Word of the Week Dictionary
| שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת Sh'mini Atzeret |
Usually translated, the Eighth Day of Assembly, Sh'mini Atzeret is the day following the Festival of Succot. Since Succot biblically lasts for seven days this one final day of the Fall Holiday Season becomes known as the Eighth Day. "Sh'mini" literally means "Eighth." "Atzeret" denotes a cessation of some kind. In this case a Yom Tov, a full-fledged cessation of work allowing for a holy gathering. In addition, the word "Atzeret" implies a completion. In this case the Eighth Day of Assembly completes the Fall Holiday Season by its inclusion of the Prayer for Rain.While the number of bulls sacrificed during the Festival of Succot comes to seventy, symbolic of the nations of the world; on Sh'mini Atzeret the priests offered only one bull. This one bull symbolizes the unique relationship that exists between G-d and His people, Israel. The Yizkor service takes place the first day of Sh'mini Atzeret. The Rabbis established Simchat Torah or the Joy of Torah on the second day of Yom Tov. Simchat Torah marks the completion and the beginning of the annual cycle of Torah readings; a time of great rejoicing as we fulfill our particular mission as a people to function as the conveyers of Torah to the world. |
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סוּכָּה Succah |
A hut or a booth, the Torah commands that all citizens of the people Israel must dwell in booths (or Succot, סוּכּוֹת) for a week, beginning the fifteenth of Tishrei; hence, the title of the Festival. The Torah, however, does define what a Succah is or is not. The Mishnah explains that a Succah must have at least three walls, and a roof made of stuff that once grew in the ground but is now detached. The roof must provide more shade than sun light. |
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צְדָקָה Tzedakah |
Often mistranslated as charity, Tzedakah actually means justice and righteousness. The Torah commands that we give Tzedakah as a means of compensating for a world yet unredeemed, a world in which some individuals and important causes may "fall through the cracks." Scripture specifically directs us to provide Tzedakah for the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow. |
חֶשְׁבּוֹן הַנֶּפֶשׁ Cheshbon Hanefesh |
Literally, An Accounting of the Soul, our Sages teach that one must perform an inner search, a Cheshbon Hanefesh, during this month of Elul, the month preceding the High Holy Days. They decree an individual look deep within to determine who he or she has been during the past year as a step in preparing for the days of judgment that are Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Rabbis see this honest soul searching, the Cheshbon Hanefesh, as essential to the process of self-improvement and repentance that form the crux of the Fall Holiday Season |
| תְּשׁוּבָה Teshuvah |
One of the primary Mitzvot of this High Holy Day season, Teshuvah usually translated, "repentance," can also mean "turning," "returning," and "an answer." That is, the act of Teshuvah may be seen as turning away from evil, or our least desirable behaviors, and turning toward the good; or returning to a closer relationship with G-d and the pursuit of a higher image of ourselves. Our Tradition teaches that when we make the effort to return to G-d, the Eternal then returns to us! We believe that G-d especially during this High Holy Day season calls to us to return, our changes in behavior constitute our answer to the Divine summons. The Machzor (High Holy Day prayer book) identifies Prayer, Tzedakah and Teshuvah as Mitzvot that will help us "avert the severe decree" in influencing our fates in the coming year. |
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בִּימָה Bimah |
The Bimah is a raised platform found in the synagogue from which we read the Torah. Some synagogue designs place the Bimah in the middle of the sanctuary with the intention of better allowing congregants to hear the Torah text. In our sanctuary the Bimah stands at the head of the room so that the activity taking place there, prayer and Torah reading, will remain the focus of those who come to worship. Spiritually, the Bimah as an elevated space represents Mt. Sinai. The Bimah reminds us that the public reading of the Torah constitutes not only an opportunity for learning but a reenactment of the Standing at Sinai. Hearing words of Torah from the Bimah helps provide the holy experience of revelation. |
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כִּיתָּה Kitah |
This term may refer to a classroom, to a class or to a grade level. At the Etz Chaim Religious School we customarily use the word כִּיתָּה(Kitah)to refer to the various grade level classes. As such, we identify each grade level by the Hebrew letter that bears the numerical equivalent of that particular class. For instance, since א (alef) the first letter of the Hebrew alef-bet connotes the number one, we frequently refer to our First Grade class as Kitah Alef ('כִּיתָּה א). Beit being the second letter of the Hebrew alef-bet, it connotes the number two. Hence, we use it to refer to our Second Grade class as Kitah Beit ('כִּיתָּה ב). We designate Kitah Gimmel כִּיתָּה ג')) as the title of our Third Grade class, etc.
By the way, gimmel (ג= 3), dalet ((ד= 4, hey ((ה= 5, vav ((ו= 6, zion ((ז= 7. |
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גשר לקשר Gesher L'Kesher |
Literally, "a bridge to a connection (gesher=bridge, kesher=connection, l'=to);" Gesher L'Kesher is the title of our synagogue's High School Program. The program is designed to allow our students to connect and reconnect with their Judaism through mature eyes. But perhaps most of all, the program promotes social interaction. That is, the program encourages its participants to connect with one another. In accomplishing the above, the program deals issues of continuing maturity and leadership skills. Not a traditional school lecture model, students learn by doing; valuable connections indeed! |
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Matmidim מַתְמִידִים |
From the term Tamid (תַּמִיד) which means eternal or regular; Matmidim are those who constantly study Torah. That is, Matmidim adhere to Shammai's dictum to make one's Torah study a set thing. For those who reason "I'll learn Torah when I get the chance," may, as Hillel reminds, never get the chance! Our Thursday evening adult Bible study group is called the Matmidim, those dedicated to regular and continual study. The Matmidim meets each Thursday at 7:30 PM. The group is currently learning the Book of Ezra. Everyone is welcome! |
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EITZ CHAIM עץ חיים |
Literally, "Tree of Life;" the Book of Proverbs (4:2) employs the term to connote the Torah: "It is a Tree of Life to those who hold it fast, all who support it are praiseworthy." These words comprise part of the liturgy of the returning of the Torah scroll to the Holy Ark.
For the Kabbalists the Tree of Life symbolizes the S'phirot, G-d's spiritual emanations, as well as the inner mystical aspect of the Torah. The mystics teach that the Tree of Life associated with the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22) represents this secret aspect of Scripture. Pursuant to these facts, one of the most important books of Jewish mysticism, attributed to the master, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, bears the title, Etz Chaim. |
פָּרָשַׁת הַשָׁבוּעַ Parashat HaShavua |
Literally, "the portion of the week," this term refers to the section of the Torah that we read each week in the synagogue. That is, the Rabbis of Babylonia in ancient days divided the Torah into fifty-four portions. Each portion is known in Hebrew as a פָּרָשָׁה (Parasha). Every week on Shabbat we gather in the synagogue for a public reading of another one of these sections. We also study and discuss each weekly portion before we worship on Shabbat. The weekly Parashat HaShavua class begins at 9:30 AM. Since there are fifty-four portions and only fifty-two weeks in a non-leap-year, common practice is to read two portions on some Shabbat mornings. Each year we conclude the cycle of Torah readings and begin it anew on Simchat Torah, a holiday that follows Succot. |