Judaism Practices

Public acts of worship

Sefer Torah: The scroll of the Torah
Sidra: The portion of the Torah read at Shabbat morning service
Tallit: Fringed garment worn by Orthodox Jews especially for prayer
Simchat Torah: Festival celebrating the giving of the law

The Tenakh and Talmud

Ketuvim: Holy writings
Nevi’im: The books of the prophets
Shechitah: Jewish method of slaughtering animals
Torah: The Five Books of Moses
Treifah: Not kosher

Prayer

Mezuzah: Small scroll of the Shema fixed to the doorpost of the rooms in a Jewish house
Siddur: The daily prayer book
Tefillin: Leather boxes containing parts of the Torah strapped on the arms and head for prayers

Shema and Amidah

Ethical monotheism: Belief in one God who demands moral obedience

Rituals and ceremonies in Judaism

Minyan: The required number of adult Jewish males for certain prayers to be said in the synagogue
Mohel: Person trained to perform Brit Milah
Avelut: The mourning period
Chevra kaddisha: Burial society
Kaddish: The prayer recited publicly by mourners
Yarzheit: The anniversary day of someone’s death

Shabbat

Challot: Plaited loaves used on Shabbat and festivals
Havdalah: Ceremony marking the end of Shabbat
Kiddush: A prayers said over wine to sanctify Shabbat

Jewish festivals

Etrog: A citron fruit
Kol Nidrei: Annulment of vows made before Yom Kippur
Shofar: Ram’s horn
Tashlich: Casting away sins into running water
Afikomen: A piece of unleavened bread eaten at the end of the seder meal
Chametz: Any food containing leaven/yeast
Hagadah: Book telling the story of the first Passover

Features of the synagogue

Aron Hakodesh: The Ark
Chazan/cantor: The leader of worship who chants the prayers
Yad: Pointer for reading the Sefer Torah