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A Glossary of
Unfamiliar Terms
Compiled from numerous source documents
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J
Jehovah
A false — and gramatically impossible — rendering of the
Sacred Name
of HaShem. Impossible to pronounce in either Hebrew or Aramaic, as the
needed "J" sound simply does not exsist in either language
Jubilee
Every
fiftieth year, land lies fallow and land ownership is totally
redistributed into equal family shares
Judaize
To bring
non-Jews to accept the obligations of rabbinical tradition. See
Galatianism.
K k Q
K’arah
Passover
seder dish
k’li
vessel (pl. k’lei)
k’riah
call
K’tiv
the traditional
spelling of words in the Torah
K’tuvim
the books of
the Bible known as the Writings
ka’as
anger
ka`at
pelican
kabbalah
oral
tradition
Kabbalat Ol Mitzvot
Literally: the acceptance of the yoke of the commandments; a
convert’s agreement to lead a Jewish life
kabbalat panim
welcome
Kabbalat Shabbat
Psalms, readings and songs welcoming the Sabbath; the introductory
portion of the Sabbath eve service
kabod (alt. kabowd,
kavod)
weight; but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or
copiousness
glorious, glory, honor)
kabtzen
beggar
kaddachat
fever
Kaddish (alt. Kadish)
Prayer praising G‑d. This prayer is chanted at several points in a
service. In addition, it is recited at least once at each service in
memory of those who have died … Prayer of sanctification of G‑d’s
name
kadosh
holy
kadoshim
holy ones
kaftan
coat
kahal
assembly
Kal Hamira
An ancient
Hebrew prayer spoken at the ritual cleansing of leaven.
Kalat Bereshit
Literally, bride of Genesis; the woman called to recite or chant the
blessings over the first section of the
Torah on
Simchat Torah
kallah
(alt. kalah)
bride … conclave or retreat (pl. kallot)
kamtzan
miser
kana’ut
(alt. kanous)
zeal
kannai
zealot
kanous
(alt. kana’ut)
zeal
Kaparah
expiation …
ceremony of transferring sinfulness to a
scapegoat just before
Yom Kippur (pl. Kaparot, Kapparot)
Kaporet
the covering
over the Holy Ark in the Sanctuary
kapparah
place or
kapporet medium of wrath-propitiating blood atonement sacrifice
kaptzen
poor person
kar
cold
kara
Old Hebrew word for “Scripture”
Karaite
The name “Karaite” means Hebrew Scripturalist (from the old Hebrew
“Kara” meaning Scripture). Karaite Jews, or as some prefer the more precise term Karaite Israelites, are Jews/Israelites who live by the Hebrew Scriptures without addition or subtraction.
“Karaite Jew” is not an ethnic designation.
Karaite Judaism
Karaite Judaism or Karaism is a Jewish religious
movement characterized by the recognition of the written
Torah alone as its supreme authority in halakha and theology.
Karaites maintain that all of the divine commandments handed
down to Moses by God were recorded in the written Torah without
additional Oral Law or explanation. It is distinct from mainstream
Rabbinic Judaism, which considers the Oral Torah, as codified in the
Talmud and subsequent works, to be authoritative interpretations of
the Torah. As a result, Karaite Jews do not accept as binding
the written collections of the oral tradition in the Midrash or
Talmud.
When interpreting the Torah, Karaites strive to adhere to the plain or most obvious meaning (peshat) of the text; this is not necessarily the literal meaning, but rather the meaning that would have been naturally understood by the ancient Israelites when the books of the Torah were first written. By contrast, Rabbinic Judaism relies on the legal rulings of the Sanhedrin as they are codified in the Midrash, Talmud, and other sources to indicate the authentic meaning of the Torah. Karaite Judaism holds every interpretation of the Torah to the same scrutiny regardless of its source, and teaches that it is the personal responsibility of every individual Jew to study the Torah, and ultimately decide personally its correct meaning. Karaites may consider arguments made in the Talmud and other works without exalting them above other viewpoints.
Karath
to cut (off,
down or asunder); by implication to destroy or consume; specifically
to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting
flesh and passing between the pieces)
be chewed, covenant, cut
(down or off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew down, make a
league (covenant), lose, perish, utterly, want … (alt.
Karet)
“Being cut off” from the people; Biblical punishment which
might become capital or consist of early natural death
karnayim
horns
karoz
herald
karpas
A green herb
like parsley or a green vegetable such as celery or watercress,
symbolizing spring; one of the symbolic foods used on the seder
plate
kashefanut
sorcery;
witchcraft
kashes
questions
kashrut
Jewish
dietary laws
kat
sect
katatome
(Gk.) a
cutting down (off), i.e. mutilation (ironically)
concision
katon
least
katsir
(alt. Katzir )
harvest
katuv
it is written
kavanah
lit.
intentionality; referring to the spiritual attitude with which we
approach worship
kavanat halev
the
inner-directedness of the heart
kavod
glory
kavvanah
heartfelt
direction; intention
kavvanah ra’ah
malice
kayits
summer
ke’arot
bowls
kedushah
(holiness)
When the reader or cantor repeats the Amidah (standing prayer), the
congregation rises for this antiphonal chant of a doxology from
Bible verses proclaiming oneness and sanctity of the L‑rd … prayer
of sanctification of G‑d’s Name added to the third benediction of
the amidah prayer
kedushah
holiness;
sanctity
Kedushat Hayom
the
benediction concerning the “sanctity of the day” included in the
amidah prayers on Sabbaths and Festivals
kefirah
heresy;
denial
kehillah
congregation
kehunah
priesthood
Kehunah, Kehunah
Gedolah
Priesthood in the Sanctuary, High Priesthood
keilim
faculties
kelalah
curse
kelevim
dogs
keli kodesh
holy
vessel; minister
keli
nivchar
chosen vessel
ken
yes
Ken ayin hara
(Yid.,
Kinna hurra) lit. “may there be no evil eye”
keneged
in opposition
kenut
sincerity
kerem
vineyard
Keren Yeshuah
Horn of
Salvation
keriah
ritual tearing
of a garment or a symbolic black ribbon as an expression of grief in
conjunction with a death
kes
throne
keseder
constantly
kesher
conspiracy;
plot
keshet be’anan
rainbow; Bereshit (Genesis) 9:16
keshi
stubbornness;
hardness
kesil
fool (pl.
kesilim)
kesut rosh
head
covering
keta
section
ketan
under Bar
Mitzvah (pl. katanim)
ketanim
small ones
keter
crown
Ketiva vachatima tovah
wishes of “good inscription” on Rosh haShanah
ketoret
incense
ketubah
(alt. kethubhoth) (lit. writing) traditional marriage
contract, detailing duties of wife and husband, and providing money
penalties for divorcement of wife … a second marriage contract (pl.
ketubot)
Ketuvei HaShalichim
The Apostolic Writings, erroneously called the “New Testament”
Ketuvim
the Writings; third section of the
Tanakh
ketz
end, end of days
ketzinim
officers
kevah
lit. fixed;
referring to the fixed order of Jewish liturgy
kevalim
chains
kevarim
graves; tombs
kevasim; kevesim
sheep
kever
tomb
kevod hamet
(alt.
kebod) honor due to the dead
khasidah
stork
Khumra
a prohibition or obligation in Jewish practice that exceeds the bare requirements of
Halakha (Jewish law)]
ki hu zeh
a small
amount
Ki Tetze
a portion in
the Book of Deuteronomy
Ki Tisa
a portion in
the Book of Exodus
kibbud
respect; honor
kibush hayetzer
self-control
Kiddush
(alt. Kidush) blessing recited or chanted over wine on
Shabbat or festivals emphasizing their holiness … pour out first cup
of wine / blessing of sanctification … by extension, a light meal
after the wine. “Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu melekh ha-olam,
borei p’riy ha-gafen. (Amein) Blessed are You, Lord, our
G-d, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
(Amen)”
Kiddush Hachodesh
(alt. Kidush) the sanctification of the New Moon
Kiddush Levanah
(alt.
Kidush) the blessing of sanctification over the monthly renewal of
the moon
kiddushin
(alt.
qiddushin, kedushin) lit. holiness; refers both to the wedding
ceremony and to the state of matrimony
kikar
loaf
kina
jealousy; envy
kina
lament; funeral
dirge
kinah
(lamentation)
elegy in poetic (piyyut) structure recited on Jewish days of
mourning (pl. kinot)
kinnui
secular name;
see
shem kodesh
kinderyohrn
(Yid.)
childhood days
kiporah
covering atonement that covers sin
kippah
(alt. kippa,
kipah) lit. covering or atonement; a “skullcap” worn by many Jews during prayer; the Yiddish term is yarmulke; many
observant male Jews wear the kippa all the time, because we are
encouraged to pray continually (Ps
72:15;
Ps 122:6;
Jer 29:7;
Eph 6:18;
1Th 5:17)
Kisei Moshe
Chair of
Moses
kishke
stuffed
intestine … usually the stuffing is made of flour, onions, garlic
and chicken fat. Today edible plastic is used instead of intestines.
It is usually cooked in the cholent.
kishshuf
magic;
sorcery (pl. kishufim)
Kislev
third month of
Jewish year
kisot
thrones
Kisse Din
judgment
seat
Kissei Kavod
Glorious
Throne
kitel
(alt. kittel)
long, white garment that is part of traditional Jewish burial
clothes; worn by some worshipers on Yom Kippur as a reminder of
mortality and a symbol of purity, and by some officiants at Rosh
haShanah services and at the Passover Seder. Also worn by some
grooms at their wedding
kitot
sects
Kitvei Hakodesh
Holy
Books
klaf
hand-written scroll placed in a
mezuzah,
containing
Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21
Klal Yisrael
Nation
of Israel
klalah
curse
klap
blow
klapei
concerning
klei kodesh
holy
vessels; ministers
kleir
deliberating
klezmer
musician
kluhr
obvious
kluhr
pure
ko’ach
power
kodashim kalim
sacrifices of minor sanctity
kodem
preceding
kodesh
holy, sacred
Kodesh HaKodashim
Holy of Holies, or Most Holy Place; the area of the Tabernacle and
Temple in which the Ark of the Covenant resided … see also HaKodesh
the Holy Place
kofer
ransom; pedut
koferim ba-ikkarim
deniers of fundamentals
kohanim gedolim
(alt.
Cohanim Gedolim) the higher order of Priests
Kohelet
the Scroll of
Ecclesiastes
kohen
(alt. cohen) descendant of the ancient priestly class, the progeny
of Aaron; a priest (pl. kohanim, cohanim)
Kohen Gadol
(alt. Kohen haGadol, Cohen haGadol, Cohen Gadol)
the High Priest (pl. kohanim gedolim)
kokhav
star (pl.
kokhavim; kochavim)
kol ayin
every eye
kol basar
all flesh
kol davar
everything
kol etz
every tree
kol gadol
loud voice
kol hanivrah
all
creation
kol melo
all the
plentitude
Kol Nidrei
(alt.
Nidrey) lit. vows; prayer that begins the Yom Kippur eve service;
the entire service is often called the Kol Nidrei service … a prayer
and announcement of repeal of vows recited upon the advent of the
Day of Atonement
kol poalei resha
all
workers of evil
kol sheker
every
falsehood
kolot
sounds
komah
short of
stature
korban
dedicated to
God; sacrifice
korban chai
living
sacrifice
korbanot
sacrifices
korech
matzah and
bitter herb sandwich
korem
vineyard
proprietor
koremim
vine-keepers
kos
cup; little owl
kosher
(alt. kasher, kashrut) ritually fit for use … permitted
kotz
thorn; splinter
kotzerim
harvesters
kozvim
liars
krav
battle
kri
the traditional
pronunciation of words in the Torah
kri’ah
calling
kri’ah betzibbur
congregational public reading
krovey mishpachot
relatives
krovim
relatives
krum
deviant
kvatter / kvatterin
godfather / godmother; those who carry the
baby into the B’ris (circumcision) ceremony
kviusdik
constant
Use this “Jump Bar” to directly to any letter of the AlephBet
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Appendix
Liturgy & Worship
Pronunciation
[More]
Page last updated on
Monday, 12 June 2023 11:41 AM
(Updates are generally minor formatting or editorial changes.
Major content changes are identified as "Revisions”)
