S s X

s’lihot — liturgical prayers of teshuvah (repentance)

s’michah — ordination

s’phirah— emanation(s) from the ultimate, infinite, indefinable G‑d-head toward the palpable world; aspects of G‑d (pl. s’phirot)

sachar — reward

Sadducees — see Tzedokim

sadeh — field

sakanot mavet — mortal danger

sakkim — sackcloth

Samael — the devil

samchut — authority

sandak — person who holds the baby during the Berit Milah ceremony

Sanhedrin — the High Court in Jerusalem; the Israel Supreme Court during the Second Temple period; the legislative and judicial parliament supposedly descendant from the seventy elders appointed by Moshe

sanhedriyot — local councils/bet din courts

sar — a head person (of any rank or class) — captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, L‑rd, taskmaster, prince, ruler, steward

Sar Shalom — Prince of Peace, Mashiach

sarig — shoot; branch

sarisim — eunuchs

sasson — joy

savlanut — patient endurance

savta — grandmother

scapegoat — see Azazel

schnorrer’s — beggar’s

Scribes — the Sages who transcribed and interpreted the Torah and its Laws

sdeh krav — battlefield

se’irim — goats

sebomai — (Gk.) to revere, i.e. adore — devout, religious, worship

Second Temple — the house of worship built at Jerusalem after the return of Israel from the Babylonian Captivity

seder — lit. order; ritual for the home celebration of the first (and second) evening(s) of Pesach … the ceremony to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt on Passover Eve; the ritual Passover meal which is observed in a specific order

Seder Avodah (alt. Abodah) — the “order of Service” that the Kohen Gadol performs in the Sanctuary on the day of Atonement

seder plate — a shallow, usually compartmentalized dish that holds the symbolic foods of the Passover seder

sefer — book

sefer katan — small book

sefer keritut — bill of divorcement

Sefer Torah (alt. Sifrei) — Torah scroll (pl. Sefarim)

sefirah —counting

S’firat HaOmer (Counting the Omer) is the period of 50 days from Yom HaBikkurim until Shavuot

Sefirah — the “days of counting” between the Passover and Pentecost

seichel — good sense; understanding

selicha — forgiveness

selichot — penitential prayers

Selichot Service — a service of preparation for the High Holy Days, usually held at midnight on the Saturday preceding Rosh haShanah

semichah— ordination, ordained rabbis (pl. semuchim)

Sephardi — of Oriental Jewish communities (pl. Sephardim)

Sephardim —a cultural branch of Judaism; descendants of the Jews who fled Spain and Portugal after the Edict of Expulsion in 1492. They share a common language known as Ladino (a variant of Spanish), as opposed to northern European Jews (Ashkenazi), who speak Yiddish (a Germanic dialect).

seqilah — stoning

seraphim — fiery angels

sereifah — death by burning

seudah — banquet

seudah — feast

Seudah Mafseket — (alt. Hemafseket) the “meal of cessation” before a fast

Seudah shel Mitzvah — a festive meal that honors the observance of a mitzvah; a meal prescribed by the Torah or the Sages, same as Seudat Mitzvah

Seudah Shelishit (alt. Shlishit) — lit. third meal; a light meal eaten late on Shabbat afternoon … the third meal eaten on the Sabbath

Seudat Chavurah — (alt. Havra’ah, Chaburah) lit. meal of condolence; prepared by friends of the mourners and eaten in the house of mourning immediately following a funeral

seudot — banquet dinners

sevivon —dreidel (four-sided top used in a Chanukkah game)

sfeka deyoma — doubt as to the exact date of the day

sh’lamim — peace offerings

sha’ah; shaah — hour; time

sha’atnez — a cloth combining wool and linen

sha’ot — hours

shaar hatzarut — gate of narrowness

Shabbat — (alt. Shabbos) Sabbath. The seventh day of the week. G‑d’s appointed day of rest, a holy convocation. Rest, cease. (Sephardic pronunciation)

Shabbat Bereshit — (alt. Bereishit) the first Sabbath after Simchat Torah on which the portion of Bereishit (Genesis) is read

Shabbat Chazon — the Sabbath before the Ninth of Av

Shabbat HaGadol — The Great Shabbat precedes Pesach. It is the day the lambs are selected and brought into the home for a week of close observation to determine their suitability as the Pesach sacrifice. It was on this day that Yeshua entered Jerusalem (the “house” of Israel) for one week’s close observation by Israel of His suitability to be their Paschal Lamb, marked by his “triumphant entry” into Jerusalem.

Shabbat HaHodesh — the fourth Shabbat of the Purim sequence; precedes the new year

Shabbat Mevarchim — the Sabbath on which the forthcoming month is blessed

Shabbat Nachamu — the Sabbath after the Ninth of Av

Shabbat Parah — the third Shabbat of the Purim sequence. Refer to the ordinance of the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) in B’Midbar (Numbers) 19:1-22 — Purification before the feasts of Pesach/Hag HaMatzot.

Shabbat Shirah — “the Sabbath of Song”, the Sabbath on which “the song of the sea” is read in the portion of Beshalach

Shabbat Shuvah — lit. Sabbath of Return; the Sabbath between Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur

Shabbat Zachor — The first Shabbat of the Purim sequence; the Sabbath immediately preceding Purim

Shabbaton — Seven High Sabbaths … sabbath program of study and celebration (pl. Shabbatonim)

Shabbos — (alt. Shabbat) The Sabbath (Ashkenazic pronunciation)

shachah — to depress, i.e. prostrate (specifically reflexive in homage to royalty or G‑d) — bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship

Shacharit (alt. Shararit) — Morning Prayer. From Hebrew for “dawn” … Morning prayer service

shachat — corruption

Shaddai — the Almighty

shadkhan — marriage-broker

shaichus — closeness; friendship; intimacy

shakan — to reside or permanently stay (lit. or figuratively) — abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell (-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up) — see Shekhinah

shakhor — black

shakran — liar (pl. shakranim)

shalakh — cormorant

shalem b’guf — healthy

shaliach (pl. shliachim) — an agent sent with the full authority of the person doing the sending; Apostle

Shaliach Tzibur — the presenter of the prayers in the Synagogue, the Cantor

shalitim — rulers

shalom — lit. peace … denotes all the fullness of harmony, well-being, and comfort needed for one to be at complete peace

Shalom Zachor — first Friday following birth

shalosh — three

shalosh paamim — three times

Shalosh Regalim — see Pilgrim Festival

Shalosh Seudot — the three festive meals prescribed for the Sabbath

shamash — (alt. shammash) — lit. servant; term for the ninth candle used to light the other candles in the Chanukiah … the beadle in the Synagogue; equivalent to Gk. deaconos (translated "deacon" in the B'rit Hadasha)

shammai — (alt. shammai) school of …

shanah; shanim — year; years

sharsherot — chains / fetters

shatnez — mixture of wool and linen material which we are proscribed from wearing (Deut 22:5-12)

Sha'ul — (1) the first king of Israel.
(2) Most famous of all Messianic Rabbis, Yeshua’s Shliach sent primarily to the Goyim and scribe of approximately half of the B'rit Chadasha.

Shavuot — (alt. Shavuoth) lit. “weeks” — The feast of Weeks or Pentecost (50 days); one of the three Pilgrim Feasts. The 50th day from Yom Habikkurim memorializes the receiving of the Torah, and the beginning of the wheat harvest. Also, it represents the betrothal between Israel and the L‑rd. It was on this day that Ruach HaKodesh came to permanently indwell the Miqra (Acts 2) as the “down-payment” or “bride price.” (sg. Shavuah) (also Hag Hakatzir)

shawkling — ritual swaying while davening

shayach — conceivable

shchenim — neighbors

she’arim — gates

she’elah — question

She’elat Geshamim — the petition for rain

She’elot u-Teshuvot — questions and responses to queries on matters of Jewish law by rabbis and sages

she’erit — remnant; remainder

shebalev — inwardly

shebet —a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan — correction, dart, rod, scepter, staff, tribe

shebuah — (alt. shabuwa) lit. sevened, i.e. a week (specifically of years) — seven, week

Shechinah — (alt. Shekhinah) glorious presence of G‑d

shechita — the slaughtering of animals for meat as prescribed by the Torah

shed — demon / evil spirit

shedim — demons

sheelah — question

sheelot — kashes; questions

sheerit — remnant

shefach dahm — the shedding of blood

Shehecheyanu — lit.[G‑d] who has kept us alive; this is the blessing for beginnings and other happy occasions in people’s lives, such as birth and marriage. It is also said at candlelighting, Kiddush and certain other specific times during festival observances … a blessing over mitzvot which are performed once a year or over new fruit in its season

shein — beautiful

sheker — falsehood; lies

sheketz — abomination

sheketz tameh — unclean creature

Shekhinah (alt. Shechinah) — G‑d’s Presence in the world. — Aram. and late Heb., a word not in Scripture, but used by later Jews and by Christians to express the visible divine Presence, especially when resting between the cherubim over the mercy seat (from shakan)

sheleimah — complete

shelemut — perfection; completeness

Sheloshim — the second period of mourning; thirty-day mourning period

shem — name (pl. shemot)

shem kodesh or shem hakodesh — religious name; most Jewish males have two names — a religious name, called the shem kodesh (or hakodesh), and a secular name, called the kinnui in Hebrew. The religious name is a Hebrew name, and the secular name is in whatever vernacular language is in use. Observant American Jews today (for example) have a religious Hebrew name, and a secular English name. Among the Jews of Eastern Europe, Yiddish was the everyday or secular language, so they had a religious Hebrew name and a secular Yiddish name, the kinnui. In France, the secular name is in French; in ancient Babylonia, the kinnui was in Babylonian; etc.

Shem Hameforash — the Ineffable Divine Name

shem tov — good name

Shema — (alt. Shemab; Sh’ma) lit. hear … The most widely known Jewish confession of faith in one G‑d: “Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohenu Adonai Echad” (Hear, O Israel: the L‑rd is our G‑d, the L‑rd is One). Deut. 6:4-9

shemen — oil

shemen mishchah — anointing oil

shemesh — sun

Shemini Atzeret — Literally: the eighth day of assembly; conclusion of Sukkot … The day following Sukkot and the end of that festival

shemitah — fallow

Shemoneh Esre — (alt. Esray, Shmoneh Esreh) Eighteen … the number of blessings originally in the important part of the daily prayers recited in silence while worshipers stand—hence this name is applied to all such standing prayers, although the daily service now has nineteen and other services seven blessings. Combines adoration with entreaty. Also called Amidah (standing) or simply Tefillah (prayer).

shemot — names (sg. shem)

shenayim — two

Sheol — abode of the dead; afterlife; the netherworld

sherut — service in the Beis HaMikdash

sheva — seven

Sheva Berachot — (alt. Birchot) lit. seven blessings; these are recited or chanted at a wedding ceremony prior to the sharing of a cup of wine by the bride and groom

shevach; shevakh — praise; commendation

shevarim — a shofar sound

shevarim — oxen

Shevat — Fifth month of Jewish year

shevet — tribe

shevu’ah — oath

shevuot — oaths

sheynah — sleep

sheynit — a second time

shfakhot — maid servants

shichrut — drunkenness

shiebud — obligation

shifcha — (alt. shifchah) bond maid

shiflut — lowliness

shiggot haAm — unintentional sins of the people

shikkor — drunkard

shikkorim — drunkards

shilton — rule

shin — next-to-last letter of the Hebrew alef-beit (first letter of Shaddai)

Shir Chadash — New Song

shirayim — Rebbe’s remainders

shiryon kaskasim — coat of scale armor

Shitre Erusin — A betrothal contract

shiur — lesson; Torah talk (pl. shiurim)

shiva — seven; the first period of mourning; seven-day mourning period, the first day of which is the day of burial

shivah haben — child of the week

shivim — seventy

shkoyach — well done

shleimut — perfection; completion

shliach — emissary, one sent forth with the full power and authority of the sender; Apostle (pl. shliachim, shluchim) — Today’s ambassadors from Israel to other countries or to the United Nations would be called Shliachim in Hebrew.

Shlichus — (alt. Schlicot) Divine Mission

shlishit — third

shlita — control

shlitah atzmi — self-control

shloshah — three

shluchim — emissaries of the Rebbe; Melech HaMashiach (sg. shliach)

Shmad — Anti-Mashiach apostasy; apostate; destructive departure

shmattes — tatters; rags

Shmitah — Release—the seventh year in which the land lies fallow and debts are released or annulled … the Sabbatical year at the end of each seven year cycle

Shmo — His Name

shmonah asar — eighteen

Shmuel — a Sage of the Talmud

shnayim — two

Shneym Asar — Twelve

shochet — ritual slaughterer, required by Jewish dietary laws for the preparation of kosher meat

shochvim es zachar — homosexuals

shoded — robber (pl. shodedim)

shofar — trumpet made from a ram’s horn used as warning, call to arms, and in celebration. Blown on Rosh haShanah and during the month of Elul. When Yeshua returns it will be with the “sound of the Shofar.”

Shofar Hagadol — The Great Trumpet

shofetim — judges

Shofetim — (alt. Shofitim) Judges; Book of the Bible … a portion in the Book of Deuteronomy

soin — already

shomayim — heaven

Shome’a Tefillah — (alt. Tefilah) “The One Who hears prayer …” one of the eighteen benedictions of the Amidah

shomer — lit. guardian; on guard … person who remains with the deceased so that the body is never left alone prior to burial

shomer masoret — religious devotion

shomrim — guards

shoresh — root

shoshvin — the chosson’s best man

shot — whip

shoteh — fool

shoter — law official

Shovavim Tat — a series of winter weeks whose Mondays and Thursdays are observed as fast days

shprach — diction

shrekliche — terrible

shtaig — working my way up; advancing; progressing

shtark — steadfastly

shtats — imposing; impressive

shtein — stop

shter — bother

shtetl — Jewish village

shtetlach — towns

shtey karnayim — two horns

shtiklech — misconduct ;

shtreimel — expensive hat

shuckle — to sway during prayer

shud — misfortune

shul — synagogue

shulchan — table

Shulchan Aruch — code of law applicable to today … the Book of codified Jewish Law, by Rabbi Yosef Karo

Shulchan Orech — table set for meal … one of the fifteen phases of the Seder ceremony

shulchanot — tables

Shushan Purim — Purim celebration on Adar 15 by cities walled at the time of Joshua

shuttafim — partners

shuttafut — partnership

shvakh — commendation

shvateem; shvatim — tribes

shver — complex

Sicarii — a fanatic group of Zealots (literally meaning “cut throats”) as they were involved in political assassination of both Jews and Romans

sichlut — foolishness

Siddur (alt. Sidur) — prayer book; the set order of prayers … daily and Sabbath prayer book (pl. Siddurim)

Sidra — Bible portion of the week, read on Sabbath (pl. Sedarim, alt. Sidrot)

Sifra (alt. Sifre) — Halakhic midrashim to Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

sikhliyut — rationality

Siloam — a pool of water in Jerusalem

siman — sign; indication

simcha — joy

simchah — lit. joy; a happy event

Simchat Torah — Literally: joy of the Torah; holiday marking the conclusion of the yearly cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of the new cycle; the final fall holiday

sin’ah — hatred

sinas chinom — baseless hatred

sirah — boat

sitnah — accusation

Sivan — Ninth month of the Jewish year

sivlot — sufferings of; sevalot pl.

Siyum — the completion of the study of a Talmudic tractate. Sod — mystery

skikuy — drink

smolit — left

sochen — steward/estate manager

sodot — mysteries

sofer — a specially trained scribe; Torah-teacher; rabbi (pl. soferim, sofrim)

soimech — confident; putting their trust and being dependent

soivel — bearing with

soneh — hater

soreg — barrier of the holy precinct

sorrut — rebelliousness / insubordination

sotah — a woman suspected of adultery

soterim — policemen

stam — elementary

stater — coin

sterntichel — kerchief

Sukkot — (alt. Sukot) — booths, temporary dwellings; name of the festival that commemorates the Israelites’ wanderings in the desert after leaving Egypt … the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) … One of three Pilgrim Feasts (sg. Sukkah, Sukah)

sunagoge — (Gk.) an assemblage of persons; specifically a Jewish “synagogue” (either the place or the meeting); by analogy a Christian “church” meeting — assembly, congregation, synagogue

sus — horse (pl. susim)

synagogue — a place constructed and fully dedicated for gathering and studying. After the destruction of the Temple, synagogues became a place of corporate worship.

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Page last revised on Friday, October 24, 2008