Ha

• "The".

Haazinu

• "to hear", "check" Torah reading for Deut.32.1-52.Deut.32.1-52

• "Conclusion". A reading from the Prophets, read along with the weekly Torah portion.

Haggadah (huh-GAH-duh)

• "To Tell". The book read during the Passover Seder, telling the story of the Exodus.

Haggai (huh-Gah-ee)

• "Festive".

Haggiah (huh-Gah-ee-ah)

• "Festive of G-d".

Halacha (huh-LUHKH-khuh)

• "the path that one walks" or by implication "Jewish law". The complete body of rules and practices that Jews are bound to follow, including biblical commandments, commandments instituted by the rabbis, and binding customs.

Hallel

• "Praise G-d". Psalms 113-118, in praise of G-d, which are recited on certain holidays.

Haman (HAY-men)

• The villain of the story of Purim.

Hamentaschen (HAH-men-TAH-shen)

• "Haman's pockets". Triangular, fruit-filled cookies filled with poppy seed or other fillings and traditionally served or given as gifts during Purim.

Haredi

• What the Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel are called.

Ha-Shem (hah SHEM)

• "The Name". The Name of G-d, which is not pronounced in Judaism and deeply honered as well in our Catholic faith. The phrase "ha-Shem" is often used as a substitute for G-d's Name.

Hatafat Dam Brit (hah-tah-FAHT DAHM BRIT)

• A symbolic circumcision of a person who has already been circumcised or who was born without a foreskin. It involves taking a pinprick of blood from the tip of the penis.

Ha-Tikvah

• "The Hope". The anthem of the Zionist movement and the state of Israel.

• "separation", "division". A ritual marking the end of Shabbat or a holiday.

Haynt

• Yiddish for "today".

• The place of spiritual reward for the righteous dead in Judaism is not referred to as Heaven, but as Olam Ha-Ba (the World to Come) or Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden).

Hebrew

• The language of the Torah, in which all prayer are usually recited.

Hell

• The place of spiritual punishment and/or purification for the wicked dead in Judaism is not referred to as Hell, but as Gehinnom or She'ol. According to most sources, the period of punishment or purification is limited to 12 months, after which the soul ascends to Olam Ha-Ba or is destroyed (if it is utterly wicked) although Yeshua contradicts this in Matt.5.21-26.

Herzl, Theodor

• The founder of the Zionist political movement in the late 1800s.

High Holidays

• The holidays of Rosh Hashanah, the Days of Awe and Yom Kippur are commonly referred to as the High Holidays or the High Holy Days.

Hillel (HIL-el; hil-EL)

• One of the greatest rabbis recorded in the Talmud. His more liberal views of Jewish law are often contrasted with the stricter views of Shammai.

Hiloni

• What secular Jews are called in Israel.

Hitlahavut

• "Ecstasy". One of the four principles that Baal Shem Tov taught and lived saying these were the attrbutes of the Chasidim

Holishkes (HOH-lish-kuhs)

• Cabbage leaves stuffed with meatballs served in a tomato-based sweet and sour sauce.

Homosexuality

• Homosexual orientation is not a sin in Judaism, but homosexual acts are. Male-male sex is forbidden by the Torah. Lesbian sex is not prohibited by the Torah, but is generally considered prohibited as "licentiousness."

Hoshanah Rabba (hoh-SHAH-nuh RAH-buh)

• "great hosanna". The seventh day of Sukkot, on which seven circuits are made around the synagogue reciting a prayer with the refrain, "Hosha na!" (please save us!).

Human Nature

• Humanity is in the image of G-d, in that we have the ability to think, reason and understand. Humanity was created with a dual nature: an impulse to do what is right an a selfish (evil) impulse. Free will is the ability to choose which impulse to follow.

• Yiddish for "One hundred".