Glossary of Terms

עליה ALIYAH (ah-lee-ya):   This term, meaning going up, refers to the act of reciting a blessing over a passage read from the Torah (the plural form is aliyot).  The term originates from the elevation of the bimah in the Sanctuary, requiring that the person go up a few steps to reach the Torah reading table.  Aliyah also refers to moving to Israel, or going up in a spiritual sense.

אויפרוף AUFRUF (auf-roof):  Yiddish word meaning call up.  Traditionally, a bride and groom are called to the Torah for an aliyah on the Shabbat prior to their wedding.  At Congregation Kehillath Israel, we also use this term to refer to the participation of the bar/bat mitzvah in the Monday or Thursday morning service prior to the bar/bat mitzvah.

בן/בת BEN/BAT:   Literally, son of, daughter of.  This term is used to call someone to the Torah by generation, as in Meir ben (son of) Yitzchak & Sheindel.  Individuals are publicly called to the Torah by their father’s and mother’s names.

בימה BIMAH (bee-mah):   Literally, stage or platform.  Parts of the synagogue service take place on an elevated platform which recalls the altar in the time of the Bible.

כהן COHEN (ko-hain):   This term refers to a descendant of Aaron the High Priest and his family.  The Cohanim (plural) were officiants in the Tabernacle in the desert, and later in the Temple in Jerusalem.  They were an elite sub-group of the tribe of Levi who had special privileges and responsibilities.  Their descendants, identified only through one’s personal family history, are honored with the first aliyah at the Torah service.

גלילה GELILAH (ga-lee-la):   This term literally means “rolling,” and refers to the act of rolling the Torah closed and dressing it after the reading.  The person who is called on to roll and dress the Torah is called the golel (m) or golelet (f).

הפטרה HAFTARAH (haf-ta-ra):   The prophetic portion read in the Synagogue after the Torah reading on Shabbat and holidays.  Literally, it means end or conclusion.  The haftarah was added to the service either because it was forbidden to read the Torah or out of a desire to add opportunities for instruction to the service.  The honor of chanting the haftarah is usually given to a person of distinction, such as a bar/bat mitzvah.

הגבה HAGBAH (hag-ba):   This term literally means to raise up, and refers to the act of raising the Torah and displaying it to the congregation after the reading.  The person who is called on to raise the Torah is called the magbia (m) or magiha (f).

קידוש KIDDUSH (kee-doosh):   The prayer recited over wine on Shabbat, holidays and other occasions of joy and celebration.  The term comes from the word kadosh, meaning holy.  Moments of holiness are recognized and sanctified through the kiddush.  Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam Bo-ray P’ree Ha-gafen, Praised are You, Adonai, Our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has created the fruit of the vine.  It is customary to say kiddush and have a seudah (see MOTZI) following the Shabbat morning service.  Kiddush also often refers to that communal meal.

כיפה KIPAH (kee-pah):   The head covering worn by Jews, usually during prayer and study, by some all the time.  Its use originates out of a tradition of humility before God (the precursor of the kipah was the hat).  The term means covering.

לוי LEVI (lay-vee):   This tribe was given no land when the Israelites settled in the land of Israel centuries ago.  Instead, they assisted the Cohanim in the Temple service and were the designated musicians of Israel.  Their descendants are honored with the second aliyah at the Torah service.

מפטיר MAFTIR (maf-teer):   This term is related to the word haftarah, meaning end or conclusion.  The last few verses of the Torah portion are repeated at the end of the reading, as a means of finding an additional honor for the person who is going to recite the haftarah.  Both the last verses of the reading, as well as person reading the haftarah, are known by the word maftir.

המוציא MOTZI (mo-tsee):   This term refers to the blessing recited over bread, traditionally thought of as the food which constitutes a meal.  Shabbat, holidays, and special events (wedding, bar mitzvah, bris, etc.) are made special with a festive meal, known as a SEUDAH.  The seudah begins with the recitation of the motzi.  Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam Ha-motzi Lechem Min Ha-aretz, Praised are You, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

מוסף MUSAF (moo-saf):   The additional service recited on Shabbat and holidays.  It recalls the additional sacrifice brought to the Temple on those occasions.

עונג שבת ONEG SHABBAT (o-neg sha-bat):   Literally, the joy of Shabbat.  The term refers to the special celebration (usually entailing food) which takes place after a Friday night Shabbat service.

פסוקי דזמרה PESUKEI DE-ZIMRA (pe-soo-kay de-zeem-ra):   Literally, verses of song.  This term refers to the preliminary service, recited each morning as a warm-up to the main service.

שחרית SHACHARIT (sha-cha-reet):   The morning service recited each day of the week, with a special version for Shabbat.  The term comes from the word shachar, meaning morning light.

שליח ציבור SHALIACH TZIBUR (sha-li-ach tzi-bur):  The shaliach tzibur (literally emissary of the community) leads the services, chanting the liturgy in Hebrew and helping the community sing together in prayer.  

שהחינו SHEHECHEYANU (she-he-che-ya-nu):   This term refers to the blessing recited on happy occasions that occur once in a lifetime or once a year.  Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam She’heche’yanu Ve’keeyeh-manu Ve’hee-gee-yan La-z’man Ha-zeh,   Praised are You, Adonai, Our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

טלית TALLIT (ta-leet):   The prayer shawl worn by adult Jews at morning services each day of the week.  On the four corners of the tallit are tsitsit, or fringes, which remind us of our obligations to follow the commandments of Judaism.  The tallit makes the service more special and distinctive, while also aiding in concentration in prayer.

תפילין TEFILLIN (te-fill-in):  These small black boxes contain words of Torah and are attached to the forehead and upper arm with leather straps wrapped in a specific pattern.  Worn over the head, heart, and arm, tefillin invite their wearer to serve God with their intellect, emotions and action.

ישראל YISRAEL (yis-ra-ale):   Literally, Israel.  This term is the designation for members of the Jewish religious who are neither a Cohen nor a Levi.