T

Tallit (Tallis) - Prayer shawl draped around shoulders during services. Made of a rectangular piece of cloth with fringes (Tzitzit), it is usually white with blue or black stripes.

Talmud - Collection of important Jewish books that serve as a source regarding Jewish law. Books are the Mishnah and the Gemara.

Tefillin - Tefillin are two black leather cubes (boxes) that are worn by many Jewish men while at morning prayer.

Ten Commandments - According to the Bible, these sacred laws were received by Moses at Mount Sinai.

Torah - The five books of Moses from the Bible. A portion of the Torah is read each Shabbat. It is the most sacred of readings to the Jewish people.

Tzedakah - Hebrew word for righteousness or justice.

Y

Yad - Pointer used to follow along with the passage being read from the Torah as it is forbidden to touch the parchment with a finger or hand.
(See also Torah)

Yahrzeit - Anniversary of a death. The immediate family of the person who died lights a candle that burns the entire day of the Yahrzeit. The candle honours the memory of that person.

Yalmulke - Head-covering worn as a sign of respect.

Yiddish - Second to Hebrew as the language of Jewish people. Yiddish is an adaptation of German, and has many dialects.

Yom Tov - (a good day) Term used in reference to most Jewish holidays or festivals.

Z

Zionism - The movement to establish and maintain a Jewish homeland.

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