Glossary of Terms used in the Kosher Travel Info Web Site

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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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