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I realized that I have not yet posted some sort of ‘glossary of terms’ that I use often here. Please feel free to ask me in general if I don’t explain something, but in the meantime, here’s a start. The definitions are my own, unless otherwise noted. If there are other terms or phrases you’d like to see added, let me know. And as I go along I’ll try to update this list from time to time.
Conversion - A specific act or series of acts under rabbinic guidance whereby a person who was born into a different religion is officially brought into the Jewish faith.
Mitzvah - A commandment. There are 613 mitzvot in the Torah (Five Books of Moses) and many more are outlined in the Talmud (Oral Law).
Movement, sect - Referring to one of the four main branches of Judaism – Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reform.
Traditional Movements - Usually refers to Orthodox and right-wing Conservative Judaism.
Matrilineal Descent - The idea that the Jewish religion is passed through the birth mother (idea held by all movements).
Patrilineal Descent - The idea that the Jewish religion can also be passed through the birth father (idea held by Reform and Reconstructionist movements).
Rabbi - Spiritual and religious leader, often associated with a synagogue or school. Although we do not believe that rabbis are any closer to G-d than we are, it is our tradition to turn to rabbis for advice and counsel during life-cycle events and for answers on matters of religious practice.
Intermarriage - The act of a Jew marrying a non-Jewish person who has not converted to Judaism.
Mikvah - A ritual bath (noun). Part of the traditional process of conversion involves immersion in a Mikvah.
Brit Milah/ Bris – Circumcision. Required in most movements for the birth of a baby boy or for the conversion of a boy.
