Aaron or Aharown (uh-har-ONE)

• Older brother of Moshe. Founder of the priesthood, and the first Kohein Gadol (High Priest). He helped Moshe lead the Children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.

Ab, Abba also Abbah (UHB, and uhb-BAH)

• "Father" also Avi (which see)

Abib also abiyb (uh-BEEB)

• "Head of the grain" (green)also same month as Nissan

Absalom (uhb-ee-shaw-LOME)

• "Friendly" the Son of king Dovid.

Adam (uh-DAWM)

• "human being" or "mankind", the first man.

Ad-nay or Ad-nai (ad-o-NOY, Ad-o-NAY)

• "L-rd", "Sovereign", or "controller", often replaces the Holy Name in texts.

Ahaz (uh-KHAWZ)

• "possessor", name of a king of Judah.

Akiba (uh-Kee-buh)

• (15-135 C.E) He developed the exegetical method of the Mishnah (codified Oral Tradition), linking each traditional practice to a basis in the biblical text, and systematized the material that later became the Mishnah.

Al Cheit (AHL CHAYT)

• "for the sin". A confession of community sins recited repeatedly on Yom Kippur.

Alef-bet (EH-lef-BET)

• The Hebrew alphabet. The name is derived from the first two letters of the alef-bet.

Aliyah (uh-LEE-uh; ah-lee-AH)

• "ascension" or "to go up".
  1. Reading or teaching from the
  Torah
  2. Immigrating to Israel (generally referred to in English as making aliyah and pronounced ah-lee-AH).

Amalek (am-aw-LAKE)

• Desc of Esau, Also his people (Amalekite) and country- pl. Amalekites.

Amen (aw-MANE, Aw-MEN)

• "sure" or "so be it" also see Omen.

Ammonite(s) (em-mo-NEE)

• From Ammown which means "inbred" a people and country decending from Lot.

Aninut (an-ee-YAWT)

• The period of mourning between the time of death and the time of burial (root: aniyah- "to sorrow").

Anti-Semitism

• The term "anti-Semitism" comes from the roots "anti" (against) and "Semite", a term that applies to both Hebrews and Arabs, but has come to apply only to a specific hatred of Jews.

Anti-Judaism

• The term "anti- Judaism" comes from the roots "anti" (against) and " Judaism". Like the word "anti-Semitism" this term is used specifically to refer to hatred of Judaism, that is Jewish customs and beliefs.

Arab (ar-AWB)

• "Sterility", People countries called Arabia.

Arbah Minim (AR-bah min-YM)

• "Four species". Fruit and branches used to fulfill the commandment to "rejoice before the L-rd" during Sukkos.

Ark

• The English translation of aron kodesh, lit. "Holy chest". The cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept.

Aron Kodesh (AH-rohn KOH-desh)

• "Holy chest". The cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept.

Asham (ah-SHAHM)

• A guilt offering. A type of sacrifice used to atone for sins of stealing things from the altar, for when you are not sure whether you have committed a sin or what sin you have committed, or for breach of trust.

Asher (uh-SHARE)

1. "Happy", Son of Jacob (Israel). Ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel;
2. The tribe that bears his name.

Ashkenazic Jews (ahsh-ken-AH-zik)

• Jews from eastern France, Germany and Eastern Europe, and their descendants.

Ashkenazic Pronunciation (ahsh-ken-AH-zik)

• Historically, Ashkenazic Jews pronounced some Hebrew sounds differently than Sephardic Jews. The Sephardic pronunciation of Hebrew is increasingly becoming the norm, because it is the pronunciation used in Israel. However, you will still hear Ashkenazic pronunciations in many (but not all) Orthodox communities and among older Jews in all Jewish communities.

Ashtaroth, Ashtarowth (ash-taw-ROTH)

• "increases" the plarual or Ashterah also a Sidonian deity.

Ashtoreth (ash-TO-reth)

• Goddess of love (probably from former) the Phoenician goddess.

Assyria, Ashshur (ash-SHOOR)

• "Successful", the second son of Shem also nation.

Av (UHV)

• The fifth month of the Jewish year, occurring in July/August.

Avi (uh-VEE)

• Father also Abbah (which see)

Avinu (uh-VEE-nu)

• Our Father

Avelut

• The year of mourning after the burial of a parent.

Av'raham, Abraham (Av-raw-HAWM)

• The first Jew, the founder of Judaism, the physical and spiritual ancestor of the Jewish people. One of the three Patriarchs of Judaism.

Avoda (Av-o-DAW)

• "Service", One of the four principles of the Chassid.

Ayn (AH-yin) (also see En)

• "not, nothing, not existent, or non-entity". He is called this, not because He is nothing in the sense of emptiness, but rather because there is nothing of Him that our finite minds can conceive. This is one word that describes the Father alone.

Ayn Sof (Ah-yin SAWF)(Also see En Sof)

• "Not limited, not terminated, or not bounded". This term is used because HaShem is infinte or unlimited; this term can be used to describe both the Father and the Son.

Ayn Sof Or (Ah-yin SAWF ORE)(Also see En Sof Or)

• "Not limited light". This describes HaShem as the unlimited light that came forth out of darkness. This term can be used to both describe Father and Son.