HEBREW TRANSLITERATION	ENGLISH	MEANING
Kabbalah	That Which is Received	Esoteric dimension of Torah; a reference to the inherited tradition, especially when it is placed with another word such as shalshelet hakabbalah, the chain of tradition, or kabbalat Shabbat, the traditional ushering in of the Sabbath. Also refers to a particular credential for doing something within the context of a religious community, particularly for the Shochet, who ritually slaughters animals for food. This term also refers to the general mystical tradition in Judaism.  See further: Kabbalah Index
Kabbalat al Mitzvot	Acceptance of the yoke of the Commandments	Acceptance of commandments as binding
Kabbalat Shabbat	Welcoming the Shabbat	The opening section of the Shabbat evening service
Kaddish (pl. Kaddishim)		Kaddish is a prayer sanctifying G-d's Name which is used to signal passage from one stage to another of the liturgy. There are five different types of Kaddish; the text is determined by when it is recited, why, and by whom; it can be recited up to twelve times in a traditional worship service
Kaddish De Rabbanan	The Rabbis' Kaddish	Used as an epilogue to the study of rabbinic texts, containing a prayer for the welfare of all students of the Torah
Kaddish D'itchadata	Burial Kaddish	Said only at the gravesite, immediately after interment. It includes a paragraph that refers to resurrection of the dead and a restoration of the Temple
Kaddish Shalem	Whole [or Complete] Kaddish	Includes the prayer requesting G-d to accept all of the reciter's heartfelt prayers
Kaddish Yatom	Mourner's (or Orphan's) Kaddish	Recited for the first year after interment, making it the primary prayer of the bereaved throughout the generations; does not mention death at all. The Reform movement introduced a variation of the Kaddish that includes an extra paragraph mentioning death, but it feel to disuse and was eventually excluded. In some non-Germanic Orthodox synagogues, everyone rises for Kaddish Yatom. In German-based Orthodox synagogues and in many conservative synagogues, the congregation sits. The reform movement instituted a movement-wide policy of standing. Often, parents will refer to a child as kaddishel - the one designated by Jewish law to say kaddish for them after their death; it has become a somewhat endearing term of affection
Kadosh	Holy; Separate
Kadoshim	Holy Ones
Kaf -	K	Eleventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet
Kahal; Kehillah (Klal Yisrael)	Congregation; Assembly; Community; Gathering	Assembly of the people of Hashem; Used to refer to the corporate Jewish community of medieval Europe
Kalev	Caleb	See further: Kalev Index
Kallah	Bride	Late Hebrew tractate dealing with marital relations
Kal Vachomer		An a fortiori inference, and a fundamental principle of rabbinic exegesis. This is a rule of logical argumentation by means of which two cases are compared, one lenient and the other more stringent. The Kal Vachomer principle asserts that if the law is stringent in a case where we are usually lenient, then it will certainly be stringent in a more serious case
Kanaanim	Canaanites
Kapparah		This Yom Kippur custom is based on the idea of ransom, one life for another. It rests on the same ritual as the scapegoat ritual from the Temple period. After reciting from the Book of Iyov (33:23-24), a rooster (for men) or a hen (for women) is swung three times over the heads of the penitent and the following is said: "This is in exchange for me (us, you), this is instead of me (us, you), this is ransom (kapparah for me (us, you). This rooster will go to its death, but I (we, you) will go forward to a good life and into shalom." Money or other living things are used as well; alternately this is called among Ashkenazi Jews shluggen kapparos
Kapporet	Seat of Atonement	The Covering of the Holy Ark
Karet	Cut Off	A divine punishment (of a short life) for serious transgressions
Kasher (al. Kosher)	Fit; Proper	Ritually fit for consumption or use
Kashrut		The body of Jewish dietary laws governing what is and is not kosher
Kavanah	Intention; Devotion	Inner concentration during prayer; One's heartfelt direction in prayer, used to refer to the immediate feelings or response, in contradistinction to keva
Kedushah	Sanctification; Holiness	The sanctification, in the liturgy, "Holy, Holy, Holy is Hashem Tzevaot, the whole earth is full of G-d's glory..." In the prayer, G-d is hallowed in the assembly of people. Prayer proclaiming G-d's holiness, recited on Shabbat and festivals
Kedushat Yisrael	Sanctification of Israel; Holiness of Israel
Kehunah	Priesthood	See further: Kehunah
Kelim	Utensils	First tractate in the Mishnah order of Toharot, which discusses the ritual uncleanliness of vessels (cf. VaYikra 11:32; BaMidbar 19:14)
Kematnat Yado		The principle of not coming before G-d with empty hands, but according to one's means (from Devarim 14:22; 16:1). It refers originally to the sacrificial system and the pilgrimage festivals
Keriah		The act of tearing the garment either at graveside or at the beginning of the funeral service, depending on the custom of the congregation; this act is referred to as "cutting keriah." In some non-Orthodox communities, ribbons are attached to the garment and cut instead of clothing
Keritot	Excisions	Seventh tractate in the Mishnah order of Kodashim, dealing with the punishment of Karet
Keruv (pl. Keruvim)	Cherub	Cherubim in the Sanctuary; a type of heavenly being
Kes		The religious officiate or priest among Ethiopian Jews, often called a chacham
Keter	Crown
Keter Torah		Crown-like ornament for the Torah
Ketivah VeChatimah Tovah	May you be inscribed with a good seal	A greeting used during Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur
Ketubah (al. Ketuvah; pl. Ketubot)	Marriage contract	Traditional Jewish marriage contract, which spells out the contractual responsibilities of the groom to the bride; Ketubot Second tractate in the Mishnah order of Nashim, dealing primarily with the money to be received by a wife in case of divorce or widowhood
Ketuvim	Writings	The third and last division of the Jewish Tanach (TaNaKh), including large poetic and epigrammatic works such as Tehillim and Mishlei and Iyov as well as miscellany of other writings (Shir HaShirim, Rut, Eichah, Kohelet, Ester, Daniel, Ezra-Nechemya, Divrei HaYamim)
Keva	Fixed	Referring to those prayers that are fixed in word or time by Jewish law or custom
Kibbutz		A communal settlement in modern Yisrael
Kibbutz Galuyot	Ingathering of the Exiles
Kiddush	Sanctification	The Sanctification ritual performed on Shabbat and Festivals consisting of liturgical text recited over a full goblet of wine. For example, the Shabbat Kiddush tells how G-d completed creation on the sixth day and then rested; we thank G-d for giving us Shabbat by which to remember creation and the Exodus and for choosing the Jewish people to be an am segulah, a special people. Kiddush
Kiddush HaChamah (Alt. Birkat HaChamah)		A special prayer giving thanks to G-d for the sun; recited when the cycle of the heavenly bodies completes itself, at spring equinox, every twenty-eight years
Kiddush Hashem	Sanctification of the Divine Name	One who dies as a Jewish martyr is said to have died "Kiddush Hashem."  To suffer martyrdom rather than be faithless to the Jewish religion is the supreme example of Kiddush HaShem.  A Jew must so conduct himself/herself that his/her actions increase reverence for G-d's Name and that none should bring the Divine Name into disrepute.  Yisrael must be a holy people because Yisrael has been sanctified by G-d and bears His holy Name.  The deeper theological meaning of Kiddush HaShem is that G-d as He is in Himself is unknown and unknowable.  G-d only becomes manifest in human life when human beings acknowledge Him by acting in such a way that His being is relevant to and influences their daily life.  See further: Kiddush HaShem Index
Kiddushin	Consecration; Set-apart; Betrothals	Refers to the full wedding ceremony and the state of being married; Seventh and last tractate in the Mishnah order of Nashim, dealing with regulations reltated to marriage
Kiddush Lavanah		The moon's renewal is associated with the restoration of Yisrael; this forms the guiding principle behind Rosh Chodesh; the prayer is said several days after the crescent of the moon has reemerged
Kilayim	Diverse Kinds	Fourth tractate in the Mishnah order of Zeraim, dealing with the prohibitions of mingling different kinds of plants, animals, and clothing (VaYikra 19:19)
Kinneret (Lake)	Harp	Sea of Galilee
Kinnim	Bird Nests	Eleventh and last tractate in the Mishnah order of Kodashim, dealing with the regulations for the bringing of an offering after childbirth (VaYikra 12:8)
Kinyan; Kinyan Sudder	The Acquisition Through a Cloth	A ritualistic ceremony by which the wedding contract is legalized through a transaction and exchange of goods, namely the handkerchief; A mode of acquisition, a formal procedure to render an agreement as legally binding. After the act of kinyan occurs, the object is legally the property of the purchaser
Kippah (pl. Kippot)	Headcovering; Skullcap	Skullcap worn by Jewish men; symbol of respect and submission to G-d Who is above us. Also called a Yarmulke in Yiddish
Kiruv		From kiruv r'chokim (bringing close those who are distant). Used to refer to Jewish outreach of all kinds
Kislev		Ninth month on the Religious Hebrew calendar, third month on the Hebrew civil calendar
Kisuy Saarot; Kisuy Rosh	Hair Covering; Head Covering	Masorah regards bare headedness as a form of nakedness, and nudity as one of pagan indecencies and an infraction of propriety in worship.  The word "ervah" (nakedness) connotes shameful exposure, indecency, as well as improper behavior in general.  In Devarim 23:15, the phrase ervat devar signifies "anything indecent."  The Mishnah relates that a man once uncovered a woman's head in the street, and Rabbi Akiva told him to pay 400 silver pieces as compensation for the embarrassment he had caused her (Bava Kamma 8:6).  In the Talmud, Yevamot 63b, there is nothing more abominable in the sight of G-d than the man who appears naked in public, without his head covered.  The Sages did not walk four steps with an uncovered head (Shabbat 118b; Kiddushin 31a) and was looked upon as a mark of reverence for G-d (Shabbat 156b).  During the era of the Temple, the kohanim wore a headdress in the form of a kind of turban while officiating (Shemot 28:37-39).  The skull-cap worn for prayer and meals is called yarmulke (Slavic) or kippah (Hebrew).  See further: Headcovering Index and Headcoverings for purchase
Kittel		Robe-like white garment worn by men under the Chuppah, during the High Holiday period, at the Seder, and when buried
Kiyum Mitzvot		The upholding or fulfillment of the Mitzvot
Klal Yisrael	Community of Israel	The Entire Jewish People
Knesset	Assembly	The legislative branch of the present-day Yisraeli government
Knesset HaGadol	The Great Assembly	The main spiritual and legislative body of the post-prophetic era, numbering 85 or 120 Sages (depending on the source). Institutionalized many important liturgical practices (reading of Torah on Shabbat, Festivals, Mondays, and Thursdays; recitation of the Amidah two times daily; blessings before meals, etc) and the foundations of halachah
Knesset Yisrael	Assembly of Yisrael	The Jewish people as a whole
Koach	Strength
Kodashim	Holy Things	Fifth order of the Mishnah, consisting of eleven tractates that deal with the laws of ritual slaughter, sacrifice, and other Temple-related objects
Kodesh HaKodashim	Holy of Holies
Kohen (pl. Kohanim)	Priest	The priest and his descendants, traditionally considered to be directly descended from Aharon. The Kohen is held to certain obligations and special ceremonies, and subject to certain restrictions, especially regarding marriage and funerals, in order to prevent his being tainted. Historically he was responsible to arrange for the Atonement of the sins of the community
Kohen HaGadol	The High Priest
Kol Chamira		The formula used to make null and void the Chametz not found, following the attempt to collect and dispose of it for Pesach
Kol Dichfin		The Pesach Seder begins with the formula, "Let all who are hungry come and eat..."
Kol HaKavod	All Honor	Used idiomatically to express praise or congratulations for an achievement
Kol HaNearim	All the Children	The final Aliyah during Simchat Torah reserved for children
Kol Isha	Voice of a Women	Considered by the Rabbis of the Talmud to be distracting to men and thus lewd
Kol Nidre (al. Kol Nidrei)	All Vows	Refers to both the opening prayer-chant and the evening of Yom Kippur. The prayer asks for release from all vows made henceforth as a historical protective device for Jews forced to make vows to other religions in order to save their lives; while no longer relevant, its haunting melody and memory binds us to the holiday, its mood, and our history
Kol Tuv	Everything good; All the best	May you be blessed with everything good
Kosher (Hebrew - Kashrut)	Proper; Ritually Correct	Dietary laws that regulate the life of an individual Jew. While kosher literally means fit, it can be used to refer to a ritual item that is ritually fit for use, as in a kosher Chanukiah. Glatt kosher is used today to refer to a generally higher or stricter standard of kashrut. Glatt literally means "smooth." It refers only to the lung - it must be perfectly smooth. According to "regular" kashrut laws, some blemishes of the lung are acceptable; by glatt standards, all and any blemishes render the lung (and, therefore, the whole meat) unfit. After inspecting the lung, the rest of the meat must still be inspected, as with "regular" kashrut
Kotel		From Kotel ha'Maaravi (Western wall). All that remains today of the second Beit HaMikdash (Temple)
Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze Lezeh	All Yisrael is responsible one for the other	Jews are responsible for one another, hence, the tradition of Jews taking care of their own throughout the world, whatever the need
Kof (al. Koof) -	K (or Q)	Nineteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet
Kutim		Talmudic term for Samaritans; Refers to any person or group rejecting the Oral Law; A minor tractate in which the relationships among Samaritans, Jews, and Gentiles are discussed