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- Al ChetThe Al Chet is a confession of sins that is said ten times in the course of the Yom Kippur services.
- AninutThe period of time between death and burial.
- aronCasket or coffin; usually composed of unfinished wood. Aronot is the plural.
- aronotPlural of aron, a casket.
- aveilutMourning. This is a general term for the ritual mourning after burial. Mourners are known as aveilim, those who mourn.
- bar mitzvahLife cycle celebration for a boy to publicly honor his entry into adulthood to take on Jewish mitzvot (commandments).
- Baruch Dayan EmetHebrew phrase meaning, 'Blessed is the True Judge.' This phrase is recited upon hearing of a death.
- bat mitzvahLife cycle celebration for a girl to publicly honor her entry into adulthood to take on Jewish mitzvot (commandments).
- bikur cholimVisiting the sick. Sometimes used to describe visiting those who are dying or injured.
- bnei mitzvotLife cycle celebrations for youth to publicly honor their entry into adulthood to take on Jewish mitzvot (commandments). Commonly known as bar mitzvah for boys and bat mitzvah for girls.
- brit milahCircumcision, usually performed 8 days after birth.
- b’tzelem ElohimHebrew for "In the image of God" - a fundamental Jewish belief that we are created in the Divine image.
- chevrahShort for Chevrah Kadisha - “Sacred Society” – a communal organization whose tasks are to care for the dead and to support the mourners.
- Chevrah Kadisha“Sacred Society” – a communal organization whose tasks are to care for the dead and to support the mourners.
- chevrotPlural of chevrah, usually referring to several Chevrah Kadisha organizations.
- chole A sick man. Chola is a sick woman. Cholim is the plural.
- drashotA drash is a speech or talk given at a religious service, usually to instruct through inquiry. Drashot is the plural form.
- Eilu D’varim A Hebrew phrase denoting that there is no limit on the value of mitzvot (good deeds). The literal translation is "these are the things with no set measure - no limit".
- El Malei RachamimHebrew for “God Full of Mercy”; the title of a prayer for the soul of the departed, recited at a graveside or a memorial service.
- g’milut chasadim Acts of loving kindness.
- halachaJewish law. This refers to the 613 commandments in the Torah.
- halanahPlacing a body into a casket (such as during the taharah ritual).
- halbashahThe dressing of a deceased body in burial clothes, such as during the taharah ritual.
- HavdalaThe ceremony delineating the boundary between the end of Shabbat (Jewish sabbath) and the beginning of the secular week.
- HespedThe eulogy given for the dead.
- HespedimEulogies given for the dead. Plural of hesped.
- HineniHebrew for "Here I am." This comes from the Torah (Genesis 22:1 and Exodus 3:4), where both Abraham and Moses reply to God that they are present and listening. It is used here to indicate this tool is available at all times to help.
- kabbalah Jewish mysticism based on the 13th century book known as the Zohar.
- KaddishA prayer honoring the Divine, written in Aramaic, used to delineate sections of the prayer service. There is a special version of this prayer (Kaddish Yatom) said by mourners.
- Kaddish YatomMourner’s prayer; literally “Orphan’s Kaddish". An Aramaic prayer extolling God that is said to assist the transition of the soul after death.
- kavanahSacred intent, holy intention. This is an attitude of respect while performing a task that is considered to be holy, or helps to uplift the spirituality of a ritual.
- kavimAn ancient measure of volume, 9 kavim equals 24 quarts of water; the amount of water poured during the spiritual purification part of the taharah ritual.
- kavodHonor or respect. In this context, it is often seen as kavod hameit meaning to show respect, honor, and dignity to the dead.
- kavod hameitTo show respect, honor, and dignity to the dead.
- kehilahThe local Jewish community, sometimes used to mean the congregation.
- keverGrave, burial plot.
- kevurahBurial; usually referring to traditional in-ground burial.
- kittelA linen or cotton white robe worn on holidays (primarily Yom Kippur), and then used as the outer jacket of one's burial clothing.
- Kohen GadolThe High Priest in the time of the Temple.
- kosherGenuine and legitimate. Usually used to indicate a food or action is in accordance with Jewish law.
- kriahTearing; the ritual of tearing one’s clothing when learning of a death. Sometimes a ribbon is used instead of clothing.
- l'dor vadorFrom generation to generation. Usually indicating the transmission of values throughout time.
- levayahA funeral; literally “accompanying”.
- L’havdil"Differentiation" - A Hebrew word meaning to separate, to delineate, to differentiate between two distinct environments or things. Often used to note the separation between the sacred and the secular as one transitions after a holy ritual back into daily life.
- likut atzamotThe "gathering of bones" - The Jerusalem Talmud (Mo’ed Katan 1:5) describes the practice of likut atzamot as a two-phase procedure of burying Jewish bodies in deep pits (mahamorot) and waiting for the skin to dissolve before removing the bones for reburial. The bones were then placed in an ossuary, or bone box.
- l’vayat hameitAccompany the dead. Often used to include funeral and burial for a loved one.
- maasehAction, doing activity, one's deeds.
- Ma’avar YabbokThe title of an influential book published in 1626, documenting Jewish customs around caring for the dying and dead. It became the foundational work guiding Jewish end-of-life practices, and underlies what we do today.
- machzorJewish prayer book.
- matzevahHeadstone or grave marker; literally a “pillar”.
- mayyim hayyimHebrew for "Living Waters" - a term referring to clean running water (often natural, as in a mountain stream).
- meitA deceased person. (Meit is masculine, meitah is feminine, meitim is plural.)
- Meit MitzvahAn abandoned body, (who can become a source of mitzvah for those who bury him/her).
- mezuzahA piece of parchment inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Torah, which Jews fix to the doorposts of their homes.
- mikvahCommunity ritual bath.
- minhagLocal Jewish custom (as opposed to halacha, Jewish law).
- minhag hamakomLocal Jewish custom; literally, "the custom of the place." Sometimes local custom is in practice for so long it is considered equal to Jewish law for a specific ritual or tradition.
- minyanA group of 10 adults who compose a Jewish quorum for communal prayer.
- Mi Shebeirach"May the One Who Blesses..." - a prayer for those who are ill.
- mitzvah A commandment in the Torah. In general usage, this term also denotes an action of high value.
- nechamahComfort; in this context, the comforting of and showing compassion for mourners and families after a death.
- nefeshSoul, breath, life, spirit, living person. One of the five words for the various parts of the human soul.
- neshamahSoul, breath, living being. One of the five words for the various parts of the human soul.
- nichum aveilimComforting mourners.
- niftarDeceased person, one whose body has completed its task, and is now free to return to the earth.
- olam habaThe world to come, the afterlife.
- olam hazehThis world.
- onenA term used to describe a mourner (close family member) between death and burial of a loved one. Feminine is onenet.
- po nikbar"Here is buried". Often seen on headstones in the cemetery, sometimes only the first letter of each word (pay-nun, in Hebrew) are shown as an abbreviation to indicate that this is the grave of X, where X is the name of the deceased.
- rabbanA title used for the President of the Sanhedrin (the legislative and judicial assembly during the time of the Temple). It implies a leader and teacher of significant renown.
- rechitzahWashing with water. The portion of the taharah ritual when the body is physically washed (a sponge bath).
- refuah shlemahA complete or whole healing. Often wished for those who are ill or injured.
- roshLeader, coordinator, or guide. Literally, “head”. (Rosh is masculine, roshah is feminine.)
- ruachSpirit, wind, breeze, air. One of the five words for the various parts of the human soul.
- ShabbatThe Jewish sabbath. It begins at sunset Friday evening and lasts through sunset Saturday.
- ShechinahOne of the central feminine aspects of God.
- ShemaThe first word of the Jewish affirmation, "Hear oh Israel, The Lord is Our God, The Lord is One."
- shivaThe first seven days of mourning following burial. Literally, the number “7”.
- shiva minyanA Jewish quorum (10 adults) in the home of a mourner for communal prayers. Sometimes this term is used for the prayer service in the home of a mourner.
- shiva minyanimThe plural of shiva minyan, a Jewish quorum (10 adults) in the home of a mourner for communal prayers. Sometimes this term is used for the prayer services in the home of a mourner.
- shloshimThirty days of mourning following burial. Literally, the number “30”.
- shmirahThe ritual act of "guarding" (sitting with, accompanying) the dead between death and burial.
- shomerA “guard” or protector, someone who accompanies (sits with) the dead between death and burial. (Shomer is masculine, shomeret is feminine.)
- shomrimPlural of shomer, a person who sits with the dead between death and burial.
- sovevA sheet-like drape wrapped around a prepared body as it is placed into a casket.
- TachanunTachanun (Supplication) is a prayer unit containing confessions of sins and petitions for God’s grace and mercy that is recited immediately after the reader’s repetition of the Amidah in the morning and afternoon prayer services on weekdays.
- tachrichimBurial garments, from the Hebrew word “to enwrap.”
- taharahThe ritual to prepare a body for burial. This name is also used for the "spiritual purification" pouring of water during the ritual. From the Hebrew root meaning to purify.
- tahorPure; spiritually bounded, integrated, wholely of itself.
- tallitJewish prayer shawl.
- tameiSpiritually vulnerable, diffuse, open. Sometimes used to mean "impure".
- tefilahPrayer, prayer service. Plural is tefilot.
- tikun olamA spiritual mandate to heal the world. Jewish practices include this value as a foundational basis for action in the world.
- treyfSomething inappropriate, not genuine, or not legitimate. Usually meaning not allowed by Jewish law.
- tzitzitFringes on a Jewish prayer shawl. These are tied in a specific way to include 613 knots representing the 613 mitzvot (commandments).
- Tzror ha HayyimThe bundle of life / the bond of life; often seen on grave markers and used in prayers at the gravesite.
- ViduiThe deathbed confession. Sometimes used to denote deathbed rituals in general.
- YahrzeitThe anniversary of a death. Literally, “year time” in Yiddish.
- yizkorA Hebrew term from the root meaning, "to remember," designating the memorial service held 4 times each year.