh Regalim
- Retzeiרצה
reh-TZAY · literally ‘be pleased’
The seventeenth blessing of the Amidah, asking God to restore the avodah to the Holy of Holies of His House.
- Rosh Chodeshראש חודש
rohsh KHOH-desh · literally ‘head of the month’
The new moon, marked in the Temple with additional offerings.
Related: Musaf
- Sanhedrinסנהדרין
san-hed-REEN · literally ‘assembly (from Greek)’
The high court of 71 sages, which sat in the Chamber of Hewn Stone on the Temple's southern side.
Related: Lishkat HaGazit
- Shaar Nikanorשער ניקנור
SHAH-ar nee-kah-NOHR · literally ‘Nicanor Gate’
The great copper-doored gate at the top of the fifteen steps, between the Women's Court and the Azarah.
Related: Ezrat Nashim, Azarah
- Shalosh Regalimשלוש רגלים
sha-LOSH reh-gah-LEEM · literally ‘three foot-festivals’
Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, when the Torah commands appearing at the chosen place.
Related: Aliyah LaRegel
- Shavuotשבועות
sha-voo-OHT · literally ‘weeks’
The early summer pilgrimage festival, with the offering of two wheat loaves; later strongly associated with the giving of the Torah.
Related: Bikkurim
- Shechinahשכינה
sh-khee-NAH · literally ‘dwelling, indwelling’
A rabbinic term for God's manifest Presence. It does not mean God is contained in a place; Solomon himself says the heavens cannot contain God (1 Kings 8:27).
Related:
- Shelamimשלמים
sheh-lah-MEEM · literally ‘offerings of wholeness or peace’
A shared offering: parts on the altar, portions to the kohanim, and most eaten by the owner with family and guests in Jerusalem.
- Shir HaMaalotשיר המעלות
SHEER ha-mah-ah-LOHT · literally ‘song of ascents’
Psalms 120 to 134. The Mishnah connects their number to the fifteen steps on which the Levites sang.
Related: Levi
- Shir shel Yomשיר של יום
SHEER shel YOHM · literally ‘song of the day’
The psalm the Levites sang for each day of the week, still recited at the end of the morning service.
Related: Levi
- Shulchanשולחן
shool-KHAHN · literally ‘table’
The golden Table in the Sanctuary on which twelve loaves (the showbread) lay continually.
Related: Lechem HaPanim
- Simchat Beit HaShoevahשמחת בית השואבה
sim-KHAT beit ha-sho-eh-VAH · literally ‘joy of the place of water-drawing’
The nightly Sukkot celebration in the Women's Court with giant lamps, torch dances and Levitical music.
Related: Ezrat Nashim, Nisuch HaMayim, Sukkot
- Soregסורג
SOH-reg · literally ‘lattice’
A low lattice fence inside the Temple Mount. In the Second Temple, non-Jews and those impure from contact with the dead did not pass beyond it.
Related: Cheil
- Sukkotסוכות
soo-KOHT · literally ‘booths’
The autumn pilgrimage festival of booths, with the four species, the water libation, and in Zechariah's vision, the nations coming to Jerusalem.
Related: Simchat Beit HaShoevah, Arba Minim
- Taharahטהרה
tah-hah-RAH · literally ‘ritual purity’
The ritual status required to enter holy areas and eat holy food, usually restored by immersion in a mikveh and waiting until evening.
- Tamidתמיד
tah-MEED · literally ‘continual’
The daily communal offering, one lamb in the morning and one toward evening, with flour, oil and wine.
- Tefachטפח
TEH-fakh · literally ‘handbreadth’
A handbreadth, one sixth of an amah.
Related: Amah
- Teshuvahתשובה
teh-shoo-VAH · literally ‘return’
Repentance: regret, change of behaviour and, where others were harmed, restitution. Offerings never replaced it.
Related: Chatat, Yom Kippur
- Tikkun Gadolתיקון גדול
tee-KOON gah-DOHL · literally ‘great arrangement’
The balcony built around the Women's Court so that women could watch the Sukkot celebration from above.
Related: Ezrat Nashim
- Tisha B'Avתשעה באב
tish-AH beh-AHV · literally ‘ninth of Av’
The fast day mourning the destruction of both Temples.
Related: Zecher LaChurban
- Todahתודה
toh-DAH · literally ‘thanks’
The thanksgiving offering, a kind of shelamim brought with forty loaves, after surviving danger.
Related: Shelamim
- Tumahטומאה
too-MAH · literally ‘ritual impurity’
A ritual status, often from contact with death or certain bodily events, that restricts entry to holy areas. It is not dirtiness, sin or moral inferiority, and is part of ordinary life.
- Tzitzציץ
tseets · literally ‘shining plate’
The golden headplate of the High Priest, engraved 'Holy to the Lord'.
Related: Kohen Gadol
- Ulamאולם
oo-LAHM · literally ‘porch, hall’
The entrance porch of the Sanctuary, 100 amot wide, with a doorway 40 amot high and no doors.
Related: Heichal
- Yom Kippurיום כיפור
yohm kee-POOR · literally ‘day of atonement’
The holiest day, when the High Priest performed the special service and entered the Holy of Holies.
Related: Kohen Gadol, Kodesh HaKodashim
- Zecher LaChurbanזכר לחורבן
ZAY-kher la-khoor-BAHN · literally ‘remembrance of the destruction’
Customs that keep the loss of the Temple present in everyday life, such as leaving part of a home unfinished.
Related: Tisha B'Av
- Zecher LaMikdashזכר למקדש
ZAY-kher la-mik-DASH · literally ‘remembrance of the Temple’
Practices instituted after 70 CE to re-enact Temple customs, such as taking the lulav all seven days of Sukkot everywhere.
Related: Zecher LaChurban