Archives: Glossary Terms

Avodah

Originally understood as Temple service, but expanded to mean any service to God. Related to: gemilut hasadim. See Pirkei Avot 1:2
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Beit Midrash

Literally, “house of study,” it refers to a school or a communal study hall. Plural: Batei Midrash
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Chumash

A collection of the Five Books of Moses, Pentateuch, or the Hebrew equivalent. Includes the haftarot readings, and usually contains some commentary. It is often used on Shabbat mornings to help follow the Torah reading.
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De’rabbanan

A rabbinic-based halakhic obligation. Related to De’oraita.
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De’oraita

A biblical-based halakhic obligation. Related to De’rabbanan.
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Gemara

The discussion portions of the Talmud based on the quoted Mishnah.
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Gemilut Hasadim

Performing acts of kindness (hesed). Often drawn from Pirkei Avot 1:2, “the world stands upon three things: the Torah, the Temple service (avodah), and the practice of acts of piety (gemilut hasadim).”
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Hesed

There is no perfect translation, but is generally defined as “loving-kindness.” When we act with Hesed, we are doing Gemilut Hasadim. Also spelled: chesed
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Hevruta

A study partner. A hevruta is more than just a ‘study buddy’ it is a serious and personal relationship between colleagues. Also spelled: Havruta
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Midrash

This word is used in two ways, as both a concept and a literature. As a concept, midrash is the expansive interpretation of biblical texts. The term is used to describe the practice of rabbinic interpretation. As a text, it refers to specific collections of interpretations, particularly from the third to ninth centuries in the Land of Israel and Babylonia. Plural: Midrashim
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Mishnah

A collection of rabbinic teachings edited in Israel around 225 CE. Organized in six sedaraim by subject matter and dealing with both ritual and civil law. Both the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmud are expansive discussions of the Mishnah.
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Shekhinah

Literally translated as “Presence,” while rabbinically, it is a term referring to God’s presence in the world. Its feminine form gave rise to the mystical expression of God’s feminine attributes.
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Talmud

Referring to one of two collections, the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds, edited in the 6th century, that contains hundreds of years of commentary, discussion, and exploration of the ideas in the Mishnah. One could describe it as Mishnah + Gemara = Talmud
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Tanakh

An acronym for the name of the Hebrew Bible: Torah, Neviim, and Ketuvim.
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Torah

Refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, also called the Five Books of Moses, Pentateuch or the Hebrew equivalent, Humash. This is also called the Written Torah. The term may also refer to teachings that expound on Jewish tradition.
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Torah Lishmah

The study of Torah for its own sake—that is, not for ulterior gain.
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