| Amora |
(Pl. Amoraim) Rabbinic authority responsible for the Gemara. |
| baraita |
(lit. 'outside') Teachings of the Tannaim (q.v.) not included in the Mishnah, and incorporated in a later collection compiled by R.Hiya and R.Oshaiah. |
| Bartenura |
Ovadiah of Bertinoro, fifteenth century author of the standard commentary on the Mishnah. |
| bedi'avad |
Having been done, after the fact, as opposed to direct permissibility denoted by lekhathila (q.v.). |
| Baraita |
(lit. 'outside') teachings of the Tannaim (q.v.) not included in the Mishnah, and incorporated in a later collection compiled by R. Hiya and R. Oshaiah. |
| Bartenura |
Ovadiah of Bertinoro, fifteenth century author of the standard commentary on the Mishnah. |
| Bedi'avad |
Having been done, after the fact, as opposed to direct permissibility denoted by lekhathila (q.v.). |
| bekhor |
A human or animal firstborn to the mother. |
| bet kor |
An area requiring a kor [q.v.] (= 30 se'ahs [q.v.]) of seed ); the section of a field with the sowing capacity of a kor of seed. This corresponds to an area of 75,000 square cubits (approximately 274x274 cubits). |
| dam niddah |
Menstruation blood. |
| dam zivah |
A woman's blood flow beyond her menstruation period. |
| damim |
Money, value. |
| dinar |
a) Golden coin worth 25 silver dinars
b) silver coin - 1/25 of the golden dinar. |
| dukhan |
The platform upon which the Levites stood during the singing of the Psalms. |
| eimurim |
The parts of a sacrifice to be burnt on the altar. |
| erekh |
(Pl. arakhim, in Talmudic language arakhin) - a person's value dedicated to the Sanctuary, as set by the Torah, according to age.
Field of Possession (sedeh ahuzah) - an inherited field. |
| Gemara |
The traditions, discussions and rulings of the Amoraim (q.v.), based mainly on the Mishnah, with which it forms the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud. |
| gezerah shavah |
The application to one subject of a rule already known to apply to another, on the strength of a common expression, used in the Scriptures in connection with both. |
| halakhah |
Rule, practice, adopted opinion, the law. |
| hallel |
(lit. Praise) Song of praise to God, consisting of Psalms 113 to 117, recited in the Morning Service on New Moon and festival days. |
| hekdesh |
That which is dedicated to a sacred purpose. |
| hekesh |
Analogy, indicating that the law in respect of one thing applies also to another, either because both have some feature in common or there is a Biblical intimation to the effect. |
| herem |
(Pl. heramim). Devoted object. |
| hullin |
Ordinary unhallowed food. |
| issar |
The value of eight perutot (1/24 dinar, q.v.). |
| kal vahomer |
An argument a minori or a fortiori. |
| ketubah |
The document in which the bridegroom gives his bride a lien on his possessions to satisfy her claim to a certain sum of money should he die or divorce her. Hence, the sum of money so assigned. |
| kodashim |
Holy or consecrated animals, food or objects. |
| kodashim kalim |
Kodashim of a lesser degree of holiness. |
| Kodshei kodashim |
Kodashim of the highest degree of holiness. |
| kor |
Measure of capacity equal to 30 se'ahs (q.v.). |
| Korban oleh veyored |
An offering brought on account of: a) a false testimony under oath; b) a vain oath, c) entering the Temple or eating holy things in a state of uncleanness (Lev. 5:11) - which offering varies according to the sinner's means. |
| korban tamid |
The daily burnt-offering offered up every morning and afternoon. |
| lav |
A biblical or Rabbinical prohibition. |
| lekhathilah |
In the first instance, directly permissible; opposite of bedi'avad (q·v·). |
| maneh |
One hundred silver dinars (q.v.). |
| ma'arikh |
The dedicator of an erekh(q.v.). |
| metzora |
One afflicted by tzara'at (q.v.). Commonly, though inadequately, translated as leper - see Lev. 13 and 14. |
| Midrash |
Interpretation of Scripture by the Rabbis of the Talmud. |
| Mikveh |
Ritual bath containing not less than forty se'ahs (q.v.) of spring or rain water. |
| Mishnah |
Statements, discussions and Biblical interpretations of the Tannaim (q.v.) in the form edited by Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi (the Patriarch), usually referred to simply as "Rabbi". |
| mitzvah |
a) A Biblical or Rabbinical Commandment; b) a religious duty; c) an act of charity, kindness or piety. |
| nedavah |
Freewill offering, donation. |
| neder |
A vow. |
| ne'erakh |
The subject of a valuation. |
| nega |
One of the types of tzara'at (q.v.). |
| nevelah |
a) Carrion, an animal that has died a natural death; b) an animal not slaughtered according to the ritual rules. |
| nidar |
Subject of a neder (q.v.). |
| noder |
A person who vows. |
| oleh veyored |
Offerings - see Korban Oleh Veyored. |
| perutah |
The smallest copper coin, equal to 1/8 of an issar (q.v.). |
| pundyon |
A coin worth two issars (q.v.). |
| Radbaz |
Acronym of Rabbi David bar Shelomo Ben-Zimra, author of a Rambam supercommentary. B. Spain 1480, d. Safed 1574. |
| Ralbag |
Acronym of Rabbi Levi ben Gershon (Gersonides), French Bible commentators 1288-1344. |
| Rambam |
Acronym of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, b. Cordova 1135, d. Tiberias 1204. Pre-eminent medieval scholar, leading halakhist and philosopher. His Code, Mishneh Torah, is quoted extensively throughout this edition. A physician, he also wrote important works on medicine. |
| Ramban |
Acronym of Rabbi Moshe ben Nahman - Nahmanides, 1195-1270. Noted Bible commentator and halskhist. |
| Rashi |
Acronym of Rabbi Shelomo Yitzhaki, 1040-1105. French Rabbinical scholar. Known as the Prince of Commentators, his lucid commentaries are today an indispensable aid to students. The Talmud, in particular, would be a closed book without Rashi. |
| Ravad |
Rabbi Avraham ben David, of Posquiere, 1120-1198, author of glosses on Rambam's Code. |
| Rosh Hashanah |
The New Year. |
| se'ah |
Measure of capacity, equal to six kavs - approx. 31 liters. |
| sedeh miknah |
A field acquired by purchase, etc., opposite of field of possession (q.v.). |
| sela |
Four silver dinars (q.v.). |
| Semag |
Acronym of Sefer Mitzvot Gadol, halachic works by R. Moshe of Coucy - 1190-1260. |
| Shavuot |
Pentecost. |
| shemitah |
The Seventh (sabbatical) Year. |
| simhat bet hasho'eva |
The joyous Temple ceremony of the drawing and pouring of water on the Sukkot Festival. |
| Sukkot |
Commentary on the Babylonian Talmud by 12th to 14th century French and German Jewish scholars. |
| tamid |
See: korban tamid. |
| Tanna |
(Pl. Tannaim) The Rabbis of the Mishnah and Baraita (q.v.). |
| tefillin |
Phylacteries. |
| tekufat haveset |
("Menstruation period") - The designation given to the eighteen days between one petah niddah and the next = seven niddah days and eleven zivah days (see Chapter 2, mishnah 1). |
| terumah |
A levy on food and produce due to the priest. |
| Tiferet Yisrael |
Major Mishnah commentary by the German Rabbinic scholar Rabbi Israel ben Gedaliah Lipschutz, 1782-1860. |
| Torah |
(lit. teaching) The Five Books of Moses (Pentateuch); b) the Mishnah (Oral Law); c) the whole body of Jewish religious literature. |
| Tosafot |
Commentary on the Babylonian Talmud by 12th to 14th century French and German scholars. |
| Tosefot Yom Tov |
Major Mishnah commentary by Rabbi Yom Tov ben Natan Halevi Heller, expanding that of Bartenura (q.v.). |
| tumtum |
A person whose sex cannot be determined. |
| tzara'at |
A skin disorder, commonly, though inadequately, translated as leprosy - see Lev. 13 and 14. |
| valuations |
See erekh l arakhin. |
| Yom Kippur |
Day of Atonement. |
| yovel |
See erekh l arakhin. |
| zavah |
Woman suffering from an issue of non-menstrual blood. |
| zivah |
See Chapter 2. mishnah 1 (p. 12). |
| zuz |
Another name for a silver dinar (q.v·)· |
