Calendar

• Judaism uses a lunar/solar calendar consisting of months that begin at the new moon. Each year has 12 or 13 months, to keep it in sync with the solar year.

Capeesh also Kapeesh (ca-PEESH)

• Yiddish: "understand", as in "I said, I'm not interested right now, capeesh!".

Caro, Rabbi Joseph

• 1488-1575, He was a Talmudine Authority and Chassidic scholar knowledgeable about the Kabbalah that also authored the "Shulchan Arukh", the first medieval code of Jewish law to be printed with the printing press (in 1565). Very thorough and concise it is still highly regarded today.

C.E.

• Common (or Christian) Era sometimes used instead of A.D.

Chag Sameach (KHAHG sah-MEHY-ahkh)

• "joyous festival", A greeting for any holiday, but especially Sukkot, Shavu'ot and Pesach (Passover).

Chai (KHAHY, rhymes with Hi!)

• "living" or "life". The word is often used as a design on jewelry and other ornaments. Donations to charity are often made in multiples of 18, the numerical value of the word.

Challah (KHAH-luh)

• A sweet, eggy, yellow bread, usually braided, which is served on Shabbat and holidays. There is a recipe for this in our Holiday Recipe section.

Hametz (KHUH-mitz)

• "Leaven" . Leavened grain products, which may not be owned or consumed during Pesach (Passover). Anything baked with Hamatz as well.

Chanukkah (KHAH-nik-uh; KHAH-noo-kah)

• "Dedication". An eight day festival celebrating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it was defiled by the Selucid Greeks and discribe in the books of Maccabees.

Chanukkat Ha-Bayit (KHAH-noo-KAHT hah BAHY-eet)

• "dedication of the house". A brief ceremony dedicating a Jewish household, during which the mezuzah is affixed to the doorposts. The procedure and prayers for affixing the mezuzah is available.

Chanukkiah (KHAH-noo-KEE-ah)

• A name sometimes use for a Chanukkah menorah.

Chassidism (KHAH-sid-ism); Chassidic (khah-SID-ic)

• "pious" or "kindness" as in "merciful", A branch of Orthodox Judaism that maintains a lifestyle separate from the non-Jewish world.

Chassidic Catholic

• A term coined by Kelly Fleming meaning those Catholics (like ourselves) that lean toward greater Chassidic Orthodox though spiritual root of our Church.

Chazzan (KHAH-zen)

• "Cantor". The person who leads the congregation in prayer. May be a professional or a member of the congregation.

Chaye Sarah (KHAHY saw-RAW)

• "The life of Sarah (mistress, noblewomen)" Parshas for Gen.23.1 - 25.18

Chelev (KHE-lev)

• The fat surrounding organs, as distinguished from the fat surrounding muscles. Forbidden to be eaten under the laws of Kashrut.

Children of Israel

• The most common designation of the Jewish people used in Jewish literature. It signifies the fact that we are descended from Jacob, who was also known as Israel.

Chillul HaShem (khil-LOOL hah SHEM)

• "profanation of the Name". Causing G-d or Judaism to come into disrespect, or causing a person to violate a commandment.

Chol Ha-Mo'ed (KHOHL hah MOH-ed; KHOHL hah moh-AYD)

• The intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot, when work is permitted.

Cholent (CHUH-lent)

• A slow cooked stew of beef, poultry,and/or beans and barley, which is served on Shabbat afternoon.

Chukkim (khook-EEM)

• Jewish religious laws for which no reason is given in the Torah. Some believe that they are meant to show our obedience to G-d.

Chumash (KHUH-mish)

• "five". A compilation of the first five books of the Bible and readings from the prophets, organized in the order of the weekly Torah portions.

Chuppah (KHU-puh)

• The wedding canopy, symbolic of the groom's home, under which the nisuin portion of the wedding ceremony is performed.

Cordovero, Moses ben Jacob

• (1522-1570), exiled from Spain he finially settled in Constantinople and became there a great Talmudic Scholar and legal thinker. In 1536 he resettled in Safed, Palestine a hot bed of study for the Kabbalah. Some of his works are "Pardes Rimmonim" (Orchard of Pomegranates), "Elimah Rabbathi" (The Great Work of 'to Elim'), "Komah" (Measurement of Height), "'Or Ne'erabh" (Pleasant Light), "Sepher Gerushim" (Book of Banishments) and "Tomer Devorah" (The Palm-Tree of Deborah) as well as writing a commentary for the Zohar.

Conservative

• One of the major movements of Judaism, accepting the binding nature of Jewish law but believing that the law can change.

Chutzpah (CHUTZ PAH)

• Yiddish "unmitigated gull" as in "She has a lot of chutzpah to talk like that!"

Counting of the Omer

• The counting of the 49 days between Passover and Shavu'ot.

Chukat (Kho-KAT)

• "Requirement of" also Prashas either Num.19.1-22.1 or in combination Chukat-Balak it is Numbers 19:1-25:9,