Levayah
Literally, “to accompany.” To accompany the dead to their final resting place is a great mitzvah and shows true honor for the dead because the deceased cannot respond to those who perform this mitzvah.
Topics:
Jewish Glossary
Jewish Glossary
201 - 250 of 417 results
Listed Alphabetically
Levayah
levayat ha-meit
levayat ha-meit
Alternate Spelling:
levayat haMet
Lit. "accompanying the dead;" walking behind the casket to the gravesite.
Topics:
limud Torah
limud Torah
Alternate Spelling:
—
"Learning Torah." The learning (or occupation with words of Torah) is considered greater than all of the commandments combined because, mystically, engagement with the words in the Torah is an act of yichud—unification with God in the world.
Topics:
lulav
lulav
A date palm frond with myrtle and willow sprigs attached; used in Sukkot rituals.
Topics:
L’shanah tovah
L’shanah tovah
Literally, “for a good year.” This is a customary greeting for Rosh HaShanah. Also, “shanah tovah.”
Topics:
L’Shanah Tovah Tikateivu
L’Shanah Tovah Tikateivu
Alternate Spelling:
L’shanah tovah tikateivu
"May you be inscribed [in the Book of Life] for a good year" is a greeting offered on Rosh HaShanah.
Topics:
m'chayei ha-meitim
m'chayei ha-meitim
Alternate Spelling:
m'chaye haMetim
Resurrection of the dead.
Topics:
m'gillah
m'gillah
Alternate Spelling:
megillah, M'gillah
"Scroll;" One of the five m'gillot (plural) in the Bible: Esther, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentation and Ecclesiastes.
m'sadeir kiddushin
m'sadeir kiddushin
The officiant of the wedding (e.g., rabbi, cantor).
Topics:
m'tzitzah b'eh
m'tzitzah b'eh
Oral suction from circumcised wound.
Topics:
ma'ot chitim
ma'ot chitim
Alternate Spelling:
maot chitim
"Wheat money;" money collected prior to Passover and used to assist the needy to celebrate the holiday.
Topics:
Maariv
Maariv
Evening prayer service. Prayed every day, though the content is different on weekdays, Shabbat, and Festivals.
Maccabees
Maccabees
The family of five sons who led the revolt against the Hellenization of Jerusalem and became the heroes of the Hanukkah story.
Topics:
machzor
machzor
"Cycle;" high holiday prayerbook; plural: machzorim.
Topics:
madrich
madrich
Alternate Spelling:
madricha (feminine); madrachim (plural)
Guide, youth leader, or teacher’s assistant.
magbia
magbia
"Lifter." Refers to the person who lifts the Torah following the communal reading. The magbia lifts and turns his/her back to the congregation so that all may physically see at least three columns of the scroll.
Topics:
Magid
Magid
“Telling.” The section of the Pesach (Passover) Haggadah designed to tell the Passover story.
Topics:
mamaloshen
mamaloshen
"Mother tongue;" affectionate term for Yiddish.
Topics:
maror
maror
"Bitter;" the bitter herb or vegetable (i.e., horseradish) eaten during the seder to symbolize the bitter plight of the enslaved Israelites.
Matanot la-evyonim
Matanot la-evyonim
Literally, “presents for the poor.” Tzedakah (charitable giving) in honor of Purim.
Topics:
matzah
matzah
Alternate Spelling:
matza, matzo, matzoh
Unleavened bread eaten during the seder that symbolizes the hurried departure of the Israelites from Egypt. Eating matzah is obligatory only at the seder. During the rest of Pesach, one may abstain from matzah as long as all chametz is avoided; plural: matzot
matzevah
matzevah
mazel tov
mazel tov
Alternate Spelling:
mazal tov
Lit. "a good star." Colloquially, "congratulations."
Mechutunim (Yiddish)
Mechutunim (Yiddish)
Literally, “belonging to the groom;” describes the relationship of spouse’s parents to the other spouse’s parents
menorah
menorah
Alternate Spelling:
menora
Seven- or nine-branched candelabra; commonly refers to the nine-branched Hanukkah lamp; plural: menorot.
Topics:
mezinka
mezinka
An Eastern European ceremony celebrating the marriage of the last child in a family. Seated on chairs in the center of the dance floor, the parents are presented with bouquets and circled by the company in a dance that celebrates the completion of their parental responsibility.
Topics:
mezuzah
mezuzah
The case in which a k'laf is placed before it is affixed to a doorpost.
Topics:
Mi Chamocha
Mi Chamocha
Literally, “Who is like You?” Verses from Exodus 15:11 that are incorporated into the prayer service. These verses are an excerpt from the song that the biblical Israelites sang after crossing the Sea of Reeds to safety.
Topics:
Mi Shebeirach
Mi Shebeirach
Alternate Spelling:
Mi Sheberach, mi she-bei-rach
"May the One who blessed;" a prayer often recited after a person has been honored with an aliyah; also commonly recited as a prayer for those in need of physical and/or spiritual healing.
Topics:
Middah
Middah
characteristics, values, or virtues of Jewish life that focus on becoming a better and more fulfilled person; plural: middot
Midrash
Midrash
Rabbinic interpretation of a passage from the Bible. Midrash falls into two categories: midrash halachah is concerned with religious practice and law, and midrash aggadah is concerned with interpreting biblical narratives and stories,
mikdash m'at
mikdash m'at
A small sanctuary; refers to the Jewish home.
Topics:
mikvah
mikvah
Alternate Spelling:
mikva
Ritual bath traditionally visited by a bride prior to her wedding; also used regularly by Jews who observe the laws of family purity; and used during the conversion process; a natural body of water also can serve as a mikvah; plural: mikvaot.
Topics:
milah
milah
Ritual circumcision.
Topics:
milchig
milchig
Foods derived from milk or milk products.
Topics:
Minchah
Minchah
Afternoon prayer service. Prayed every day, though the content is different on weekdays, Shabbat, and Festivals.
minhag
minhag
minhag hamakom
minhag hamakom
"Custom of the place," i.e., local custom.
Topics:
minyan
minyan
Quorum of 10 people necessary for public prayer in traditional communities; plural: minyanim.
Topics:
Miriam's cup or cup of Miriam
Miriam's cup or cup of Miriam
A contemporary item added by some to the Pesach (Passover) seder. Often placed next to Elijah’s cup, Miriam’s cup highlights the role of Miriam and women in the Exodus story. The cup is filled with water to honor and remember that Miriam’s well sustained the people of Israel in the desert after the Exodus.
Topics:
Mishkan T’filah
Mishkan T’filah
Literally, “a sanctuary of prayer.” The title of the newest prayer book of the Reform Movement in North America.
Topics:
mishloach manot
mishloach manot
Alternate Spelling:
mishloach manos, shalach monos
"Sending of portions;" baskets of sweets and other foods exchanged among friends on Purim.
Topics:
Mishnah
Mishnah
Literally “repetition.” Mishnah is a Jewish legal code edited by Rabbi Judah HaNasi in Palestine in 220 C.E. It is the first Jewish legal literature after the codification of the Hebrew scriptures around 90 C.E. Also called “Torah Shebal Peh,” “Oral Torah” or “Oral Law.”
Topics:
Mishnah Torah
Mishnah Torah
"Repetition of the Torah." This 11th century law code was codified by Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (also known as Maimonides or RAMBAM) in Alexandria, Egypt. It stirred controversy for 100 years because the RAMBAM dispensed with Talmudic methodolgy and the citation of sources in the interest of presenting a clear guide to the Jewish community on what to do and how to do it in all areas of life.
Topics:
mitzvah
mitzvah
"Commandment;" obligatory responses to Jewish traditions; plural: mitzvot.
Topics:
Mizrachi
Mizrachi
Jews who come from Middle Eastern backgrounds.
mohel
mohel
Ritual circumciser; plural: mohelim.
Topics:
Mordechai
Mordechai
A main character of the Purim story, Mordechai was Esther’s uncle who encouraged her to marry the king and helped her convince the king to save the Jews from destruction.
Topics:
