Prayers
Call to worship
What is the Bar'chu?
A ram's horn trumpet
What is a shofar?
Day of rest, celebrated each and every week
What is Shabbat?
The five books of Moses
What is Torah?
Yiddish word for a person of honor and integrity
What is a mensch?
The blessing said over wine
What is kiddush?
A fringed garment or prayer shawl
What is a tallit?
The Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement
What are Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?
Selections from the books of the Prophets, read after the Torah on Shabbat and holidays
What is haftorah?
Hebrew word for justice or righteousness, often refers to charitable giving
What is tzedakah?
The prayer that declares faith in God and the oneness of God
What is the Sh'ma?
A spinning top with four sides, each marked with a different Hebrew letter
What is a dreidel?
The holiday that celebrates the end of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of the new cycle
What is Simchat Torah?
The three texts included in the TaNaKh
What are Torah, Nivi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings)?
Hebrew phrase meaning repair the world, often used to refer to social action and pursuit of social justice
What is tikkun olam?
The two parts of the Amidah
What are Avot v'Imahot and G'vurot?
A temporary hut with at least 3 walls, sturdy enough to withstand an ordinary wind, and a ceiling, usually made from branches or thatch, that provides some protection from the sun but still allows the stars to be seen at night
What is a sukkah?
The New Year of the Trees
What is Tu BiShvat?
Interpretive commentary that seeks to answer religious questions by deep exploration of biblical text
What is Midrash?
In honor of the flame that was kept burning day and night in the Jerusalem temple, synagogues today often keep this "eternal light" hanging near the ark where the Torah scrolls are kept
What is the Ner Tamid?
A common blessing to celebrate special occasions. It expresses gratitude to God for new and unusual experiences.
What is Shecheyanu?
A symbol of an eye embedded in the palm of an open hand
What is a hamsa?
This holiday celebrates both the first grain harvest of early summer and the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai
What is Shavuot?
A mystical Torah commentary - one of the best known works of Kabbalah
What is the Zohar?
Hebrew phrase for acts of loving kindness
What is gimilut chasadim?