T’ruah
Literally, “shout;” one of the shofar blasts. It is composed of a series of nine short blasts.
Tzom kal
Literally, “easy fast.” A customary greeting for Yom Kippur, a fast day.
Yamim Noraim
"Days of Awe." An alternate name for the High Holidays, and the 10-day period beginning with Rosh HaShanah and concluding with Yom Kippur.
Arbaah minim
Literally, “four species.” The Torah specifies four species to bring together on Sukkot. The four species are: lulav (branches of palm trees), etrog (citron), hadasim (myrtle branches), and aravot (willows) (Leviticus 23:40).
Beitzah
Literally, “egg.” It is an item on the Passover seder plate that represents the Passover sacrifice from biblical times. And, it symbolizes the spring season.
Chag
Literally, “holiday,” this term usually refers to any of the three Pilgrimage Festivals: Pesach (Passover), Shavuot, and Sukkot.
Chazeret
Another vegetable, often romaine lettuce, that appears on the Passover seder plate. Chazeret is used in addition to maror as a bitter herb.
Dayenu
Literally, “It Is Enough for Us.” A seder song of gratitude that recounts many miracles and gifts from God associated with the Exodus story, any one of which “would have been enough.”
Four cups
The Passover seder includes four cups of wine, one for each of God’s promises/expressions of Redemption: “I will take you out;” “I will save you;” “I will redeem you;” and “I will take you as a nation” (Exodus 6:6-7).
Haggadah
Literally, “telling.” This is the Jewish text that sets forth the order of the Passover seder. Plural: Haggadot.