Aishet Chayil: “woman of valor” Mishle/Proverbs 31:10-31.  Traditional blessing sung by husband on Shabbat in praise of his wife.

Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah: “son/daughter of commandment” One who is fully obligated to learn to observe the mitzvot of the Torah.

Beit Din: "house of judgment"

Beit HaMikdash: The First and Second Temples of Israel.

Beit Knesset: "house of assembly"

Beit Midrash: "house of study”, discussion, and prayer.

Beit Tefillah: "house of prayer"

B'rit Chadashah: Hebrew terminology for the Renewed Covenant known in English Bibles as the ‘New Testament’

Challah: Two loaves of bread baked for Shabbat in remembrance of the double portion of manna the children of Israel gathered on the 6^th day to have provision through the Sabbath Day of rest.

Elohim: “Mighty One” Hebrew title for Yahweh.

Eretz Yisrael/Israel: "land of Israel" The Land promised to the people of Israel by Yahweh in His covenant.

Galut: "exile"  or dispersion of Israelites throughout the world.

Haftarah: (plural-Haftarot)  Designates a specific section of the biblical prophets read in immediately after the corresponding Torah (Pentateuch) section called the Parashah.

Haggadah: (plural-Haggadot) "narration" or “telling” A liturgical manual used in the Passover Seder.

Kohen HaGadol: the High Priest of Israel.

Ketuvim: "writings" The third and last division of the TaNaKh, including Psalms and Proverbs and Job as well as other writings (Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles).

Kippah: (plural-kippot) Skullcap worn during prayer as a sign of reverence to Yahweh.  Known in Yiddish as ‘yarmulke’

Kosher: "Proper" or "ritually correct” Traditional dietary laws based on Vayikra (Leviticus) 11. Only land animals that chew the cud and have split hooves (sheep, beef; not pigs) are permitted. Of sea creatures, only fish having fins and scales are permitted.

Mashiach: “anointed one” or “Messiah” This is the Hebrew term for the Messiah that is usually translated into English as the Greek form ‘Christ’

Mezuzah: (plural-mezuzot) "doorpost" A parchment scroll with selected Torah verses (Devarim /Deuteronomy 6.4-9; 11.13-21) placed in a container and affixed to the exterior doorposts (on the right side) of Torah-observant homes.

Mitzvot: “commandments” Commonly refers to deeds that are performed in obedience to Yahweh commandments found in Torah.

Parashah: “portion” The Torah is divided into a yearly cycle 54 portions.

Parashah HaShavuah: The portion of Scripture for each weekly Shabbat including the Torah and Haftarah portions.

Rosh Chodesh: “Renewed Moon” First day of the new month as determined by the sighting of the first sliver of the new moon in Israel.

Ruach HaKodesh: The Holy Spirit.

Shemoneh Esrei / Amidah: "eighteen blessings”. The main section of Hebrew prayers containing 19 "benedictions": praise to (1) El of the fathers/patriarchs, (2) Yahweh's power and (3) holiness; prayers for (4) knowledge, (5) repentance, (6) forgiveness, (7) redemption, (8) healing sick persons, (9) agricultural prosperity, (10) ingathering the exiles, (11) righteous judgment, (12) punishment of wicked, (13) reward of pious, (14) rebuilding Jerusalem, (15) restoration of royal house of David, (16) acceptance of prayers, (17) thanks to God, (18) restoration of Temple worship, and (19) shalom.

Siddur: Prayer book of Hebrew blessings for Daily, Shabbat and Festivals.

Sha’ul: Hebrew name of Paul.  Rav. or Rabbi Sha’ul.

Talmid/Talmidim: “student” or “taught-ones” Hebrew term for the students of Messiah Yashua.  Also known as Greek term ‘disciple’

Tallit: (plural-tallitot) Four-cornered prayer shawl with fringes (tzitzit) attached, worn by Torah-Observant men during tefillah (prayer) and during Shabbat services. Bemidbar / Numbers 15:37-41

Tallit Katan:  A small four-cornered garment worn under clothing to fulfill the commandment of wearing tzit-tzit each day.

TaNaKh: An acronym for the Hebrew Scriptures, made up of the names of the three parts. Torah (Pentateuch or Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings) -- thus TNK pronounced TaNaKh.

Tefillin: "phylacteries" These are worn by males at the weekday morning (Shacharit) services. The boxes have leather thongs attached and contain scripture passages. One box is placed on the head, the other is placed on the left arm, near the heart. The biblical passages emphasize the unity of Yahweh and the duty to love Yahweh and be mindful of him with "all one's heart and mind" (Shemot / Exodus 13.1-10, 11-16; Devarim / Deuteronomy 6.4-9; 11.13-21)

Tefillah: “prayer” (plural-tefillot) Traditional prayers that are said 3 times daily.  Morning ‘Shacharit’, Afternoon ‘Minchah’ and Evening ‘Ma’ariv’

Teshuvah: “return” Repentance and a return to the Ways of Yahweh - His Torah.

Torah: "teaching, instruction" The Torah is the ‘five books of Moshe’ in the Hebrew Scriptures.  Sometimes the Torah is known as the Pentateuch.

YHWH/YHVH: The sacred name in the Hebrew Scriptures. Also known as the tetragrammaton. Since Hebrew was written without vowels in ancient times, the four consonants YHWH/YHVH “Y=yud” “H=hey” “W=waw (modern vav)” “H=hey” contain no clue to their original pronunciation. In traditional Judaism, the name is not pronounced, but ADONAI (Master) or HASHEM (The Name) is often substituted. In most English versions of the Bible the tetragrammaton is represented by "LORD"

Ya’akov:  The patriarch Jacob.  Also James (real name=Jacob) one of the twelve emissaries and also the brother of Yashua - leader of the assembly in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).

Yashua / Yahoshua: The Hebrew name of the Messiah: Yashua, meaning “salvation” that is often translated into English as the Greek substitution “Jesus”

Zionism: Mount Zion is an ancient Hebrew designation for Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). In Biblical times it began to symbolize the national homeland. The goal of Zionism is the political and spiritual renewal of the Hebrew-Israelite people in their ancestral homeland.