A Glossary of
Unfamiliar Terms
Compiled from numerous source documents

H  h

ha

the definite article “the” (Hebrew and Aramaic do not use the indefinite articles “a” or “an”). When transliterating from Hebrew or Aramaic into English there are several forms commonly used:

(1) the article is added to the beginning of the word with no other indication: haaretz

(2) the article is added to the beginning of the word, and the word is capitalized: haAretz

(3) the article is added to the beginning of the word, and both words are capitalized: HaAretz

(4) the article is added to the beginning of the word, and a hyphen is inserted to indicate a “breath stop”: ha-aretz

(5) the article is added to the beginning of the word, and an apostrophe is inserted to indicate a “breath stop”: ha’aretz
 

haAcharon

the last
 

haAlmavet

immortal
 

haAra

insight
 

haAretz

the earth
 

haAretz haHavtacha

the Promised Land
 

haAretz harishonah

the first earth
 

haAryeh

The Lion
 

haAsarah

The Ten
 

haAv

the Father
 

haAzinu, the Song of

a portion of Deuteronomy
 

habah b’basar

has come in bodily flesh
 

haBatzek

the dough (see Pesach Haggadah)
 

haBechor

firstborn
 

haBen

the Son
 

haBo’re

the Creator
 

haBri’ah

the Creation
 

haChayyot

the living beings
 

hachitzon

the outer one
 

hachnosas orchim

hospitality
 

hachrazah

proclamation; kyrygma; preaching
 

hadar

majesty; splendor
 

hadas

a myrtle branch taken as one of the four species during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
 

HaDerek ($rdh)

“The Way” (of Yeshua), the name of the Messianic branch of Judaism, which in the first century was considered as much a part of mainline Judaism as were the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, and Herodians. HaDerek was never not called “Christianity” by its followers. Constantine merged much of Messianic Judaism into the Roman version of the Babylon Mystery Religion to create what he called Christianity in the early fourth century of the common era.
 

hadlakah

bonfire
 

hadom

footstool
 

hador hazeh

this generation
 

HaEmes

(alt. HaEmet) the Truth
 

HaEmes Hashem

(alt. HaEmet Hashem) Truth of God
 

Haftorah

(alt. Haftarah) weekly readings from the Nevi’im (Prophets), selected by sages during the time when Torah reading was forbidden, read or chanted after the weekly Torah portion during the synagogue service on Sabbath and holidays. Nevi’im reading selected to remind one of the Torah reading (pl. Haftarot)
 

Hag Hakatzir

the Feast of Weeks. The official beginning of the summer harvest season (wheat crop specifically). Shavuot
 

Hag haMatzah

Feast of Unleavened Bread
 

haGadol

The great
 

hagah

murmur (in either pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder, imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, utter
 

Hagbah

the lifting of the Torah scroll and displaying it to the congregation. On Simchat Torah, when we celebrate finishing and beginning the Torah, we also have the most difficult Hagbah. The Torah is a scroll and therefore when it is finished or started all the weight is on one side.
 

Hagbalah

Days of Abstinence
 

haGedulah

greatness
 

haGefen

fruit of the vine
 

haGevurah

might
 

Haggadah

(alt. Hagadah, Agada, Agadah, Aggadah) “the telling.” Named from the Lord’s command “tell your son/show your son” in Shemot/Exodus 13:8. A book which relates the Passover story through readings, songs, prayers, foods, in the traditional prescribed order (Seder) around the meal. A general Hebrew term for utterance, applied specifically to the nonlegal portion of rabbinic literature. It is also the title of the text recited at the festive meal (seder) on the first two nights of Passover … Literally: telling; book in which the Passover story is retold and the seder ritual is outlined … the tale of the Exodus from Egypt as read at the Seder Night (pl. Haggadot) (adjective, Haggadic)
 

Haggadali

the book that sets forth and explains the seder service
 

haggigah

(alt. hagigah, chagigah, chaggigah) the festival offering; the other sacrifices offered in the Temple in addition to the Paschal lamb; . a sacrifice offered on the eve of Pilgrim Festivals
 

Hagomel

a blessing of thanksgiving for deliverance from perils
 

ha'Ir

the City
 

haKadosh

the Holy One
 

haKadosh Baruch Hu

the Holy One, Blessed Be He
 

Hakafah

carrying of the Torah scrolls in a procession around the sanctuary … the circling of the Altar in the Sanctuary or the Bimah in the Synagogue (pl. Hakafot)
 

hakarat todah

gratitude
 

hakehillot

the congregations
 

haKeru’im

the summoned/called ones
 

haKetz

the End
 

hakhchashah

denial
 

Hak-heyl

assemble-ceremony of reading parts of Torah every seventh Sukkot
 

hakhnasah

income
 

halakah

(alt. halakhah, halachah, chalakah) the “walk” or way one goes; the word for Jewish law, or for the legal and regulatory portions of Torah and of the Talmud, and of all Jewish lore
 

Halakah Lemoshe Misinai

(alt. Halachah, Chalakah) an oral Law supposedly given to Moshe on Sinai and not written explicitly in the Torah
 

Halakhic

of or related to Halakhah
 

Hallel

(alt. Halel) praise, a prayer of praise; special psalms of praise recited or sung on the festivals … specifically the passages contained in Tehilliim (Psalms) 113-118 (see Great Hallel)
 

hama’amin

the believer
 

HaMabbul

the Flood
 

haMakkot

plagues
 

Hamantashen

filled three-cornered pastries supposed to represent Haman’s hat, traditionally eaten on Purim
 

haMat`eh

the Deceiving One
 

haMavdil

the blessing of Havdalah
 

haMechokak

Law-Giver
 

haMelech

the King
 

haMesim

the Dead
 

HaMashiach

The Messiah, lit. the Anointed One
 

Hametz חָמֵץ

(alt. chometz, 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.
 

HaMotzi

blessing recited or chanted over bread on Shabbat or festivals: “Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu melekh haOlam, haMotzi lechem min haAretz. (Amein) Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. (Amen)”
 

Ha’Natseret

the Nazarine; derived from netzer, branch or shoot
 

hanevuah

the prophecy
 

hanivzim

the despised
 

HaNogah

of Brightness/Venus
 

Hanukah

(alt. Chanukah) dedication; name of the winter holiday commemorating the Maccabean victory over the Syrians in 165 BCE
 

haptomai

to attach oneself to, i.e. to touch (in many implied relations)
 

har

mountain
 

hara’ah

the evil
 

hara’im

evil deeds
 

haRah

the Evil one
 

haReshit

the Beginning
 

hareve’it; harevi’i

the fourth
 

harishon; harishonah

the first
 

Harpazo

(Gk.) to seize (in various applications), catch (away or up), pluck, pull, take (by force)
 

harsha’ah

condemnation as guilty
 

hartzige

heartfelt
 

hasagos

aspiration
 

HaSatan

The adversary (same as Satan)
 

haSatan

the Adversary; the Evil One, Satan, the Devil
 

haschala

start
 

HaShem

“The Name”; respectfully refers to the ineffable Name of the Most High

hwhy / YHVH / YHVH; the Tetragramaton “yod-hey-vav-hey”
 

HaShemurim

the Guarded ones
 

hasheni

the second
 

hasheniyah

the second
 

Hashkafa

Literally “View.” Typically Judaism’s philosophical viewpoint on any particular topic.
 

hashlishi

(alt, hashlishit) the third
 

haskama

approval
 

hataat

(alt. chatat) the sin offering in Temple
 

hatachlit

the ultimate
 

hatafah

preaching
 

Hatafat Dam Berit

Taking a single drop of blood from the penis as a sign of the covenant, necessary in the conversion of an adult male already circumcised
 

Hatarat Nedarim

the repeal of vows
 

haTikva

the hope
 

haTov

the good
 

haTov Vehametive

the fourth blessing of Birkat haMazon; “He Who is good and bestows goodness..”
 

hattohar

moral purity
 

haummim

the peoples
 

havamina

assumption
 

havdalah

lit. separation; the ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath and the beginning of the week … the blessing over wine to mark the difference between the Sabbath and the weekdays
 

havtachah

promise
 

haYom

today
 

Hayom Harat Olam

verses recited during the Rosh haShanah mussaf prayer
 

hazan

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

Hechag

(lit. the holiday) one of the names for Sukkot
 

Hechal

Hall of the Sanctuary
 

heimishe mekom linah

homey guest room; lodging place
 

Hellenist

The Hellenists were ethnic Hebrews who used the Greek language and embraced Greek culture.
 

hemshech

remaining part
 

heretic

one whose beliefs do not accord with those of the established religion to which he claims adherence; compare apostate
 

Hester Panim

the withdrawal of Divine Favor
 

heter

permission, permit
 

hevel

futility; vanity; emptiness; worthlessness
 

hezber

explanation
 

High Holy Days

A ten day period from Rosh haShanah to Yom Kippur
 

Hillel

The most prominent Jewish teacher of the first century (30 BCE-10 CE), thought to be Gamaliel’s grandfather.
 

hilula

a celebration of memorial
 

hinei

behold; look!
 

hinnazrut

self-denial
 

hisgalus

revelation; unveiling
 

hishtaltut

domination; taking control
 

hispailus

overwhelming awe
 

histalkus

passing; the death of the Mashiach in the midst of his Redemptive Mission on the analogy of Moshe dying before he crosses into the Promised Land; a fundamental doctrine of Messianic Orthodox Judaism
 

hitammelut

bodily exercise or training
 

hitarevut

meddlesomeness
 

hitbagrut

maturity
 

hitbodedut

seclusion; aloneness
 

hitkaddeshut

(alt. hitchaddeshut) purification
 

hitkhabrut

joining; adhesion; fellowship
 

hitkhadshut

regeneration; renewal
 

hitlahavut

enthusiasm; fervor
 

hitnahagut

conduct
 

hitnahagut hatovah

good conduct
 

hitstaddekut

apologetic defense
 

hivvased haOlam

the establishing of the world
 

hivvased tevel

foundation of the world
 

hod

honor
 

hoda’ah

confession; admission
 

hodayah

thanksgiving
 

holelut

carousing
 

Holy of Holies

most Holy inner part of the Sanctuary
 

homiletic

the art of preaching or public persuasion
 

hona’ah

swindling
 

hora’ah

instruction
 

Horeb

Another name for Mount Sinai, where God gave Israel His Torah
 

horim

parents
 

horiva over

analyzing
 

Hoshana Rabbah

(alt. Hoshanah Raba) the last Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The day of the water drawing ceremony.
 

Hoshanah

(alt, Hosheanah, Hoshiah-na) chant of “Save us, L‑rd” or “please save” said while carrying Torah in procession
 

huledet

birth
 

hungerik

hungry
 

huppah

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

hyssop

a plant (perhaps the caper, Capparis spirwsa) whose twigs were used in ceremonial sprinkling.
 

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Page last updated on Wednesday, 01 June 2022 12:03 PM
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