Glossary of commonly used words and phrases in Hebrew and English

Yeshua is the Hebrew name of Jesus, which means "to save or deliver." HaMashiach is the Hebrew word for "the Messiah" or "the Anointed One." 

HaShem is a Hebrew phrase that means, "The Name" referring to the unspoken name of G-d, or the yud-hey-vav-hey in Hebrew.  A popular expression containing the phrase HaShem is "Baruch HaShem", meaning "Thank G-d" (literally, "Blessed be the Name"). 

 Ruach is the Hebrew word for "Spirit" and HaKodesh includes two words meaning "The Holy" and when said together, combine into the phrase "The Holy Spirit."  

A Hebrew word that is used for greeting, like "hello" or "goodbye," but also means "peace."

A Hebrew word that means, "listen." The Sh'ma is also the centerpiece to prayer, located in D'varim (Deuteronomy) 6:4, "Hear, O Yisrael, the Lord our G-d, the Lord is One. Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom, forever and ever." The V'ahavta follows immediately afterward.

A Hebrew phrase that means, "And you shall love." It is the commandment that immediately follows the Sh'ma, and is found in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 6:5-9, including the command to love G-d with all one's heart, soul and might.  

A Hebrew word that translates literally as "return," but also refers to repentance. A turning away (in the opposite direction) from our sins and returning to G-d, making ourselves right with Him and with our fellow human beings, that is made possible through repentance of our sins. 

Two Hebrew words that mean "Who is like You." The Mikamocha is a song that is traditionally sung before the Amida and declares that G-d is like no other being.

Amidah literally means, “standing.”  The Amidah, due to its importance, in Hebrew called the Tefilat HaAmidah,  or "The Standing Prayer", is also called the Shemoneh Esreh, which mean "eighteen," because it originally consisted of eighteen prayers. It is the central prayer of the Jewish liturgy. Observant Jews recite the Amidah at each of three prayer times in a typical weekday: morning, afternoon, and evening. 

A Hebrew word that means, "rest" or "cease," also referring to the Sabbath. It is the only day set aside by G-d in the Ten Words (or Ten Commandments) and has never been revoked as His Holy Day.  Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment, from Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown, as was established at Creation.  In  Sh'mot (Exodus) 31:15 HaShem commands, "Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord."

Parasha means portion. It is a custom among religious Jewish communities for a weekly Torah portion to be studied with everyone reading the same portion for that week. It is to be read during services, especially at Shabbat. 

If you have heard something that you'd like to see added to our glossary, please contact us at  olivetreecommunityspokane@gmail.com so we can add it to the list. We appreciate your input!