b'rachah Blessing; beginning with a six-word Hebrew formula, "Praised are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe..."
B'reishit Genesis; the first book of the Torah; "At the beginning"
b'samim Spices
chameitz Leavening, forbidden on Pesach
Chanukah Dedication; the holiday on which the Temple was rededicated
chanukiyah A special nine branched candelabra for the celebration of Chanukah
chatimah Seal; the final sentence of a Hebrew blessing
Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazeik Be strong, and let us strenghthen one another. Said at the completion of reading a book of Torah
chesed Kindness
chol Secular, mundane, profane
derech eretz "The way of the land," generally referring to socially acceptable manners and proper behavior
etrog The fruit of a citron tree; one of the four species used to celebrate Sukkot
gibor Hero. Someone who does something brave, exhibiting either inner or outer strength
g'milut chasadim Personal acts of loving-kindness
hachnasat orchim Welcoming guests
hakafah/hakafot Circling; a processional with the Torah through the congregation
Havdalah Distinction; a ceremony performed on Saturday night, separating Shabbat from the rest of the week
hidur mitzvah Beautification of a mitzvah
kodesh Holiness
lulav Palm; one of the four species used to celebrate Sukkot; also used to refer to branches of palm, willow and myrtle bound together
Maccabee The family that led the revolt against the Syrian-Greek army and reclaimed the Temple
matanot l'evyonim Gifts to the poor; a mitzvah for the holiday of Purim (see Esther 9:22)
m'gillah Scroll. There are five m’gillot in Bible: Ruth, Esther, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. Each m’gillah is read on a specific Jewish holiday
midrash Rabbinic interpretation of Biblical text
mishlo-ach manot Gifts sent to family and friends; a mitzvah for the holiday of Purim (see Esther 9:22)
mitzvah/mitzvot A commandment; obligation; Jewish responsibility
p'tichah Opening; the first sentence of a Hebrew blessing
Purim Lottery; the name of a holiday on which Haman cast lots to determine the day on which he would slay all the Jews of Shushan
Rosh HaShanah The Jewish New Year
samei-ach Happy
shamash Helper; the candle on the chanukiyah that is lit first and used to light all the other candles
Shehecheyanu "For giving us life;" the key word used to refer to the blessing said when something is done for the first time or the first time in a season
sh'lom bayit Peace in the home
simchah A joyous occassion
Simchat Torah Rejoicing in the Torah; a holiday celebrating the Torah on which the annual cycle of reading from the Torah is completed and the beginning of the new cycle begins
sukkah Booth, temporary dwelling; built in celebration of the Sukkot holiday
todah rabbah Thank you very much
t'shuvah Repentance
tzedakah Righteous giving
ushpizin "Guests," Biblical and historical characters, each one "invited" to the sukkah on a different night of the holiday
Yom Kippur The Day of Atonement
Z'man Cheiruteinu The Season of Our Liberation, another name for Pesach, referring to the liberation from Egypt
