Glossary

Ceremony in which one partner (traditionally the groom) gives the ketubah to the other partner (traditionally the bride) thus "acquiring" the other.

A head-covering often worn during worship and while in a sanctuary, although some people choose to wear a kippah all the time; plural: kippot. In Orthodox communities, only men and boys wear kippot, while in liberal Jewish communities some women and girls choose to wear kippot.  Also called a yarmulke (Yiddish) or skullcap.  

The seat of Elijah the Prophet, used during a b'rit milah.

"Holy, holiness"

A descendant of the priestly class; according to traditional Judaism, Kohanim will only attend the funeral and burial of their immediate family as they are otherwise forbidden to come near a corpse.

"All Vows;" prayer recited on the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar;

Literally, “(ritually) fit" or “proper;” refers to foods that are permitted to be eaten according to kashrut, the system of Jewish dietary laws and practices. Colloquially, we say that a food is kosher (or not) and a person “keeps kosher” (or doesn’t); can also describe ritual objects that are ritually fit for use (i.e., Torah scrolls, tallit, etc.).

Lit. "crowning." An Eastern European wedding tradition in which the mother (or mothers) are crowned, usually with a wreath of flowers, to celebrate having just seen their last child wed.

One who carries a baby into the b'rit milah ceremony, often the godparents; feminine: kvaterin

Literally, “sanctification” or “holiness.” The word also refers to the third section of the Amidah prayer.

“Congregation” or “community.”