Questions tagged [words]
Questions about the definitions, meaning and use of words specific to Judaism or words that carry unique meaning in Jewish law.
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Do we know what Avodah means?
Parallel to this.
The root ayin-vet-dalet seems to have three separate uses according to the Even Shoshan:
as a noun, eved means A) a person who is owned by another or who is forced to work for ...
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What is the difference between an avnet and an aizur
I have seen the question on Mi Yodeya titled Wearing a gartel
The Shulchan Aruch 91:2 writes even though you are wearing an 'avnet' you should still wear an 'aizur' to daven.
One wonders, what is the ...
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How to safely write a name of G-d in Hebrew?
I noticed that in English it is preferred by some to say G-d. What is the preferred way to write the/a name of G-d in Hebrew? For example, if you were to title a paper "G-d", how would you ...
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Why do we change the order?
In the brochos before the Shema we have the in הַמֵּאִיר לָאָרֶץ the phrase וּבְטוּבו מְחַדֵּשׁ בְּכָל יום תָּמִיד מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית with the word וּבְטוּבו the first word in that phrase. We then ...
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Why are some commandments relayed via "Tzav" but not others?
In the chumash, there are approximately 10 places where a law is given to the Children of Israel and is preceded by Hashem's telling Moshe to command (tzav) the people, or certain people. An example ...
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What is the connection or relationship between the two vocalizations of ערב?
What is the connection between the two vocalizations of ערב?
This word ערב in Exodus 12:38 is latinized as "eirev" or "erev" or "eruv" and
is the exact same Hebrew ...
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What does Chaplaincy mean [closed]
I found that abroad (out of Israel) there is an intense usage of the word Chaplaincy. Does it mean Rabbanut in Hebrew? Are there Rabbis that call themselves Chaplaincy? Does this word come from ...
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Why is it not called a דבר שאינו מדעת?
Why is it called a דבר שאינו מתכיון. Since twice in Gemara Shabbos Rashi understanding and explaining to us what forgetting is when one leaves a rock on top of a barrel says this first on Shabbos 125b ...
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What are nitzotzos?
I've begun learning the sefer Kedushas Levi and I keep coming across the concept of nitzotzos. I don't have much of a background in Hasidism, so I don't quite understand what it is.
As far as I can ...
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What is Shabbat Treat and what is its Hebrew equivalent? [closed]
I found Jewish people use the phrase "Shabbat Treat". What does it mean and what is the origin of this phrase. Does it have any connection to Torte cake? What is the Hebrew word/s equivalent ...
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What is the correct translation of Exodus 6:3?
According to BHS, Exodus 6:3 reads:
וָאֵרָ֗א אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶל־יִצְחָ֥ק וְאֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב בְּאֵ֣ל שַׁדָּ֑י
וּשְׁמִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖עְתִּי לָהֶֽם׃
This all almost universally translated as ...
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Why do the last words in psalms 119:11 seem superfluous?
Psalms 119:11 in the Koren Jerusalem Tanakh appears (in English) to say:
"Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee".
I was ...
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Why is Shabbos called shabbos bereishis?
I have found in multiple sources that Rishonim refer to Shabbos as shabbos bereishis, and it is clear from context that they are referring to the weekly Shabbos as opposed to Shabbos of Creation.
For ...
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מורה vs. הורה - Implication in difference of the word
It seems that the hebrew words for Teacher and Parent are the same root which means to teach.
I am looking for what the מ (מורה) and (הורה) ה do to the words that help define their roles.
Update: (...
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Do the words "Shema" and "Shem" come from the same root? And, if so, does this have significance in Jewish thought? [closed]
I surprisingly wasn't able to answer this through web searching. I'm just curious if the multiple meanings of "shema" (hear, listen, obey), have implications for how people's names were thought of.
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What are the rabbinic (hebrew) words that could equate to "Anti-Torah"?
What are the rabbinic (hebrew) words that could equate to "Anti-Torah"?
I am hoping there is only one. In English, I would say the word "Anti-Torah" equates to "lawless" or "lawlessness".
When I ...
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Is ‘kol tuv’ a religious phrase?
I often hear religious people saying the phrase ‘Kol tuv’ - May everything be good by you.
Is there any history behind the wide usage in religious communities, other than it being said in Hebrew?
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h-r-g vs r-tz-ch in Tehillim 94
As an extension of this question, I guess.
Tehillim 94 discusses the vengeance asked of Hashem to repay the evil done to the downtrodden. It asks "until When, Hashem, will you put up with this&...
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Does ehad mean "one" or "first" when used together with "rishon"?
How should ehad be translated in this phrase and why?
וְשַׂ֣ר׀ מַלְכ֣וּת פָּרַ֗ס עֹמֵ֤ד לְנֶגְדִּי֙ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים וְאֶחָ֣ד י֔וֹם וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִֽיכָאֵ֗ל אַחַ֛ד הַשָּׂרִ֥ים הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים בָּ֣א לְעָזְרֵ֑נִי ...
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Is there a specific "Shaliach"? [duplicate]
In the haggadah, when the text comments on various verses, it discusses Hashem's taking the people out of Egypt, and explains that it was done
לֹא עַל־יְדֵי מַלְאָךְ, וְלֹא עַל־יְדֵי שָׂרָף, וְלֹא ...
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What is the definition of a Kuntres?
A kuntres is, generally speaking, known to be a pamphlet or a booklet in the spirit and style of traditional ethical Torah teachings. But how is this different to a small sefer? How many pages it ...
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Genesis 18:21 then I will know?
I find it strange that Genesis/Bereshit 18:21 seems to imply that G-d has limited knowledge of what's going on in Sodom and Amorah, so I wondered if the word eda'ah (אֵדָעָה) could be translated as: ...
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Why is sleep spelled with an aleph in Tehillim 127?
In Tehillim 127:2, the author spells the word for sleep as שנא:
Source: Wikisource
I found this unusual, as the word is usually spelled שנה in Tanach (Tehillim 90:5, Mishlei 6:4, and Mishlei 20:13). ...
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G-ds name online [duplicate]
On a google doc during an assignment with friends who do not understand the intricacies of Judaism, someone wrote g-d's names pronunciation, I did not realize what I was doing and deleted it, was this ...
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Is there a distinction between משתה and משתה יין?
Throughout the Megillah, the term משתה is consistently used to refer to feasts (ex. 1:3,5,9; 2:18). Rashi on Esther 5:4 writes:
אֶל הַמִּשְׁתֶּה. כָּל סְעוּדָה נִקְרֵאת עַל שֵׁם הַיַּיִן שֶׁהוּא ...
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לך לשלום vs לך עם שלום vs לך בשלום
On page Berachos 33a1 the story of the Pious man praying on the road & the General, towards the end of the story it is stated that the "General was appeased and the Pious man departed to his home "...
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What is the meaning of Psalms 118:5?
מִן־הַ֖מֵּצַֽר קָרָ֣אתִי יָּ֑הּ עָ֜נָ֗נִי בַּמֶּרְחָ֣ב יָֽהּ
From the straits I called God; God answered me with a vast expanse.
I put הַ֖מֵּצַֽר into a contemporary Hebrew dictionary and it does ...
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Why do we need to daven out loud if G-D can hear our thoughts?
We know that G-D is all knowing, and all powerful. Therefore, when we pray, why does it have to be out loud? There are some brachos that you are not even יוצא if you say it quietly! Then why do we ...
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What is the correct pronunciation? 'Mesirut nefesh' or 'mesirat nefesh'? [closed]
Which is correct? Mesirut nefesh or mesirat nefesh?
I have always used mesirut, but see mesirat also.
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Why do most Siddurs vowelize Gd’s name?
I’m noticing that in most siddurs, while you’re not meant to pronounce Gd’s name as it’s written, they vowelize the letters as if it’s meant to be said. Is this for kavannah? Why would we need vowels ...
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Difference between רבון and אדון
In the Beracha of Elohai, we refer to God using a number of different descriptives. Towards the end, we give thanks to God as:
רִבּוֹן כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים, אֲדוֹן כָּל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת.
What are some ...
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The word Yamakah [closed]
I’ve looked all over the internet for the origin of the word Yamaka. I guess you could also spell it yamakah. I’m so confused because I grew up using it and people I speak with still use it. However, ...
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Who is rich in matters of courtship?
The Mishna says: If a man says to a woman, "Marry me. I am rich.", and she agrees, but it turns out he is poor, the betrothal is not valid. If a man says to a woman, "Marry me, even though I am poor."...
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Connection between Terafim and Therapy?
During a hesped for Rav Belsky z"tl, Rav Yisroel Reisman mentions Rav Belsky's ability to connect common words with their Torah source, alluding to "terafim" of Lavan being connected with "therapy". ...
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Jeremiah 23:33 - "burden"?
I have difficulties to understand the German term "Last" or "Lastwort" in the common Christian German translations of Jeremiah chap 23, verse 33 (corresponding to "burden" in English versions). Thanks ...
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Deep Sleep Genesis 15:12
I would like to know if the "deep sleep" of Abraham (Genesis 15:12) is literally a "sleep", or a state of "trance" as The Midrash of Philo says (15:12). What does the ...
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Use of "please" in Torah
How many times is the word "please" used in the Torah?
In the Akeida Hashem asks Abraham to "Please take your son"
Are there any other places in the Torah where Hashem uses the word "please"?
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Bphi Kol Chai not Bphe
In SA Orach Chaim 187:1 in Mishnah Brurah Sif Beis, he writes that the phrase in Birchas Hamazon should be 'Bphi' kol chai and not 'Bphe'. Anyone have an idea why?
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Torah confusion between "daylight" and "a day"
The Torah uses the same word יום in the same verse to denote both "daylight" and "24 hours":
וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָאוֹר יוֹם וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לָיְלָה
וַיְהִי־עֶרֶב וַיְהִי־בֹקֶר יוֹם אֶחָד׃
...
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Why is mercy the only characteristic that is quantified?
In the Hoshana poem L'ma'an Amitach, various characteristics of God are enlisted as a reason for God to save us. The version appearing in my prayerbook, and recited in congregations I have been ...
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What are "nachas rights"? [closed]
I have just come across the phrase "nachas rights" and Google does not lead me to a definition. It is in the writing of a British Jew, I expect from Stamford Hill.
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Difference between תא and לשכה
Middos 4:3 uses the term תאים to refer to the 38 chambers in the Beis HaMikdash.
I was surprised to see this usage, as the term לשכה appears 29 times in Mishnayos, plus another 12 in the plural, ...
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Where does HaShem stands and in which council?
Psalm 82 teaches that Elohim (אלהים) stands (נצב to position oneself) within the council/congregation (עדת-אל) of El, among/amidst (בקרב) elohiem (אלהים) He judge (ישפט).
Someone told me to look at ...
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What other phrase did the rabbis use to describe "yom teruah" besides the ones below?
What other phrase did the rabbis use to describe "yom teruah" besides the ones below?
Our rabbis of blessed memory gave additional "phrases" to describe or to name our holy days.
For example, the ...
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What does מעלה עליו הכתוב mean in this Mishnah?
There are two consecutive Mishnayos in Pirkei Avos that use the phrase "מעלה עליו הכתוב", which loosely translates to 'scripture treats him as...'
The first is:
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, ...
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Chanun V'Rachum vs. Rachum V'Chanun
In the long tachanun of Monday and Thursday (among other places) there is repeated use of Chanun V'Rachum (a phrase which appears in Nach 8 or so times)
אֵל טוב וְסַלָּח כִּי אֵל מֶלֶךְ חַנוּן ...
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Memra fixed in or used as a substitude [closed]
Could someone explain to me as to why most Targums fix in the (Aramaic) word 'Memra into a lot of verses, or use it as a substitude for other words written in the Tenach; what's the idea and meaning ...
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Two beginnings related to heavens and earth
IIRC, there is a medrash conecting the first letter of torah (beit) + the word reshit by saying that with 2 beginnings (meaning the heavens and earth) the world came into existence. Does anyone happen ...
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Translate the beginning of the blessing "Asher Yatzar"
The blessing said after leaving the rest room begins:
אשר יצר את האדם בחכמה
Who created man with wisdom
Does "with wisdom" mean:
1 - G-d used His wisdom when creating man? or
2 - G-d ...
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What is the difference between "baruch" and "mevorach" regarding G-d?
There is a phrase said just prior to the Shacharit Amidah that says:
תהילות לאל עליון ברוך הוא ומבורך
What is the difference in meaning between ברוך and ומבורך. Don't both mean "blessed"?
I realize ...
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