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A
glossary of Jewish terms |
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are here >> Glossary >>
Jewish Glossary |
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Most
of the terms in this glossary are Hebrew in origin. However since
then Judaism has thrived in many countries and the language reflects
this. Yiddish is a mixture of German, Russian and Hebrew developed
by Jews throughout Eastern Europe. As with all languages that are
transliterated (where the English spelling tries to recreate the
sound of the original) there are acceptable differences in spelling. |
Pronunciation
note: The main form in this glossary is in green
and is the Sephardic pronunciation. Main variants appear in red.
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A
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Abraham |
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Father
of the Jewish nation and also father of Isaac
and Jacob |
Afikomen |
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Dessert.
Portion of a matzah eaten near the
end of the Seder. |
Agadah |
Aggadah |
Telling.
Rabbinical teachings on moral values. |
Aleinu |
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Key
prayer at the conclusion of each service. |
Aliyah |
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To
go up. (i) Being called to read the Sefar
Torah in the synagogue. (ii)
The migration of Jews to Israel. |
Amidah |
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Standing.
The standing prayer. |
Aron
Hakodesh |
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Holy
Ark. The focal point of the synagogue,
containing Torah scrolls. |
Ashkenazim |
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Jews
of Central and Eastern European origin. |
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B |
Bar
Mitzvah |
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Son
of the Commandment. A boy's coming of age at 13 years
old, usually marked by a synagogue, ceremony and family celebration. |
Bat
Mitzvah |
Bat
Chayil |
Daughter
of the commandment. As above but for girls from 12
years old. May be marked differently between communities. |
Bet
Din |
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Jewish
court which decides if a Jewish couple (usually Orthodox)
may divorce. |
Bet
ha Knesset |
- Beit
ha Knesset
- Shul
|
House
of assembly. Synagogue. |
Bimah |
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Dias.
Raised platform primarily for reading the Torah
in the synagogue. |
Brit
Milah |
Berit
Milah, Bris |
Circumcision.
Ceremony performed at 8 days of age. |
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C |
Challah |
Hallah |
Enriched
bread used particularly on Shabbat
and during festivals. |
Chazan |
Hazzan,
Cantor |
Leader
of reading, singing and chanting in the services of some synagogues. |
Chumash |
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Five.
The Torah in the book form, used in
the synagogue and the home. |
Chuppah |
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The
canopy under which the bride, grrom and Rabbi will stand during the marriage ceremony. |
Circumcision |
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Religious
rite of the Brit Milah, performed
by a qualified mohel on all Jewish
boys, usually on the eighth day after birth. |
Conservative |
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Modern
movement sometimes confused with Orthodox. It emphsises Zionism
and allows some minor changes in litergy but is opposed to
the more radical reforms of the Reform
movement. |
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D |
The Diasporia |
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Scattering.
The time from 70 CE after the destruction of the temple
when the Jews were scattered all over
the world and there was no Israel
until 1947. |
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E |
The Exodus |
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The
jounrney into slavery in Egypt out of which Moses
led the people in the story of the Passover |
The
Exile |
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The
period spend when the Babylonians captured the land of the
Jews |
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F |
No
entries |
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G |
Gemara |
Gemarah |
Commentary
on the Mishnah included in the Talmud. |
Get |
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Bill
of divorce in Jewish Law. |
Genizah |
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Storage
place for damaged religious texts. |
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H |
Haftarah |
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Completion.
Passages from Nevi'im (Prophets) read
in the synagogue (linked to weekly Torah
and festival readings). |
Hagadah |
Haggadah |
Telling.
A book used at Seder. |
Halakah |
Halacha |
The
Way. The code of conduct encompassing all aspects
of Jewish life. |
Hanukiah |
Chanukiah,
Menorah |
Nine
branched Hannukah lamp used at the
festival of Hannukah. |
Hanukkah |
Chanukah |
Dedication.
An eight day festival of lights to celebrate the re-dedication
of the temple following the Macabean victory over the Greeks. |
Hasid |
Chasid,
Hasidim (pl) Chasidim |
Pious.
Member of the Orthodox movement of Hasidism. |
Hasidism |
Chasidism |
A
religious and social movement formed by the Israel Ball Shem
Tov (from the 18th century onwards). |
Havdalah |
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Distinction.
Ceremony marking the conclusion of Shabbat. |
Hebrew |
Ivrit |
Ancient
Semitic language; language of the Tenakh (Hebrew Scripture) and also used by Jews for
prayer and study. Also, everyday language in Israel. |
Herod |
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The
Roman governor of Judea during the time of Jesus. |
Holocaust |
Shoah |
The
extermination of six milllion Jews
(as well as many others) by the Nazis beyween 1933 and 1945
CE. |
Huppah |
Chuppah |
Canopy
used for a wedding ceremony, under which the bride and groom
stand. |
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I |
Israel |
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One
who struggles with God. The phrase refers to the world-wide
Jewish community; the land of Israel and the modern state
of Israel. |
Issac |
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Son
of Abraham |
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J |
Jacob |
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The
son of Isaac |
Jew |
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A
member of the Jewish race and a member of the religious group
of Judaism |
Joseph |
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The
son of Jacob |
Judea |
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The
Roman province in which Jesus
of Nazereth was born and spend most of his life. |
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K |
Kabalah |
Cabala |
Jewish
mysticism. |
Kaddish |
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Prayer
publicly recited by mourners. |
Kashrut |
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Laws
relating to keeping a kosher home and lifestyle. |
Ketubah |
Ketubbah |
Document
that defines rights and obligations within Jewish marriage. |
Ketuvim |
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Writings.
Third section of the Tenakh.. |
Kibbutz |
Kibbutizim (pl.) |
Israeli
collective village based on socialist principles. |
Kiddush |
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Holy.
A prayer sanctifying Shabbat and festival
days, usually recited over wine. |
Kippah |
Yamulkah, Capel |
Head
covering worn during prayers, Torah
study, etc.. Some followers will wear it constantly. |
Knesset |
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Assembly.
Israeli parliament. |
Kol
Nidrel |
Kol
Nidre |
All
vows. Prayer recited on the evening of Yom
Kippur. |
Korach |
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Name
of the leader who defied Moses in the wilderness. |
Kosher |
Kasher |
Fit;
Proper. Foods permitted by Jewish dietary laws.
(see also trayfah) |
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L |
Ladino |
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Language
used predominately by Sephardim. |
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M |
Magen
David |
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Shield
of David, popularly called Star of David. |
Maimonides |
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Rabbi
Moses ben Maimon (1135-1204), a leading Jewish philosopher,
medical writer and codifier of Jewish law. |
Masada |
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The
hill fort where the Zealots comitted
suidcide rather than surrender to the Romans during the revolt
in the 60s CE. An important place of pilgrimmage for Jews. |
Mashiach |
Moshiah,
Messiah |
The
anointed one, who will herald in a new era for Judaism
and all humankind. |
Matzah |
Matzot
(pl.) |
A
flat cracker-like bread which has been baked before it rises;
used at Pesach. |
Menorah |
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Seven
branched candelabrum which was lit daily in the Temple. |
Mezuzah |
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A
scroll placed on doorposts of Jewish homes, containing a section
from the Torah and often enclosed
in a decorative case. |
Midrash |
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Collections
of various Rabbinic commentaries on the Tenukah. |
Mikveh |
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Ritual
bath used for the immersion of people and objects. |
Minhag |
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Religious
Customs. |
Minyan |
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Quorum
of ten men, over the Bar Mitzvah age, required for a service. Progressive
communities may include women but do not always require a
minyan. |
Mishnah |
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First
writing down of the Oral Tradition. An authoritative document
forming the part of the Talmud, codified
about 200 CE. |
Mishkan |
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Dwelling.
The original traveling sanctuary used prior to the building
of the permanent Temple in Jerusalem. |
Mitzvah |
Mitzvot
(pl.) |
Commandment.
The Torah contains 613 mitzvot. Commonly used to describe
good deeds. |
Mohel |
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Person
trained to perform Brit Milah. |
Moses |
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Leader
and lawgiver at the time of the Exodus. |
Moshav |
Moshavim
(pl.) |
Collective
village or farm in Israel. |
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N |
Ner
Tamid |
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Eternal
Light. The perpetual light above the Aron
Hakodesh. |
Nevi'im |
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Prophets.
Second section of the Tenakh. |
Noachide
Laws |
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Seven
Laws given to Noah after the flood, which are incumbent on
all humankind. These laws form the foundation for a just society. |
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O |
Orthodox |
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Modern
name for strictly traditional Jews. |
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P |
Parev |
Parveh |
Neutral
foods, which are neither milk nor meat. e.g. vegetables, eggs,
fish. |
Pesach |
Passover |
Festival
commemorative the Exodus from Egypt. One of the three biblical
pilgrim festivals. Pesach is celebrated in the spring. |
Pikei
Avot |
Pirke
Avoth |
Sayings
of the Fathers. Part of the Mishnah
containing ethics of Rabbinical sages. |
Pikuakh
Nefesh |
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Save
a soul. The setting aside of certain laws in order
to save a life. |
Pogrom |
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Organised
attack on Jews, especially frequent in 19th and early 20th
century Eastern Europe. |
Purim |
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Festival
commemorating the rescue of Persian Jewry as told in the book
of Ester. |
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Q |
No
entries |
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R |
Rabbi |
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My
teacher. An ordained Jewish teacher. Often the religious
leader of a Jewish community. |
Rashi |
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Rabbi
Shlomo ben Yitzak (1040-1105). A French rabbinical
scholar and leading commentator on the Torah
and Talmud. |
Rebbe |
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Rabbi.
The term used by Hasidim for their religious leader. |
Reform |
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Modern
movement encouraging changin traditional ways to accomodate
contemporary needs. |
Rosh
Hashanah |
Rosh
Ha-Shanah |
Head
of the Year. Jewish New Year. |
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S |
Sandek |
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The
'sponsor' of a child to be circumcised in the ceremony of
Brit Milah |
Seder |
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Order.
A home-based ceremonial meal during Pesah,
at which the Exodus from Egypt is recounted using the Hagadah. |
Sefer
Torah |
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Torah
scroll. The five books of Moses handwritten on parchment and
rolled to from a scroll. |
Sephardim |
Sefardim |
Jews
originating from Mediterranean countries, especially Spain,
North Africa and the Middle East. |
Shabbat |
Shabbos |
Day
of spiritual renewal and rest commencing at sunset on Friday
and terminating at sunset on Saturday. |
Shatnez |
Shaatnez |
Garments
containing a forbidden mixture of wool and linen. |
Shavuot |
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Weeks.
One of the pilgrim festivals. Shavuot is celebrated in the
summer, seven weeks after Pesach. |
Shekhina |
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The
divine presence. |
Shema |
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Major
Jewish prayer affirming belief in one God. The Shema is found
in the Torah. |
Shiva |
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Seven
days of intense mourning following the burial of a close relation.
During this period all ordinary work is prohibited. |
Shoah |
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Desolation.
The suffering experienced by European Jews at the hands of
the Nazis, including the systematic murder of six million
Jews between 1933 and 1945. |
Shofar |
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Ram's
horn blown at the season of Rosh Hashananah. |
Siddur |
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Order.
Daily prayer book. |
Simchat
Torah |
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Rejoicing
of the law. Festival celebrating the completion and
recommencement of the cycle of the weekly Torah reading. |
Sukkah |
Suhhot
(pl.) |
Tabernacle;
booth. A temporary dwelling used during Sukkot. |
Sukkot |
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One
of three biblical pilgrim festivals, Sukkot is celebrated in the Autumn. |
Synagogue |
- Shul,
- Bet
Haknesset
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Building
for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly. |
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T |
Tallit |
- Tallith
|
Prayer
shawl. Four cornered garment with fringes. |
Talmud |
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Mishnah
and Gemara, collected together. |
Tefillah |
- Tefila
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Self-Judgment.
Jewish prayer and meditation. |
Tefillin |
- Tephilin,
T'filin
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Small
leather boxes containing passages from the Torah,
strapped on the forehead and arm for morning prayers on weekdays. |
Temple |
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Sometimes
used to refer to a synagogue esp.
in North America. Also used to refer to the temple
in Jerusalem, destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE of which only
the Western Wall remains. |
Tenakh |
- Tanakh
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The
collected 24 books of the Jewish Bible, comprising three section:
Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim (Te; Na; Kh) |
Ten
Commandments |
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Part
of the Law given to Moses on Mount
Siani, Found in the book of Exodus (20:10ff) |
Teshuva |
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Repentance.
Returning to God. |
Tikkun
Olam |
- Tikun
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Care
for the world and environment. |
Torah |
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Law;
teaching. The five books of Moses. |
Treyfah |
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Foods
which are forbidden under the laws of kosher. |
Tu
b'shevat |
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New
Year for trees celebrated on the 15th day of Shevat. |
Tzedaka |
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Righteousness.
An act of charity. |
Tzizit |
Tzittzit |
Fringes
on the corners of the Tallit. Also
commonly refers to the fringed undervest worn by some Jewish
males. |
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U |
No
entries |
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V |
No
entries |
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W |
Western
Wall |
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The
only remaining part of the temple destroyed by the Romans
in 70 CE, an important place of pilgrimmage for all Jews. |
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XYZ |
Yad |
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Hand-held
pointer used in the reading the Sefer Torah |
Yad
Vashem |
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A
place of memorial which commererates the holocaust |
Yahrzeit |
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Year-time.
Anniversary of a death. |
Yamulkah |
Capel,
Kippah |
Head
covering worn during prayers, Torah
study, etc.. Some followers will wear it constantly. |
Yeshiva |
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College
for the study of the Torah and
Talmud. |
Yiddush |
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Language
used predominately by Ashkenazim. |
Yishuv |
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Ingathering.
The Jewish community of Israel. |
Yom
Hashoah |
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Day
to commemorate the Shoah. |
Yom
Kippur |
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Day
of Atonement. Fast day occurring on the tenth day
after Rosh Hashannah; a solemn day
of Tefillah and Teshuva. |
Zionism |
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Political
movement securing the Jewish return to the land if Israel. |
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