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Glossary of Terms used in the Kosher Travel Info Web
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Daven
Jewish prayer / services
(Hebrew:
תפלה, tefillah ; plural
תפלות,
tefillot ; Yiddish: davening) are the prayer recitations which
form part of the observance of Judaism. Daven is the originally
exclusively Eastern Yiddish verb meaning "pray"; it is widely used by
Ashkenazic Orthodox Jews. These prayers, often with instructions and
commentary, are found in the siddur, the traditional Jewish
prayer book.
Traditionally, three prayers are recited daily, with additional prayers
on the Sabbath and most Jewish holidays. A distinction is made between
individual prayer and communal prayer in a Minyan (10 adult
Jewish males). Communal prayer is generally preferable, as it includes
components that cannot be performed without a Minyan.
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Kosher
Kosher (Hebrew: כשר) is the
name of the Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with Halacha (Jewish law)
is termed kosher in English, from the Hebrew term kashér, meaning "fit"
(in this context, fit for consumption by Jews according to traditional
Jewish law). Contrary to popular believe, food does not become Kosher by
the blessing of a Rabbi. Kosher food is based on the ingredients used and
for certain foods (meat, poultry) the way it is slaughtered.
The word kosher has been borrowed by many languages, including English. In
its strictest meaning it means "fit", but as in Yiddish it also generally
means legitimate, acceptable, permissible, genuine or authentic in a
broader sense.
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Mashgiach
A
Mashgiach (Hebrew:
משגיח) is
a person who supervises the Kashrut status of a kosher
establishment. A Mashgiach may supervise any type of food service
establishment, including slaughterhouses, food manufacturers, hotels,
caterers, nursing homes, restaurants, butchers, or groceries. The
Mashgiach usually works as the on-site supervisor and inspector,
representing the Kashrut organization or a local rabbi, who
actually makes the policy decisions for what is or is not acceptably
kosher.
Mikvah
Mikvah (or mikveh)
(Hebrew: מקוה) is a Hebrew term in the Bible
referring to a specific type of bath, designed for the purpose of ritual
washing in Judaism. Several biblical regulations specify that full
immersion in water is required to regain ritual purity by immersion in
living water - streams and springs. The Mikvah is designed to
simplify this requirement, by providing a bathing facility that remains in
ritual contact with a natural source of flowing or rain water.
The main uses of the Mikvah
are:
• By Jewish women to achieve ritual purity after menstruation or
childbirth
• By Jewish men to achieve ritual purity
• As part of a traditional procedure for conversion to Judaism
• For utensils used for food
In Orthodox Judaism these
regulations are strickly adhered to, and the Mikvah is a essential
to an Orthodox Jewish community. Existence of a Mikvah is
considered so important in Orthodox Judaism, that the community is
required to construct a Mikvah before building a synagogue.
Minyan
A Minyan מנין (Hebrew:
plural minyanim) in Jewish Halachic law is a group of ten or more
adult Jews (over the age of 13) for the purpose of communal prayer. It
is usually held within a synagogue, but can be held elsewhere, somtimes
in a home or place of work. A single minyan may be one of several
simultaneous prayer services within a synagogue. One synagogue (or any
building) can have two or more minyanim meeting at the same time;
for example, one Ashkenazi minyan and one Sephardi minyan. Only men may
be part of a minyan in Orthodox gatherings. Certain parts of communal
prayer like Kadish and Torah Reading is only recited in
the presence of a minyan, that is 10 Jews over the age of 13. Orthdox
Men are required to pray with a minyan 3 times a day whenever possible.
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Pas
Yisrael
Bread, cake and other baked goods from a Jewish bakery with reliable
kosher certification often ensures not only the kosher status of these
products but also that they are Pas Yisrael (the bread of the
Israelites). It is preferable to use Pas Yisrael products
whenever possible. This means that a Jewish person has baked or
assisted in the baking of the products. Even if he simply lit the oven
he is considered as having assisted and therefore considered to be
Pas Yisrael.
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Shabbat
Shabbat
(Hebrew: שבת, shabbāt, "rest"; the Sabbath, often pronounced Shabbes),
is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the Seventh Day, after
six days of creation. It is observed from sundown on Friday until the
appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night. Shabbat is
ushered in by lighting candles. Candle lighting time changes from week
to week, depending on the time of sunset.
Shabbat is a day of celebration as well as one of prayer. It is
customary to eat three festive meals on Shabbat. These include dinner on
Friday night, lunch on Saturday and another meal before the conclusion
of Shabbat later in the afternoon.
Jewish law prohibits doing any form of melachah ("work", plural
"melachot") on Shabbat. Melachah does not closely correspond to the
English definition of the term "work", rather it relates to certain
types of activities not permitted on the Shabbat. In the event that a
human life is in danger, a Jew is not only allowed, but required, to
violate any Shabbat law that stands in the way of saving that person.
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