Israel. The very name conjures up images of ancient kings, priests, and temples, of modern day strife, violence, and misunderstandings. Israel is at once a nation of the old and the new. Of ancient civilizations and traditions, and unfortunately, of old animosities and mistrust. Of new cities and development, new hopes and dreams. The current conflicts seen on the news are not new at all, and go back more than three millennia. The history of Israel is at once both fascinating, and an enigma. It is the history of a people chosen by God to be His covenant people, and of a land torn by strife for its possession. It is a story of survival and of miracles, as God has preserved this people throughout the ages.

So what is it that makes Israel so special? Why does one's heart beat a little faster at the very mention of the name? It is because of its past, and because of its future. It is the home of the prophets- of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah. It is the home of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the source of scripture. And, of course, it is the home of future events that are unfolding before our very eyes.

If you really want to understand Israel, past and future, join us on a tour given by The Children of Israel Foundation. Come and see what makes it so special. The scriptures will never be the same. You will never be the same. It will change your life forever. Contact us for travel information at: info@children-of-israel.org.

To promote an understanding of some of the basic beliefs and history of this Promised Land and chosen people, here is a glossary of terms and events that may help. And our help desk is always open to answer your questions at info@children-of-israel.org. Don't hesitate to ask at any time.

Aaron- the elder brother of Moses who helped to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. He was appointed by the Lord to be Moses' spokesman, and was with him for forty years in the wilderness. He was widely loved and looked upon as a peacemaker. An ancient Rabbinic homily notes that when Aaron died, "all the house of Israel mourned for him." (Numbers 20:29)

Abraham - the first Hebrew - the "Father of the Faithful." He was the father of Isaac and the grandfather of Jacob, thus the patriarch of the entire house of Israel. He had remarkable faith in God- faith enough to be willing to sacrifice his son if required. He is looked upon as the "ideal Jew", and God made special covenants (B'rit) and promises to him and his posterity.

Abrahamic Covenant - God promised Abraham that he would be blessed with specific lands, a numberless posterity, the blessings of the Priesthood, and that the Messiah would come from his lineage. These promises were renewed with Isaac and again with Jacob, as part of the birthright. These are the promises made to all the house of Israel.

Aggadah - Jewish writings that do not pertain to Jewish law, especially those writings found in the Talmud.

Akedah - the "binding of Isaac"- the account in Genesis of Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac according to God's will.

Ark - the Ark of the Covenant contained the two tablets given to Moses on Sinai - the law of God as given to the children of Israel. Every synagogue today also contains an ark - an ark that contains the Torah Scroll. It is usually a cupboard built into the eastern wall of the Synagogue and is covered by a curtain.

Ashkenazi - Jews whose ancestors lived in Germany or its surrounding countries in the middle-ages. They differ in custom, and to a certain extent in law, from Sephardic Jews - those who lived in Spain at the time.

Av, Ninth of - the ninth day of the month of Av in the Jewish calendar. It is the anniversary of the destruction of both the first and second Temples, and other Jewish calamities. It is traditionally observed by fasting and reading the Book of Lamentations.

Bar Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah - literally, 'Son of commandment.' At age 13, a boy is assumed to be old enough to be responsible for his actions and becomes obligated to keep the commandments and teaching of the Torah. A ceremony is held in which the young man puts on tefillin and reads a specific segment from the Torah in the synagogue. He is accompanied by his parents, and it is a joyous occasion for all.

Bat Mitzvah - 'Daughter of the commandment." A girl upon arrival at age 12 is assumed to be mature enough to be responsible to keep the commandments. In Reform and some Conservative congregations, a ceremony similar to a Bar Mitzvah is held to mark the occasion, only she does not put on the tefillin. Most Orthodox congregations do not perform Bat Mitzvahs, as it is believed to be improper for any girl to read from the Torah.

Bible - the collection of sacred writings viewed as scripture. Christians divide it into the Old and New Testaments- those writings that preceded Jesus Christ, and those that came after his birth. The Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and as such, do not use the New Testament as scripture. They divide the Bible into three parts: The Law (the five books of Moses); the Prophets (Joshua, Judges, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi); and the Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles.)

B'rit - see covenant.

Calendar - the Jewish calendar is based on the lunar cycle. All feasts and fasts are based upon this cycle and calculated from this.

Canaan - an area of land west of the Jordan, bordering upon the Mediterranean.

Cantor - the person who leads the congregation in prayer in the synagogue, usually a person with special music ability.

Challah - a braided bread used to welcome the Sabbath and some other special holidays, but not Passover.

Charity - Hebrew 'tzedakah.' The concept of charity is one of the most important aspects of Judaism. It is governed by several laws and has as its main emphasis doing good to others with pure intent.

Chosen People - see covenant.

Circumcision -a sign of the Abrahamic covenant. It was traditionally done on the eight day after birth. It is still performed as a Jewish ordinance marking the entrance into the covenant.

Cohen - the Jewish family name Cohen usually denotes that they are descendents of Aaron, and as such, have a responsibility to officiate in the temple. Still today, Kohenim (members of the Cohen family) have certain rights and responsibilities.

Conservative Judaism - one of the three main branches of Judaism. Its stand on most issues is between that of the Orthodox and the Reform movements. It sees itself as being observant of most Jewish law (Halakah), but not bound as tightly to its interpretation as the Orthodox.

Conversion - a convert to Judaism must undergo circumcision (if a male), and be immersed in a ritual bath (mikveh). The applicant is interviewed by a court of three people, usually rabbis, to ensure his or her sincerity. The person must show a basic knowledge of Judaism and renounce affiliation and sympathy with all other religions and beliefs. A Jew who converts to another religion is considered to be dead, thus the understandable resistance to Christian or Muslim missionaries by the Jewish people.

Covenant - an agreement between two parties, especially between God and man. God made a special covenant with Abraham and renewed it with Isaac and Jacob. At Sinai, God reiterated the covenant with Moses that the Children of Israel will be his Chosen People if they will be obedient to his commandments. The doctrine of being "chosen" continues today. See Abrahamic covenant.

David - the second king of Israel. God promised David that his kingdom would endure forever, implying that the Messiah would be a descendent from him.

Diaspora - those communities of Jews who live outside of Israel.

Dietary Laws - those laws governing which foods are "Kosher." The word "Kosher" means 'right' or 'fit.' The laws apply to animals, birds, and fishes, as well as to dairy products, cooking utensils, and methods of killing and preparing food.

Driedel - a four-sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side. It is played with on Hanukkah, and the letters mean "a great miracle has happened here today", to remind one of the miracle of the victory celebrated at Hanukkah.

Elijah - an ancient prophet believed by the Jews to have been taken up into heaven without dying. Some believe him to be the herald of the Messiah. At Passover, a special place is set at the Seder table for him and the door left ajar to welcome him in hopes that he will come.

Ephraim - second son of Joseph, who received the birthright. It was Ephraim's envy of Judah that, to a large extent, led to the separation of the two kingdoms- Judah and Israel. Isaiah teaches that in the last days, Israel will be united again, with Ephraim and Judah becoming united in purpose.

Eretz Israel - the land of Israel, as promised to the Jews by covenant.

Esther, Fast of - a fast day held the day before Purim, the holiday held to remember the heroine Esther who saved Israel from King Haman by foiling his plot.

Yom Kippur

Family - in Judaism, the family is of supreme importance. Many Jewish laws revolve around the family- rules concerning marriage, death and mourning, and family obligations. Care is taken to preserve the rights of the individual while safeguarding the sanctity and mutual cooperation needed in the family.

Fast Days - there are two major fasts in the Jewish calendar- the day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the ninth of Av. In addition to these, there are three minor fasts prescribed, each dealing with the downfall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. Fasting is observed to increase in humility and in order to remember the events commemorated.

Festivals - There are five major and two minor festivals in the Jewish calendar. The major ones are Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, Rosh Ha-Shanah, and Yom Kippur, while the minor ones are Hannukah and Purim. A later minor festival, New Year for Trees, has also been added. The major festivals are given by law in the Bible, while the minor ones are a result of Rabbinic law.

Five Books of Moses - the Torah. It consists of the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It is also referred to in Hebrew as the "Chumash," which means "five." In Latin, it means "Pentateuch."

Gemara - essentially, the Talmud.

Gentiles - those not of the house of Israel.

God - The Supreme Being, Creator of the earth and all else. A living God is the center of Jewish belief.

Hanukkah

Habad - the intellectual movement in Hasidism. It is an acronym formed from the first letters of the Hebrew words Hokkmah, Binah, and Daat, which mean wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.

Haftarah - the reading from the Prophets given in the synagogue after the reading from the Torah. The themes of the two readings usually are similar.

Haggadah - the book that is read at Passover detailing the events of the Exodus, and the lessons to be learned and remembered from it.

Halakah - Jewish law, as opposed to the Aggadah. It contains all the rules and regulations governing everything in Jewish life.

Hallel - literally, "Praise". It refers to the recital of Psalms 113-118 during the morning services on the days of festivals.

Hametz - 'leaven', as opposed to Matzah. During Passover, no leaven is eaten or even allowed into the house. Thus, prior to Passover, all traces of leaven must be removed and the house cleaned thoroughly.

Hanukkah - a festival to celebrate the victory by the Maccabees in 168 BC, following which a small vessel of oil was used in the re-dedication of the Temple. The oil lasted eight days, even though there was only a one- day supply. Thus the custom of lighting candles for eight days to commemorate the miracle.

Hasidism - a movement founded by Baal Shem Tov in the eighteenth century. It started in Poland and spread throughout Eastern Europe, and today is found in many countries, including the USA. It is characterized by extraordinary devotion to the spiritual side of Judaism and its teachings.

Haskalah - a movement founded in eighteenth century Germany. The main thrust of Haskalah was to encourage Jews to broaden their horizons and become part of western society.

Havdalah - a ceremony performed in the synagogue or at home to mark the end of the Sabbath and festivals. It is done to mark the division between the unholy and the holy.

Hebrew - the language written and spoken by the ancient Israelites, and also used in Israel today.

Herzl, Theodor - 1860-1904. The father of the Zionist movement. In 1896, he expressed his views in a publication called "Judenstaat," in which he advocated the re-establishment of a Jewish State in Palestine. He, perhaps more than any other person, was responsible for the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

Holocaust - the systematic destruction of at least six million of the Jewish people by the Nazi regime from 1939-1945.

Isaac - son of Abraham, and heir of the promises made to his father. These same promises were passed on to his son Jacob.

Ishmael - half brother of Isaac and father to the Arab nations. The Koran states that it was Ishmael, not Isaac, that Abraham took to Mount Moriah to offer as a sacrifice, and that he, not Isaac, was the chosen son.

Islam - a religion established by Mohammed. It's main tenants include, professing that there is only one God and that Mohammed is his prophet, praying five times a day, fasting, paying tithes and offerings, and journeying to Mecca during one's life to receive a new name and special ordinances. The main book revered by Muslims is the Koran, a book written by Mohammed that they believe to be inspired.

Israel, State of - on November 29, 1947, the United Nations passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a Jewish state in Israel. The State of Israel became a reality in mid-May, 1948, fulfilling the prophecies of so many of the ancient prophets. This came after the devastation of the Holocaust, and the refusal of so many countries in the world to allow destitute and desperate Jewish people to immigrate. Israel is the promised homeland of the Jewish people.

Jerusalem

Jacob - son of Isaac, and heir to all the promises made to him and to his father Abraham before him. His name was later changed to Israel, and he was father to twelve sons- the Children of Israel.

Jeremiah - a prophet who witnessed and forewarned about the destruction of Jerusalem and the carrying away of the captives into Babylon in 586 BC. He was fearless in his renunciation of sin and his warnings to be obedient to God's commandments.

Jerusalem - according to tradition, Jerusalem is the eternal, undividable capital of the Jewish people, site of the first and second Temples. It has been conquered and destroyed at least 26 times, but has had a Jewish presence almost continuously since the time of David. It has always been the focal point of the life of every Jew.

Jew - literally, a descendent of Judah. In the Jewish faith, it includes any descendent of Jacob.

Jewish Law - see Halakah.

Joseph - son of Jacob, father of Ephraim. He received the birthright because of the disobedience of his older brother Reuben. His symbol is a bull.

Judah - son of Jacob, and father of the Jewish people. His symbol is a lion. It was prophesied that David and the Messiah would be among his descendents.

Kabbalah - mystical Judaism, as exemplified in its central work, the Zohar. Its core doctrine revolves around the attributes of God, and that our actions can influence the heavens both positively and negatively. It is a theosophical system.

Kaddish - the mourner's prayer. There are guidelines for how long Kaddish should be said, depending upon the relationship of the mourner to the one who is deceased.

Kashrut - Kosher. See dietary laws.

Kibbutz - a secular movement started in the early twentieth century to establish collective, socialistic settlements. Most had an agriculture base. It has done much to reclaim the land and make it more productive and fruitful, as well as helping the Zionist movement.

Kiddush - a prayer recited to welcome in the Sabbath. It is said at home and in the synagogue.

Kohen - see Cohen.

Kosher - see dietary laws.

Magen David

Maccabees - also called Hasmoneans. In 168 BC, a group of Maccabees, lead by Judas, won an amazing victory over Antiochus, the Syrian King. This miracle is celebrated at Hannukah.

Magen David - the Shield, or sign, of David. It is a six-pointed star, and has been used throughout the ages by many religions and organizations. Its adoption as a symbol of Jewry is recent- certainly less than 200 years old. It has now become a symbol of Jewish national unity in Israel, and is found on the flag of Israel.

Maimonides - accepted by most to have been the most influential thinker, Talmudist, and codifier of the Middle Ages. His three greatest works were The Commentary to the Mishnah, The Mishnah Torah, ( a great code of Jewish law elucidating upon every aspect of the Oral Torah), and The Guide to the Perplexed, a work that attempts to demonstrate that the Bible is not in conflict with reason. He attempted to define the basic beliefs of Judaism in his writings on "The Thirteen Principles of Faith."

Marriage - next to the Sabbath, there is no greater institution of greater importance than marriage in Jewish law. In Judaism, marriage is the ideal state. It is considered to be a sacred union, and the marriage covenant is binding upon husband and wife. There are numerous laws governing the marriage ceremony and the expectations of the marriage couple afterwards.

Matzah - the unleavened bread that the Israelites hurriedly ate when they left out of Egypt. It is still used during Passover today.

Mazal Tov - an expression of goodwill or good luck.

Menorah - the seven-branched candelabrum used in the tabernacle in the wilderness. It symbolizes spiritual light, and is the most ancient and powerful of all Jewish symbols. It is the official symbol of the State of Israel today.

Messiah - 'the anointed one.' According to Jewish belief, the Messiah is the one appointed by God to usher in a thousand year period of peace and tranquility. He will be a descendent of David.

Mezuzah - a piece of parchment citing the verses from Deuteronomy 6: 4-9, and 11: 13-21. The parchment is put into a small container, often highly decorated, and attached to the right door post at an angle, about a third of the way from the top. It serves as a constant reminder to love God and to keep is commandments.

Midrash - a method used by ancient Rabbis to find hidden meanings in the Torah. It became a widely used source of commentary upon the scriptures.

Mikveh - a ritual bath in which one is immersed after becoming unclean for any of a number of reasons, such as menstruation, childbirth, contact with the dead, and others.

Minyan - the minimum number of ten men over the age of thirteen required for prayer and the reading of the Torah with the benedictions.

Mishnah - a compilation of the Oral Torah by Rabbi the Prince at the end of the second century. It contains Aggadic and Halakic material.

Mitzvah - commandment. A 'mitvah' is a precept of the Oral Torah, and there are 613 of them- 365 negative ('do not do this') and 248 positive (do this). The Rabbinic ideal is to carry out all mitzvoth cheerfully.

Moses - the pre-eminent person in all of Judaism. He led the Children of Israel out of Egypt, received the law (the Torah) from God at Sinai, and spent the rest of his life leading and teaching the law to the people.

Marriage

New Testament - the second part of the Christian Bible written after the birth of Jesus Christ. Jews do not accept the New Testament as scripture and do not use it, except for scholarly purposes to research Jewish life at the time.

Old Testament - the first part of the Bible containing the writings up to the time of Jesus. It is a Christian term, as to the Jews there is only one Bible.

Oral Torah - Jewish thought holds that Moses received much instruction and elaboration on the law at Sinai concerning the doctrines contained in the written Torah. Since Moses, many teachers and Rabbis have added to the Oral Torah, making it a continuous process.

Ordination - the formal appointment of a person to be a teacher of the Torah. Now, it is often similar to a graduation after a candidate has fulfilled the necessary courses and qualifications to become a Rabbi.

Orthodox Judaism - a branch of Judaism that accepts the Torah as the literal word of God, and lives strictly by its precepts and teachings.

Purim

Palestine - the non-Jewish name for the land of Israel. Literally, it means "land of the Philistines."

Passover - a springtime festival held to commemorate the Jews' freedom from bondage in Egypt at the time of Moses, and the passing over of the houses of the Children of Israel when God smote the firstborn of the Egyptians. To mark it, special preparations are made, including ridding the house of any leaven. A Passover meal (seder meal) is eaten and the Haggadah is read to help all to remember the deliverance of the Children of Israel and to encourage appreciation for their heritage and future obedience to the commandments.

Pentateuch - the five books of Moses.

Pharisees - a religious group of Jews who strictly adhered to the Oral and Written law. They believed in immortality and resurrection. They flourished from 200 BC to 200 AD, and may have been the forerunners of Rabbinic Judaism.

Prayer - the Bible stresses individual prayer, but Rabbinic Judaism places an emphasis upon public prayer. It does, however, acknowledge the importance of personal prayer as well. Traditional Jews pray three times a day, at home or in the synagogue. In addition, there are prayers for every festival, for the Sabbath, and for many other circumstances that make up Jewish life.

Prayer Shawl - see Tallit.

Priests - during the time of the Temple, the priests offered sacrifice. Traditionally, the priests (Kohen) were descendents of Aaron, and saw themselves as the aristocrats of the Jewish nation. Since the destruction of the Temple, the Priests (Kohenim) are called first to the Torah, are asked to say grace after meals, and have the privilege of saying the priestly blessing. Some believe that if a temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem, those of the priestly lineage will once again officiate within the temple and offer sacrifice.

Purim - a festival held to commemorate the defeat of Haman by Esther. The main feature of the festival is the reading of the Book of Esther on the night of Purim and again the next morning. Today, it is a fun festival especially for children who dress up and perform Purim plays. Gifts of food are traditionally given at Purim, making it a joyous time for all.

Qumran - the site of the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls. It was once the home of a group of ascetic Jews called Essenes, who probably wrote the scrolls.

Quorum - a minyan- a group of at least ten men, the minimum number required to offer certain prayers.

Rosh Ha-Shanah

Rabbi - one who is qualified to render decisions in Jewish law and to teach Judaism. Usually today, a Rabbi has attended a rabbinical school and has been taught in all facets of Jewish law, as well as other disciplines such as counseling.

Rashi - 1040-1105. Rashi was the foremost French commentator of his time, and wrote commentaries to the Bible and Talmud that are still studied today.

Redemption - to the Jewish people, redemption implies being saved from exile or oppression. Many believe that a future Messiah will bring the Jewish people to redemption and deliver the world into a peaceful state.

Red Heifer - In the time of the Temple, when one became defiled by touching a corpse, a red heifer was sacrificed and burned, the ashes of which were used in a purification rite for the one contaminated. The cow had to be totally red, without any other color of hair, making it a rarity. Some believe that the birth of a ritually-pure red heifer will herald the coming of the future Messiah and the construction of the Third Temple.

Reform Judaism - a branch of Judaism arising in Germany in the early nineteenth century. Its beliefs center on 'reforming' Judaism to encompass Western thought and values, while not violating the basic principles and beliefs of Judaism. Orthodox Jewry sees Reform Judaism as being an oxymoron- that you cannot reform that which is sacred and absolute without violating the basic premise of Judaism itself.

Responsa - a huge collection of "questions and answers" put to the sages and Rabbis over the years about Jewish law. As time has gone on and new technologies, fashions or customs have developed, the Rabbis have given 'responsa' as to how these things should be dealt with according to the law.

Resurrection - Orthodox Jews still believe in and pray daily for immortality and resurrection. The Reform movement still believes in the immortality of the soul, but rejects the idea of an actual physical resurrection.

Revelation - most Jewish discussions about revelation revolve around the Torah as it was revealed to Moses. This is seen as a manifestation of God's will, and is referred to as the doctrine of "Torah from heaven." There is hot debate over this doctrine and how literally the principle of revelation should be interpreted. Jews do not believe in modern day revelation.

Rosh Ha-Shanah - the New Year festival. It marks the beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance, which concludes with Yom Kippur. During this time a person is expected to take stock of his life and his past sins and shortcomings during the previous year. It is believed that God judges all people on this day: those that are found to be righteous are promised eternal life; those who are found lacking have until Yom Kippur to repent. To mark the event, the Rabbi wears white to officiate in the synagogue, people are told to wear new clothes, and the shofar (ram's horn) is blown, signifying God's strict justice being turned to mercy.

Saadiah Gaon - one of the most prominent medieval spiritual leaders in Judaism. He was a great authority on the Talmud and philosopher.

Sabbath - a day instituted to commemorate God's day of rest after the creation. It begins on Friday at sundown and ends Saturday at sundown. There are many rules governing its proper observance. The Sabbath is a joyous occasion, and is spent worshiping in the synagogue, and with family and friends away from work and the usual stresses of life. It is the most important of all Jewish holidays.

Sadducees - one of the three main Jewish sects during the second Temple period, in addition to the Pharisees and the Essenes. They were often wealthy land owners, and as such formed a large part of the aristocracy of Jewish society. They were certainly influential beyond their numbers. They had no belief in a life hereafter or a resurrection.

Samaritans - the people who inhabited northern Israel after the ten tribes were taken captive by the Assyrians. They were most likely a mixture of gentile and Jew. They were bitter rivals of the Jews and built their own temple in Gerezim.

Seder - a special meal eaten in the home on the first night of Passover. There is a ritual order to the meal and special foods are eaten which have special significance to the exodus and deliverance from bondage. The Haggadah is read during the meal.

Sefirot- ten powers of the Godhead as taught by the Kabbalah.

Sephardim - denotes those people who are descendents of Spanish Jewry, as opposed to the Ashkenazim, who are descendents of German Jewry.

Shavuot - Pentecost, or the Festival of Weeks, or Festival of First Fruits. It is observed seven full weeks after the second day of Passover. It is one of three festivals that required attendance at the Temple, the other two being Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. It commemorates the day on which God gave the Torah to Israel, and is marked by bringing the first fruits to the Temple to celebrate the new crop. It is still celebrated today, but has different customs, such as trimming the house with greenery, eating dairy products, and reading the Book of Ruth.

Shekhinah - the Divine presence, from the root word 'to dwell.' A scriptural example is found in Exodus 25:8 "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." Some have likened it to the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that accompanied the Children of Israel in the wilderness.

Shema - a compilation of three passages from the Torah that are recited in the morning and evening prayer services. 'Shema' is the first word in the most important declaration of faith that a Jew makes: "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God; the Lord is one."

Shofar - the ram's horn that is blown on Rosh Ha-Shanah.

Shulhan Arukh - the standard code of Jewish law. It was arranged by Joseph Karo in the sixteenth century. Virtually every aspect of Jewish life is addressed by its writings, and it is still widely referred to today. The Orthodox accept its rulings and explanations as absolutely binding, the Conservative movement, a little less so.

Siddur - Jewish prayer book used on weekdays and on Shabbat.

Spirituality - the idea that every act and thought should be directed towards God. Holiness and purity are the ideals sought for through spirituality.

Study - to a Jew, there is no more pressing religious obligation than the study of the Torah. Torah study is mandated by God and brings great rewards in this life and the next.

Sukkah - the 'booth' in which Jews are commanded to live during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).

Sukkot - see Tabernacles, Feast of.

Symbolism - the concept of using concrete things to denote abstract ideas. Judaism does not tolerate the making of any kind of graven image, and so symbols are taken from nature, verbal symbols, etc.

Synagogue - a house of worship and prayer for the Jewish people. The synagogue has its roots in the First and Second Temples of Jerusalem. The Temple was a site for sacrifice to be offered. After it's destruction, people began to gather on Shabbat and Holidays to worship. Some of the prayers from the Temple were carried over, others were added, and the focus of the synagogue shifted from sacrifice to prayer. Over time, the synagogue evolved into a place of worship, of study, and of gathering. It still fulfills these purposes today.

Syriac - a dialect of Eastern Aramaic. The Talmud implies that Syriac was used by Palestinian Jews, and Aramaic was used by Babylonian Jews.

Feast of Tabernacle


















































The Torah

Tabernacle - the portable structure used for worship by the Children of Israel while in the wilderness. It was, essentially, a portable Temple.

Tabernacle, Feast of - Sukkot. It is one of the three festivals that required attendance at the Temple, and was given by God to remind the Jews of the forty years of dwelling in Sukka (booths) while in the wilderness. It is celebrated in the fall for seven days. It is a joyous festival marked by living in a booth constructed of the boughs of trees.

Tallit - the four- cornered robe worn for worship or prayer. It is often called a "prayer shawl", though this is not a Jewish term. The significant parts of the robe are the fringes on the corners- the 'Tzitzit.'

Talmud - the Mishnah combined with the Gemara and other commentaries. Combined they give in writing the 'Oral Torah'- the Oral commandments and instructions given to Moses at Sinai and the commentaries to the law as it has come down through the ages. There are actually two Talmuds- a Palestinian Talmud and a Babylonian Talmud. Reference to 'The Talmud' almost always implies the Babylonian Talmud.

Tanakh - the Hebrew expression for the entire Bible.

Targum - a translation of the Bible into other languages than Hebrew- usually Aramaic.

Tefillin - two black leather boxes worn on the head and on the left arm. Attached to each box are two leather straps, two to three feet long. The straps are wound around the arm or the head to secure the 'cubes' in place. Each cube contains four scriptures from the Bible written on parchment: Exodus 13:1-10, Exodus 13:11-16, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and Deuteronomy 11:13-21. They are a sign or reminder to keep God's commandments. The New Testament refers to them as "phylacteries."

Temple - anciently the Lord's covenant people were commanded to build Temples- holy sanctuaries where sacrifice and other sacred ordinances could be performed. The Tabernacle was a kind of Temple. Solomon built a Temple, and a second Temple was built during the time of Herod. The Temple was the center of Jewish life. There are those among the Jews who believe that a Third Temple is yet to be built upon the Temple Mount, and one Jewish legend has it that the Priesthood keys for Temple worship will be restored by a Joseph-ben-Joseph, that is, a man named Joseph whose father was also named Joseph. Most Jews are reconciled that the Temple will be rebuilt only under the direction of the Messiah.

Temple Mount - the summit of ancient Mount Moriah, the site of the First and Second Temples. To the Jews, it is the most sacred spot on earth. It is believed by some to be the center of the universe.

Time and Eternity - the Jewish view of God is that He is eternal, without beginning or end. In Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith, he expounds upon this in his fourth principle of faith. Most Jewish thinkers agree that God's time is not man's time, that God existed before time, and that the universe that He created will go on forever. The problem of time is one of the great mysteries that the sages yesterday and today still do not comprehend.

Tithing - Jewish law is clear that one must pay a tenth of one's income for charity. Even those receiving charity are expected to give a portion of it to those less fortunate than themselves.

Torah - specifically, the five books of Moses, the Law. It is occasionally used to refer to all Jewish learning.

Tosafot - glosses or commentaries to specific passages in the Talmud. They often differ from Rashi's commentaries, even though they were originally written by his own followers and family. They tend to be more complex than Rashi's commentaries.

Tosefta - a work containing the debates, opinions, and rulings, of a group of Talmudic Rabbis called the Tannaim. It is separate from the Mishnah, and often addresses entirely different topics.

Tribes, Lost Ten - the northern ten tribes of Israel who were carried away captive by the Assyrians in 722 BC, and subsequently became scattered or "lost." Jewish legend has it that they will someday return from the north.

Tzedakah - Hebrew- "Justice" or "Righteousness." It is loosely interpreted as "charity", but is actually a requirement by Jewish law. It is expected that every person will give to those in need. Maimonides recognized that there are different 'levels' of giving, ranging from doing it begrudgingly to helping someone become self-sufficient.

Tzitzit - the fringes on the corners of a Tallit. Each fringe has 613 knots, each knot symbolizing one of the Laws of Moses.

Urim and Thummim - the oracles in the breastplate of the High Priest. Scripture indicates that they were used to receive answers to questions.

Visions - it was standard procedure for the prophets of old to receive revelation from God in the form of visions. This could happen in the form of a prophetic dream, by the appearance of an angel or heavenly messenger, or an actual vision of the future.

War - the Jewish people believe in, and desperately desire, peace. War is not justified except in the matter of self-defense. As no Jewish state existed during the middle-ages, the sages were silent regarding the defense of an entire nation. There is unity in opinion that war to defend one's self and one's country when attacked is justified and necessary for self-preservation.

Washing the Hands - traditional Jews wash their hands in a ritualistic way upon arising in the morning and before each meal.

Western Wall - part of the retaining wall built by Herod around the Temple Mount in the first century BC. It was not part of the actual Temple. It is a sacred spot to the Jewish people, where prayers are offered and Bar-Mitzvah's celebrated.

Written Torah - refers to the first five books of the Bible, according to Rabbinic tradition. It may on occasion refer to material written in the later books of the Bible.

Yarmulka

Yad Vashem - an organization dedicated to researching and remembering the six million Jews who lost their lives in the Holocaust. The headquarters and Yad Vashem museum are located in Jerusalem.

Yarmulka - the Yiddish term for the skull cap worn by Orthodox and many Conservative Jews.

Yeshiva - an institution of higher learning for the study of the Torah. There are now more Yeshivot than ever, and there is some rivalry between the graduates of the Yeshivot, which tend to be more intellectual and theory oriented, and the Rabbinate who tend to more practical and worldly matters.

Yiddish - a mixture of German, Hebrew, and Aramaic. It is written in Hebrew, and spoken by Ashkenazi Jews of German descent.

Yom Kippur - the day of atonement. It comes ten days after Rosh Ha-Shanah, and is a holy day observed by even most non-observant Jews. It is believed to be the day on which God passes judgment on every individual. It is a day of fasting and repentance for forgiveness of one's sins against God and against others. Anciently, it was a day of sacrifice in the Temple by the High Priest. One goat was sacrificed upon the altar, another was released into the wilderness, carrying away the sins of the people. Other sacrifices and rituals accompanied Yom Kippur.

Zion - anciently, Zion was a location - a hill and fortress in Jerusalem. It may be used as a synonym for Jerusalem. At times, it has been used to refer to the Temple Mount. Today, Mount Zion is a hill south and west of the Temple mount, the traditional site of King David's Tomb.

Zionism - a movement arising at the end of the eighteenth century to re-establish a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine. Its biggest advocate, and some say its founder, was Theodor Herzl. A study of the scriptures and Talmud reveal that the Jewish people have always longed for their homeland of Israel and for Jerusalem.