Hebrew Vocabulary
Tashlich
Saturday, August 1st, 2009TASH-lich means cast or throw away.
Tashlich is a tradition that takes place on or shortly after Rosh Hashanah. We visit a river, stream, or any body of water and symbolically cast away our sins. We toss bread crumbs into the water and ask God to have compassion upon us.
Chait
Saturday, August 1st, 2009CHAIT literally means missing the mark.
Click here for a Hebrew Vocabulary Coloring Page
T’shuvah
Saturday, August 1st, 2009T’shu-VAH means repentence or returning. Return to being at One with ourselves and with God. According to Halacha, if you commit a cheyt, you can be forgiven if you do t’shuvah which includes:
1. Stop whatever it is that you are doing/have done!
2. Feel remorse for your actions
3. Appologize to whomever you’ve hurt and confess before [...]
Avinu Malkeinu
Saturday, August 1st, 2009A-VI-nu Mal-KEI-nu means Our Father Our King. This is the name of one of the most well known High Holiday prayers. It includes 44 requests for Yah’s blessings and compassion. Notably, this prayer brings out two aspects of God: the loving and compassionate parent and the stern ruler who establishes [...]
Shanah Tovah U’m'tukah
Saturday, August 1st, 2009Sha-NAH to-VAH u’m’tu-KAH is a greeting for the New Year that means “May you have a good and sweet year!”
Tapuchim U’dvash
Saturday, August 1st, 2009Ta-pu-CHIM u’DVASH (singular: ta-PU-ach and d’VASH) are apples and honey. On Rosh Hashanah we dip apples in honey for a sweet sweet year! Of course, we also eat honey cakes and slather honey on our challah and did you know that for the first year after getting married you get to dip your [...]
G’mar Chatimah Tovah
Saturday, August 1st, 2009G’MAR cha-ti-MAH to-VAH is a greeting used traditionally between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It means, “May you be sealed (in the Sefer Chaiim).”
Sefer Chaiim
Saturday, August 1st, 2009SEY-fer Chai-IM is the Book of Life. It is said that all of our deeds are weighed and judged. On Rosh Hashanah the book is opened. From the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah, Elul, all the way up to the final moments of N’ilah, the closing of the Yom Kippur [...]
L’shanah Tovah Tikatayvu
Saturday, August 1st, 2009L’sha-NAH to-VAH ti-ka-TEY-vu is a greeting for the New Year. It means “May you be inscribed and sealed (in the Sefer Chaiim) for a good year.”
click here for a Rosh Hashanah Coloring Page!
Halachah
Monday, September 3rd, 2007Ha-la-CHAH is the collective body of religious Jewish law. This includes biblical law (mitzvot), Talmudic and Rabinnic law as well as customs and traditions.
