Feast Of Tabernacles

Question 1

Aliyah

Answer 1

Literally, “going up,” referring originally to the fact that God commanded Jewish men to “go up” to Jerusalem to celebrate the three holidays of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot; in modern times, an invitation to come up to the bimah to read from the Torah. Also refers to immigrating or “going up” to the Land of Israel.

Question 2

Amidah

Answer 2

Literally, “standing,” the central daily prayer in the synagogue, recited while standing and which includes several benedictions asking God to restore the Land and the Temple.

Question 3

Aravot

Answer 3

Willows. One of the components of the lulav, also waved separately or beaten on the ground on Hoshanah Rabbah.

Question 4

Bimah

Answer 4

The raised platform from which the Torah is read; the pulpit.

Question 5

Chatan Bereshit

Answer 5

Literally, “bridegroom of the beginning.” The person who, on Simhat Torah, begins anew the annual cycle of reading the Torah. The portion read is Genesis 1: 1– 2: 3.

Question 6

Chatan Torah

Answer 6

Literally, “bridegroom of the Torah.” The person who, on Simhat Torah, completes the annual cycle of reading the Torah.

Question 7

Chuppah

Answer 7

The canopy at a Jewish marriage ceremony, often made of a large tallit, and held by four people (the chuppah holders) over the bride and groom with poles.

Question 8

Diaspora

Answer 8

The dispersion of the Jewish people from the Land; used to refer to Jewish communities outside of Israel.

Question 9

Essenes

Answer 9

A sect of first-century Judaism, comprising a monastic kind of Jewish religious community; identified by some as the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Question 10

Etrog

Answer 10

A citron used in the Sukkot liturgy to represent the fruit of the harvest.

Question 11

ha-Hag

Answer 11

Another name given to Sukkot, meaning simply “the festival,” that is, the holiday par excellence.

Question 12

Haftorah, also Haftarah

Answer 12

Literally, “concluding portion.”The passage from the Prophets that is read in the synagogue following the weekly reading from the Torah. The word is unrelated to “Torah.”

Question 13

Hag ha-Asif

Answer 13

The Festival of Ingathering, another name for Sukkot.

Question 14

Haggim

Answer 14

“Festivals,” that is, the Jewish holy days. In particular, the three pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot are called the “shalosh regalim,” literally, “three legs.”

Question 15

Hakkafot

Answer 15

Literally, “circuits”; the ceremonial processions around the altar (in modern times, around the synagogue) during Sukkot and Simhat Torah.

Question 16

Hallel

Answer 16

The group of Psalms (113–118) that are recited on Sukkot, Passover, and certain other holidays.

Question 17

Hol ha-Mo’ed

Answer 17

The intervening days between the first and last day of Jewish festivals.

Question 18

Hoshana Rabbah

Answer 18

Literally, “the great hosanna.” The seventh day of Sukkot, the climax of the festival , which includes prayers imploring “Hosha na!” (“Please save!”)

Question 19

Lulav

Answer 19

The three species of branches (palm, willow, myrtle) bound together and used in the Sukkot liturgy.

Question 20

Mayim chayim

Answer 20

Living water.

Question 21

Mishnah

Answer 21

Rabbinical oral tradition and legal commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures, compiled in writing in AD 200; together with the later Gemara, it comprises the Talmud.

Question 22

Mitzvah

Answer 22

A divine commandment; also used colloquially to mean any good deed.

Question 23

Parashah, also Parsha

Answer 23

One of fifty-four portions into which the Torah is divided for the annual reading cycle.

Question 24

Pharisees

Answer 24

A sect of first-century Judaism; the teachers of the Law whose power and influence were based in the synagogues. The forerunners of later rabbinic Judaism.

Question 25

Sadducees

Answer 25

Another sect of first-century Judaism; the ruling class associated with the priesthood and the Temple worship in Jerusalem.

Question 26

Shemini Atzeret

Answer 26

The eighth day of the Sukkot festival.

Question 27

Simhat Torah

Answer 27

Literally, “rejoicing in the Law;”an additional day added to Sukkot, celebrating the conclusion of the yearly cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of the new cycle. Originated in postbiblical times.

Question 28

Siyyum

Answer 28

Literally, “conclusion”; a festive meal used to mark completion of the study of a portion of Torah or Talmud.

Question 29

Sukkah

Answer 29

The temporary shelter woven from branches and leaves, in which one lives and eats during the holiday of Sukkot.

Question 30

Sukkot

Answer 30

The Feast of Tabernacles, also called the Feast of Booths.

Question 31

Tallit

Answer 31

The prayer shawl used in worship, which has special fringes at each corner called tzitzit.

Question 32

Talmud

Answer 32

The compendium of Jewish oral tradition, legal commentary and folklore, compiled in writing between the years AD 200 to 550. It is comprised of two parts, the Mishnah and the Gemara.

Question 33

Torah

Answer 33

The Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament); also refers particularly to the legal commandments, or to the scroll containing the five books; and more broadly, as divine or Jewish “teaching” in general.

Question 34

Yom tov

Answer 34

Literally, “good day”; used to refer to any Jewish holiday.

Question 35

Y’shua, also Yeshua

Answer 35

The name of Jesus, in the Aramaic and Hebrew languages.