GLOSSARY

Bar Cochba. The heroic Jewish leader who led the final revolt against the Romans in the year A.D. 123. Bar Mitzvah. Confirmation of a boy at the age of thirteen. Bezel. A cake made in the shape of a ring. Bikkur-Holim. Used to denote a Hospital. Brocha. A blessing or a thanksgiving used on various occasions. Challah. White bread shaped as a twist used for the Sabbath sanctification. Chassid. Pietist; a name assumed by a sect of Jews mainly in Galicia established by "Baal Shemtob." Chazah. A cantor, or Synagogue reader. Chevra-Kadisha. A burial society. Cholent. A dish of various vegetables and meat, eaten on the Sabbath. Chometz. Leavened bread. Erev. Evening. Hamantaschen. A triangular cake eaten on Purim, shaped according to the hat Haman was supposed to have worn. Kaftan. A long coat, worn by Jews in eastern Europe. Kiddush. A blessing of sanctification over wine, said at the ushering in of Sabbath and of Festivals. Lag B'Omer. The 33rd day of the seven weeks between Passover and Pentecost: a students' holiday. Mazzeltov. A greeting signifying Good Luck. Meah Sheorim. A Hundred Gates: the name of a suburb of Jerusalem. Mincha. The afternoon service. Mitzvoth. Acts of piety. Para. A Turkish coin of small value. Pesach. Passover. Princess Sabbath. A poetical expression, used for welcoming the Sabbath. Purim. The Festival referred to in The Book of Esther. Rav. One learned in rabbinical lore. Samovar. A tea-urn. Schpielers. Strolling-players. Schtramel. Head-gear worn by Chassidim. Seder. The Service on the first two nights of Passover. Sephardim. Jews of Spanish or of Portuguese origin. Shalach Manoth. Gifts—especially used with reference to distributions on Purim (vide The Book of Esther). Shalom. Peace. Shiros. Oil made from the sesame seed. Shulchan Aruch. The Jewish religious Code; compiled in the middle of the 16th century and regarded as of high authority. Shule. Synagogue, derived from the German Schule (school). Simhath Torah. The festival of the Law, following the Tabernacle festival when the reading of the Pentateuch is completed and recommenced amid great rejoicing. Strudel. A sweet pudding or cake. Succah. The tabernacle used as a dwelling on the Feast of Tabernacles. Tavelt. Immersed; used in reference to the Ritual Bath. Torah. The Law; specially referring to the Mosaic code and its derivatives. Tsennah Urennah. A Jewish German translation of the Pentateuch, embellished with legends for the use of women. Tsitsith. Knotted fringes worn by men according to Mosaic injunction on Tallith or praying-scarf, and also used for a small four-cornered fringed garment worn on the chest, under the coat. Yemenites. South-Arabian Jews. Yeshibah. A Jewish theological Academy. Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement. Yomtov. Holy-day