The first Jew and first of the three Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Afula:
A town in north-central Israel.
Rabbi Akiva:
Famous Talmudic Sage, who is buried in Tiberias.
Bar Mitzvah:
Thirteen years old, when a Jewish boy attains religious responsibility.
Bircas HaMazon:
The Grace After Meals, recited after eating bread.
Blessing:
Words of praise to G-d, recited during prayer, before the performance of religious duties, and over food and drink.
Chanukah:
Festival of Lights. Eight day holiday commemorating the repudiation of Greek anti-religious decrees and the subsequent restoration and rededication of the Second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the year 165 b.c.e. At least one of the eight days falls on a Sabbath. Usually occurs in December.
Chassidus:
Movement of Jewish revitalization initiated by the Ba'al Shem Tov and carried on by his students and, eventually, by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Rebbe Nachman said that he completed the work begun by the Ba'al Shem Tov and brought the movement to its perfection. He said that there would be no comparable new movement until the Messiah, who will be from his descendants or students.
Chayay Moharan:
"The lives of our teacher and master, Rabbeinu Nachman". Rebbe Nachman's biography, written by his closest disciple, Rabbi Nosson.
Chofetz Chaim:
A major halachic authority of the twentieth century and noted Tzaddik.
Deuteronomy:
Fifth of the Five Books of Moses (see Torah).
Haggadah:
Text recited at the Passover Seder, recounting the miracles of the Exodus from Egypt over 3000 years ago.
Hisbodedus:
A form of verbal meditation, conducted in one's mother tongue, as a personal and private conversation with G-d. Rebbe Nachman stressed this practice greatly and said that it is the highest of all religious practices.
Isaiah:
First of the three major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. One of the 24 Books of the Bible. Isaiah is renowned for its message of consolation and hope and its vivid portrayal of the glory of the Messianic Era.
Jewish Calendar:
Consists of twelve or thirteen lunar months, intercalculated with the Solar Calendar through a 19 year cycle .
Kabbalist:
Expert in Torah mysticism.
Karlin:
An early Chassidic group. Followers of Rabbi Aharon of Karlin, a disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov.
Likutay Moharan:
Rebbe Nachman's masterwork. Consists of 411 lessons in two sections.
Likutay Tefillos:
Prayers composed by Rabbi Nosson on Likutay Moharan.
Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNess:
Great Talmudic Sage. A student of Rabbi Akiva, he is buried in Tiberias.
Meron:
Small village near Tzefat. Burial place of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.
Messiah:
"Annointed one." The future King of Israel, descended from King David, who will inspire the whole world to return to G-d. Rebbe Nachman said that the Messiah will come from his descendants.
Mikveh:
Jewish ritual bath.
Minyan:
Group of ten or more Jewish adult males, thirteen years of age or older.
Mishnah:
Heart of the Oral Law [Talmud]. Moshav: Israeli agricultural settlement.
Motza'ey Shabbos:
Saturday night, immediately following the end of the Sabbath.
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov:
The great Tzaddik who founded Breslov Chassidus and revitalized Judaism. He lived from 1772 to 1810.
Rabbi Nosson of Nemirov:
Chief disciple of Rebbe Nachman and compiler of his books. Original Flood: The flood of Noach, which inundated the world 1600 years after the Creation. According to the Midrash, these flood-waters did not cover the Holy Land.
Passover:
First of the three major annual Jewish Festivals. Celebrates the liberation of the Jewish people from Egyptian bondage over 3000 years ago. Usually occurs in April.
Passover Seder:
The ceremonial meal on the first two nights of Passover.
Proverbs:
One of three Biblical books composed by King Solomon (Song of Songs, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) and compiled by King Chizkiyahu and his School. Contains profound advice from the wisest man who ever lived.
Pruta:
The smallest halachically valid coin. Equal in value to one-fortieth of a gram of silver. Today approximately one U.S. penny.
Reishis Chochma:
"The Beginning of Wisdom". A book teaching Fear of G-d.
Ruth and Naomi:
Ruth, a Moabitess princess, embraced the Jewish Faith and married into the family of Naomi, a leading woman from the Tribe of Judah. She became the great-grandmother of King David. Her story is recorded in the Book of Ruth.
Second Holy Temple:
Stood for 420 years in Jerusalem until destroyed by the Romans in 68 c.e. The First Holy Temple was built by King Solomon and was destroyed 410 years later by the Babylonians in 423 bce. The Third Holy Temple will be built by the Messiah and never again destroyed.
Sefer HaMiddos:
"The Book of Traits". Rebbe Nachman's first book.
Sephardi:
Jews of Southern European, North African, and Middle Eastern descent. Ashkenazi Jews come from the rest of Europe and Russia.
Seventeenth of Tammuz:
One of four major fast days in the Jewish Calendar commemorating the destruction of Jerusalem and both Holy Temples. Usually occurs in July.
Shabbos:
Holy day of rest. Occurs weekly, from Friday before sundown to Saturday night.
Shema:
Prayer proclaiming the Jewish belief in One G-d. The cornerstone of Jewish Faith, it is recited twice a day, once in the evening and once in the morning
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai:
Famous Talmudic Sage and compiler of Zohar. Known as Rashbi.
Shulchan Aruch:
Complete Code of Jewish Law.
Sichos HaRan:
"Discourses of Rabbeinu Nachman". 308 wide-ranging ethical discourses.
Sippuray Ma'asiot:
Rebbe Nachman's Thirteen Stories, embodying the deepest concepts of Torah and Kabbalah. Rebbe Nachman said that these stories have the power to bring the whole world back to G-d.
Song of Songs:
Biblical depiction of the love between G-d and Israel. (See Proverbs.)
Tallis:
Prayer shawl, worn during morning\222prayers.
Talmid Chocham:
Torah Scholar.
Tefillin:
Leather phylacteries, worn on the left arm and the head during morning prayers.
Ten Chapters of Psalms:
Spiritual remedy prescribed by Rebbe Nachman to rectify sins against the Covenant (sexual transgressions). Consists of the following Chapters of Psalms, recited in this order: 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137, 150. Although many Tzaddikim sought this remedy, Rebbe Nachman is the only one who merited to find it.
Thirty-Six Hidden Tzaddikim:
Hidden Saints upon whose merit the entire world exists. Tiberias: Ancient town in northern Israel, on the Sea of Galilee.
Tikkunay Zohar:
Compiled by the Rashbi. Rebbe Nachman said that it is even greater than the Zohar.
Torah:
The Five Books of Moses. More generally, the 24 Books of the Bible, called the Written Torah. Most broadly, the entire Oral Torah, including Talmud, Midrash, Kabbalah, and Halachah.
Tzaddik:
A truly righteous and holy man.
Tzefat:
Town in northern Israel, known as the City of Kabbalah .
Uman:
Burial place of Rebbe Nachman. Located in the Ukraine, between Kiev and Odessa.
Washing Hands:
Ritual ablution performed before eating bread.
Yeshiva:
School for religious studies.
Rabbi Yisroel Ba'al Shem Tov:
Founder of Chassidus, who lived from 1698 to 1760.
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria:
The great Kabbalist, known as the Arizal, who lived from 1534 to 1572. He is buried in Tzefat.
Zohar:
Primary classic of Kabbalah, compiled by the Rashbi.
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