Helpful assistance for reading and understanding the Jewish Community section of History Happened Here web site.

Ashkenazi Jews (ahsh-ken-AH-zik)
One of the branches of Jews that primarily originated from northern France, central and eastern Europe.

Bar Mitzvah (BAHR MITS-vuh)
13-year old boy now responsible for fulfilling religious commandment; the ceremony at which this rite of passage occurs.

Bat Mitzvah (BAHT MITS-vuh)
12-year old girl now responsible for fulfilling religious commandment; the ceremony at which this rite of passage occurs.

Chevra Kadisha (KHEV-ruh kah-DEESH-uh)
Holy association: burial society

Conservative Judaism
One of the major movements of Judaism, accepting the binding nature of Jewish law but believing that the law can change.

G-d
A way of avoiding writing a name of G-d, to avoid the risk of the sin of erasing or defacing the Name.

High Holy Days
Autumn holidays of Rosh Hashanah, (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement).

Holocaust or Shoah
Referring to destruction of Six Million Jews by Nazi’s, 1939-1945.

JCC Movement
JCC Association is the continental umbrella organization for the Jewish Community Center Movement, which includes more than 350 JCCs, YM-YWHAs, and camp sites in the U.S. and Canada

Kabbalah (kuh-BAH-luh)
Jewish mysticism

Kosher
Describes food that is permissible to eat under Jewish dietary laws. Can also describe any other ritual object that is fit for use according to Jewish law.

Minyan (MIN-yin)
Quorum of 10 required for certain prayers

Mitzvot (mits-VOHT)
Religious commandment; good deed

Movements
The denominations, branches or sects of Judaism, although the distinctions between Jewish movements are not as great as those among Christian denominations.

Olam (oh-LAHM)
World; universe; everything; forever.

Orthodox Judaism
One of the major movements of Judaism, believing that Jewish law comes from G-d and cannot be changed.

Passover
The holiday commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. The holiday also marks the beginning of the harvest season.

Reform Judaism
One of the major movements of Judaism, believing that Jewish law was inspired by G-d and one can choose which laws to follow.

Sephardic (s'-FAHR-dic)
Of Mediterranean Jewish tradition

Shabbat (shah-BAHT)
The Sabbath, celebrated from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.

Shalom (shah-LOHM)
Literally, peace. A way of saying "hello" or "goodbye."

Shul (SHOOL)
The Yiddish term for a Jewish house of worship.

Synagogue (SIN-uh-gahg)
From a Greek root meaning "assembly." The most widely accepted term for a Jewish house of worship. The Jewish equivalent of a church, mosque or temple.

Talmud (TAHL-mud)
The most significant collection of the Jewish oral tradition interpreting the Torah.

Temple
The term commonly used for houses of worship within the Reform movement.

Torah (TOH-ruh)
In its narrowest sense, Torah, the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, sometimes called the Pentateuch. In its broadest sense, Torah is the entire body of Jewish teachings.

Yeshiva
Talmudic seminary

Zionism (ZAHY-uhn-ism)
A political movement to create and maintain a Jewish state. The word is derived from Zion, another name for Jerusalem.