Glossary

Masterpieces of Medieval Hebrew Literature
Glossary

(A download option in PDF can be found below.)

During this course you may come across terms and expressions that you are not familiar with. For this reason, I created a glossary. If there are additional terms that you would like on this list, please let me know.

Abrogation The idea that somethings (texts, laws, books, religions)
are replaced by others
Ahl Al-Kitāb “People of the Book” (Jews, Christians,
Zoroastrians, and other non-Muslims)
Al-Andalus Islamic Iberia / Islamic Spain
Alhambra Decree Also called Edict of Expulsion.
A law that forced all Jews to leave Spain.
Allegory A story or imagery to be interpreted as revealing a
  hidden meaning
Almohads Berber dynasty (12th century), intolerant of minorities
Almoravids Berber dynasty (11th century), religiously conservative
Amora'im Jewish scholars (c. 230-500) responsible for the Gemara
Ananites Followers of Anan ben David;
Later called Qara'ites (or Karaites)
Andalus Islamic Iberia / Islamic Spain
Andalusian Poetry Poetry that follows Arabic meter
(patterns of long and short syllables).
Anthropomorphism Describing God in human terms
Apostasy Deserting one’s religion
Apostate Someone who leaves his/her religion
Arabic meter Poetry focused on patterns of long and short syllables
Arianism A type of Christianity that did not believe in the Trinity.
They believed that Jesus had 'become' the son of God.
Arians Followers of Arianism
Asceticism Severe self-restraint, abstinence, withdrawing from the world,
and/or denial of physical pleasure
Ascetic Someone who practices asceticism
Ashkenaz Hebrew name for Germany (and northern France)
Ashkenazi Jew/Judaism with roots in medieval Germany
and/or northern France
Babylonia Jewish name for Mesopotamia (Iraq)
Babylonian Judaism Judaism as taught and practiced in Babylonia
Babylonian Talmud The Talmud composed in Babylonia
Baron Local ruler, technically under authority of the king
Bid³a Religious innovation (considered a sin in Islam)
Bishop Important Church leader
Blasphemy Insulting God or religion
Blood Libel An accusation that Jews would ritually kill a Christian
Canon The collection of holy books, accepted as genuine
within the Bible
Confess (verb) To declare and acknowledge one’s sins
Confession (noun) Declaring and acknowledging one’s sins
Confessor Someone who hears confessions
Creed Statement of required beliefs within a religious community
Credo The Latin text of the (Roman Catholic) creed (see: Creed)
Christendom Society dominated by Christianity
Conversos Jews or Muslims (and their descendants) who had converted
to Christianity (See also: New Christians)
Crypto Jew Someone who practices Judaism in secret
Crusade A movement of Christians to reconquer the Holy Land
from the Muslims
Day of Atonement A Jewish holiday on which one asks/prays for forgiveness
and forgives others
Dhimma Arabic word meaning toleration or protection,
granted to a dhimmi (see there)
Dhimmi A tolerated member of the People of the Book (see there)
who lives under the Pact of Omar (see there)
Diaspora Dispersion (of the Jews outside their ancestral homeland)
Djarḥa The final two lines of a Muwaššaḥ
Disputation A public debate between representatives of
competing religions
Dogma An authoritative, undisputable article of faith
Edom 1) Another name for Esau (son of Isaac and brother of Jacob);
2) The nation of Edom;
3) Nickname for the Romans
4) In the Middle Ages: code name for Christianity
Edomites 1) Descendants of Edom/Esau;
2) Member of the nation of Edom;
3) Nickname for Romans;
4) Nickname for Christians
Eucharist A Catholic and Byzantine ritual of eating bread
and drinking wine representing Jesus' flesh and blood
Eunuch A male slave whose private parts have been removed
Excommunicate (verb) Expelling or excluding someone from the community
Excommunication (noun) Expelling or excluding someone from the community
Exilarch Head of the Jews in exile
Expulsion Banishing a people (most often Jews) from a country
Festival of Weeks See: Shavu'oth
Festival of Tabernacles See: Sukkot
Ga'on Head of a Talmud Academy in Babylonia or Palestine
Ge'onîm Plural of Ga'on
Gemara Main part of the Talmud that discusses the Mishna
Gematria The belief that the numerical value of a word has meaning
Geniza Storage space for discarded holy texts
Ghusn The first three lines of each stanza within a Muwaššaḥ
Gospel Literally: Happy tiding
  1) In the New Testament: Jesus' message that the
Kingdom of God is at hand
2) A biography of the life of Jesus
(the New testament contains four of such 'Gospels')
Haggadá A booklet with the liturgy of the Passover service
Hagia Sophia (Pronounced: Aya Sofia).
Old, famous church in Constantinople
Halakha Jewish law
Halakhic Legal (appertaining to halakha)
Ḥanukka Jewish festival commemorating a victory of Hellenistic
oppressors (celebrated in winter)
Harem A section of a house or palace containing someone's wives,
concubines, and/or female slaves.
Ḥasîd Hebrew word for 'pietist' (see there);
Someone who is exceptionally religious
Ḥasidé Ashkenaz A specific pietistic movement in Medieval Germany
(see also: pietism)
Ḥasidîm Plural of Ḥasîd
Hasidism A name for several pietist Jewish movements (See: pietism)
Hebrew Bible A collection of Jewish Scriptures identical with the books
of the 'Old Testament' (see there)
Hékhalót Mysticism A type of meditation in which one’s soul travels
through heavenly palaces, towards God’s throne
Hellenism Adopting aspects of Greek culture, language, and/or religion.
Hellenism comes in different gradations.
Hellenist Follower of Hellenism
Heresy Any belief or opinion that is at odds with the
established dogmas
Heretic A member of a religious community who holds religious
opinions that are contrary to the established dogmas
Host A piece of (processed) bread that -when it is 'consecrated'-
is believed to change into the actual body of Christ
Host Desecration The conscious desecration of a consecrated host (See: host)
Iberia The peninsula that contains Spain and Portugal
Initial sin Christian notion that the first sin of Adam and Eve renders
all their descendants automatically sinful
Inquisition A special organization whose goal was to discover, combat,
and punish heresy.
Inquisitor A member of the Inquisition (see: Inquisition)
Ishmael Son of Abraham and brother of Isaac (See also: Ishmaelites)
Ishmaelites 1) Descendants of Ishmael;
2) Hebrew term for Arabs;
3) In the Middle Ages also: Hebrew term for Muslims
³Iṣma Arabic word meaning 'protection against sin'; infallibility
Israel 1) (People of) Israel: a term for the Jewish people;
2) (Land of) Israel
Ittiṣāl (Arabic term) A spiritual connection to God
Jerusalem Talmud Alternative term for Palestinian Talmud; a version of the
Talmud developed in Palestine (the Land of Israel)
Jewry (pl. Jewries) Jewish community
Jizya A special tax paid by dhimmis
Judaizer Someone who brings Jewish influences into Christianity
Judeo-Español   See ‘Ladino’
Kabbalah See: Qabbala
Kalām A type of philosophy practiced in the early Islamic world
in which reason and revelation are combined
Karaites See Qara'ites
Kavod Glory (for Ḥasidé Ashkenaz, a personified emanation of God)
Ladino A Jewish dialect of Spanish spoken outside of Spain
Libel Unfounded, slanderous accusation
Ma’asé Beréshît Works of creation (a type of mystical meditation focused
on the mysteries of creation)
Ma’asé Merkavá Works of the Heavenly Throne (a type of mystical meditation
  focused on the mysteries of God’s throne.
  See also Hékhalót Mysticism)
Maoz Tzur A song, written during the time of the crusades, that is
  commonly sung during the festival of Hanukka
Marano Someone who is outwardly Christian but secretly practicing
  Judaism  (also: Crypto-Jew). Sometimes also used for a
  Christian from Jewish descent.
Martyr A person who is killed because of his religion or convictions
Mashiach Hebrew for Messiah (see under Messiah)
Mesopotamia The land between the two rivers Euphrates and Tigris;
roughly present-day Iraq
Messiah 1) For Jews: A predicted redeemer who will deliver the
Jewish people and rule over the earth in peace
2) For Christians: A predicted redeemer who delivers the
people from sin, and then later will come again and
establish God’s kingdom
Messianism A highly raised expectation of the immanent coming
  of the Messiah
Midrash Teaching or commentary through allegory (See also: allegory)
Millenarianism A highly raised expectation of the immanent (1000 year-long)
Messianic age
Mishna The core text within the Talmud
Mishné Torah Maimonides’ code of Jewish law
Moresco Someone who is outwardly Christian but secretly
practicing Islam. Sometimes also used for a Christian
of Muslim descent.
Mu'tazila A rationalist type of Kalam
Muwaššaḥ Special type of Arabic (or Hebrew) poem, written in stanzas.
The final two lines (called the djarḥa) are written in
another language.
Mystic Someone who tries to attain insight into the mysteries beyond
  ordinary human knowledge, by communication with the
Divine, sometimes in a state of ecstasy.
Mysticism A doctrine or practice that aims at transcending ordinary
  understanding and/or intimately unite the soul with
  God through meditation or ecstasy.
Nagîd Leader of the Jewish communities within a certain territory
Naskh Arabic for Abrogation (something being replaced by
  something else)
Negative Theology The idea that all we can say about God is what He is not
New Christians Christians with Jewish or Muslim ancestors
New Testament The latest, specifically Christian part of the Bible
Old Testament The oldest, Jewish part of the Christian Bible
Omar The second of the four righteous Caliphs (according to
Sunni Islam); See also: Pact of Omar
Oral Torah An originally dynamic, oral Jewish tradition that
  accompanies the (written) Torah.
Pact of Omar An Islamic set of rules that regulate the position of dhimmis
  (See: dhimmî)
Palestine A term originally given by the Romans to the Land of Israel
Pagan Not Jewish, Christian, or Muslim (other word for heathen)
Palestinian Judaism Type of Judaism that originated in Palestine
  (the Land of Israel)
Palestinian Talmud Version of the Talmud developed in Palestine
  (the Land of Israel); also called Jerusalem Talmud
Passover Jewish Festival commemorating the Exodus/the birth
  of the Jewish nation.
                                              Also called Pesach (celebrated in Spring)
Pentateuch Greek word for the Written Torah; the first five books of
  the Hebrew bible; also called the Torah
Penitence Actions that show regret for having done wrong
People of the Book Islamic term referring to those people whom God gave a Holy
Book before Islam (i.e. Jews, Christians, and others)
Pesach Jewish Festival commemorating the Exodus/the birth of the
Jewish nation. Also called Passover (celebrated in Spring)
Pharisees The Jewish leaders after the destruction of the Temple (70 CE)
that carried the Oral Torah. / Originators of the rabbinical
tradition (including the Talmud). Later called Rabbis.
Pietism A movement in which piety (exceptional religiosity)
  is cultivated
Pietist Follower of a movement of pietism
Piety Exceptional religiosity
Pious Exceptionally religious
Piyyut Hebrew for 'Poetry' or 'Poem'
Polemics (In the context of this course:) Argumentation for the sake
  of one's religion
Pope The head of the Roman Catholic Church
Prostration Bowing down in prayer
Provence Region consisting of independent fiefdoms in southern France
Qabbala 1) Passed-on tradition;
2) A Medieval Jewish system of mysticism (see: mysticism)
Qara’ites A kind of Judaism that does not accept and follow the Oral
  Torah and rabbinical tradition (including the Talmud)
Qelippá An evil husk that obscures a divine spark
(also written: Kelippa or Klippa)
Qelippót Plural of Qelippá
Qibla The direction in which one prays
Rabbanites The kind of Judaism that does accept and follow the Oral
  Torah and rabbinical tradition (including the Talmud)
Rabbi A Jewish spiritual leader and/or religious teacher who has
been ordained as such
Rēsh Galuthā The Head of the Diaspora
Revelation A disclosure of God and/or His will to His creatures
Rhineland Area in Germany around the river Rhine which used to
  have important Jewish communities
Rosh haShana Jewish New Year (around the beginning of the Fall)
Sadducees A kind of Judaism before the destruction of the Temple
  (70 CE) that did not accept and follow the Oral Torah
and rabbinical teachings
Safwa (Arabic for "elite") A person or group that has a special
spiritual ability to connect with God
Sefirá A divine emanation within the system of Qabbala
Sefirot Plural of Sefirá
Sepharad Hebrew name for Iberia (Spain and Portugal)
Sephardi Jew/Judaism with roots in medieval Iberia
Sephardic Jew/Judaism with roots in medieval Iberia
Sabbath Seventh day of the week (Saturday); Jewish day of rest
Shabbát Hebrew word for 'Sabbath'
Shavu'oth "Festival of Weeks" Jewish holiday commemorating the
giving of the Torah (celebrated in the Summer)
Simt The final two lines of each stanza within a Muwaššaḥ
Sufi A Muslim mystic
Sufism A form of Islamic mysticism
Sukkot Jewish Festival of Tabernacles, also called Festival of
Booths (in the Fall)
Synagogue Jewish house of worship
Taḥrîf A belief among Muslims that Jews and Christians have
corrupted their Scriptures
Taifa Islamic, relatively small independent territory on the
Iberian Peninsula
Talmud A collection of Jewish books of rabbinic study and discussions
Tanakh A Hebrew term for the Hebrew Bible
Tanna'im Jewish scholars (c. 0-230) responsible for the Mishna
Tetragrammaton The four-letter-name of God that may not be
pronounced (Y-H-W-H)
Theology Study and definition of this pertaining to God and religion
Torah 1) Divine instruction
2) Hebrew term for the Pentateuch (the first five books of the
Hebrew Bible); also called the Written Torah
Tosafists Group of Jewish scholars that appeared after Rashi and wrote
commentaries on Scripture and (especially) on the Talmud
Tosafot Added commentaries written by the Tosafists (see there)
Transubstantiation The Catholic belief that during the mass, the 'host'
(a piece of bread) becomes the real body of Christ
Trinity The Christian belief that the One God consists of three persons:
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Virgin birth The Christian belief that Jesus was born from a virgin (Mary)
Visigoths A Germanic tribe that ruled over the Iberian Peninsula
before the Arabic invasion
Vizier Arabic word for minister.
Written Torah See: Torah
Yeshiva A Jewish religions academy
Yeshu   Hebrew for 'Jesus'
Yishmael See: Ishmael
Yishmaelites See: Ishmaelites
Yom Kippur The Day of Atonement (in the Fall)
Zohar Jewish Book of mystical teachings
Zunār A belt that dhimmis were obligated to wear to be recognizable.

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Masterpieces of Medieval Hebrew Literature ​Glossary​

Masterpieces of Medieval Hebrew Literature
Glossary