Hebrew Vocabulary
Tzedakah
Monday, February 26th, 2007Tze-da-KAH is Hebrew for justice. It’s most often translated as giving money to the poor or “charity”. The difference is whereas charity has to do with kindness of heart, tzedakah is a commandment and we are obligated to do our part to make the world just no matter how we feel about it. [...]
Mitzvah
Monday, February 26th, 2007Mitz-VAH is Hebrew for commandment. Usually mitzvah is translated as “a good deed” which is generally true, but not entirely the same as a commandment from Torah. There are 613 Mitz-VOT (plural) in the Torah.
I like to think about mitzvot as our Rules for Good Living. The thing about mitzvot, is that we do them [...]
K’tuvim
Monday, February 26th, 2007K’tu-VIM is the third and final section of the Tanach. The Hebrew word k’tuvim means, “writings.” This section includes the Psalms, Proverbs, and the book Song of Songs. It includes the stories of Ruth, Esther, and Job as well as Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Ecclesiastes. Additional books in K’tuvim are the Chronicles and [...]
Mishnah and Talmud
Monday, February 26th, 2007Mish-NAH and Tal-MOOD
Mishnah is the kernal of Talmud, the main post-biblical Rabinnic writing. The Mishnah is a compilation of Jewish practice up until the end of the 2nd century. According to the Rabbis there were two Torahs delivered at Sinai. One to be written down (the Five Books of Moses) and one [...]
The Rabbis
Monday, February 26th, 2007The term, “The Rabbis” was an academic title for scholars or experts of the Oral Torah. The term was used for the first time after the destruction of the holy Temple, 70CE. The Rabbis made it their work to explain the laws and the ideas stated in the Torah. Led by Rabbi [...]
B’teyavon
Monday, February 26th, 2007B’tei-ya-VON is the Hebrew version of Bon Apetit and means exactly the same thing.
Gematria
Monday, February 26th, 2007Ge-MA-tri-a is Hebrew numerology using the Alef-bet. Each letter has a numerical value. Meaning is derived from identifying the numerical value of whole words and/or comparing the value of words and phrases to each other. Gematria is used for a deeper exploration and study of Jewish texts.
For example, the numerical value of “Chai”, meaning “Life,” [...]
Alef-Bet
Thursday, January 25th, 2007A-lef – Bet refers to the Hebrew alphabet. Alef and bet are the first 2 letters. The alef-bet has 22 letters, though five of them take on different forms when they come at the end of a word. Hebrew is written from right to left.
Seder
Thursday, January 25th, 2007SE-der is the Hebrew word for “order.” We use it to describe our special meal on Passover, which we go through in a certain order of 15 items. The Tu B’Shvat Seder is modeled after the one for Passover. Seder is also used in reference to the order of prayers that make up our services [...]
Tanach
Thursday, January 25th, 2007Ta-NACH is an acronym that identifies the three texts that make up the Hebrew Bible.
1. Torah – the 5 Books of Moses
2. Nevi’im – the Prophets
3. K’tuvim – The Writings
