Glossary Terms

The festival of Passover.

The festival celebrating the survival of Jews in Persia. (Literally translates as ‘drawing lots’.)

Meaning teacher. A spiritual leader of a community. Rabbis study for years and take the ‘smeiha’ exam to gain the title of rabbi.

An ideology within Judaism (see ‘Groups within Judaism page for more details).

Someone who is forced to move from the country they live in to another country.

The Jewish new year. (Literally translates as ‘Head of the year’.)

A term for anyone or anything non-religious.

Describes Jews of Spanish or Portuguese decent.

The Jewish sabbath day (Friday evening to Saturday evening). Sometimes pronounced ‘Shabbos’ by Ashkenazi Jews.

The festival of weeks – celebrating the giving of the Torah.