Adonai – Hebrew for My Lord (God).
Ahavat Yisroel (aka Yisrael) – Love for/of another/other Jew(s). Tzedakah is the obligation to care for one another. Klal Yisrael means the collective unity of the Jewish people.
Ammetz – Hebrew meaning Courageous Male.
Aramaic – Popular language in several districts within Israel and environs.
bar Mitzvah (aka bar Miswah) – Jewish ceremony for boys attaining the age of responsibility (12-13 years). Translates as sons of (or belonging to) Commandment. Term is used as the person “becoming a bar (bat) mitzvah.”
Berith (aka Brith) Milah – Jewish rite of circumcision, performed by a Mokel.
Calendars
Jewish
For familiarity, the year begins with Tishrei. In the Jewish year 5768 this corresponds with the Christian mid-September, 2007.
The first day, Rosh HaShanah, literally means Head of the Year. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) occurs on Tishrei 10. This is the holiest day. Pesach takes place in the month of Nissan (April, in the Christian 2008).
Tishrei, in more modern times, might be considered as the first month of the civil year or the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year.
Days are measured from sunrise to sunset, twelve hours equivalent to the modern 6 AM- 6 PM. In the Jewish tradition, the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th hours were reserved for prayer.
A week of seven days ends on Shabbath (aka Shabbat). Shabbath and all feasts begin at sunset. Specific months of a year differ by translation, interpretation, or changes in the Jewish, Julian and, later, the Christian calendars. Discrepancies, even as to overlapping early years are to be expected.
Jews in Israel and elsewhere used the Roman Julian calendar in daily activities, while maintaining their calendar for all religious endeavors. For more information refer to extended detail below.
Julian
This revision was introduced by Julius Caesar. It came into use in 709 AUC which relates to the Jewish calendar as year 3717 and 45 BC in the Christian calendar.
This form is based on the historic, traditionally accepted founding of Rome identified as the year 1 ab urbe condita (“founding of the city”).
Julian’s year 1 AUC relates to 3009 Jewish and 753 BC Christian.
The Julian calendar was used throughout the Roman Empire, and therefore is our primary reference.
Christian
The dating system using Anno Domini (in the year of [the/our] Lord) or Anno Domini Nostri Jesu Christi (in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ) was devised circa 525. In this work AD or BC is used only as an editorial reference for the reader.
Jewish Calendar, Extended Detail
As an example, correlation of months within the Jewish year 5768 would occur midway into each Christian month. Those months, with a sampling of major festivals, are as follows:
Tishrei – September (Rosh HaShanah [aka Hashanah / Hashana] and Yom Kippur)
Cheshvan – October
Kislev – November (Chanukah)
Tevet – December
Shevat – January
Adar I – February
Adar II – March
Nissan – April (Pesach [aka Passover])
Iyar – May
Sivan – June (Shavu’ot [aka Shavuot]) – Holiday seven weeks after Pesach, celebrating YHVH’s bestowing of the Torah* (Five Books of Moshe).
Tammuz – July (Moshe carries the Ten Commandments).
Menachem Av – August (Tisha B’Av-saddest day in Jewish tradition, commemorating Babylonians’ destruction of the First Temple, circa 3236 Jewish, 586 BC). Also the anniversary of the Divine decree that the Jewish people remain in the desert for 40 years until that generation died out for their indiscretion.
*Written version of the oral Torah is called Talmud.
Chuppah – Jewish wedding canopy under which the couple express their vows.
Denarius – Roman silver coin (equiv-40 cents US). One coin was considered to be a laborer’s daily wage. Jews paid two each year for upkeep of the temple under reconstruction. Used to pay Roman taxes.
Drachma – Greco-Roman money in silver (equiv-17 cents US).
Echad – Hebrew for Number One.
Egypt – During their three-year exile, the Family visited Pelusium, Sakha, and other villages. Lived in Samamoud near the River Nile. Mark (aka Mark Josus), accompanied by Jacob (aka James), later spread the news of Yeshua among the Jews and others.
Goiim – Hebrew term generally applied to Gentiles or foreigners.
Great Blue Sea – aka Mediterranean Sea.
Herodian Family – King Herod and sons. Jewish in religion and Idumean in origin. They “ruled” only by Roman appointment. The term “king” was often ascribed to local governors.
Herodians – Courtiers and partisans of the Herod Dynasty who conspired with the Pharisees against Yeshua.
High Priests – Members of the Sanhedrin. During Yeshua’s time, these priests were appointed or removed at the discretion of Herodian family rulers or any Roman procurators.
Judaea – From Judah; used prior to 64 BC (Judaeans aka Judeans).
Judeo-Aramaic Dialect – spoken by the Jews in Nazareth, Kefar Nahum and elsewhere.
Languages – Hebrew was necessary to discuss Jewish scripture, law, religious practices and culture. Latin, Greek, and Aramaic were common in the eastern portion of the Roman Empire, including Caesarea, Sepphoris, Yerushalayim and other key locations. Along all trade routes, mixtures of these languages allowed merchants, tradespeople, military and governmental authorities to more easily communicate.
Ka-hhad – Hebrew “to keep secret.”
Katan – Singular Hebrew for little male (boy); plural is Katanin.
Kohanim (aka Ko-heyn) – Descendents of the ancient family of Aaron, brother of Moshe; many were priests of the Temple.
Law of Moshe – Five books of Moshe which formed the basis of the scripture readings and instructions for synagogue services. Mishna is the traditional law observed and taught by Pharisees.
Menorah – Seven-cup candelabrum used in Jewish worship.
Mezuzah – A case fastened to the doorpost, containing, in part, a miniature scroll of the prayer Sh’ma Yisroel.
Mitzvah – Literally, a commandment; any of the 613 laws Jews are obligated to obey. At times, the word might also apply to a procedure.
Mokel – Rabbi who performs a Berith Milah.
Moshiach – Hebrew word for Messiah. The person destined to free all Jews from servitude. Many expected a great warrior like David.
Palestine – After Rome crushed Bar Kochvah, the Jewish uprising in the second century, as an insult to the Jews they renamed the territories of Israel and Judea “The Land of the Philistines.” The later name “Palestine” was derived from this.
Pesach – Hebrew word for Passover.
Pharisees – Preserved the Jews from “contamination” of foreign religions and strict separation from the Gentiles. They led opposition to many of Yeshua’s teachings.
Publicans – Managed tax collections for Rome. Matthew gave up that position to follow Yeshua.
Olam – Hebrew word meaning “a very long and indefinite period.”
Sadducees – Jewish religious sect which denied immortality, the resurrection, and the existence of angels; insisted on human free will. They argued with Yeshua and fought the apostles, disciples and followers.
Samaria – The capital of the kingdom of Yisroel (885-721 BC). People were descendants of intermarriage between Yisroelites and Assyrians. Rebuilt and renamed Sebaste by Herod the Great.
Sanhedrin – Supreme Council and Tribunal of the Jews, led by the High Priest, with religious, civil and criminal jurisdiction; under Roman rule, not allowed to execute.
Scribes – Authorities for both the written laws and oral traditions. They generally opposed the Sadducees while supporting the Pharisees.
Sepphoris – Birthplace of Miryam and a significant trading city. Workplace of Yosef before his marriage and after the family’s return from Egyptian exile. Greek was the major language spoken in commerce and civil activities.
Shabbath (aka Shabbat) – Jewish seventh day of the week, observed from Friday’s sunset through Saturday’s sunset, as a day of worship and rest; the starting point of all holidays. It was a reminder of the creation and God’s control.
Shalom – Hebrew for hello or goodbye.
Shammash – Person responsible for care of a synagogue; as a sacristan or sexton.
Shivah (aka sit Shivah) – Jewish traditional seven-day period of mourning a death.
Sh’ma Yisroel – A most holy prayer of the Jews; begins, Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad (Hear Yisroel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one).
Shophar (aka Shofar) – Ram’s-head trumpet sounded before and during Rosh HaShanah (aka Hashanah / Hashana), at the conclusion of Yom Kippur and at other services or festivals.
“Silk Road” – Casual term used for major trade routes from the east, beyond Persia to Mediterranean ports such as Caesarea and Tyre.
Sojourn – Temporary stay as on a trip.
Synagogue – A place for meetings and religious services located in every sizable village. Leadership included the ruler (chief elder), elders, shammash and other appointees. Elders formed a local Sanhedrin to hear disputes, assign punishment and direct more serious cases to the Temple authorities. Individual or joint prayer took place four times each day. The congregation faced Yerushalayim and the Temple’s Holy of Holies. There were separated spaces for men and women.
Talmud – Rabbinic discussion of Jewish law. At this time it was only in verbal format.
Tetrarch – Ruler over a portion of a divided kingdom, having the authority of a king.
Torah – First five books of the Jewish Bible; in scroll form.
Yekarot – Hebrew (plural) for female children.
YHVH (aka YHWH / YAHVEH / YAHWEH) – Personal name for the God of Yisroel, signifying “I am who am.” “Adonai,” as a substitute, signifies “my Lord.” Other names or terms include: El, Eloah, Hakadosh, Yah and Master (or King) of the Universe. (Note: While there is even concern for usage in spoken form, respect for and acknowledgement of some Jewish tradition of not writing the full personal name is required, since it might be erased or defaced. In print form one might often see “HA-SHEM [lit: “The Name”] or G_d, or other examples intentionally not fully spelled.)
Yacha – Hebrew prayer of petition; for God to be generous and to deliver us from distress.
Yerushalayim (aka Yerushalaim / Jerusalem) – In Hebrew a “vision of peace.” Book of Psalms calls it the “City of God.” The capital of Judea; Romans referred to it as Aelia Capitolina.
Yisroel (aka Yisrael, Israel).
Zealots – A Jewish group, active from 759 AUC (6 AD), which some considered to be fanatical, calling for the armed overthrow of the Roman occupation.
Zion – The “Holy City” used, at times, to reference Yerushalayim.