Glossary
ADONAI
A name for God which means 'my Lord'
ANTISEMITISM
Hatred of and hostility to Jews and Judaism.
ARK
A special cupboard in the Synagogue in which the Torah scrolls are kept.
BAR MITZVAH
An occasion on which a boy of 13 is formally ushered into the adult Jewish community. Now he is expected to fulfill all his religious duties and take responsibility for his own actions.
BAT MITZVAH
A modem counterpart of a Bar Mitzvah for girls.
CHUPPAH
A canopy under which the bride and groom are married.
COVENANT
The special relationship which exists between God and the Jewish people following his gifts to them of the Exodus (freedom), the Torah (instructions about how to live) and the land of Canaan.
EXODUS
The departure of Hebrew slaves from bondage in Egypt, under the leadership of Moses, and their eventual settlement in Canaan, i.e. Palestine.
GHETTO
A restricted area of a town or city (in Europe) in which Jews were forced to live.
HANUKKAH
The festival of light which commemorates the re-taking and the re-dedication of the Temple in 165 B.C.E., after the Temple had been in non-Jewish hands for three years.
HEBREW
The language of the Jews.
​JUDAISM
The religion of the Jews.
KIPPAH
A scull-cap worn by men and boys.
KOSHER
Food which is permissible under Jewish dietary laws.
MENORAH
A seven branched candlestick which has become a symbol of Judaism.
MESSIAH
A human being (a kingly figure) to be sent from God to bring in a new world order in which everyone will find justice, peace and happiness.
MONOTHEISM
The belief that there is only one God.
MOUNT SINAI
A mountain in the Sinai peninsular where God revealed himself to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments.
PESACH
The Passover festival which celebrates God's rescue of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.
PURIM
A joyous festival celebrating the story of Queen Esther who rescued the Jews from destruction.
ROSH HASHANAH
The festival which celebrates the beginning of the Jewish New Year.
SABBATH
The seventh day of the week, a day of rest and worship.
SHALOM
A greeting meaning 'peace'.
SHAVUOT
The Festival of Weeks (or Pentecost) celebrates the beginning of the harvest and recalls the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.
SHEMA
The Jewish confession of belief in one God, 'Hear, 0 Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One..
STAR OF DAVID
A six pointed star. A symbol of the Jewish people.
SUKKOTH
The festival of Tabernacles (i.e. tents) commemorates the 40 years spent in the desert before reaching the promised land of Canaan, and also celebrates the end of the harvest.
SYNAGOGUE
A building to which Jews come for prayer, study and to meet each other.
TALMUD
A sacred book which reflects 800 years of intense discussion by the Rabbis about the meaning of the Torah.
TORAH
The first five books of the Hebrew scriptures, i.e. the Old Testament.
YAHWEH
The personal name of God revealed to Moses, which means 'I AM. As this name is too sacred to be spoken, Jews substitute the word 'Adonai' (the Lord) when they read aloud from the Bible.
YOM KIPPUR
A day of Atonement, a day of fasting and repentance of sins.