Vocabulary list

Words I thought were better left untranslated

Ahronim

Post-mediaeval halakha scholars

Baraita

Generally authoritative talmudic quotation from the tannaitic (=earlier, broadly) period

Bedeavad

After-the-fact, in pressing circumstances, or very decidedly second-rate and to be steered clear of

Etzba

Thumb-width

Geniza

Respectful disposal of sacred materials

Gid ha-nase

The sinew Jews don’t eat

Halakha from Moses at Sinai

Not actually written in the Torah, but a tradition dating from earliest times, with no obvious logical foundation, but authoritative

Haser

an alternative (but still correct) spelling of a word with letters omitted

Humash

The five books of the Torah

Kedusha

Sanctity

Kedushat x

Sanctity of x

Kefufa

bent; the non-final forms of same

Lekhathilah

Ab initio; the ideal way of doing things

Lishmah

for its own sake; with concentration; with fulfilment of the mitzvah in mind

Mamzer

One born of various forbidden unions, who is barred from marrying regular Jews and rather a lot else besides

Mem petuha

Open mem, the non-final form

Mem stuma

Closed mem, the final form

Pasul

Invalid for ritual use

Peshuta

Elongated; the “final” letter forms of those letters which lengthen at the ends of words

Petuha

Paragraph which finishes mid-line, the rest of the line remaining blank

Posekim

Individuals who rule in matters of halakha

Rishonim

Mediaeval halakha scholars

Setuma

Gap between two paragraphs in a line, nine letters long

Shirat Ha-azinu

Deuteronomy 31:1 – 32:52. Has a special layout.

Shirat ha-Yam

Exodus 14:30 – 15:19. Has a special layout.

Tag

Decorative twiddle on certain letters

Tefah

Handsbreadth

Veilish

Sephardic Torah script

Yeter

an alternative (but still correct) spelling of a word with letters added