Hebrew Glossary

A B D E F G H I K Ch L M N O P R S Sh T Tz U V Y Z

HEBREW TRANSLITERATION ENGLISH MEANING

Naanuim The waving of the four species on Sukkot

Naga To Touch To lay the hand upon; strike; draw near; touch. A word that the Kohen Gadol would have used on his way to sprinkle atoning blood on the Mizbeach

Nacham To sigh, breath strongly; to pity, console, comfort or ease

Nachash Serpent; Snake Stems from the root that means "shining whisperer," "shining enchanter." In Shemot 7:9-15 the nachash is parallel to the tanin, the sea creature of Bereishit 1:21 and also related to the Livyatan of Yeshayahu 27:1.

Nachash is the "shining enchanter" that misled Adam and Chavah in Gan Eden

Nachem A prayer for consolation

Nashim Women Third order of the Mishnah, consisting of seven tractates dealing with marriage, divorce, and the laws of vows and Nazirim. The tractrate include: Yevamot (sisters-in-law), Ketubot (marriage deeds), Nedarim (vows), Nazir (Nazirite), Sotah (woman suspected of adultery), Gittin (divorce), and Kiddushin (betrothals)

Nasi Prince; President; Exalted One A king, governor, prince, or president or administrator of the Sanhedrin or synagogue, serving in tandem with the Av Bet Din

Navi (pl. Neviim) Prophet Neviim became a designation for section of the Tanach encompassing the books of the prophets

Nazir Nazirite Fourth tractate in the Mishnah order of Nashim, dealing with the laws concerning Nazirite vows (BaMidbar 6:1-21); Member of an ascetic sect within Judaism who took vows of abstinence from alcohol, did not cut their hair, and were not permitted to come into contact with the dead. Their vows could last anywhere from a brief time to an entire life. Shimshon (Samson) is the most famous Nazir

Nedarim Third tractate in the Mishnah order Nashim, dealing with regulations concerning vows

Nefesh Soul The lowest of the five levels of the soul according to Kabbalah

Nefesh Chayah Living being

Negaim Plagues of Leprosy Third tractate in the Mishnah order of Tohorot, dealing with the laws concerning various types of leprosy

Negel Vasser (Yiddish) Nail Water Referring to the ritual hand washing first thing in the morning

Neilah (al. Nei'ilah) Closing; Closing of the gate; Locking Concluding service of Yom Kippur. The period during the concluding service of Yom Kippur during the period of the Temple when the Nikanor gates of the Temple were closed.

Also at this time a shofar (trumpet) blast was sounded known as the Shofar HaGadol (The Great Shofar). Yeshayahu/Isa. 27:13 is also read, when the Gates of Heaven are closed (hence the Hebrew name)

Nekudah Point Kabbalistic referent for an undeveloped and instable element of reality

Ner (pl. Nerot) Lamp; Candle

Ner Mitzvah Provides reference to the primary halachic works that treat the subject matter of the Gemara. The Ner Mitzvah, alternately called Ein Mishpat Ner Mitzvah, usually refers to the halachic works of the Mishnah Torah, Sefer Mitzvot Gadol, and the Shulchan Aruch

Ner Talmid Eternal Light The eternal light in the synagogue, in front of the Aron HaKodesh, which reminds us of the omnipresence of G-d

Nes (al. Nesim) Miracle; Banner

Nesech The libation of wine over the altar in the Temple, accompanying the sacrifices

Neshamah Level of Soul The third of the five levels of the soul and associated with the vitality of intelligence

Neshamah Yetarah An extra soul acquired on Shabbat; according to the Rabbis, its strength allows the individual to experience a taste of redemption and gain endurance for the difficulties to be encouraged in the week to come

Netzach Victory The fourth of the emotive attributes within Creation

Nevelah A Carcass A dead animal that was neither slain by another animal as prey nor killed by a ritual slaughterer. May not be eaten by an observant Jew. One who touches it contracts ritual impurity

Neviim Prophets Second section of the Tanach

Nevi Sheker False Prophet

Nezikin Damages Fourth order of the Mishnah, divided into Bava Kamma, Bava Metzia, and Bava Batra. It deals with money matters and all damages that are decided by the courts. It also contains a tractate containing ethical teachings (Avot)

Nichum Avelim The comforting of mourners

Niddah She Who is Separated; Menstruous Woman A state of ritual impurity of the Jewish woman, as a result of the discharge of blood, usually a result of the menstrual period; Seventh tractate in the Mishnah order of Tohorot, dealing with ritual impurity as a result of menstruation and childbirth (VaYikra 12:1-5)

Nikanor gate One of the seven gates in the large hall of the Temple compound

Nirtzah Acceptance Closing prayer, last phase of the Pesach Seder ceremony

Nisan The first month of the Hebrew Religious calendar; 7th on the Hebrew Civil calendar

N"E (Nishmato b'Eden [masc.]; Nishmata b'Eden [Fem.]) His/Her soul should be in Eden/Paradise

Nisim b'Chol Yom Morning prayers that thank G-d for ability to distinguish day from night, the strength to rise in the morning, for clothing, freedom, the earth itself, and the people Yisrael

Nisuin Elevation The marriage ceremony part of a wedding, in contradistinction to the engagement; The second part of the two-part Jewish marriage process, after which the bride and groom begin to live together as husband and wife

Nisuch HaMayim The Libation of Water Performed during Chag Sukkot in the Beit HaMikdash

Nisyanot Tests

Noach Noah Comfort

Nochrim Foreigners; Non-Jews

Nosh (Yiddish) Snack Food

Nu? This is an exclamation used in the same sense as "well" "eh" and "hey"

Nun - N The fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet

HEBREW TRANSLITERATION	ENGLISH	MEANING

Naanuim		The waving of the four species on Sukkot
Naga	To Touch	To lay the hand upon; strike; draw near; touch. A word that the Kohen Gadol would have used on his way to sprinkle atoning blood on the Mizbeach
Nacham		To sigh, breath strongly; to pity, console, comfort or ease
Nachash	Serpent; Snake	Stems from the root that means "shining whisperer," "shining enchanter." In Shemot 7:9-15 the nachash is parallel to the tanin, the sea creature of Bereishit 1:21 and also related to the Livyatan of Yeshayahu 27:1. Nachash is the "shining enchanter" that misled Adam and Chavah in Gan Eden
Nachem		A prayer for consolation
Nashim	Women	Third order of the Mishnah, consisting of seven tractates dealing with marriage, divorce, and the laws of vows and Nazirim. The tractrate include: Yevamot (sisters-in-law), Ketubot (marriage deeds), Nedarim (vows), Nazir (Nazirite), Sotah (woman suspected of adultery), Gittin (divorce), and Kiddushin (betrothals)
Nasi	Prince; President; Exalted One	A king, governor, prince, or president or administrator of the Sanhedrin or synagogue, serving in tandem with the Av Bet Din
Navi (pl. Neviim)	Prophet	Neviim became a designation for section of the Tanach encompassing the books of the prophets
Nazir	Nazirite	Fourth tractate in the Mishnah order of Nashim, dealing with the laws concerning Nazirite vows (BaMidbar 6:1-21); Member of an ascetic sect within Judaism who took vows of abstinence from alcohol, did not cut their hair, and were not permitted to come into contact with the dead. Their vows could last anywhere from a brief time to an entire life. Shimshon (Samson) is the most famous Nazir
Nedarim		Third tractate in the Mishnah order Nashim, dealing with regulations concerning vows
Nefesh	Soul	The lowest of the five levels of the soul according to Kabbalah
Nefesh Chayah	Living being
Negaim	Plagues of Leprosy	Third tractate in the Mishnah order of Tohorot, dealing with the laws concerning various types of leprosy
Negel Vasser (Yiddish)	Nail Water	Referring to the ritual hand washing first thing in the morning
Neilah (al. Nei'ilah)	Closing; Closing of the gate; Locking	Concluding service of Yom Kippur. The period during the concluding service of Yom Kippur during the period of the Temple when the Nikanor gates of the Temple were closed. Also at this time a shofar (trumpet) blast was sounded known as the Shofar HaGadol (The Great Shofar). Yeshayahu/Isa. 27:13 is also read, when the Gates of Heaven are closed (hence the Hebrew name)
Nekudah	Point	Kabbalistic referent for an undeveloped and instable element of reality
Ner (pl. Nerot)	Lamp; Candle
Ner Mitzvah		Provides reference to the primary halachic works that treat the subject matter of the Gemara. The Ner Mitzvah, alternately called Ein Mishpat Ner Mitzvah, usually refers to the halachic works of the Mishnah Torah, Sefer Mitzvot Gadol, and the Shulchan Aruch
Ner Talmid	Eternal Light	The eternal light in the synagogue, in front of the Aron HaKodesh, which reminds us of the omnipresence of G-d
Nes (al. Nesim)	Miracle; Banner
Nesech		The libation of wine over the altar in the Temple, accompanying the sacrifices
Neshamah	Level of Soul	The third of the five levels of the soul and associated with the vitality of intelligence
Neshamah Yetarah		An extra soul acquired on Shabbat; according to the Rabbis, its strength allows the individual to experience a taste of redemption and gain endurance for the difficulties to be encouraged in the week to come
Netzach	Victory	The fourth of the emotive attributes within Creation
Nevelah	A Carcass	A dead animal that was neither slain by another animal as prey nor killed by a ritual slaughterer. May not be eaten by an observant Jew. One who touches it contracts ritual impurity
Neviim	Prophets	Second section of the Tanach
Nevi Sheker	False Prophet
Nezikin	Damages	Fourth order of the Mishnah, divided into Bava Kamma, Bava Metzia, and Bava Batra. It deals with money matters and all damages that are decided by the courts. It also contains a tractate containing ethical teachings (Avot)
Nichum Avelim		The comforting of mourners
Niddah	She Who is Separated; Menstruous Woman	A state of ritual impurity of the Jewish woman, as a result of the discharge of blood, usually a result of the menstrual period; Seventh tractate in the Mishnah order of Tohorot, dealing with ritual impurity as a result of menstruation and childbirth (VaYikra 12:1-5)
Nikanor gate		One of the seven gates in the large hall of the Temple compound
Nirtzah	Acceptance	Closing prayer, last phase of the Pesach Seder ceremony
Nisan		The first month of the Hebrew Religious calendar; 7th on the Hebrew Civil calendar
N"E (Nishmato b'Eden [masc.]; Nishmata b'Eden [Fem.])	His/Her soul should be in Eden/Paradise
Nisim b'Chol Yom		Morning prayers that thank G-d for ability to distinguish day from night, the strength to rise in the morning, for clothing, freedom, the earth itself, and the people Yisrael
Nisuin	Elevation	The marriage ceremony part of a wedding, in contradistinction to the engagement; The second part of the two-part Jewish marriage process, after which the bride and groom begin to live together as husband and wife
Nisuch HaMayim	The Libation of Water	Performed during Chag Sukkot in the Beit HaMikdash
Nisyanot	Tests
Noach	Noah	Comfort
Nochrim	Foreigners; Non-Jews
Nosh (Yiddish)	Snack Food
Nu?		This is an exclamation used in the same sense as "well" "eh" and "hey"
Nun -	N	The fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet