A Glossary of
Hebraic Terms
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Abbreviations Used In This Glossary

abbr. = abbreviated

alt. = alternate

Ar. = Aramaic

esp. = especially

Gr. = Greek

Heb. = Hebrew

lit. = literally

n. = noun

pl. = plural

pron. = pronounced

prop. = properly

sg. = singular 

usu. = usually

v. = verb

Yid. = Yiddish

Transliteration/Pronunciation GuideBooks of the  BibleProper Names Tribes of IsraelThe Mishnah

This is a work in progress, and will very probably be so for many, many months.
Please expect it to be different the next time you visit our website.

For more Hebrew words and phrases, you might enjoy Jacob Richman's "Learn Hebrew" website at
http://www.learn-hebrew.co.il/. Be sure to check out his "About / Help" link for more tools and sites.

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For more Hebrew words and phrases, you might enjoy Jacob Richman's "Learn Hebrew" website at
http://www.learn-hebrew.co.il/. Be sure to check out his "About / Help" link for more tools and sites.

Use this “Jump Bar” to directly to any letter of the AlephBet
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Appendix Pronunciation [More]

C

C.E. — Common Era (same as A.D. but much less offensive to non-Messianic Jewish people)

cantor — one who leads the chanting [canting, singing] of prayers in the synagogue services.

cerubim — (alt. ceruvim) an order of angelic being; the Cherubim in the Sanctuary (sg. cherub)

chachah — reproof

chacham — wise man (pl. chachamim)

chadash — new wine

chadashot — new things

chafetz — good pleasure

chag — festival

Chag Habikkurim — (alt. Habikurim) Festival of the First Fruits; another name for Shavuot

Chag Haggeulah — Festival of Redemption

Chag HaKatzir — Festival of Ingathering or Harvest

Chag Sameach — joyous holiday; the greeting used on the festivals

chai — alive (or life); when Jews drink a toast, they wish each other “L’chayim” (to life)

chaim — (alt. chayyim) life; the plural ending indicates an increase or multiplication, thus “very life” or “abundant life”

chaiyal — soldier (pl. chaiyalim)

chal — placed under obligation

chalav — milk

chalil — flute

chalitzah — This Biblical ceremony, to absolve a man of marrying his childless brother’s widow, means “removal.” The widow removes his shoe and publicly spits upon the recalcitrant.

challah (alt. chalah) — Egg bread eaten on Shabbat and festivals; the challah used on Rosh haShanah is round, often containing raisins, symbolizing a sweet year, distinguishing it from the Shabbat challah that is braided … the kohen’s share in the dough … White braided Sabbath bread; name of the dough tithed from bread baking (pl. chalot)

chalutzim — pioneers

chamdanut — covetousness greed

chamesh — five

chamesh elafim — five thousand

chametz — (alt. chometz) (lit. sour) any fermented product of grain, all leavening agents; hence, that which makes “sour” … leavening, yeast, baking powder; mixes with a leavening agent, bread and bread crumbs; food prepared with leaven, by extension referring to all foods and utensils forbidden on Passover … leavened bread and anything made with wheat, rye, barley, oats, or spelt, which has not been supervised to ensure that it has not leavened; refers to prohibited foods during Pesach

chamor — donkey

chamot — shviger; mother-in-law

chaninah — mercy

Chanukat Habayit —dedication of the home; the ceremony affixing the mezuzah

Chanukiah — eight-branched candelabrum, with a place for a ninth candle (shamash) that light the others, especially designed for Chanukkah

Chanukkah — (Alt. Hanukah, Hanukkah, Chanukah) Dedication; name of the winter holiday commemorating the Maccabean victory over the Syrians in 165 B.C.E. and the rededication of the Temple

chap — grasp mentally; grab

charedi — orthodox

charon af HaShem — burning wrath or anger of G‑d

charoset — (alt. charoset) a mixture of fruits (usually apples), nuts, cinnamon, and wine; one of the symbolic Passover foods on the seder plate. Its color and consistency are reminders of the bricks and mortar used by the Israelite slaves

Chas v’shalom — (alt. Chas veshalom) G‑d forbid!

chashadot merusha’im — evil suspicions

chashivut — importance; prominence

Chassidic — pertaining to the Chasidim

Chasidim — Ultra-Orthodox followers of the eighteenth-century leader, Rabbi Israel, the Ba’al Shem Tov

Some main features of Chassidic thought, or Chassidism are emphasis on
   Sincerity, fervour
   Prayer
   Joy and spontaneity
   Humility
   Connection to the Tzadik, the Rebbe
      (Known as ADMO”R, acronym for Adoneinu, Moreinu veRabeinu
       - Our Master, Our Teacher and Our Rabbi)
   Introduction of Kabbalistic concepts to the masses

Some of the common customs of the Chassidim are:
   Specific clothing - Spodek, Shtreimel, long coats, gartel
   Eating with the Rebbe - Tisch, Farbrengen
   Order of prayer of Rav Yitzchak Luriah (Ari Zal)
   Later prayer times - following preparations

Chasidus — The Chassidic movement, was founded by R. Yisrael Ba’al Shem Tov (1700 - 1760) in the early 18th Century and grew to one of the great movements of mainstream Judaism to this day. It grew in the regions of Galicia, the Ukraine and Podolia.

chassidus — piety

chassuna — wedding

chatan — (alt. chosson) bridegroom

Chatan Bereshit — (lit. Bridegroom of Genesis) the man called to recite or chant the blessings over the first section of the Torah on Simchat Torah

Chatan Torah — (lit. Bridegroom of the Torah) the man called to recite or chant the blessings over the final section of the Torah on Simchat Torah

chatat — (alt. hataat, chattat) sin offering in the Temple (2 Chron 5:21)

chatetz — good pleasure of his will

chatoteinu — our sins

chatsot halailah; chatzot halailah — midnight

chattaim —sins

chattat — (alt, chatat) sin offering; sin-atoning sacrifice;

chattoteynu — our sins

chaver leneshek — comrade-in-arms

chavrusashaft — association

chavurah — company; fellowship; society; those who partake of the Paschal lamb together

chavurah (alt. chaburah, havra’ah) — a group of “subscribers” convened for the purpose of offering the Pesach Sacrifice and eating of its meat … Informal group, which meets together for Jewish study and celebration (pl. chavurot)

Chayyah — Beast; Anti-Mashiach; Antichrist

chayyah — living, animal, beast (pl. chayyot)

chayyei menuchah — life of rest

chayyeinu — our life

chayyim — (alt. chaim) life

chazakim — strong ones

chazan — (alt. chazzan, hazzan, hazan) the cantor, the leader in prayer

chazan hakkeneset — synagogue employee

Chazarat Hashatz — repetition of the amidah prayer by the cantor aloud after it was recited by the congregants

Chazereth —bitter root, usually horseradish, on the Seder plate

chazir — swine (pl. chazirim)

chazon — vision; revelation; prophecy

chazora — review

cheder — room or chamber … old-fashioned term for Hebrew school

chedvah — rejoicing

chefetz — desire

chelek — allotted portion

chen v’chesed — favor and mercy; lovingkindness

chepping — annoying

cherem — ban of destruction

cherish— a deaf person (pl. chereshim)

cheresh-illem — deaf and mute

cherev — sword

cherut — freedom

chesed — free; unmerited favor or grace

cheshbon — plan; account; bill

Cheshvan (Bul) — second month of Jewish year

chet — (lit. missing the mark) one of the Hebrew terms translated “sin” … equivalent to Gk. hamartia

chevlei leydah — pangs of childbirth

Chevlei Mashiach — birthpangs of Mashiach

Chevrah Kadisha — group of people entrusted with the mitzvah of preparing a body for burial

chikiah — wait

Chillul Hashem gidduf — desecration of the Name blasphemy

chiloni — secular

chiyuv — duty

chizzuk — strengthening

chochmah — wisdom

chodashim — moons

chodesh — month

choiv — debt

chok — decree; law

chokmah — wisdom (in a good sense) — skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit

chol — non-sacred

Chol Hamoed — ordinary part of the festival—days in the middle of Pesach or Sukkot when work is allowed … weekdays of the Festival

choleh — sick one

cholent — a stew usually made from potatoes, beans and meat. The recipe varies from community to community. Calcutta “chamin” has rice, curry and chicken. German cholent has beans, dumpling and beef. Hungarians add whole eggs etc. It is eaten on Shabbat, and is placed on the fire on Friday afternoon. It cooks over Shabbat, and by lunchtime is ready to eat.

cholim — sick persons

cholom — dream

chomed — covetous

chomer haDin — rigor of the Law

choref — winter

chori af — burning wrath

chori afhaba — the wrath to come

chorim — freedmen

choshech — darkness

chosson — (alt. chatan) bridegroom

chotam — seal

chote’im — sinners

chotsh — at least

chovah musarit — moral duty

chozek — encouragement strength

Chukat — a portion in the Book of Numbers

chukim — laws

Chumash — one of the Five Books of the Torah (pl. Chumashim)

chumra — legalism

chupah — (alt. chuppah, huppah) canopy under which pair stand at wedding ceremony, symbol of home to be established; represents the honeymoon chamber

churban — destruction

chutzpah — nerve

cohan — (alt. cohen, kohen) priest

Cohen — (alt. cohan, kohen) Priest … a descendant Moishe’s brother Aharon, the first High Priest (Cohen Gadol) of the Jewish people. The Cohen is always called up first to the Torah reading. (pl. Cohenim, alt. Cohanim, Kohanim, Kohenim)

Cohen Gadol — High Priest. The Cohen Gadol, wore a special turban, tunic and breast plate amongst other things. (pl. Cohenim Gedolim)

Cohen haGadol — (alt. Kohen haGadol, Cohen Gadol, Kohen Gadol) The High Priest

confirmation — ceremony marking the completion of the religious school course of study, often held on Shavuot

consecration — ceremony marking the beginning of a child’s formal Jewish education, often held on Simchat Torah

Use this “Jump Bar” to directly to any letter of the AlephBet
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Appendix Pronunciation [More]

http://familybible.org/Glossary/C.htm
Page last revised on Saturday, November 13, 2010

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