Glossary of Jewish Terms and Personalities

Ariel Sharon- former Israeli Prime Minister

Bubbe-Meisa- Loosely translated as "old wive's tale"

Knaidel- Yiddish name for Matzah ball

Menorah- a candleabra with 8 candles, used on Chanukah, the Jewish festival of Lights. Chanukah celebrates the salvation of the Jews from their Greek captors. The menorah represents the candleabra in the Temple, which the Jews lit after their victory.

Pasuk- a verse from the Torah

Rabbi Noach Weinberg- the founder and dean of Yeshivat Aish HaTorah, a Jewish outreach institution located in Jerusalem, Israel.

Rabbi Yisrael Salanter- Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin, who originated from the city of Salant, lived from 1810-1883. He is the founder and spiritual father of the Mussar Movement, which teaches techniques of spritual growth and character improvement.

Shabbos Goy- literally, "a Sabbath Gentile", this term refers to a gentile who aids a Jew by doing something for him on the Sabbath, which the Jew is forbidden to do himself

Stoliner Rebbe- the spritual leader of the group of Hassidic Jews originating from Stolin, a city in Eastern Europe.

Tefillin- Also called 'phylacteries'. They are two boxes containing Biblical verses, with black leather straps attached to them, which are used in rabbinic Jewish prayer. They are an essential part of morning prayer services, and are worn on a daily basis (except the Sabbath and festivals) by many Jews.

Tisha B'Av- literally, the Ninth of Av- the day when the Temple was destroyed. This is a day of mourning for the Jews, and it is infamous for many other Jewish tragedies.

Vayikra- Leviticus, the third out of the five books of Moses

Yiddish- a dialect used among European Jews.

Yom Kippur- the day of Judgement, on which all Jewish adults are required to fast.