Glossary of Scientology

A
ARC	a word made from the initial letters of Affinity, Reality and Communication, which together equate to Understanding. It is pronounced by stating its letters, A-R-C. To Scientologists it has come to mean good feeling, love or friendliness, such as, "He was in ARC with his friend." One does not, however, fall out of ARC; he has an ARC break.
ARC break	a sudden drop or cutting of one's affinity, reality or communication with someone or something. Upsets with people or things come about because of a lessening or sundering (breaking apart) of affinity, reality or communication or understanding. It's called an ARC break instead of an upset, because if one discovers which of the three points of understanding have been cut, one can bring about a rapid recovery in the person's state of mind.
ARC triangle	a triangle which is a symbol of the fact that affinity, reality and communication act together as a whole entity and that one of them cannot be considered unless the other two are also taken into account. Without affinity there is no reality or communication. Without reality or some agreement, affinity and communication are absent. Without communication there can be no affinity or reality. It is only necessary to improve one corner of this very valuable triangle in Scientology in order to improve the remaining two corners.
auditing	the application of Dianetics or Scientology processes and procedures to someone by a trained auditor. The exact definition of auditing is: The action of asking a person a question (which he can understand and answer), getting an answer to that question and acknowledging him for that answer.
auditor	a person trained and qualified in applying Dianetics and/or Scientology processes and procedures to individuals for their betterment; called an auditor because auditor means one who listens.
Auditor's Code	a collection of rules (do's and don'ts) that an auditor follows while auditing someone, which ensures that the preclear will get the greatest possible gain out of the processing that he is having. It was evolved from years of observing processing.
B
banky	being influenced by bank and displaying bad temper, irritability, lack of cooperation and the signs of dramatization; irrational.
between-lives area	the experiences of a thetan during the time between the loss of a body and the assumption of another.
Bridge, The	the route to Clear and OT, which we call the Classification, Gradation and Awareness Chart. It is a term originating in early Dianetics days to symbolize travel from unknowingness to revelation.
bullbaiting	a method of drilling whereby a coach attempts to find certain actions, words, phrases, mannerisms or subjects that cause the student doing the drill to become distracted from the drill by reacting to the coach. As a bullfighter attempts to attract the bull's attention and control the bull, so does the coach attempt to attract and control the student's attention, however the coach flunks the student whenever he succeeds in distracting the student from the drill and then repeats the action until it no longer has any affect on the student.
C
Classification, Gradation and Awareness Chart	the route to Clear and the OT states beyond, also called The Bridge to Total Freedom, or The Bridge. Classification means that there are certain actions required to be done or conditions to be attained before an individual is classified for a particular training level and allowed to progress up. Gradation means a gradual grade up, just as there are grades to a road or there are grades to steps. Awareness refers to one's own awareness, which improves as one progresses up. On the right side of this chart there are various steps called the States of Release. The left-hand side of the chart describes the very important steps of training on which one gains the knowledge and abilities necessary to deliver the Grades of Release to another. It is a guide for the individual from the point where he first becomes dimly aware of a Scientologist or Scientology and shows him how and where he should move up in order to make it. Scientology contains the entire map for getting the individual through all the various points on this gradation scale and for getting him across the Bridge to higher states of existence.
cleaning a clean	attempting to clean up or deal with something that has already been cleaned up or dealt with or that wasn't troublesome to the person in the first place.
Clear	the name of a state achieved through auditing or an individual who has achieved this state. A Clear is a being who no longer has his own reactive mind. A Clear is an unaberrated person and is rational in that he forms the best possible solutions he can on the data he has and from his viewpoint. The Clear has no engrams which can be restimulated to throw out the correctness of computation by entering hidden and false data.
Code of a Scientologist	a code which governs the activity of a Scientologist in general. It was evolved from many years of observation and experience and is subscribed to by leading Scientologists.
D
demon	a mechanical mechanism set up by an engram which takes over a portion of the analyzer and acts as an individual being. A bona fide demon is one who gives thoughts voice or echoes the spoken word interiorly or who gives all sorts of complicated advice like a real, live voice exteriorly.
demon circuit	part of an engram which is set up and has a specific command. "You've got to control yourself" is typical of one of these circuits.
Dianetics	Dianetics spiritual healing technology. It addresses and handles the effects of the spirit on the body and can alleviate such things as unwanted sensations and emotions, accidents, injuries and psychosomatic illnesses (ones that are caused or aggravated by mental stress). Dianetics means "through the soul" (from Greek dia, through, and nous, soul). It is further defined as "what the soul is doing to the body."
E	back to top ˆ
E-meter	the Hubbard Electrometer is a religious artifact used in the Church confessional. It, in itself does nothing, and is used by ministers only, to assist parishioners in locating areas of spiritual distress or travail. The E-meter is not intended or effective for diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease. It passes a tiny current through the preclear's body. This current is influenced by the mental masses, pictures, circuits and machinery. When the unclear pre-clear thinks of something, these mental items shift and this registers on the meter.
engram	a mental image picture which is a recording of an experience containing pain, unconsciousness and a real or fancied threat to survival. It is a recording in the reactive mind of something which actually happened to an individual in the past and which contained pain and unconsciousness, both of which are recorded in the mental image picture called an engram. It must, by definition, have impact or injury as part of its content. These engrams are a complete recording, down to the last accurate detail, of every perception present in a moment of partial or full unconsciousness
engram bank	the reactive mind, that portion of the mind which works on a stimulus-response basis (given a certain stimulus it will automatically give a certain response) which is not under a person's volitional control and which exerts force and power over a person's awareness, purposes, thoughts, body and actions. It consists of locks, secondaries, engrams and chains of them and is the single source of human aberration and psychosomatic ills.
ethical code	a code of certain restrictions indulged in to better the manner of conduct of life. A person conducts himself according to such a code because he wants to or because he feels he is proud enough or decent enough or civilized enough to so conduct himself.
G	back to top ˆ
Grades of Release:	Expanded ARC Straightwire: Recall Release; Freedom from deterioration; has hope; knows he/she won't get any worse. Grade 0: Communications Release; Ability to communicate freely with anyone on any subject. Grade I: Problems Release; Ability to recognize the source of problems and make them vanish. Grade II: Relief Release; Relief from hostilities and the sufferings of life. Grade III: Freedom Release; Freedom from the upsets of the past and ability to face the future. Grade IV: Ability Release; Moving out of fixed conditions and gaining abilities to do new things. Grade V: Power Release; Ability to handle power. Grade VA: Power Plus Release; Recovery of knowledge. Grade VI: Whole Track Release; Return of powers to act on own determinism. Grade VII: a Grade VII is not a Release Grade. It is a Clear, a being who no longer has his own reactive mind. A complete list of the abilities gained for each of these Grades of Release can be found in the book Scientology 0-8: The Book of Basics.
K	back to top ˆ
KRC triangle	the upper triangle in the Scientology symbol. The points are K for knowledge, R for responsibility, and C for control. It is difficult to be responsible for something or control something unless you have knowledge of it. It is folly to try to control something or even know something without responsibility. It is hard to fully know something or be responsible for something over which you have no control, otherwise the result can be overwhelm. Little by little one can make anything go right by increasing Knowledge on all dynamics, increasing Responsibility on all dynamics, increasing Control on all dynamics.
L	back to top ˆ
Life Repair	a series of auditing actions run on a preclear who is starting out in auditing for the first time. Life Repair would address such things as rough spots in life, periods which the preclear may feel bad about, areas of overwhelm, etc.
M	back to top ˆ
mental image picture	a copy of the physical universe as it goes by; we call a mental image picture a facsimile when it is a "photograph" of the physical universe sometime in the past. We call a mental image picture a mock-up when it is created by the thetan or for the thetan and does not consist of photographs of the physical universe. We call a mental image picture a hallucination, or more properly an automaticity (something uncontrolled), when it is created by another and seen by self.
misemotion	a coined word in Dianetics and Scientology, often used loosely to refer to anything that is unpleasant emotion, such as antagonism, anger, fear, grief, apathy or a death feeling. The full meaning of misemotion is an emotion or emotional reaction that is inappropriate to the present time situation. It is taken from mis- (wrong) + emotion. To say that a person was misemotional would indicate that the person did not display the emotion called for by the actual circumstances of the situation. Being misemotional would be synonymous with being irrational. One can fairly judge the rationality of any individual by the correctness of the emotion he displays in a given set of circumstances. To be joyful and happy when circumstances call for joy and happiness would be rational. To display grief without sufficient present time cause would be irrational.
N
not-isness	the effort to handle isness by reducing its condition through the use of force. It is an apparency and cannot entirely vanquish an isness.
O
Objective Process	objective refers to outward things, not the thoughts or feelings of the individual. An Objective Process deals with the real and observable. It calls for the preclear to spot or find something exterior to himself in order to carry out the auditing command. It locates the person in his environment, establishes direct communication with the auditor, and brings a person to present time, a very important factor in mental and spiritual sanity and ability.
Operating Thetan (OT)	it is a state of beingness. It is a being "at cause over matter, energy, space, time, form and life." Operating comes from "able to operate without dependency on things," and Thetan is the Greek letter Theta, which the Greeks used to represent thought or perhaps spirit, to which an n is added to make a noun in the modern style used to create words in engineering. It is also "theta to the nth degree," meaning unlimited or vast. Abbreviation: OT.
P
potential trouble source	someone who is connected with a suppressive person who is invalidating him, his beingness, his processing, his life; someone connected to a person or a group opposed to Scientology. This connection results in illness and roller coaster (gets better, then gets worse). Processing would work with such a person for a moment, then wouldn't work. One can't audit this person up faster than the environment knocks him down. Because the case doesn't get well, he is a potential trouble source to Scientology organizations, to others and to himself.
prenatal	a Dianetics term used to denote (refer to) an engram which is received before birth.
R
reactive mind	that portion of a person's mind which works on a totally stimulus-response basis, which is not under his volitional control and which exerts force and the power of command over his awareness, purposes, thoughts, body and actions. The reactive mind is where engrams are stored.
Release	the term for what occurs when a person separates from his reactive mind or some part of it. The degree and relative permanence of being pulled out of the reactive mind determines the state of Release. There are a number of states or stages of Release and these are called Grades.
religious philosophy	a term which implies study of spiritual manifestations; research on the nature of the spirit and study on the relationship of the spirit to the body.
R-factor	reality factor. It is the action of the auditor telling the pc what the auditor is going to do at each new step. This gives the pc more reality on what is occurring in the auditing session.
S
Scientologist	one who knows he has found the way to a better life through Scientology and who, through Scientology books, tapes, training and processing, is actively attaining it.
Scientology	Scientology applied religious philosophy. It is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, universes and other life. Scientology means scio, knowing in the fullest sense of the word and logos, study. In itself the word means literally knowing how to know. Scientology is a "route," a way, rather than a dissertation or an assertive body of knowledge. Through its drills and studies one may find the truth for himself. The technology is therefore not expounded as something to believe, but something to do.
Scientology Drug Rundown	a rundown (series of auditing actions) which uses Scientology auditing techniques to handle the harmful effects of drugs, medicine and alcohol on a case. This rundown extroverts a person, brings him into present time, and allows him to experience the relief and expansion available to one who has been freed from the influence of drugs.
space opera	of or relating to time periods on the whole track millions of years ago which concerned activities in this and other galaxies. Space opera has space travel, spaceships, spacemen, intergalactic travel, wars, conflicts, other beings, civilizations and societies, and other planets and galaxies. It is not fiction and concerns actual incidents and things that occurred on the track.
stable datum	one datum, one factor, one particular in a confusion of particles that keeps things from being in a confusion and on which other things can be aligned. Any confusing motion can be understood by conceiving one thing to be motionless. The one thing selected and used becomes the stable datum for the remainder.
Standard Technology	the exact processes and auditing actions laid down by L. Ron Hubbard and used for the invariable resolution of cases, taught in the organizations of Scientology and used without variation by all Scientology auditors. The term applies equally to Dianetics and its technology.
Straightwire	the name of a process. It is the act of stringing a line between present time and some incident in the past, and stringing that line directly and without any detours. The auditor is stringing a straight wire of memory between the actual genus (origin) of a condition and present time, thus demonstrating that there is a difference of time and space in the condition then and the condition now, and that the preclear, conceding this difference, then rids himself of the condition or at least is able to handle it. The motto of Straightwire could be said to be, "Discover the actual genus of any condition and you will place the condition under the control of the preclear."
suppress	to squash, to sit on, to make smaller, to refuse to let reach, to make uncertain about his reaching, to render or lessen in any way possible by any means possible, to the harm of the individual and for the fancied protection of a suppressor.
suppressive acts	actions or omissions undertaken knowingly to suppress, reduce or impede Scientology or Scientologists. (Such actions are high crimes and result in dismissal from Scientology and its organizations.)
suppressive person or group	a person or group of persons who actively seek to suppress or damage Scientology or a Scientologist by suppressive acts.
T
theta	energy peculiar to life or a thetan which acts upon material in the physical universe and animates it, mobilizes it and changes it; natural creative energy of a thetan which he has free to direct toward survival goals, especially when it manifests itself as high tone, constructive communications.
Theta Clear	a person who operates exterior to the body without need of a body.
thetan	the person himself-not his body or his name, the physical universe, his mind, or anything else; that which is aware of being aware; the identity which is the individual. The term was coined to eliminate any possible confusion with older, invalid concepts. It comes from the Greek letter Theta, which the Greeks used to represent thought or perhaps spirit, to which an n is added to make a noun in the modern style used to create words in engineering. It is also "theta to the nth degree," meaning unlimited or vast.
Theta Universe	1. thought matter (ideas), thought energy, thought space, and thought time, combined in an independent universe analogous to the material universe. One of the purposes of theta is postulated as the conquest, change, and ordering of mest. (From Science of Survival Glossary) 2. is a postulated reality for which there exists much evidence. (From Science of Survival, page 99.)
W
whole track	the moment to moment record of a person's existence in this universe in picture and impression form.

Source

• Scientology.org

Glossary of Mormonism

Aaronic Priesthood

The lesser priesthood which includes the offices of deacon, teacher, priest and bishop; conferred on faithful male members beginning at age 12. Responsibilities of Aaronic priesthood include preparing and offering the sacrament (communion) to Church members during Sunday worship services, visiting and teaching members in their homes, collecting contributions for the poor, and baptizing.

Apostle

Highest office of the Melchizedek Priesthood. One ordained to this office is called to be a special witness of the name of Jesus Christ in all the world, serving in this capacity for life.

area

The largest geographical ecclesiastical subdivision of the Church, consisting of several regions and presided over by a president, who is usually a General Authority.

authority

Duly conferred priesthood power; responsibility associated with position or function.

beehive symbol

A logo representing industry and harmony, appearing frequently on objects associated with the Church and the State of Utah.

bishop

Clergyman of a local congregation (called a ward) whose duties are similar to that of a pastor, priest or rabbi. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the position is unpaid.

Book of Mormon

An account of ancient inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere, recorded on gold plates and translated by Joseph Smith. The record contains both a history of the people and the fullness of the gospel as revealed by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants.

branch

A smaller congregation in an area where the Church is in a developing stage.

brethren

All male members of the Church; "the Brethren," a designation of the General Authorities of the Church.

callings

Invitations to accept an office or assignment in the Church; offices or assignments themselves.

chapel

The room or hall in a Church meetinghouse used for worship services. Church members gather for Sunday services in chapels, not temples.

Community of Christ

Previously known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Latter Day Saint denomination organized by Joseph Smith III in 1860. Based in Independence, Missouri, the Community of Christ is the second largest Latter Day Saint denomination.

confirmation

Religious rite which takes place after baptism, bestowing official membership in the Church and conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost upon the new member.

convert

(noun) A person who has chosen to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by being baptized and confirmed.

covenant

A sacred agreement between God and man. As men and women obey the terms of the agreement, God promises blessings.

Doctrine and Covenants

A Mormon sacred text containing selected revelations given to Joseph Smith and his successors in the presidency of the Church.

elder

An office in the Melchizedek Priesthood; a title designating a holder of this priesthood, a General Authority or a male missionary.

family history center

A local branch of the world famous Family History Library in Salt Lake City. There are 3700 family history centers in 88 countries around the world, offering free genealogical research assistance to anyone.

family home evening

A program in which family members gather (usually on Monday evening) for family-centered spiritual instruction and social activities.

FamilySearch™

An automated computer system designed to assist Church members and others with family history research. Many features of the system can be accessed at www.familysearch.org.

Fast Sunday

A Sunday, usually the first one of each month, on which Church members abstain from food or drink for two meals and donate the equivalent cost to the Church to assist the poor and needy. The sacrament meeting on each fast Sunday, called fast and testimony meeting, is devoted to the voluntary expression of testimony by members.

firesides

Informal gatherings of Church members and friends, usually in homes or chapels, which feature a speaker or program on a religious theme. Occasionally, Churchwide firesides are held under the direction of the First Presidency.

First Presidency

The President of the Church and his counselors; the highest ranking quorum in the Church.

garments

White undergarments worn by members of the Church who have received a temple ordinance known as the endowment. The garment reminds the wearer of covenants made in the temple.

General Authority

Church leaders who serve in a general or Church-wide capacity, including members of the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Quorums of the Seventy, and Presiding Bishopric.

general conference

General assemblies of Church members in Salt Lake City, regularly convened every April and October and transmitted worldwide by radio, television and the Internet.

gold plates

The anciently engraved metal plates from which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon.

investigator

A person who is interested in the Church and is receiving missionary instruction.

latter days

The last period of time upon the earth before the Lord's second coming, when the gospel is restored and God's true church reestablished. Also sometimes referred to in scripture as the "last days" (see Isaiah 2:2).

Latter-day Saints

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Manifesto of 1890

The pronouncement that the Church had officially ended the practice of entering into polygamy.

Melchizedek Priesthood

The higher of the two priesthoods; includes offices of elder, high priest, patriarch, seventy and apostle; conferred upon faithful males age 18 and older. Members of this priesthood serve in Church administrative assignments, hold the power of the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, may anoint and heal the sick, etc.

mission

Period of volunteer service, ranging from six to 24 months, when Church members devote themselves full time to proselytizing, humanitarian service, or strengthening members in the gospel. Also, a geographical area where missionary work is organized.

missionary companion

A missionary's partner. Missionaries in the Church work in pairs.

missionary discussion

A structured lesson on basic gospel principles presented by missionaries to someone interested in learning about the Church.

missionary training center

(MTC) Any of a number of worldwide facilities where formally called missionaries are instructed and trained before departure to assigned missions.

Mormon

A fourth-century prophet in the Americas who abridged the historical and religious records of his people on gold plates. His record was translated by Joseph Smith and first published in the United States during the early 1800s as the Book of Mormon.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

The large choir that broadcasts weekly from Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

Mormons

Unofficial term for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; members prefer to be referred to as Latter-day Saints.

Moroni

An ancient American prophet who around A.D. 420 buried a record of his people written on gold plates. In 1827, the resurrected Moroni delivered these plates to Joseph Smith, who translated them into the Book of Mormon. A statue of Moroni is placed on top of many Church temples.

mutual

A weekly youth activities evening, held on a ward (congregation) basis for teenage Church member and their friends.

ordinance

A prescribed ceremony related to the reception of a blessing, covenant or ordination - for example, baptism, confirmation, and marriage are all ordinances. An ordinance must be performed by one who has been ordained to the priesthood and authorized to perform the ordinance.

Pearl of Great Price

Book of scripture translated and written by the Prophet Joseph Smith, including additional records of Abraham and Moses.

priesthood

The power of God; the authority given to men to act in God's name; the men of the Church in general.

priesthood quorum

An organized body of male members who hold the same priesthood office.

primary

Religious education and activities organization for children ages 3 through 11.

prophet

The President of the Church; any authorized spokesman of God; "the Prophet," usually a reference to Joseph Smith.

quorum

A group of men who hold the same priesthood office (such as a deacons quorum, an elders quorum, or the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles).

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The 12 men who, under the direction of the First Presidency, constitute the second-highest presiding quorum of the Church. They testify of Jesus Christ and build up the Church throughout the world.

Quorums of the Seventy

Bodies of up to 70 men who, under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, direct missionary and other activities of the Church throughout the world. There are currently five Quorums of the Seventy.

region

Administrative geographical unit consisting of several stakes.

Relief Society

The adult women's organization in the Church.

restoration

The re-establishment of the ancient gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith in the latter days.

restorationism

The doctrine that the true Christian church died out in the early 2nd century CE until it was restored by Joseph Smith with the establishment of the LDS Church.

returned missionary

One who has completed a full-time mission for the Church.

sacrament

The ordinance of administering bread and water, representing the body and blood of Jesus Christ, to Church members, usually done in Sunday worship meetings.

sacrament meeting

Worship service, usually held in Latter-day Saint meetinghouses on Sundays, in which the sacrament (communion) is offered to members of the Church.

Saints

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Smith, Joseph

First president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (born 1805; died 1844). Regarded as a prophet of God by members of the Church.

stake

A geographical ecclesiastical subdivision of the Church, composed of several wards and sometimes branches. Similar to a diocese in the Roman Catholic Church.

stake president

The presiding leader of a stake.

tabernacle

A building used for assemblies; "the Tabernacle," usually a reference to the Salt Lake Tabernacle, located on Temple Square.

temple

A sacred building, the "house of the Lord," in which Latter-day Saints perform sacred ordinances of the gospel such as marriages and vicarious baptisms.

Temple Square

A 10-acre city block in Salt Lake City on which the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle and other buildings are located.

testimony

A set of personal beliefs about the doctrines of the Church; an expression of such beliefs.

tithing

The donation of one-tenth of one's income to the Church.

visitors' centers

Reception centers of the Church, near temples and historic sites, to introduce visitors to the history and doctrine of the Church.

ward

The basic geographic ecclesiastical unit in the Church, consisting of several hundred members presided over by a bishop.

Word of Wisdom

A code of health, revealed by God in 1833, which mandates abstention from alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee, and which encourages the use of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Zion

Righteous followers of Jesus Christ; a geographic location where the righteous are gathered by obedience to the gospel.

Sources

1. "Glossary of Church Terms," LDS Newsroom, accessed October 2005.
2. "Latter Day Saint movement," Wikipedia, accessed October 2005.

Glossary of Judaism

Adonai

(Hebrew, "Lord"). One of the most common Jewish names for God, used especially during prayer.

aggadah

(Hebrew, "discourse" or "telling"). Non-legal material in the Talmud and Midrash, including stories, legends, theology, and sermons.

Alef-Bet

(Hebrew, "A-B"). The Hebrew alphabet.

Aleinu

Closing prayer of every synagogue service, proclaiming God's sovereignty.

aliyah

(Hebrew, "going up"). To "make an aliyah" is to be called up to recite the blessing before the Torah reading.

amudah

Small desk in a synagogue from which the Torah is read.

Aramaic

Semitic language closely related to Hebrew. Was once the common language of the Jewish world - the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds were both written in Aramaic - but it is no longer spoken.

ark

(Acronym for Hebrew aron hakodesh, "holy chest"). Cabinet in a synagogue that holds the Torah scrolls, usually located at the front of the sanctuary.

Ashkenazi

Jews from eastern and northern Europe and their descendents, to be distinguished from Sephardic Jews.

bar mitzvah

(Hebrew, "son of the commandment"). A boy who has reached the age of 13 and is thereafter expected to obey the commandments. Term also used for the ceremony marking this occasion. See Jewish Life Cycle: Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

bat mitzvah

(Hebrew, "daughter of the commandment"). A girl who has reached the age of 12 and is thereafter expected to obey the commandments. Term also used for the ceremony marking this occasion. See Jewish Life Cycle: Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

beit knesset

(Hebrew, "house of assembly"). The synagogue.

beit tefilah

(Hebrew, "house of prayer"). The synagogue.

beit midrash

(Hebrew, "house of study"). A place designated for the study of sacred texts, usually a part of the synogogue.

ben

(Hebrew, "son of"; Aramaic "bar" or "ibn"). Son of. Used in traditional Hebrew names; e.g., Rabbi Moses ben Maimon is Moses, the son of Maimon.

bet din

(Hebrew, "house of judgment"). A rabbinal court convened to resolve business disputes, grant divorces, determine whether a prospective convert is ready for conversion, etc.

bris

(Hebrew brit, "covenant"). Colloquial name for the ritual of circumcision, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of brit.

brit

(Hebrew, "covenant"). The special covenant between God and the Jewish people.

brit milah

(Hebrew, "covenant of circumcision"). The ritual of circumcision performed on the eighth day of a boy's life. More commonly known as brit. See Jewish Life Events: Circumcision.

CE

"Common Era" or "Christian Era." Designation of years used by Jews and others who wish to avoid the affirmation of faith embedded in AD (Latin anno domini, "in the year of our Lord").

chanukkiah

Nine-branch candlestick used on Hanukkah. More commonly, though not accurately, called a menorah. See Jewish Holidays: Hanukkah.

chutzpah

Arrogance, guts, presumption. Generally meant positively.

circumcision

See brit milah.

chukkim

Commandments that have no known reason behind them.

chuppah

(Hebrew, "canopy"). Also spelled huppah. Canopy under which the Jewish marriage ceremony takes place, representing the marriage chamber or the couple's new home. The term is also used colloquially for the marriage ceremony as a whole. See Jewish Life Cycle: Marriage.

Counting of the Omer

(Hebrew Sefirat ha-Omer). The counting of days between Passover and Shavuot.

Daf Yomi

(Hebrew, "the daily page"). Program of studying one page of Talmud per day. See Texts: Talmud.

Diaspora

Jews living outside of Israel.

Documentary Hypothesis

The modern scholarly hypothesis that the Torah was written by four distinct authors, identified as J (for "Jehovah"), E (for "Elohim"), P (for "Priestly"), and D (for "Deuternomist"). A fifth, believed to be the editor of the other authors' works, is known as the "Redactor."

Gaon

(Hebrew, "eminence, excellence"). Title given to the head of the Babylonian academy and later to distinguished Talmud scholars in the 6th to 12th centuries.

Gemara

(Hebrew, "completion"). Commentary on the Mishnah. The Gemara and the Mishnah constitute the Talmud. See Jewish Texts: Talmud.

get

Divorce decree granted by a bet din. See Jewish Life Events: Divorce.

gezeirah

Rabbinic law designed to prevent accidental violation of a mitzvah. See Jewish Practices: Rabbinic Law.

gilgul

(Hebrew, "transmigration"). The Jewish doctrine of the transmigration (reincarnation) of souls, taught by the founder of Karaism and found also in kabbalistic writings.

goy

(Hebrew, "nation"; Yiddish, "Gentile"). Non-Jew. Sometimes used pejoratively, but the word itself is not negative.

haftarah

Portion of the Prophets read in synagogue services.

halakhah

(Hebrew, "the walk"). Jewish Law. Consists of the 613 mitzvot of the Torah plus rabbinic law and custom. See Jewish Practices.

Hallel

Psalms 113-118, recited at the end of morning service on festival days.

Hanukkah

(Hebrew, "Dedication"). Also spelled Chanukah. An eight-day holiday beginning on 25 Kislev (mid-December) that commemorates the revolt of the Maccabees in 164 BCE and the miraculous oil that burned for eight days. See Jewish Holidays: Hanukkah.

Hashem

(Hebrew, "The Name"). God. Used especially by Orthodox Jews to avoid saying a name of God.

Hashkiveinu

Evening prayer for God's protection while sleeping.

hechsher

(Hebrew) The "seal of approval" on kosher foods.

Kaddish

Prayer proclaiming the greatness of God. Used as the mourners' prayer (see Jewish Practices: Mourning) but also at other points in the liturgy.

kasher

(Hebrew, "fit"). Fit for ritual use. Also a verb meaning "to make a food or object fit for ritual use." See Jewish Practices: Dietary Laws.

kashrut

(Hebrew, "fitness"). Jewish dietary laws. See Jewish Practices: Dietary Laws.

kedusha

(Hebrew, "holiness"). Holiness.

kippah

(Hebrew; Yiddish yarmulke) Disc-like head covering.

Kol Nidre

(Hebrew, "All Vows). Famous hymn sung during Yom Kippur releasing Jews of all religious vows made in the previous year. See Jewish Holidays: Yom Kippur.

kosher

Anglicized form of kasher.

lashon kodesh

(Hebrew, "the holy tongue"). Hebrew. See Bookstore: Hebrew Dictionaries.

l'chaim

(Hebrew, "To life"). A Jewish toast.

lulav

Interwoven branches of palm, willow, and myrtle used in the Sukkot celebration. See Jewish Holidays: Sukkot.

mashgiach

(Hebrew) Rabbi trained to certify foods as kosher.

matzah

(Hebrew, "unleavened bread"). Also spelled matzo or mazzah. Unleaved (non-yeast) bread used during Passover based on Exodus 12:39, in which the Israelites fled Egypt with only unleavened bread because they could not wait for the dough to rise. Called the "bread of affliction" based on Deuteronomy 16:3. See Jewish Holidays: Passover.

mazel tov

(Hebrew, "good planetary influences "). "Good luck." Usually said at the end of a wedding or upon hearing good news.

menorah

(Hebrew, "candelabrum"). A seven-branch candlestick. Part of the furnishings of the tabernacle in the wilderness and the Temple in Jerusalem. In 1948 it became the official symbol of the State of Israel. Often used to refer to the chanukkiah.

mezuzah

(Hebrew, "doorpost"). Small parchment of Torah verses placed on the doorpost of Jewish homes in obedience to Deut. 6:9.

Midrash

(from Hebrew derash, "sermon"). Stories, sermons, parables, and other material explaining the Talmud. See Jewish Texts: Midrash.

mikva

body of natural water used for ritual cleansing

minyan

Quota of ten adult Jews required for certain prayers and observances.

Mishnah

(Hebrew, "a teaching that is repeated"). Rabbinic commentary on the Torah and part of the Talmud. Codified c. 200 CE by Judah Ha-Nasi. See Texts: Mishnah.

Mishneh Torah

(Hebrew, "repetition of Torah"). The book of Deuteronomy or, more commonly, the code of Maimonides.

mitzvot

(Hebrew "commandments"). Commandments; religious actions (singular mitzvah). Sometimes used more generally to refer to any good deed. See Practices: Mitzvot.

mohel

(MOY-el) The person who performs the ritual of circumcision. Must be an observant Jew trained in the applicable Jewish law and surgical technique.

Nevi'im

("neh-vee-EEM") (Hebrew, "Prophets"). Second section of the Tanakh, containing the writings of the prophets and history covering roughly 700 years after Moses.

Olam Ha-Ba

The "World to Come" - the Jewish afterlife. See Beliefs: Afterlife.

Oral Torah

The Mishnah. According to traditional Jews, part of the Torah received by Moses at Sinai but not written down until c. 200 CE as the Mishnah.

pareve

(Yiddish, "neutral"). Kosher foods that contain no meat or dairy and therefore may be eaten with either. See Jewish Practices: Dietary Laws.

Purim

(Hebrew, "lots"). Festive holiday in the early Spring celebrating the story of Esther and Mordecai with costume parties and plays. See Jewish Holidays: Purim.

rabbi

(Hebrew, "teacher"). Jewish spiritual leader.

Rambam

(acrostic for Rabbi Moses ben Maimon) Maimonides.

sandek

The "Jewish godfather" - the man who holds the baby boy during the rite of circumcision. See Life Cycle: Circumcision.

Second Temple

The Temple in Jerusalem that was rebuilt in 516 BCE after the Babylonian Exile and destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.

Separdic

Jews from the Middle East and Spain and their descendents.

se'udat mitzvot

A festive meal following the fulfillment of a mitvot, such as circumcision.

shalom

Hello, goodbye, or peace.

shekhinah

The presence of God; the Holy Spirit. In Kabbalistic thought, the feminine aspect of God.

Shemot

(Hebrew "names"). The Hebrew name for Exodus, the second book of the Torah.

Sheol

Grave; world of the dead.

shochet

Kosher butcher.

siddur

(Hebrew, "order"). Prayer book used in Jewish liturgy. See Jewish Practices: Worship and Bookstore: Prayerbooks.

simcha

(Hebrew, "rejoicing"). Any Jewish celebration.

Sukkot

(Hebrew, "Booths"). Eight-day autumn festival commemorating the Exodus and celebrating the harvest. See Jewish Holidays: Sukkot.

Talmud

(Hebrew "teaching") The Oral Torah, made up of the Mishnah and the Gemara. See Jewish Texts: Talmud.

Tanakh

(Hebrew TNK, acronym for "Torah," "Nevi'im" and "Ketuvim"). The Jewish Bible. See Jewish Texts: Tanakh.

taryag mitzvot

(Hebrew, "613 commandments"). The 613 commandments given in the Torah and enumerated by Maimonides. See Jewish Practices: Mitzvot.

terayfa

(Hebrew, "torn"). Food that is not kosher and may not be eaten. Also spelled treyf or treif. See Jewish Practices: Dietary Laws.

teshuvah

(Hebrew, "turning"). Repentance; self-evaluation.

Tikkun olan

The healing of the world; world peace; social justice.

Torah

(Hebrew, "Law"). The first five books of the Jewish Bible. Also known as the Five Books of Moses or the Pentateuch. See Jewish Texts: Torah.

treyf

(Hebrew, "torn"). Food that is not kosher; prohibited. Also spelled "terayfa" or "treif." See Jewish Practices: Dietary Laws.

yad

(Hebrew, "hand"). Pointer used to read the Torah, usually in the shape of a hand with a pointed finger.

yahrzeit

(Yiddish, "annniversary"). Anniversary of a loved one's death. See Life Events: Death and Mourning.

yarmulke

(Yiddish; Hebrew kippah). Male head covering. See Symbols and Objects.

yetzer hara

The human inclination towards evil. See Beliefs: Human Nature.

yetzer hatov

The human inclination towards good. See Beliefs: Human Nature.

YHWH

(Hebrew, "I am" or "I will be"). Sacred name of God as revealed to Moses. Also known as the Tetragrammaton. It is considered too holy to be pronounced, and is usually replaced by Adonai in Torah readings.

Yiddish

The language of East European Jews and their descendents; a combination of Middle High German, Hebrew and Polish.

Zealots

Members of a historical Jewish movement characterized by armed rebellion against Roman rulers.

Zionism

A modern political movement with the aim of creating a Jewish state.

Zohar

The major text of the Kabbalah movement. See Texts: Zohar.

References

1. Essential Judaism by George Robinson.
2. Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions.
3. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service.
4. Judaism 101 by Tracey R. Rich.