List of Hebrew abbreviations


This is a list of Hebrew abbreviations.
This list is far from complete; you can help by expanding it.

Using this list

Sorting order

The entries are sorted according to the Hebrew alphabet. Prefixes indicating prepositions, conjunctions and articles have generally been removed, with the following exceptions:
  • Where the acronym is incomprehensible or meaningless without the prefix.
  • Where the prefix is so integral to the acronym that variants without it rarely, if ever, occur.
In addition, suffixes modifying abbreviations have been removed using the same guidelines. When searching for an abbreviation ending in a plural, adjectival, or possessive suffix like ית, ים, י, ה, ו, ות, the suffix should be removed if not an integral part of the abbreviation, as described in regard to prefixes above. Depending on the typography, note that the gershayim may either:
  • Move to the penultimate position, even if the mark falls in the modifying suffix and not the abbreviation proper; or
  • Remain in its place within said proper and not shift with the added suffix. Sometimes, depending on style, the suffix is marked with a geresh, so that for example the plural of ש״ץ would be ש״צי׳ם.

Partially-abbreviated phrases

Where only part of a term is abbreviated, the entry is sorted on the abbreviated portion, and the unabbreviated portion appears in square brackets to produce תנא] דב״א].

Abbreviations with numerical elements

Some abbreviations included here are actually gematria, but the number is so closely associated with some noun that it is grammatically used as a noun and is synonymous with it, for example ב״ן Ban.
Other abbreviations contain a variable gematria component alongside other words, such as the chapter references פי״א and פ״ט. Rather than list separate entries for every possible gematria, or use only one example number, the gematria component is replaced with to produce פ״.

Abbreviations from other Jewish languages

Some Aramaic and Yiddish abbreviations may not be included here; more may be found in the Aramaic acronyms and the List of Yiddish abbreviations, respectively.
Many of the abbreviations here may be similar or identical to those in the other lists of acronyms. In fact, a work written in Hebrew may have Aramaic acronyms interspersed throughout, much as an Aramaic work may borrow from Hebrew. Although much less common than Aramaic abbreviations, some Hebrew material contains Yiddish abbreviations too.

Abbreviation-like non-abbreviations

Not all lexemes containing a geresh or gershayim are abbreviations, and such non-abbreviations do not appear in this list. Therefore, if after much effort an abbreviation still cannot be deciphered, it is sometimes helpful to try an alternate mode of interpretation. For instance, aside from abbreviations, the geresh and gershayim marks may also be used:
  • To indicate a number using Hebrew letters. This is likely when the letters are in reverse alef-beit order, or when the abbreviation consists of a single letter followed by a geresh. For example, the year תשע״ד or 774 AM, or the ד׳ רוּחוֹת four directions.
  • To indicate a double meaning, where both the gematria of the word or phrase should be taken, as well as the plain meaning. For example, to give chai חַ״י dollars to tzedakah means to give eighteen dollars to tzedakah, thereby giving another person life, and drawing the blessings of life in return upon the donor.
  • In Modern Hebrew, to modify the sounds of certain letters, as in the names George ג׳וֹרג׳ and Charlie צָ׳רלִי.
  • When transliterating foreign words into Hebrew. For example, Rashi often uses Hebrew letters to write French translations of Biblical Hebrew, marking it with a gershayim like an abbreviation. He usually appends בְּלַעַ״ז afterwards.
  • In anagrams, i.e., rearranging letters in a word or phrase. This is especially common in Kabbalah. For example, the first sefira, חָכמַה, can be rearranged to read כֹּ״חַ מָ״ה. The rearranged words are marked with gershayim.
  • When listing the letters themselves. For example, ְמְנַצְפַּ״ך menatzpach lists all the Hebrew letters having special final forms at the ends of words.
  • When spelling out a letter. In this way, אַלֶ״ף spells out alef א, and יוּ״ד spells out yud י. When using this method, gematria may also be significant, as above.

List

x

  • ״ט,טפחים - handbreadths
  • ״פ,פעמים - times. Often appears as a prayerbook instruction

א

א·א

  • אברהם אבינו, א״א - our forefather Abraham
  • אדוני אבי/אדונינו אבינו, א״א My master, my father. 2) Our master, our father
  • אִי אֶפְשָׁר, א״א - it is impossible; it would be impossible
  • אין אומרים, א״א Not recited. Often as a prayerbook instruction. 2) We do not say ...
  • איש אלקי, א״א - the Godly man
  • אשת איש, א״א - a married woman; lit. the wife of a man
  • אי אמרת בשלמא, אא״ב - if you say complete. Introduces an idea that will be contradicted
  • אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן, אא״כ - unless
  • אוֹר אֵין סוֹף, אא״ס - The Light of the Infinite One; the emanated life force of the Infinite One. See also אוא״ס. Compare א״ס
  • אברהם אבינו עליו השלום,אאע״ה - our forefather Abraham, peace on him. See also א״א

א·ב

  • אב בית דין, אב״ד - leader of the court; lit. father of the house of judgment. See also ב״ד
  • אב בית דין קודש, אבד״ק - leader of the holy court; lit. father of the holy house of judgment. See also ב״ד
  • אצילות בריאה יצירה עשיה, אבי״ע - the Four Worlds. See also בי״ע

א·ג

  • אגרת הקדש, אגה״ק A treatise by the Nahmanides on marriage
  • אגרת התשובה, אגה״ת - "Letter of Repentance"; a volume of the Tanya
  • אג״ק, אִגָּרוֹת קֹדֶשׁ - 'Letters of the Holy'. Usually authored by the citer's rebbe, unless specified otherwise

א·ד

  • אָדוֹן, אד׳ - Mr.
  • אדני, אד׳ - the Name of God spelled א-ד-נ-י and pronounced Ado-nai in the course of prayer, meaning My Lord
  • איכא דאמרי,א״ד - There are some that say. Used to present an alternative explanation.
  • אדמו״ר האמצעי, אדהאמ״צ - lit. our Middle Master, Teacher and Rebbe; Dovber Schneuri, a.k.a. the Mitteler Rebbe, the second leader of the Chabad court. See also אדמו״ר
  • אדמו״ר הזקן, אדה״ז - lit. our Elder Master, Teacher and Rebbe; Shneur Zalman of Liadi, first leader of Chabad Hasidism. See also אדמו״ר
  • אדם הראשון, אדה״ר - Adam the first
  • אדוננו מורנו ורבינו הזקן, אדמוה״ז - our Elder Master, Teacher and Rebbe; Shneur Zalman of Liadi
  • אדוננו מורנו ורבינו, אדמו״ר - our Master, Teacher and Rebbe. For rebbes, used alone or prepended to the name
  • אדרא זוטא, אדר״ז - Idra Zuta; a part of the Zohar

א·ה

  • אי הכי, א״ה - if so
  • אהבה ויראה, אהוי״ר - love and fear
  • ארץ הקודש, אה״ק - the Holy Land; i.e. Israel
  • אהבה רבה, אה״ר - great love; a level of love for God

א·ו

  • אוֹמֵר, או׳ - say; it says
  • אומרים, או׳ - we/they say
  • אבא ואמא, או״א Father and mother. 2) Aba and Imma
  • אלוקינו ואלוקי אבותינו, או״א - our God and God of our forefathers
  • אחד ואחד, או״א - Each and every
  • אוֹר אֵין סוֹף, אוא״ס - The Light of the Infinite One; the emanated life-force of the Infinite One. See also אא״ס. Compare א״ס
  • אוֹגוּסְט, אוג׳ - August
  • איסור והתר, או״ה - forbidden and permitted
  • אוהל מועד, אוה״מ - the Tent of Meeting
  • אומות העולם, אוה״ע - the nations of the world
  • אור התורה, אוה״ת - The Light of the Torah. A commentary on the Tanach
  • אוֹר חוֹזֵר, או״ח - reflected light. Contrast או״י
  • אורח חיים, או״ח - the first section of the Tur; lit. the Way of Life
  • אוֹר יָשָׁר, או״י - direct light. Contrast או״ח
  • אורות וכלים, או״כ - lights and vessels
  • אומות המאוחדות, או״ם - the United Nations
  • אור מקיף, או״מ - encompassing light. Contrast או״פ
  • אור פנימי, או״פ - inner light. Contrast או״מ
  • אוצרות חיים, אוצ״ח - Treasuries of Life; part of the first book of Eitz Chaim by Chaim Vital. See ע״ח
  • אותות, אותו׳ - signs; testimonies
  • אוֹתִיּוֹת, אותיו׳ - letters

א·ז

  • את זה/זאת, א״ז - this

א·ח

  • אֵשֶׁת חַיִל, א״ח - woman of valor
  • אחינו בני ישראל, אחב״י - our brethren, the children of Israel
  • אחר זה, אח״ז - after this
  • אַחַר כָּךְ, אח״כ - after this; afterwards; lit. after such; later

א·י

  • ארץ ישראל, א״י - the Land of Israel
  • איתא, אי׳ - There is. 2) It is
  • איש ירא אלקים, אי״א - God-fearing man
  • אין זה, אי״ז This does not. 2) This is not
  • אמן יהא שמה רבא, איש״ר - the core words of the Kaddish; lit. amen, may His Great Name

א·כ

  • אִם כֵּן, א״כ - if so
  • אמן כן יהי רצון, אכי״ר - amen, so may it be Will
  • אַנְשֵׁי כְּנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה, אכנה״ג - the Men of the Great Assembly

א·ל

  • אָמַר/אמרה/אָמְרוּ לוֹ/לָהּ/להם/לָכֶם, א״ל - he/she/they said to him/her/them/you
  • אָמַר לֵיהּ, א״ל - he said to him
  • אֵלִיָּהוּ, אלי׳ - Elijah
  • אם לא כן, אל״כ - if not; if this were not so
  • אלקות, אלק׳ - Godliness
  • אֱלֹקִים,אלקי׳ - God. Indicates severity, judgement and tzimtzum

א·מ

  • אור מקיף, א״מ - encompassing light. Contrast א״פ
  • אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם, אמ״ה - our God, King of the Universe
  • אוי מה היה לנו, אמה״ל - Woe! What has happened to us!
  • אמרין, אמרי׳ - say

א·נ

  • אנשי שלומינו, אנ״ש 'people of our peace' - people of our court

א·ס

  • אֵין סוֹף, א״ס - No End; the Infinite One

א·ע

  • אין ערוך, א״ע - nothing compares
  • אֶת עַצְמוֹ/עצמם, א״ע Itself. 2) Himself. 3) Themselves
  • אף על גב, אע"ג - even though; lit. even on back of
  • אַף עַל פִּי, אע״פ - even though; lit. even by mouth of
  • אַף עַל פִּי כֵן, אעפ״כ - even so; lit. even by mouth of this

א·פ

  • אור פנימי, א״פ - inner light. Contrast א״מ
  • אֲפִילּוּ הָכִי, אפ״ה - even so; nevertheless
  • אֲפִילוּ, אפי׳ Even. 2) Even if
  • אפשר לומר, אפ״ל - it is possible to say
  • אַפְּרִיל, אפר׳ - April
  • אֶפְשַׁר, אפש׳ - possible; possibly

א·צ

  • אֵין צָרִיךְ, א״צ Does not need. 2) Unnecessary
  • אישה צנועה, א״צ - modest/humble lady
  • אצילות, אצי׳ - the highest of the Four Worlds. See אבי״ע
  • אצילות, אצילו׳ - the highest of the Four Worlds. See אבי״ע
  • אין צריך לומר, אצ״ל - needless to say
  • ארגון הצבאי הלאומי, אצ״ל - National Military Organization, the Irgun

א·ק

  • אדם קדמון, א״ק - Primordial Man; a spiritual level transcending Atzilut

א·ר

  • אָמַר רַבִּי/רַב, א״ר - Rabbi said. "Rabbi" is used for a Tanna of the Mishna, and "Rav" for an Amora of the Gemara. If no name is specified, the reference is usually to Judah the Prince.
  • אֶרֶץ, אר׳ Land. 2) The earth. 3) The physical universe
  • ארצות הברית, ארה״ב - the United States; lit. Lands of the Covenant
  • ארץ הקודש, ארה״ק - the Land of Israel; lit. the Holy Land. Contrast חו״ל
  • אמרו רז״ל, ארז״ל - our Rabbis of blessed memory said. See also רז״ל
  • האדון/האלהי/האשכנזי/אדוננו רבי יצחק, אר״י -Isaac Luria lit. The Lion; lit. The Master/The Godly/Our Master Yitzchak; major elucidator of Kabbalah. See also אריז״ל
  • האדון/האלהי/האשכנזי/אדוננו רבי יצחק ז״ל, אריז״ל - Rabbi Yitzchak ben Shlomo Luria; lit. The Lion, of blessed memory; lit. The Master/Godly/Ashkenazi/Our Master Rabbi Yitzchak of blessed memory; major elucidator of Kabbalah. See also אר״י, ז״ל
  • כתר] ארם צובה, אר״ץ] - the Aleppo Codex; lit. the Crown of Aram Tzovah

א·ת

  • אל תקרי, א״ת - an additional reading; lit. do not read
  • אתגליה, אתגלי׳ - revealed. Contrast אתכסי׳
  • אתכסיה, אתכסי׳ - hidden. Contrast אתגלי׳
  • אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְעֵילָא, אתעדל״ע - arousal from Above; i.e. from Heaven by Divine kindness. Contrast אתעדל״ת
  • אִתְעָרוּתָא דִּלְתַתָּא, אתעדל״ת - arousal from Below; i.e. by human efforts in Torah and mitzvot. Contrast אתעדל״ע

ב

ב·א

  • בְּנֵי אָדָם, ב״א Mankind; lit. descendants of Adam. 2) People 3) Cherished sect.
  • בן אדוני אבי, בא״א - the son of my master, my father
  • באר היטב, באה״ט - Ba'er Hetev, a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch. The sections on Orach Chaim and Even HaEzer were written by R. Yehudah ben Shimon Ashkenazi; the sections on Choshen Mishpat and Yoreh De'ah by Zechariah Mendel ben Aryeh Leib
  • בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳, בא״ה - lit. blessed are You, Lord; the beginning formula of many blessings
  • בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳, בא״י - lit. blessed are You, Lord; the beginning formula of many blessings
  • בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, באהאמ״ה - lit. Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe; the beginning formula of many blessings

ב·ב

  • בבא בתרא, ב״ב - the tractate Bava Batra of the Talmud; lit. final gate
  • בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ, ב״ב - speedily in our days
  • בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ אָמֵן, בב״א - speedily in our days, amen
  • בשר בחלב, בב״ח - A of meat and milk. 2) The laws concerning this

ב·ג

  • נשמתו] בגנזי מרומים, בג״מ] - is in the supernal treasuries. An epitaph appended to a name
  • בגר״ז - son of Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum|Zalman

ב·ד

  • בֵּית דִּין, ב״ד A court; lit. house of judgment. 2) A group of at least three adult Jewish men acting as a Halachic judiciary body. 3) A non-Jewish court. See also בי״ד
  • במה דברים אמורים, בד״א - in what context does this apply?; lit. with what were words said?
  • ברוך דיין האמת, בד״ה - lit. "Blessed is the true judge"; recited upon receiving news of a death
  • בדרך כלל, בד״כ - generally; lit. "by the way of all" or "as a rule"

ב·ה

  • בֵּית הִלֵּל, ב״ה - the academy of Hillel; lit. the house of Hillel
  • בעזרת השם, ב״ה - with the help of God. Often at the top of a written or printed sheet. See also בס״ד
  • בָּרוּךְ הוּא, ב״ה - may He be blessed. Appended to a mention of the Divinity
  • ברוך השם, ב״ה - thank God; lit. God be blessed
  • בית הכנסת, בהכ״נ - the synagogue; the shul; lit. the house of gathering
  • ברכת המזון, בה״מ - Blessing/grace after meals; lit. blessing of food
  • ברכת המזון, בהמ״ז - Blessing/grace after meals; lit. blessing of food
  • בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, בהמ״ק - the Temple in Jerusalem; lit. the Sanctified House

ב·ו

  • בשר ודם, ב״ו - human; lit. flesh and blood
  • בו׳ קצוות, בו״ק In the six directions . 2) lit. in the six extremities; indicating chesed, gevurah, tiferet, netzach, hod and yesod

ב·ז

  • בִּזְמַן/בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה, בזה״ז Lit. At this time. 2) On this day. 3) In this era; nowadays

ב·ח

  • בית חדש, ב״ח - Lit. A New House; a commentary on the Tur. 2) The author of this work, Rabbi Yoel Sirkis of Cracow
  • בַּעֲִל חוֹב, ב״ח - creditor
  • בְּחִינַת/בְּחִינָה, בחי׳ - Level Aspect

ב·י

  • בורא יתברך, ב״י - the blessed Creator
  • בית יוסף, ב״י - House of Joseph; a commentary on the Arba'ah Turim. 2) The author of this work, Rabbi Yosef Caro
  • בֵּית דִּין, בי״ד A court; lit. house of judgment. 2) A group of at least three adult Jewish men acting as a Halachic judiciary body. 3) A non-Jewish court. See also בי״ד
  • בית הכנסת, ביהכנ״ס - the synagogue; lit. the house of gathering
  • בית הספר, ביה״ס - school; lit. house of the book
  • בין השמשות, ביה״ש - twilight
  • בית יעקב לכו ונלכה, ביל״ו - an early Zionist movement to settle Palestine, lit. House of Jacob, let us go
  • בְּרִיאָה יְצִירָה עֲשִׂיָּה, בי״ע - the three nethermost of the Four Worlds, where the denizens thereof are aware of their own existence. See אבי״ע
  • ברית יוסף תרומפלדור, בית״ר - a militant, Zionist group that fought against the Nazis in Warsaw and later alongside the Irgun for independence from the British Empire; 'Alliance of Joseph Trumpeldor'. The ancient fortress of Betar that fell to the Roman Empire in the Bar Kochba revolt

ב·כ

  • בְּכָל זֶּה/זֹאת, בכ״ז Despite all this. 2) Lit. in/with all this

ב·מ

  • בבא מציעא, ב״מ - tractate Bava Metzia of the Talmud; lit. Middle Gate
  • ביטול מצות לא תעשה, במל״ת - neglect of a negative commandment. See also מל״ת
  • ביטול מצות עשה, במ״ע - neglect of a positive commandment. See also מ״ע

ב·נ

  • בן נוח, ב״נ - a descendant of Noah; a Noahide
  • בַּ״ן - a spelling-out of the Tetragrammaton numerically equal to 52, the gematria of ב״ן. Usually appears as שם ב״ן
  • בנדון דידן, בנדו״ד - in our case; in the topic under discussion; lit. in our discussion
  • בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, בנ״י - the Children of Israel; Jews
  • בורא נפשות רבות, בנ״ר - the bracha after finishing foods that are neither one of the five grains, nor one of the Seven Species, nor wine. Lit. Creator of many souls

ב·ס

  • בסיעטא דשמיא, בס״ד - with the help of Heaven. Typically at the top right corner of a printed or written page. See also ב״ה

ב·ע

  • בַּעֲלֵי/בַּעֲל גְּבוּל, בע״ג - finite being; lit. possessor of limits
  • בעל הרצון, בעהר״צ One with a will; lit. master of will. 2) Willingly
  • בַּעֲל הַבָּיִת, בעה״ב Lit. Master of the house; homeowner. 2) Master; boss
  • בעל הטורים, בעה״ט Ba'al HaTurim; lit. Allusions of the Baal HaTurim; his Kabbalistic commentary on the Pentateuch
  • בעהמ"ח lit. the composing master; the author
  • בעזרת השם יתברך, בעזה״י - with the help of God, may He be blessed
  • בַּעֲִל חוֹב, בע״ח - creditor
  • בעל חי, בע״ח - living being; lit. possessor of life
  • בערבון מוגבל, בע״מ - Ltd., lit. with/by limited warranty
  • בְּעַל פֶּה, בע״פ Lit. Oral; orally. 2) By heart
  • בעל שם טוב, בעש״ט - Lit. Good Master of the Name; alt. Master of the Good Name; Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov. See also ריב״ש

ב·פ

  • בורא פרי הגפן, בפה״ג - the bracha on wine. Lit. Creator of the fruit of the vine.
  • בורא פרי האדמה, בפה״א - the bracha on vegetables. Lit. Creator of the fruit of the earth.
  • בְּפוֹעַל מַמָּשׁ, בפו״מ - in physical action; in actual deed
  • בְּפוֹעַל מַמָּשׁ, בפ״מ - in physical action; in actual deed
  • בפני עצמו/עצמה/עצמם/עצמן, בפנ״ע - on its/his/her/their own
  • בפני עצמו/עצמה/עצמם/עצמן, בפ״ע - on its/his/her/their own

ב·ק

  • בבא קמא, ב״ק - the tractate Bava Kama of the Talmud; lit. First Gate
  • בַּת-קוֹל, ב״ק - a Heavenly voice ; lit. daughter of a sound

ב·ר

  • בְּרֵאשִׁית רַבָּה, ב״ר - Bereishit Rabbah. A part of the Midrash.
  • בְּרֵאשִׁית, ברא׳ The Book of Genesis. 2) Creation; lit. "In the beginning of..."
  • בְּרֵאשִׁית, בראשי׳ The Book of Genesis. 2) Creation; lit. "In the beginning of..."
  • ברית המועצות, ברה״ם - the Soviet Union; lit. Alliance of Councils
  • בְּרִיאַת הָעוֹלָם, ברה״ע - the creation of the world
  • בריאה, ברי׳ - creature
  • ברית מילה, ברמ״ל - circumcision; lit. covenant of circumcision

ב·ש

  • בית שמאי, ב״ש - the academy of Shammai; lit. the house of Shammai
  • בָּרוּךְ שְׁמוֹ, ב״ש - blessed be His Name
  • בשורות טובות, בשו״ט - good tidings
  • בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, בשכמל״ו - blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever. The second sentence of the recital of the Shema, also said after accidentally making an incorrect or unnecessary bracha

ב·ת

  • בל תשקצו, ב״ת - not make yourselves repulsive
  • בתוך כל ישראל, בתכ״י - among all of Israel
  • בתוך כל ישראל אמן, בתכי״א - among all of Israel, amen
  • בתי כנסיות, בתכנ״ס - synagogues; lit. houses of gathering

ג

  • גְּבֶרֶת, גב׳ - Ms./Mrs. Prepended to a name
  • גִ׳יגָה בַּיְט, ג״ב - gigabyte
  • גְּבוּל, גבו׳ Boundary. 2) Limit
  • גומר, גו׳ - etcetera
  • גִּימַטְרְיָא, גימ׳ - gematria
  • גַּם כֵּן, ג״כ As well; also. 2) Lit. so too
  • גְּמָרָא, גמ׳ - Gemara; the explanation and discussion of the Mishna as printed in the Talmud
  • גמילות חסדים, גמ״ח - a fund or bank for interest-free lending of items such as tefillin, wedding gowns, and similar items, in the spirit of gemilut chasadim. See next entry
  • גמילות חסדים, גמ״ח - deeds of loving kindness. Esp. citing Mishna, Tractate Avot 1:2
  • גַּן עֵדֶן, ג״ע - the Garden of Eden
  • גן עדן העליון, געה״ע - the Supernal Garden of Eden. Compare געה״ט
  • גַן עֵדֶן הַתַּחְתּוֹן, געה״ת - the Nether Garden of Eden. Compare געה״ע
  • גְּדוֹלִים פּוֹלִישׁ, ג״פ - large, Polish
  • ג׳ ראשונות, ג״ר - the three first
  • גאון רבינו אליהו, גר״א - The Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu ; a.k.a. the Vilna Gaon, the great Talmudical scholar and Halachic decisor of Ashkenazic Jewry
  • גאון רבי יצחק זאב, גרי״ז - Yitzchok Zev Soleveitchik; rosh yeshiva of the Brisk yeshiva, which he re-established in Jerusalem
  • גר תושב, ג״ת - resident alien; a Gentile who has accepted the Seven Laws of Noah and is halachically permitted to live in the Land of Israel

ד

ד

  • דַּף, ד׳ Page. 2) Folio; sheet. Since a sheet consists of two sides, the side is also often indicated; the first side is side A or amud alef and the second side is side B or amud bet. See also ע׳
  • הַשֵּׁם, ד׳ - God. Note the slightly uncommon substitution of the ד for the ה

ד·א

  • ד׳ אַמּוֹת, ד״א - four amot; four cubits
  • דָּבָר אַחֵר, ד״א Lit. Something else. 2) Another version. 3) a pig.
  • הוי׳ אלוקיכם, ד״א - the Lord your God. Note the slightly uncommon substitution of dalet ד in place of the hei ה
  • דברי אלוקים חיים, דא״ח dach, divre Elokim Chaim 'words of the Living God' - Hasidic philosophy

ד·ב

  • תנא] דבי אליהו, דב״א] - Taught the Seekers of Elijah; the name of a midrash
  • דְּבָרִים, דברי׳ Statements; words. 2) Things.

ד·ה

  • דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים, ד״ה - the Books of Chronicles
  • דיבור המתחיל, ד״ה - the statement beginning with
  • דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים א׳, דה״א - I Chronicles
  • דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים ב׳, דה״ב - II Chronicles
  • דוד המלך עליו השלום, דהמע״ה - King David, peace on him
  • דוד המלך עליו השלום, דהע״ה - King David, peace on him

ד·ו

  • דין וחשבון, דו״ח Lit. Judgment and accounting. 2) Report
  • דְחִילוּ וּרְחִימוּ, דו״ר - fear and love

ד·ח

  • דברי חז״ל, דחז״ל - 'words of the Hazal, may their memory be for a blessing'. See also חז״ל

ד·מ

  • דֶּרֶךְ מָשָׁל, ד״מ - by way of analogy

ד·ס

  • דִבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים, ד״ס Words of the sages; lit. words of the counters. To learn the laws, they counted them, cf. "There are four main categories of damaging agents", "On three things the world is sustained" Rabbinical law

ד·ע

  • דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן, ד״ע - Supernal knowledge. See also ד״ת

ד·צ

  • דומם צומח חי, דצ״ח - silent, growing living ; referring to all species of Creation aside from mankind
  • דומם צומח חי מדבר, דצח״ם - silent, growing, living speaking ; the four levels of created beings in the physical world
דְּצַ״ךְ עֲדַ״שׁ בְּאַחַ״ב, דָּם צְפַרְדֵּעַ כִּנִּים עָרוֹב דֶּבֶר שְׁחִין בָּרָד אַרְבֶּה חֹשֶׁךְ בְּכוֹרוֹת, - the Ten Plagues; lit. blood, frogs, lice, wild beasts, pestilence, boils, hail, locust, darkness, firstborn

ד·ק

  • דקות, דק׳ - minutes

ד·ר

  • דָּרוֹם, דר׳- South
  • דברי רז״ל, דרז״ל- the words of our Rabbis, may their memory be for blessing. See also רז״ל

ד·ש

  • דברי ירמיהו, שמעו דבר ה׳, חזון ישעיהו, דש״ח - "The words of Jeremiah", "Hear the word of Hashem", "The Vision of Isaiah"

ד·ת

  • דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה, ד״ת - words of Torah
  • דַּעַת תַּחְתּוֹן, ד״ת - lower knowledge. See also ד״ע

ה

x·ה

  • ה״, הֲלָכָה - law

ה

  • הַשֵּׁם, ה׳ - God; lit. the Name. Usually refers to the Tetragrammaton

ה·א

  • ה׳ אֱלוֹקֶיךָ, ה״א - Hashem your God
  • הָאָרֶץ, האר׳ The land. 2) The earth. 3) The universe

ה·ג

  • ה׳ גבורות, ה״ג - the five severities; i.e. binah, gevurah, hod, yesod and malchut
  • הגהות המחבר, הגה״מ Lit. Notes of the compiler. 2) Notes of the author

ה·ד

  • הד׳ יסודות - the four elements; i.e. fire, air, water and earth

ה·ה

  • הרי הוא, ה״ה It is. 2) He is. 3) This is
  • הרי הם, ה״ה They are. 2) These are
  • הוא הדין, ה״ה - This/that is the ruling
  • הַר הַבַּיִת, הה״ב Mount of the House - the Temple Mount
  • הרב המגיד, הה״מ - 'the Rabbi the Preacher', the Maggid of Mezeritch; the successor of the Ba'al Shem Tov

ה·ו

  • הַוָיָה, הוי׳ - A rearrangement of the letters indicating the Tetragrammaton. Indicates kindness, mercy and revelation
  • הַוָה לֵיהּ לְמֵימַר, הול״ל - shouldn't he have said
  • הוא ענין, הו״ע - this is the idea
  • הושנה רבה, הו״ר - Hoshana Rabbah; the 7th day of Sukkot

ה·ז

  • הרי זה, ה״ז - this is

ה·ח

ה·י

  • הָיָה, הי׳ - was. Contrast והי׳
  • הַשֵׁם יִשְׁמְרֵנוּ, ה״י - may God protect us

ה·כ

  • הריני כפרת משכבו/משכבה, הכ״מ - I am an atonement for his/her resting place. Added after the name of a parent who has deceased less than 12 months prior

ה·ל

  • הלכות, הל׳ - the laws of. Usually as a part of a section or chapter title
  • הלכה למשה מסיני, הל״מ - - an law of Moses from Sinai

ה·מ

  • הני מילי, ה״מ - This statement. 2) Lit. These words
  • המסכלת, המסכל׳ Intellectual. 2) Logical
  • המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה, המע״ה - one who take from his fellow must provide the proof; lit. one who takes from his fellow, the proof is on him

ה·נ

  • הָכִי נַמִי, ה״נ - here also
  • הנגלות, הנגלו׳ Revealed. 2) The revealed things

ה·ע

  • הוא עצמו, ה״ע - he himself/it itself
  • הֶעָרָה, הע׳ - note

ה·פ

  • הפסק טהרה, הפס״ט - pause purity

ה·ק

  • הקטן, הק׳ - the insignificant. Usually in autographs, preceding a signature
  • לשון] הקודש, הק׳] - the Holy Tongue; i.e. Hebrew
  • לשונו] הקודש, הק׳] - his holy words
  • הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הקב״ה - The Holy One, blessed be He

ה·ר

  • הרב הגאון, הרה״ג - the brilliant rabbi. An epithet prefixed to a name
  • הרב החסיד, הרה״ח The pious rabbi. 2) The rabbi, the chasid. An epithet prefixed to a name
  • הרב הצדיק, הרה״צ The righteous rabbi. 2) The rabbi, the tzaddik. An epithet prefixed to a name
  • הרב התמים, הרה״ת - the rabbi, the Tamim; i.e. a graduate of Tomchei Temimim
  • הרב רבי, הר״ר - the rabbi, Rabbi...

ה·ש

  • השם יתברך, השי״ת - Hashem, may He be blessed
  • השתחוואת, השתחוואו׳ - prostrations. Ex. in the Amidah

ה·ת

  • התמים, הת׳ - the Tomim; one who studies or studied in Tomchei Temimim; lit. the pure/unblemished
  • התהוות, התהוו׳ - becoming

ו

  • כל אחד] ואחד, וא׳] Every individual. 2) Each one
  • ואם תאמר,וא״ת - and if you would say
  • ובלאו הכי, ובלא״ה - Lit. And if not so. 2) Regardless / anyway
  • וְדַי לַמֵּבִין, וד״ל - and sufficient for the understanding
  • וְהָיָה, והי׳ - will be. Contrast הי׳
  • ויקרא רבה, ויק״ר - a work of Midrash on the Book of Leviticus
  • וְיִתְעַלֶּה, וית׳ - and may be exalted. Usu. after יתברך, yitbareich/yitbarach
  • וכן הוא, וכ״ה And it is this way. 2) Lit. And so it is
  • וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה, וכיו״ב - and the like
  • ונראה, ונר׳ - and it appears
  • ועוד יש לומר, ועוי״ל - and furthermore we can say

ז

ז

  • זָכָר, ז׳ Lit. A male. 2) Also lit. Masculine

ז·א

  • .זאת אומרת, ז. א - this means; lit. this says
  • זְעֵיר אַנְפִּין, ז״א - the manifestation of God within the six emotional sefirot, corresponding to Yetzirah and immediately followed below by Asiyah; lit. Small Faces. Compare to Arich Anpin, א״א
  • זה את זה, זא״ז - each other

ז·ב

  • זה בזה, זב״ז - this with that

ז·ה

  • זוהר הקודש, זה״ק - the Holy Zohar; the fundamental tome of Kabbalah

ז·ו

  • זוהר חדש, זו״ח - New Zohar; a section of the Zohar

ז·ח

  • זח״, זֹּהַר חֵלֶק - the Zohar, part

ז·י

  • ז׳ ימים, ז״י - seven days
  • זכרונו יגן עלינו, זי״ע - may his memory protect us. Appended to a name
  • זכרונו יגן עלינו אמן, זיע״א - may his memory protect us, Amen

ז·ל

  • זה לשונו, ז״ל - begin quote; lit. this is his language. See also עכ״ל
  • זכרונו/זכרונם לברכה, ז״ל - of blessed memory; lit. his memory for blessing. Appended to the name

ז·מ

ז·נ

  • ז׳ נקיים, ז״נ - seven clean

ז·צ

  • זכר צדיק לברכה, זצ״ל - may the memory of a saint be for a blessing. An epitaph appended to a name
  • זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה, זצוק״ל - may the memory of the saint and holy person be for a blessing. An epitaph appended to a name

ז·ק

  • זרע קדוש, ז״ק – holy seed. A surname
  • זיהוי קורבנות אסון, זק״א - a religious rescue and recovery organization that also specializes in identifying and burying the dead after a disaster; lit. Disaster Victim Identification
  • זכר קדוש לברכה, זק״ל - may the memory of the holy be for a blessing. Used for martyrs, appended to a name
  • זכר קדוש צדיק לברכה, זקצ״ל - may the memory of the holy righteous be for a blessing. An epitaph appended to a name

ז·ש

  • זהו שאמר, ז״ש - this is as states
  • זה שכתוב, ז״ש - this is as it is written
  • זה שאמרו רז״ל, זשארז״ל - this is as our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said. See also רז״ל
  • זהו שאמר הכתוב, זש״ה - this is as the verse states

ז·ת

  • ז׳ תחתונות, ז״ת - the seven lower

ח

x·ח

  • ח״, חֵלֶק - part

ח·ב

  • חָכְמָה בִּינָה דַעַת, חב״ד Any of the historical Hasidic courts emphasizing intellectual comprehension of spirituality. Compare חג״ת

ח·ג

  • חֶסֶד גְּבוּרָה תִּפְאֶרֶת, חג״ת the three inner emotional sefirot: Of or pertaining to courts that emphasize emotional attachment to the Divine. Compare חב״ד

ח·ה

  • חַג הַסּוּכּוֹת, חה״ס - the festival of Sukkot
  • חַג הַפֶּסַח, חה״פ - the festival of Pesach
  • חַג הַשָּׁבֻעוֹת, חה״ש - the festival of Shavuot

ח·ו

  • חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, ח״ו - Heaven forbid; lit. compassion and peace
  • חכמה ובינה, חו״ב - lit. Chochmah and Binah; the first two sefirot. These sefirot being the "Father" and "Mother," this term also often includes their "children"
  • חסד וגבורה, חו״ג - lit. Chesed and Gevurah; the first two emotional sefirot. This term sometimes also includes the "branches" of these sefirot
  • חֹל הַמּוֹעֵד, חוה״מ - the "weekday" of the festival
  • חֹל הַמּוֹעֵד סֻכּוֹת, חוהמ״ס - the Chol HaMo'ed of Sukot. See חוה״מ
  • חֹל הַמּוֹעֵד פֶּסַח, חוהמ״פ - the Chol HaMo'ed of Pesach. See חוה״מ
  • חוּץ-לָאָרֶץ, חו״ל - the Diaspora; lit. outside the Land. Contrast ארה״ק
  • חורין וסדקין, חו״ס - hollows and crevices

ח·ז

  • חכמינו זכרונם לברכה, חז״ל - lit. Our Sages, of blessed memory; Jewish sages of previous generations. See also רז״ל

ח·י

  • ח״י - 18; the gematria of chai, life. Commonly used to specify dates and currency amounts for tzedakah
  • חידושי, חי׳ - innovations
  • חיה, חי׳ - chayah; the first aspect of the soul to emanate from the Ein Sof
  • חיה יחידה, ח״י - chayah yechidah; the two highest levels of the soul, which are unified with God and perceive no other existence aside from His. See also נרנח״י
  • חיים יוסף דוד אזולאי, חיד״א - Jerusalemite Halachist, Kabbalist and Talmudist, a prolific author
  • חיי אדם, חיי״א - lit. The Life of Man; a post-Acharonic collection of Jewish Law by Rabbi Avraham Danzig on certain laws in Orach Chaim
  • חתימת יד קדשו, חי״ק - his holy signature; lit. seal of his holy hand

ח·כ

ח·נ

  • חכמה נסתרה, ח״ן - lit. hidden wisdom; i.e. the field of Kabbalah in general; grace
  • חיים נחמן ביאליק, חנ״ב - a prominent Jewish modern poet c. 1873-1934
  • חֲתִּיכָה נַעֲשִׂית נְבֵילָה, חנ״ן - a cut-off piece became un-kosher . Ex. a large piece of cheese that falls into a small pot of meat stew - the entire mixture is חנ״ן.

ח·ע

  • חכמה עילאה, ח״ע - lit. Supernal Wisdom; the first emanation of the sefirah of Chochmah. See also חכ״ע

ח·ק

  • חֲצִי קַדִּישׁ, ח״ק - Half Kaddish; a kaddish starting from the usual preamble "Yitgadal v'yitkadash" and continuing until "L'eila min kol birchata... da'amiran b'al'ma, v'im'ru amein." Recited only by the prayer leader

ח·ת

  • חידושי תורת משה סופר, חת״ם סופר, חת״ס - The Chatam Sofer. This is a partial expansion, which still contains an abbreviation, however, the abbreviation also spells out the word for "Seal": lit. Seal of the Scribe. In full, lit. The Innovations of Moses Sofer's Teachings; a book written by Rabbi Moses Sofer containing novellae on the Talmud. 2) The author of this work
  • חומש תהלים תניא, חת״ת - The Five Books of Moses, the Psalms and the Tanya. 2) The daily study schedule for these three books. 3) A single volume containing these three books bound together

ט

  • ט״, טור Row . 2) Column
  • טלית גדול, ט״ג - the large talit
  • טעם ודעת, טו״ד - reason and logic
  • וְתֵן] טַל וּמָטָר, טו״מ] - and give dew and rain
  • טועים, טועי׳ - err; are mistaken
  • טוֹב וָרָע, טו״ר - good and evil
  • טור שולחן ערוך, טושו״ע - the Arba'ah Turim; an extremely famous halachic work by R. Yaakov ben Asher, who is a.k.a. the Baal HaTurim after this work
  • טלית ותפילין, טו״ת - tallit and tefillin
  • טורי זהב, ט״ז - Lit. Rows of Gold; a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch. 2) The author of this commentary
  • טחת ידי, טח״י - in my possession; lit. under my hand
  • טעיות סופרים, ט״ס - printer's/copyist's errors
  • טלית קטן, ט״ק - the small talit

י

י

  • לשון] יחיד, י׳] - singular; lit. singular language

י·א

  • יש אומרים, י״א - there are those who say
  • יארצייט, יא״צ - anniversary of someone's passing; lit. time of year
  • יארצייט, יאצ״ט - anniversary of someone's passing; lit. time of year

י·ג

  • י״ג מדות, יג״מ Thirteen Attributes of Mercy|Thirteen Attributes . 2) Thirteen Principles of Exegesis|Thirteen Principles

י·ה

  • יִהְיֶה, יהי׳ - will be

י·ו

  • יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, יוה״כ - Yom Kippur; lit. the Day of Atonement
  • יוֹם טוֹב, יו״ט - festival; lit. good day
  • היועץ המשפטי לממשלה, היועמ"ש - Attorney General of Israel, the 'ha' prefix is equivalent to 'the' and isn't part of the acronym
  • יוֹשֵׁב רֹאשׁ, יו״ר - chairman, lit. one who sits at the head

י·ח

  • יצא] ידי חובתו, י״ח] - fulfilled his obligation
  • יוֹדְעֵי חֵן, י״ח - those who know Kabbalah; lit. those who know grace
  • שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה, י״ח - the Amidah; standing prayer; lit. 18 . See also ש״ע
  • יחודא עילאה, יחו״ע - Supernal unity
  • יחודא תתאה, יחו״ת - nether unity

י·ט

  • יו״ד טפחים, י״ט - ten handbreadths; usu. the space from that height to the ground
  • יום טוב, י״ט Lit. good day. Used as a parting greeting in Modern Hebrew. 2) A holy day.

י·י

  • השם, י״י - God

י·ל

  • יש לומר, י״ל - it might be said
  • יש להקדים, ילה״ק - we must first explain; lit. we must preface
  • ילקוט שמעוני, ילק״ש - Midrashic commentary on the Tanakh

י·מ

  • ימות המשיח, ימוה״מ - the Messianic era; lit. the days of the Messiah
  • ימות המשיח, ימוהמ״ש - the Messianic era; lit. the days of the Messiah

י·ס

  • יוּ״ד סְפִירוֹת, י״ס - ten sefirot. See also ע״ס
  • יסודי התורה, יסוה״ת - Yesodei HaTorah; lit. Foundations of the Torah

י·ע

  • יגן עליה אלקים, יע״א - may God shield her/it
  • יעוין שם, יעו״ש - see there; lit. investigate there

י·פ

  • יפת תואר, יפ״ת - a beautiful appearance

י·צ

  • יצר הטוב, יצה״ט - the good inclination. See also יצ״ט
  • יֵצֶר הָרַע, יצה״ר - the evil inclination
  • יברכם צורנו וישמרם, יצ״ו - may our Stronghold bless them and protect them
  • יֵצֶר טוֹב, יצ״ט - good inclination. See also יצה״ט
  • יְצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם, יצי״מ - the Exodus from Egypt. See also יצ״מ
  • יְצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם, יצ״מ - the Exodus from Egypt. See also יצי״מ

י·ק

  • יין קידוש נר הבדלה זמן, יקנה״ז - wine, kiddush, candle, havdalah, time ; the order of blessings recited when the second day of a holiday begins as soon as Shabbat ends

י·ר

  • ירושלים של מטה, ירושמ״ט - the nether Jerusalem
  • ירושלים של מעלה, ירושמ״ע - the Supernal Jerusalem
  • ירא שמים, יר״ש - fears Heaven
  • יראת שמים, יר״ש - fear of Heaven

י·ש

  • יראת שמים, י״ש - fear of Heaven
  • ימח שמו, יש"ו - may his name be erased

י·ת

  • יִתְבָּרַךְ, ית׳ - may He be blessed
  • יִתְבָּרַךְ, יתב׳ - may He be blessed
  • יתברך שמו, ית״ש - may His Name be blessed

כ

כ

  • כְּתִיב, כ׳ - written. Often regarding a keri uchetiv. See also ק׳

כ·א

  • כִּי אִם, כ״א Unless. 2) Except. 3) But rather
  • כָּל אֶחָד, כ״א Each one. 2) Everyone
  • כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, כאו״א - each and every one; lit. each one and one
  • כתבי אר״י, כאר״י - writings of the Arizal
  • כִּתְבֵי אֲרִיזַ״ל, כאריז״ל - writings of the Arizal

כ·ב

  • כָּל בְּנֵי בֵּיתוֹ, כב״ב - all the members of household; lit. all the children of his house
  • כִּבְיָכוֹל, כבי׳ - as it were; lit. as if it could be

כ·ג

כ·ד

  • כל דרגא, כ״ד - every level

כ·ה

  • כֵּן הוּא/הִיא, כ״ה It is so; so it is. 2) So too
  • כהאי גוונא, כה״ג - the like; etcetera
  • כהן גדול, כה״ג - high priest; lit. great priest
  • מְלֹא] כָל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ, כה״כ] - the entire earth with His glory

כ·ו

  • כוּלֵהּ, כו׳ - etcetera
  • כַּמֶּה וְכַמָּה, כו״כ - many; lit. several and several
  • כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת, כו״מ Idolatry. 2) Lit. Stars and constellations
  • כֻּלֵּי עָלְמָא, כו״ע - all hold

כ·ז

  • כל זה, כ״ז - all this
  • כָּל זְמַן, כ״ז The entire duration of; lit. the entire time. 2) Whenever

כ·ח

  • כל חד, כ״ח - each one
  • כתר חכמה בינה, כח״ב - keter, chochmah bina

כ·י

  • כל יחיד, כ״י - everyone; lit. each individual
  • כתבי יד, כ״י manuscripts. 2) handwritten.

כ·כ

  • כל כך, כ״כ - to such an extent
  • כמו כן, כ״כ - similarly; lit. like so
  • כן כתב, כ״כ – also wrote like this

כ·ל

  • כלויה, כלו׳ - including

כ·מ

  • כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר, כמ״ד - according to the one who says
  • כמה מקומות, כ״מ - many places
  • כמו דאמרין, כמ״ד - as they/we say
  • כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, כמ״ש - as it is written
  • כמו שאמר, כמ״ש - as it/he said
  • כמו שיתבאר, כמשי״ת - as will be explained
  • כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר, כמשנ״ת - as was explained
  • כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר לְעֵיל, כמשנת״ל - as was explained above. See also נת״ל
  • כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב שָׁם, כמש״ש - as it is written there

כ·נ

  • כנסת ישראל, כנ״י - lit. the collective of Israel; the Jewish people
  • כנזכר לעיל, כנ״ל - as mentioned above

כ·ע

  • כל עלמין, כ״ע - all worlds

כ·צ

  • כהן צדק, כּ״ץ – righteous priest. Used as a surname for Kohanim

כ·ק

  • כבוד קדושת, כ״ק - His Holy Honor. For tzadikim and rebbes, prepended to the name, and sometimes also to Admor. See also אדמו״ר
  • כבוד קדושת שם תפארתו, כקש״ת - His Holy Honor, His Glorious Name being. For tzadikim, prepended to the name

כ·ש

  • כל שכן, כ״ש - all the more so. Compare ק״ו

כ·ת

  • כתבי יד, כת״י - writings; lit. manuscripts. Try also ת״י
  • כְּתִיב, כתי׳ - it is written
  • כתבי יד קדשו, כתי״ק - his holy manuscripts; lit. writings of his holy hand

ל

ל

  • לָשׁוֹן, ל׳ Wording. 2) Terminology. 3) Relating to. Used to indicate etymology or a definition. 4) Lit. Tongue/language

ל·א

  • לָשׁוֹן אִידִישׁ, ל״א - the Yiddish language
  • לאו הכי, לא״ה - not so

ל·ב

  • להבורא יתברך, לבוי״ת - to the blessed Creator

ל·ג

ל·ד

  • לדברי/לדעת הכל, לד״ה - according to all opinions

ל·ה

  • להד״​מ​, לא ה​י​ו ד​ב​ר​י​ם מ​ע​ו​ל​ם -, no way
  • להיות, להיו׳ - to be
  • לסביות הומואים טרנסג׳נדרים וביסקס, להט״ב - [LGBT">בעומר - the thirty-third day of the [Counting of the Omer">Omer

ל·ד

  • לדברי/לדעת הכל, לד״ה - according to all opinions

ל·ה

  • להד״​מ​, לא ה​י​ו ד​ב​ר​י​ם מ​ע​ו​ל​ם -, no way
  • להיות, להיו׳ - to be
  • לסביות הומואים טרנסג׳נדרים וביסקס, להט״ב - [LGBT

ל·ו

  • ל״ו - the 36 hidden tzadikim alive in any generation and time, on whose merit the world is sustained

ל·ח

  • לוחמי חרות ישראל, לח״י - a militant Zionist group that fought against the British Empire for Israel's independence; lit. Fighters for the Freedom of Israel
  • לחם משנה, לח״מ - a commentary on the Mishneh Torah by Rabbi Abraham de Boton

ל·י

  • ליה, לי׳ - It. 2) Him

ל·כ

  • לכאורה, לכאו׳ - on the contrary
  • לְכִדְתָנָא, לכדתנ׳ - as was taught

ל·מ

  • לְמַאן דְּאָמַר, למ״ד - according to the one who says
  • לְמַעְלָה, למע׳ - above

ל·ע

  • לא עלינו, ל״ע - may we be spared; lit. not be upon us
  • זה] לעומת זה, לעו״ז] - lit. opposite that ; meaning, for all things that were created on the side of holiness, a corresponding thing exists in the realms of impurity
  • לשון עם זו, לע״ז - the local language; lit. language of this people
  • לשון עם זר, לע״ז - foreign language; lit. language of a foreign people
  • לעתיד לבא, לע״ל - the future; lit. the time to come
  • לעניות דעתי, לענ״ד - in my humble understanding; lit. in the poorness of my understanding

ל·פ

  • לפני הצמצום, לפה״צ - before the tzimtzum
  • לפי זה, לפ״ז - according to this; lit. by the mouth of this. See also ע״פ and לפי״ז
  • לפי זה, לפי״ז - according to this; lit. by the mouth of this. See also ע״פ and לפ״ז
  • לפי מה שכתוב, לפמ״ש - according to what is written
  • לפני זה, לפנ״ז - before that
  • לפרט קטן, לפ״ק - of the sixth millennium of Creation; lit. of the small specification. Used to specify the last three digits of the Hebrew year.

ל·ק

  • לִקּוּטֵי אֲמָרִים, לק״א Lit. Collected Discourses; the Tanya by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. 2) The first part thereof
  • לקוטי שיחות, לקו״ש - lit. Collected Sermons; the sermons delivered and edited by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, in Yiddish and Hebrew.
  • לקוטי תורה, לקו״ת A Hasidicwork by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi

ל·ת

  • לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, ל״ת - Prohibition. 2) Prohibitory. 3) Lit. Do not do/make

מ

x·מ

  • מ׳/מ״, משנה - teaching . Often used when citing the Mishnah and the Jerusalem Talmud, where each chapter or perek is composed of many teachings, or mishnayot.

מ·א

  • מדרש אגדה, מ״א - Midrashic interpretation

מ·ב

  • מֶגָה בַּיְט, מ״ב - megabyte
  • משנה ברורה, מ״ב - Clarified Mishnah; a condensed work of Halacha for the layman written by the Chafetz Chaim. See also משנ״ב
  • מברכים ראש החדש, מברה״ח - the beginning of the incumbent Hebrew month is blessed ; lit. we bless the head of the month

מ·ג

  • מקראות גדולות, מ״ג - the Great Scriptures; the Tanach with traditional commentaries and Targumim
  • מְגִלַּת אֶסְתֵּר, מג״א - the Megillah of Esther; the Book of Esther
  • מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם, מג״א - Lit. Shield of Abraham; a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch. 2) Its author, the Polish Talmudist Rabbi Avraham Abele Gombiner

מ·ד

  • מיין דכורין, מַ״ד - lit. "masculine" waters; Heavenly action
  • מגן דוד אדום, מד״א - the Israeli Emergency Service; lit. Red Shield of David
  • י״ג] מדות הרחמים, מדה״ר] - the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy| Attributes of Mercy
  • מדרש רבה, מד״ר - Great Midrash
  • מַדְרֵיגָה/מַדְרֵיגַת, מדרי׳ - rung ; level

מ·ה

מ·ו

  • מורינו ורבינו הרב יוסף יצחק, מוהריי״צ - lit. our teacher and our rabbi, Yosef Yitzchak; Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, sixth rebbe of Chabad. See also ריי״ץ
  • מורינו ורבינו הרב רבי, מוהר״ר - our teacher and Rebbe, Rabbi... For Hasidic rebbes, prepended to the name
  • מורנו ורבינו הרבי שלום בער, מוהרש״ב - our teacher and Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Ber; the Rashab, the fifth Rebbe of Chabad. See also רש״ב
  • מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת, מוצ״ש - after Shabbat; lit. the exit of Shabbat
  • מורינו ורבינו, מו״ר - our teacher and rabbi. Prepended immediately before a name, or used alone
  • מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת קֹדֶשׁ, מוש״ק - after the holy Shabbat; lit. the exit of the holy Shabbat

מ·ז

  • מִזְרָח, מז׳ - East
  • מחשבה זרה, מ״ז - alien thought
  • מַחֲשָׁבוֹת זָרוֹת, מ״ז - alien thoughts
  • מַזָּל טוֹב, מז״ט - congratulations; lit. a good efflux

מ·ח

  • מחשבה דיבור ומעשה, מחדו״מ - thought, speech and action
  • מחשבה דיבור ומעשה, מחדומ״ע - thought, speech and action
  • מֶחֱצָה, מחצ׳ - half

מ·ט

  • מַאי טַעְמָא, מ״ט - what is the reason
  • מטי ולא מטי, מטול״מ - touching and not touching
  • מטטרון, מט״ט - Metatron. He is referred to as "Matat" to avoid the taboo of pronouncing the names of angels

מ·כ

  • מי כמוך באלים ה׳, מכב״י - a Maccabee; Who among the gods is like You, Hashem?
  • מלא כל הארץ כבודו, מכה״כ - the entire earth is filled with His glory
  • מכל זה, מכ״ז - from all this
  • מכל שכן, מכ״ש - all the more so; lit. via a kol shekein. See also כ״ש

מ·ל

  • מלכות, מ״ל - - see מל׳
  • מלכות, מל׳ - Kingdom; dominion. 2) The last of the ten sefirot, which receives from all the other sefirot and expresses them
  • מאיר לייבוש בן יחיאל מיכל, מלבי״ם - Meir Leibush ben Yechiel Michel ; Russian commentator on the Torah
  • מלאכי השרת, מלה״ש - ministering angels
  • מועצה לביטחון לאומי, מל״ל - Israel's security council/committee
  • מלמטה למעלה, מלמטלמ״ע - from Below to Above
  • מלמעלה למטה, מלמעלמ״ט - from Above to Below
  • מלפני זה, מלפנ״ז Than before this. 2) Since before this
  • מצות לא תעשה, מל״ת - negative commandment; prohibition; lit. commandment not to do

מ·מ

  • מִכָּל מָקוֹם, מ״מ In any case. 2) Lit. From any place
  • מנחם מענדל, מ״מ - a given name
  • מפקד מחלקה, מ״מ - platoon commander
  • ממלא מקום, מ״מ - substitute, stand-in, deputy
  • מלך מלכי המלכים, ממה״מ - the King Who reigns over kings
  • ממלא כל עלמין, ממכ״ע - immanent in creation; lit. filling all worlds. Compare סוכ״ע
  • מַמָּשׁוּת, ממשו׳ - realness; tangibility; lit. the capability of being touched

מ·נ

  • מַיִין נוּקְבִין, מַ״ן - "feminine" waters; human action
  • מנחם אב, מנ״א - Menachem Av
  • מנחת חינוך, מנ״ח - lit. Meal-Offering of Education; a commentary on Sefer HaChinuch written by Rabeinu Yosef Babad

מ·ס

  • מספר סידורי, מס״ד - serial number
  • מסירת נפש, מסנ״פ - self-sacrifice; lit. giving over spirit

מ·ע

  • מַעֲרָב, מע׳ - West
  • מִצְוַת/מִצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה, מ״ע - positive commandment; lit. commandment do. See also רמ״ח
  • מַעֲשֶׂה/מַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית, מע״ב - the work of Creation
  • מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, מע״ט - good deeds
  • מעבר לדף, מע״ל - on the other side of the page
  • מעת לעת, מע״ל - 24 hours; lit. from a time to time
  • מעבר לדף, מעל״ד - on the other side of the page
  • מעת לעת, מעל״ע - 24 hours; lit. from a time to time

מ·פ

  • מפרש, מפ׳ - it is explained

מ·צ

  • מצורף בזאת, מצו״ב - attached to this
  • מצורף פה, מצו"פ attached here

מ·ק

  • מקום פנוי, מקו״פ - empty space
  • מספר קטלוגי, מק״ט - lit. catalogue number; serial number
  • מִקְדָּשׁ מֶלֵֶךְ, מק״מ - Lit. Sanctuary of the King; a commentary on the Zohar

מ·ר

מ·ש

  • מה שכתב, מ״ש - what wrote
  • מַה שֶׁכָּתוּב, מ״ש - that which is written
  • מוצאי שבת, מ״ש Saturday night. 2) The night after Shabbat ends. Lit. The exit of Shabbat
  • מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן, משא״כ - which is not so
  • משום הכי, מש״ה - because of this
  • משום זה, משו״ז - because of this
  • משיחא, משיח׳ - The Messiah. 2) Lit. anointed. This may indicate a king, a kohen, or even a member of the Jewish people regardless of particular lineage
  • מה שכתב, מש״כ - what wrote
  • מַה שֶׁכָּתוּב, מש״כ - that which was written
  • משנה ברורה, משנ״ב - lit. Clarified Mishnah; a condensed work of Halacha for the layman written by the Chafetz Chaim. See also מ״ב
  • מה שנתבאר לעיל, משנת״ל - that which was explained above. See also נת״ל
  • מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, משרע״ה - our teacher Moses, peace on him
  • מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב שָׁם, מש״ש - what is written there

מ·ת

  • מתן תורה, מ״ת - the giving of the Torah
  • מַתְנִיתִין, מתני׳ - it was taught

נ

נ·א

  • נֶאֱמַר, נא׳ - is/was said
  • נוסח אחר, נ״א - another version

נ·ב

  • נשמתו בגנזי מרומים, נבג״מ - his soul is in the treasuries of Heaven. Appended to a name
  • נברא העולם, נבה״ע - the world was created

נ·ד

  • נדון דידן, נדו״ד - our case; the topic under discussion; lit. our discussion
  • נדון זה, נדו״ז - our case; the topic under discussion; lit. this discussion

נ·ה

  • נפש האלוקית, נה״א - the Divine soul
  • נפש הבהמית, נה״ב - animal soul
  • נצח הוד יסוד, נה״י - netzach, hod, and yesod
  • נצח הוד יסוד מלכות, נהי״מ - netzach, hod, yesod and malchut

נ·ו

  • נצח והוד, נו״ה - netzach and hod
  • נוקבא, נוק׳ - Lit. a female. 2) Also lit. Feminine. 3) The partsuf of Nukvah; i.e. the sefirah of malchut

נ·ח

  • נביאים וכתובים, נ״ח - the parts of the Tanakh aside from the Pentateuch; lit. Prophets and Writings. See also תנ״ח
  • נר חנוכה, נ״ח - the light of Chanukah
  • נחיה, נחי׳ - let us live
  • נחת רוח, נ״ר - see נח״ר
  • נחת רוח, נח״ר - pleasure; contentment; lit. restfulness of spirit
  • נדוי, חרם, שמתא, נח״ש - rebuke, excommunication, injunction; snake

נ·ט

  • נותן טעם, נ״ט - imparts a taste
  • נגד טנקים, נ״ט - anti-tank
  • נטילת ידים, נט״י - ritual washing of the hands; lit. taking the hands. The hands are raised after ritual rinsing; this avoids water becoming impure from the unwashed forearms and dripping onto the hands, making them impure again

נ·י

  • נטילת ידים, נ״י - rinsing of the hands; lit. taking the hands
  • נר ישראל, נ״י - the light of Israel; i.e. a leader and sage. Prepended to a name

נ·ל

  • נזכר לעיל, נ״ל - mentioned above
  • נראה לי, נ״ל - it appears to me

נ·ס

  • נצח סלה ועד, נס״ו - forever and ever

נ·ע

  • נשמתו עדן, נ״ע - his soul is Eden. Appended to a name

נ·פ

  • נפקא מינא, נפ״מ - the upshot; lit. that which is taken from it

נ·צ

  • נפתלי צבי יהודה ברלין, נצי״ב - the dean of the Volozhin Yeshiva, lived 1816-1893

נ·ק

  • נְּקֵבָה, נק׳ Lit. A female. 2) Also lit. Feminine
  • נִקְרָא, נק׳ - it/he is called

נ·ר

  • נֶפֶשׁ רוּחַ נְשָׁמָה, נר״ן - nefesh, ruach, neshamah; the three lower aspects of the soul that are aware of their own existence. See also נרנח״י
  • נפש רוח נשמה חיה יחידה, נרנח״י - nefesh, ruach, neshamah, chayah, yechidah; all five levels of the soul, from the coarsest to the most transcendent. See also נר״ן and ח״י

נ·ש

  • נ׳ שערי בינה, נש״ב - the fifty gates of understanding
  • נשמות ישראל, נש״י - lit. the souls of Israel; Jewish souls
  • נרות שבת קדש, נש״ק Lit. holy Shabbat lights. 2) The campaign spearheaded by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson to encourage girls and women to light Shabbat candles. Abbr. weapon

נ·ת

  • נמל התעופה בן גוריון, נתב״ג – Ben Gurion International Airport
  • נָעוּץ תְּחִילָּתָן בְּסוֹפָן, נתב״ס - their beginning is wedged in their end; a quotation from Sefer Yetzirah 1:7, referring to how the sefirah of malchut becomes keter for a "lower" tree of sefirot
  • נתבאר לעיל, נת״ל - that which was explained above

ס

x·ס

  • ס״, סִימָן Chapter ; lit. sign. 2) Section
  • ס״, סְעִיף - Paragraph .

ס

  • סָבַר, ס׳ - reasons

ס·א

  • סטרא אחרא, ס״א - the side of unholiness; lit. other side
  • ספרים אחרים, ס״א - other books
  • סתרי אותיות, ס״א - a section of the Zohar; lit. Secrets of the Letters

ס·ג

  • ס״ג - a spelling-out of the Tetragrammaton with the numerical value of 63, the gematria of ס״ג, corresponding to the world of Adam Kadmon

ס·ד

  • סַלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ, ס״ד - you might have thought. Introduces and idea that will be refuted
  • סַלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ אֲמִינָא, סד״א - you might have thought to say. Introduces an idea that will be refuted

ס·ה

  • ספירת העומר, ס״ה - the counting of the Omer; occurring on the days between Pesach and Shavuot
  • ספר המאמרים, סה״מ - Book of Discourses. Usually, with a year specified
  • ספר המנהגים, סהמ״ן - Book of Minhagim; a book describing the customs of a particular Jewish community

ס·ו

  • המשך] ס״ו] - The Series of '66; the series of discourses beginning with "Yom Tov Shel Rosh HaShanah" delivered over a period of three years starting in 5666 by the Rebbe Rashab
  • סוף כל דרגין, סוכ״ד - last of all levels. Contrast ריכ״ד
  • סובב כל עלמין, סוכ״ע - transcending all creation; lit. surrounding all the worlds. See also ממכ״ע
  • סוֹף סוֹף, סו״ס - ultimately; lit. end of end

ס·ט

  • סטרא אחרא, סט״א - the side of unholiness and the Kelipot; lit. the other side

ס·י

  • סי׳, סִימָן - section
  • סֵפֶר יְצִירָה, ס״י - The Book of Formation; an early, foundational Kabbalistic work

ס·כ

  • סכין כף ומזלג, סכו״ם - knife, spoon and fork

ס·ל

  • סברי ליה, ס״ל - to reason; lit. to reason themselves

ס·מ

  • ספר מצוות גדול, סמ״ג - The Great Book of Commandments; a codification of the 613 biblical commandments by Rabbi Moshe ben Yaakov of Coucy

ס·ע

  • סע״, סוף עמוד End of side/page . 2) Lit. End of column

ס·פ

  • סוֹף פֶּרֶק, ס״פ - end of chapter
  • ספ״, סוֹף פֶּרֶק - end of chapter
  • סֶפְּטֶמְבֶּר, ספט׳ - September
  • ספירות, ספי׳ - the sefirot

ס·ש

  • ספר של בינונים, סש״ב - The Book of the Intermediates; another name for the Tanya, also known as Likutei Amarim

ס·ת

  • סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה, ס״ת - a Torah scroll

ע

ע

  • עַמּוּד, ע׳ Side. 2) Page. 3) Lit. Column. See also עמ׳

ע·א

  • עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, עאכו״כ - certainly all the more so; lit. regarding one - several and several

ע·ב

  • ע״ב - The spelling-out of the Tetragrammaton with four yuds י, having the gematria of 72. 2) The Great Name of 72 three-letter combinations formed from verses describing the Splitting of the Reed Sea

ע·ג

  • על גבי, ע״ג Lit. On the back of. 2) On top of

ע·ד

  • על דבר, ע״ד Regarding the thing; lit. on the thing/word. 2) Because of
  • עַל דֶּרֶךְ, ע״ד - lit. by way of; through; via
  • עלמא דאתגליה, עדאת״ג - the revealed world
  • עלמא דאתכסיה, עדאת״כ - the concealed world
  • עַל דֶּרֶךְ זֶה, עד״ז - in this way
  • עַל דֶּרֶךְ מָשָׁל, עד״מ - by way of analogy

ע·ה

  • עָלָיו/עליה הַשָּׁלוֹם, ע״ה - peace be upon him/her. Appended to a name
  • עמוד הימני, ע״ה - the great expounder; lit. the pillar of the right . Prepended to a name
  • עמוד השחר, ע״ה - the break of dawn; when the sky begins to lighten; lit. the beam of morning
  • עשרת הדברות, ע״ה - the Ten Commandments
  • עץ הדעת, עה״ד - the Tree of Knowledge
  • על הכתוב, עה״כ Regarding the verse. 2) Lit. Regarding that which was written
  • על הפסוק, עה״פ - regarding the verse
  • עבודת הקודש, עה״ק - The Holy Service; a Kabbalistic work by Rabbi Meir ben Ezekiel ibn Gabbai
  • ערוך השולחן, עה״ש - The Setting of the Table; a Halachic restatement of the Shulchan Aruch with citations from the Talmud and references to related rulings
  • על התורה, עה״ת - on the Torah

ע·ו

  • עובד גלולים, עו״ג - idol-worshipper; lit. those/one who serve excrement. So termed to recall the disgusting method of worship of Ba'al Pe'or
  • עונותינו הרבים, עו״ה - our numerous sins
  • עולם הבא, עוה״ב - the World to Come. Compare עוה״ז
  • עוֹלָם הַזֶּה, עוה״ז - This World. Compare עוה״ב
  • עוד הפעם, עוה״פ - another time; again
  • עונותינו הרבים, עוה״ר - our numerous sins
  • עוד יש לומר, עוי״ל - it can further be said that
  • עובדי עבודה זרה, עוע״ז - idolaters; lit. those who serve alien worship

ע·ז

  • עבודה זרה, ע״ז Idolatry; lit. alien worship. 2) The tractate of the Talmud titled Avodah Zarah
  • על זה, ע״ז Regarding this. 2) Above/on top of this
  • על זה אמר, עז״א - regarding this he said
  • על זה נאמר, עז״נ - regarding this it is said

ע·ח

  • עֵץ חַיִּים, ע״ח - Tree of Life; an eight-volume work of Kabbalah by the Arizal

ע·ט

  • אישת חיל] עטרת בעלה, עט״ב] - the crown of her husband. Indicates that an action from below on the part of humankind results in a light transcending Zeir Anpin. Occurs in the hymn "Lecha Dodi", which speaks of how Shabbat blesses the other days of the week

ע·י

  • על ידו/ידה/ידיו/ידיהם/ידיכם, ע״י Because of him/her/them/you. 2) Lit. By his/her/their/your hand
  • עַל יְדֵי, ע״י Because of. 2) Through agency of. 3) Lit. By the hand of
  • עבד ישראל, ע"י, A Jewish slave
  • עתיק יומין, ע״י - the Ancient of Days. Corresponds to the inner aspect of keter
  • עיר הקודש, עיה״ק - Jerusalem; lit. the Holy City
  • על ידי זה, עי״ז - through this; lit. by the hand of this. See also ע״י
  • ערב יום טוב, עי״ט Eve of a Jewish Holiday. Lit. good day eve. 2) Evening of a Jewish Holiday. Lit. good day evening.
  • עיין ענין, עיי״ע - see the topic
  • עַיֵּין שָׁם, עיי״ש - see there; lit. eye/investigate there
  • עשרת ימי תשובה, עי״ת - the Ten Days of Repentance

ע·כ

  • עד כאן, ע״כ Lit. Until here. 2) End quote. See also Lit. On this/such
  • עַל כֵּן, ע״כ - therefore
  • עַל כָּרְחֲךָ, ע״כ Against your will; lit. on your compulsion. 2) We are forced ; perforce
  • עובדי כוכבים, עכו״ם - idolaters; lit. those who serve the stars
  • עם כל זה, עכ״ז - despite all this; lit. with all this
  • עד כאן לשונו, עכ״ל - end quote; lit. until here his language
  • על כל פנים, עכ״פ - in any case; lit. on all sides
  • עד כאן תוכן דבריו, עכת״ד - end quote; lit. until here is the content of his words

ע·ל

  • עליה, עלי׳ - ascent
  • עליונים, עליוני׳ The ones above. 2) Above. 3) Supernal

ע·מ

  • עַל מְנָת, ע״מ On condition that. 2) In order that. 3) In order to
  • עַמּוּד, עמ׳ Side. 2) Page. 3) Lit. Column. See also ע׳
  • עיין מה שכתוב, עמ״ש - see what is written
  • עיין מה שכתוב לעיל, עמש״ל - see what is written above

ע·נ

  • עַל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם, ענט״י - Concerning the rinsing of the hands; lit. on taking/raising the hands. Phrasing from the blessing recited on netilat yadayim. The hands are raised after ritual rinsing; this avoids water becoming impure from the unwashed forearms and dripping onto the hands, making them impure again. 2) The ritual rinsing of the hands, usually with a blessing

ע·ס

  • עשר ספירות, ע״ס - the ten sefirot. See also י״ס

ע·ע

  • על עצמו/עצמה/עצמם, ע״ע - upon itself/himself/herself/themselves

ע·פ

  • עַל פִּי, ע״פ According to. 2) By command of. 3) Lit. By the mouth of
  • על פסוק, ע״פ - regarding the verse
  • ערב פסח, ע״פ The day before Pesach. Lit. Passover eve. 2) Pesach evening. Lit. Passover evening
  • על פי זה, עפ״ז - according to this; lit. by the mouth of this
  • עַל פִּי, עפ״י According to. 2) By command of. 3) Lit. By the mouth of
  • על פי מה שכתוב, עפמ״ש - according to what is written; lit. by the mouth of that which is written
  • על פי מה שכתוב, עפמש״כ - according to what is written; lit. by the mouth of that which is written

ע·צ

  • עצמיות, עצמי׳ - essence
  • עצמיים/עצמית, עצמי׳ - essential

ע·ר

  • ערב ראש חודש, ער״ח - the eve of the head of the month

ע·ש

  • עַל שֵׁם, ע״ש So termed because. 2) For the sake of. 3) By name of; lit. on the name
  • עיין שם, ע"ש - the matter is discussed there; lit. consider there
  • עֲשִׂיָּה, עשי׳ Lit. Action; deed. 2) Asiyah
  • עשרת ימי תשובה, עשי״ת - the Ten Days of Teshuvah
  • ערב שבת קודש, עש״ק - lit. the Eve of the Holy Shabbat; Friday

פ

x·פ

  • פ׳/פ״, פֶּרֶק - chapter . But, see פ״ק

פ

  • פָּסוּק, פ׳ - the verse
  • פַּרְשַׁת, פ׳ - the portion of

פ·א

  • פַּעַם אַחַת, פ״א - once

פ·ב

  • פָּנִים בְּפָנִים, פב״פ - face-to-face

פ·ה

  • פטיש החזק, פ״ה - the strong hammer. Prepended to a name, styl. cit. Berachot 28b

פ·ו

פ·ט

  • פֹּה טָמוּן, פ״ט - here is buried. Found on tombstones

פ·י

  • פֵּירוּשׁ/פִּירוּשׁ, פי׳ Lit. Explanation. 2) Explains. 3) Which means. 4) Commentary
  • פִּירוּשׁוֹ, פי׳ - his commentary
  • פִּירְשׁוּ, פי׳ - they explain
  • פירוש המילות, פיה״מ - the explanation of the words. Esp. with regard to prayer in Hebrew
  • פירוש המשנה, פיה״מ - the elucidation of the Mishnaic passage

פ·נ

  • פֹּה נִקְבַּר, פ״נ - here is buried. Found on tombstones
  • פִּדְיוֹן נֶפֶשׁ,פ״נ - prayer for major salvation from illness or the like; lit. redemption of the soul/life

פ·ס

  • פסק דין, פס״ד - lit. legal conclusion; Halachic decision
  • פסוקי דזמרה, פסוד״ז - lit. Verses of Song; a preparatory section of the morning Shacharit service recited before the Shema and the Amidah
  • פסיק רישא, פס״ר - obvious conclusion; lit. the head is separated,

פ·פ

פ·ק

  • פֶּרֶק קַמָא, פ״ק - the first chapter. See also פ׳

פ·ר

  • פרקי דרבי דאליעזר,פרד״א - lit. Sayings of Rabbi Eliezer; a book of Aggada and Midrash by Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus. See also פרדר״א
  • פשט רמז דרוש סוד, פרד״ס - plain meaning, allusion, explanation, and secret; i.e. Kabbalah; garden
  • פרקי דרבי אליעזר,פרדר״א - Sayings of Rabbi Eliezer; a book of Aggada and Midrash by Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus. See also פרד״א
  • פרי מגדים, פרמ״ג - Lit. Choice Fruit; a commentary on Orach Chaim. 2) Its author, Rabbi Joseph ben Mein Teomim, the Galician halachist
  • פירוש רש״י, פרש״י Rashi explains. 2) Rashi's explanation. See also רש״י
  • פירוש תוספות, פר״ת - The Tosafot explain. 2) Lit. The Tosafot's explanation/commentary

צ

  • צדיקים, צדיקי׳ Saints. 2) Righteous; just
  • צבא ההגנה לישראל, צה״ל – Israel Defense Forces
  • צריך להבין, צ״ל - needs to be understood
  • צריך להיות, צ״ל - should/must be. Can be used to indicate a textual correction
  • צריך להבין, צלה״ב - needs to be understood
  • צריך להבין תחילה, צל״ת - must first understand
  • צריך עיון, צ״ע - requires investigation. See also צע״ק
  • צריך עיון גדול, צע״ג - requires great investigation. See also צ״ע
  • צריך עיון קצת, צע״ק - requires a little investigation. See also צ״ע
  • צָפוֹן, צפ׳ - North
  • צמח צדק, צ״צ Lit. The Righteous Sprout

ק

ק

  • קרי, ק׳. See also כ׳
  • קץ, ק׳ - end; limit

ק·א

  • .קאפיטל/קאפיטלעך, קאפ - chapter; esp. of the Book of Psalms

ק·ב

  • קִילוֹ בַּיְט, ק״ב - kilobyte
  • , קבל׳
  • קבלת עול מלכות שמים, קבעמ״ש accepting the yoke of the sovereignty of Heaven

ק·ה

  • קרני הוד תורה, קה״ת - Glorious Pillars of Torah; the publications branch of Chabad

ק·ו

  • קוץ, קו׳ - thorn; e.g. the "thorn" on top of the yud of the Tetragrammaton
  • קַל וָחוֹמֶר, ק״ו - all the more so; at least as much so; lit. light and weighty. Conclusions drawn using this method are just as stringent as the precedent, and may not be more or less stringent. Compare כ״ש
  • קונטטרס אחרון, קו״א - Final Tract; the last section of Shulchan Aruch HaRav, explaining the sources of the rulings
  • קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, קוב״ה - the Blessed Holy One
  • קהילה וחזן, קו״ח - the congregation and the prayer-leader. Usu. a prayerbook instruction

ק·י

  • קדיש יתום, ק״י - Mourner's Kaddish; starting with the usual preamble "Yitgadal v'yitkadash" to "...da'amiran b'al'ma, v'im'ru amein," the paragraph "Y'hei sh'lama raba," and concluding with "Oseh shalom bim'romav...." Recited only by mourners with the prayer leader
  • קַיְימָא לָן, קי״ל - we have established; lit. established for us

ק·ל

  • קליפה, קליפ׳ - Lit. shell
קיימא לן, Kayama Lan - It was upheld

ק·מ

  • קָא מַשְׁמַע לָן, קמ״ל - it comes to inform us. Concludes a refutation, and indicates the correct conclusion

ק·ס

  • קא סלקא דעתך, קס״ד - One might think; lit. it enters your mind. Indicates an initial impression that will be disproven. 2) Initial impression

ק·ק

  • קהילה קדישא, ק״ק - the holy congregation; i.e. a synagogue

ק·ש

  • קדיש שלם, ק״ש - Complete Kaddish; starting with the usual preamble "Yitgadal v'yitkadash" to "...da'amiran b'al'ma, v'im'ru amein," and concluding with the paragraphs "Titkabeil," "Y'hei sh'lama raba," and "Oseh shalom bim'romav...." Recited only by the prayer leader.
  • קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע, ק״ש - reading of the Shema
  • קִיצּוּר שׁוּלְחָן עָרוּךְ, קשו״ע - the Condensed Shulchan Aruch; a highly compressed work of Halachah written by R. Shlomo Ganzfried for the layman. See שו״ע

ק·ת

ר

ר

  • רַבִּי/רַב/רַבָּן, ר׳ - Rabbi. Prepended to the name

ר·א

  • רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר/אֶלְעָזָר, ר״א - Rabbi Eliezer/Elazar
  • רבינו אברהם בן דוד, ראב״ד - Rabbi Abraham ben David; early Provençal Kabbalist, Halachist and Talmudist
  • רבי אברהם בן עזרא, ראב״ע - Ibn Ezra; a famous commentator on the Torah and Kabbalist
  • רבי אהרון הלוי, רא״ה - Rabbi Aharon ben Joseph HaLevi of Gerona; a Spanish Talmudist
  • ראיה, ראי׳ - proof
  • ראש השנה, ראה״ש - the beginning of the year
  • רבי אליהו מזרחי, רא״ם - Rabbi Elijah Mizrachi; Turkish Talmudist and Halachist, known for Sefer HaMizrachi, a supercommentary on Rashi's commentary on the Torah
  • רבינו אשר, רא״ש - our Rabbi Asher; Rabbi Asher ben Yechiel; a very influential Talmudist among the Rishonim
  • ראשון לציון, ראשל״צ - fourth-largest city in Israel, south of Tel Aviv; lit. First to Zion

ר·ב

  • רבינו הקדוש, רבה״ק - our Holy Rabbi; Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi; compiler of the Mishna
  • רבונו של עולם, רבש״ע - Master of the World

ר·ד

  • רבי דוד קמחי, רד״ק - Rabbi David Kimchi; biblical commentator and grammarian, defender of Rambam, known for his commentary on the Prophets

ר·ה

  • ראש השנה, ר״ה Rosh HaShanah; lit. head of the year. 2) Tractate Rosh Hashanah; a tractate of the Talmud
  • רֹאשׁ הַמֶּמְשָׁלָה, רה״מ - Prime Minister of Israel; lit. Head of Government
  • רבינו המגיד, רה״מ - our Rebbe the Dov Ber of Mezeritch|Maggid ; the successor of the Ba'al Shem Tov
  • ראש השנה, רה״ש - the beginning of the year

ר·ו

  • רוח הקודש, רוה״ק - Divine inspiration; lit. holy spirit
  • רוחניות, רוחניו׳ - spirituality
  • רצוא ושוב, רו״ש - running and returning; the states of be on high then being within. See also רצו״ש

ר·ז

  • רב זלמן אהרן, רז״א - Rabbi Zalmen Aharon; the older brother of the Rebbe Rashab
  • רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, רַזַ״ל - Our Rabbis, may their memory be for blessing; the Jewish sages of previous generations. See also חז״ל

ר·ח

  • ראש חודש, ר״ח - the beginning of the month; lit. head of the month
  • ראשית חכמה, ר״ח - an introduction to Kabbalah by Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas; lit. The Beginning of Wisdom
  • רחוב, רח׳ - street; road; avenue; drive; way; boulevard
  • רב חיים ויטאל, רח״ו - Rabbi Chaim Vital; kabbalist and student of the Arizal
  • רחמים רבים, רח״ר - abundant mercy

ר·י

  • רבי יצחק/ישראל/יוסף/..., ר״י Rabbi Yosef Caro|Yosef, author of the Shulchan Aruch
  • רבי יהושע בן לוי, ריב״ל - Joshua ben Levi; an Amora of the Talmud
  • רבי ישראל בעל שם טוב, ריבעש״ט - Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov. See also ריב״ש and בעש״ט
  • רבי ישראל בעל שם, ריב״ש - Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem; the Baal Shem Tov. See also בעש״ט
  • רב יצחק בן ששת, ריב״ש - Rabbi Yitzchak ben Sheshet; Spanish talmudic authority
  • רבי יהודה הלוי, ריה״ל - Rabbi Judah Halevi, a prominent Jewish poet from Spain c.1075 – 1141
  • רבינו ירוחם, רי״ו - our Rabbi Yerucham; a French Talmudist, student of Rabbi Asher ben Yechiel
  • רבי יום טוב בן אברהם, ריטב״א - Rabbi Yom Tov Asevilli; a Spanish Talmudic commentator and student of the Rashba and Ra'ah
  • רבי יוסף יצחק, ריי״ץ - Rebbe Yosef Yitzchok ; sixth Rebbe of Chabad
  • ריש כל דרגין, ריכ״ד - lit. head of all levels; highest of all levels. Contrast סוכ״ד
  • רבי יצחק אל פסי, רי״ף - Rabbi Isaac Alfasi; author Seifer HaHalachot

ר·ל

ר·מ

ר·נ

  • רבינו נסים, ר״ן - our Rabbi, Nissim; a very influential Talmudist among the Rishonim
  • רב נחמן ב״ר יעקב, רנב״י - Rabbi Nachman; an Amora of the Talmud

ר·ס

  • רבינו סעדיה גאון, רס״ג - our Rabbi, the Saadia Gaon; rabbi from the Geonic period, halachist and Jewish philosopher
  • רב סרן, רס״ן - major; lit. great captain

ר·ע

  • רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, ר״ע - Rabbi Akiva
  • רעותא דלבא, רעו״ד - arousal of the heart

ר·פ

  • רפ״, ראש פרק - beginning of chapter
  • רפ״ח - the 288 sparks resulting from the Shattering of the Vessels of the world of Tohu

ר·צ

  • רצון העליון, רצה״ע - Supernal Will
  • רצוא ושוב, רצו״ש - running and returning; the states of be on high then being within. See also רו״ש

ר·ר

  • רחמים רבים, ר״ר - abundant compassion

ר·ש

  • רבי שמעון, ר״ש - Rabbi Shimon
  • רבינו שמואל בער, רש״ב - our Rebbe, Shalom Ber; the fifth rebbe of Chabad
  • רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, רשב״ג - Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel; a tanna and nasi of the Sanhedrin
  • רבי שמואל בן מאיר, רשב״ם - Rabbi Shmu'el ben Meir; Talmudist and commentator on the Tanakh
  • רב שמואל בר נחמני, רשב״נ - Rav Samuel ben Nachman; an amora of the Talmud
  • רב שמואל בצלל, רשב״ץ - Rabbi Samuel Betzalel; a chasid of the Tzemach Tzedek
  • רב שמריהו גוררי, רש״ג - Rabbi Shemaryahu Gurary; once a potential candidate to be the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, and brother-in-law to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
  • רבי שלמה יצחקי, רש״י - Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki; commentator on the Torah par excellence, one of the Rishonim
  • רב שלום שרבי, רש״ש - Rabbi Shalom Sharabi; the Yemenite Kabbalist and Halachist
  • רב שמואל שטראשון, רש״ש - Rabbi Samuel Strashun; the Russian Talmudist

ר·ת

  • ראשי תיבות, ר״ת - - acronym; lit. heads of words
  • רבינו תם, ר״ת - our Rabbi, Tam; our Pure Rabbi; famous French halachist among the Rishonim, known for his legal debates with his grandfather Rashi. Often appears as תפילין דר״ת

ש

x·ש

  • ש״, שׁוּרָה - line
  • ש״, שַׁעַר - gate . Used to indicate a chapter in a book

ש

  • שֵם, ש׳ - - name

ש·א

  • שמואל א׳, ש״א - Samuel I
  • שאם כן, שא״כ - because if this were so

ש·ב

  • שמואל ב׳, ש״ב - Samuel II
  • שבועות, שבועו׳ - Oaths; a tractate of the Talmud
  • שרות ביטחון כללי, שב״כ – the Shin Bet; the Israel Security Agency; lit. Ministry of General Security
  • תִּנוֹקוֹת] שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן, שב״ר] - schoolchildren; lit. children of their teacher's house

ש·ד

  • שלוחא דרבנן, שד״ר - emissary of the rabbis. In modern usage, often an authorized traveling fundraising officer for charity causes.

ש·ה

ש·ו

  • שֻׁלְחָן עָרוּךְ, שו״ע - the Code of Jewish Law; lit. The Set Table
  • שֻׁלְחָן עָרוּךְ, שוע״ר - the Code of Jewish Law; lit. The Set Table
  • שאלות ותשובות, שו״ת - responsa; lit. questions and replies

ש·ח

  • פֶּרֶק] שָׁנוּ חֲכָמִים, ש״ח] - "The sages taught;" the sixth chapter of Pirkei Avot

ש·ט

  • שֵׁם טוֹב, ש״ט - a good reputation; lit. good name. Esp. as כתר ש״ט "the crown of a good name"

ש·י

  • שיחיה/שיחיו, שי׳ - may he/they live. Added after mentioning a person
  • ששת ימי בראשית, שי״ב - six days of Creation
  • שיחיה, שיחי׳ - may he live. Added after mentioning a person

ש·ל

  • שני לוחות הברית, של״ה Shnei Luchot HaBrit; the kabbalist Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz. 2) Two Tablets of the Covenant; the compilation of ethics, mysticism, customs and laws by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz
  • שיזכה לימים טובים וארוכים, שליט״א - may he merit good and long life. Appended to a name
  • עד] שלא נברא העולם, שלנב״ה] - the world was created; lit. the world had not been created

ש·מ

  • שְׁמַע מִינָּהּ, ש״מ - derive it from this
  • שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה, שמח״ת - the celebration of the Torah
  • שָׁמַיִם, שמי׳ Heaven. 2) The celestial realm. 3) The sky.
  • שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶֽרֶת, שמ״ע - Shemini Atzeret; lit. Eighth is Assembly. See also שמע״צ
  • שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶֽרֶת, שמע״צ - Shemini Atzeret; lit. Eighth is Assembly. See also שמ״ע

ש·נ

  • שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, שנא׳ - as it says

ש·ס

  • שישה סדרים, ש״ס - the Talmud; lit. the Six Orders
  • שס״ה The 365 negative mitzvot or prohibitions The 365 veins and sinews of the human body The 365 days of the solar year. See also תרי״ג and רמ״ח

ש·ע

  • של עולם, ש״ע - of the world; of the universe
  • שמנה עשרה, ש״ע - the Shemoneh Esrei; lit. 18 . See also י״ח

ש·צ

  • שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר, ש״ץ - prayer leader; lit. emissary of the community

ש·ק

  • שַׁבָּת קֹדֶשׁ, ש״ק - the Holy Shabbat
  • שקלא וטריא, שקו״ט - discussion; give and take; lit. take and give

ש·ש

  • שֵׁם שָמַיִם, ש״ש the sake of Heaven. 2) God's Name; lit. Heaven's Name

ש·ת

  • שתחיה, שתחי׳ - may she live. Added after mentioning a person

ת

ת·א

ת·ב

  • תְּפִיסָא בָךְ, ת״ב - can grasp You
  • תשעה באב, ת״ב - the ninth of Av; the anniversary of the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem

ת·ד

  • י״ג] תיקוני דיקנא, ת״ד] - tufts of the beard ; lit. rectifications of the beard

ת·ה

ת·ו

  • תבנה ותכונן, ת״ו - may it be built and established. Regarding the Holy Land, and Jerusalem in particular
  • תבנה ותכונן במהרה בימינו אמן, תובב״א - may it be built and established speedily in our days, amen. Regarding the Holy Land and Jerusalem in particular
  • תוספות דבר המתחיל, תוד״ה - Tosafot, the statement beginning with
  • תּוֹרַת חַיִּים, תו״ח - Teachings of Life; a book of discourses by the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch
  • תורת כהנים, תו״כ - the Teaching of Kohanim; an alternate name for Leviticus
  • תורה ומצוות, תומ״צ - Torah and mitzvot
  • תוספות, תוס׳ - The Tosafot; a commentary on the Talmud; lit. Additions. 2) The sages who wrote an elucidation of the Talmud by the same name
  • תוספת, תוס׳ Additional. 2) Addition of/to
  • , תו״ע service; the "three things on which the world stands"
  • תורה שבכתב, תושב״כ - the Written Torah. Also, תשב״כ. Compare תושבע״פ.
  • תורה שבעל פה, תושבע״פ the Oral Torah. See also תושב״כ
  • תם ונשלם שבח לאל בורא עולם, תושלב״ע - finished and complete with the help of God, Creator of the World. Appears at the end of a large work

ת·ז

  • תקוני זהר, ת״ז - Rectifications of the Zohar; a section of the Zohar

ת·ח

  • תלמידי חכמים, ת״ח - Torah scholars; lit. students of wisdom
  • תשאות חן, ת״ח - shouts of "Grace!". An expression of approval or admiration
  • תחיית המתים, תחה״מ - the Resurrection of the Dead

ת·י

  • תרגום יונתן, ת״י - Jonathan 's Translation
  • תרגום ירושלמי, ת״י - the Jerusalem Translation

ת·ל

  • תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר, ת״ל - the Torah teaches . This phrase introduces a refutation of the proposition that came just prior
  • תלויה, תלוי׳ - dependent; lit. hanging

ת·נ

  • תהי נשמתו/ה צרורה בצרור, תנצ״ב - may his/her soul be bound with the bond . From the prayer אֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים. Said about the deceased, a wish that their example, teachings and accomplishments live on forever. Often the last line on a gravestone.
  • תורה נביאים וכתובים, תנ״ך - the Bible; lit. Torah, Prophets and Writings. See also נ״ח and תושב״כ

ת·ע

  • תבוא עליו ברכה, תע״ב - blessing should come upon him. Indicates a pious practice beyond the basic requirement of the law
  • תענית, תענ׳ - fast

ת·פ

  • תפוח זהב, תפו״ז - orange; lit. golden apple
  • תְּפִלָּה, תפל׳ - prayer
  • תפארת למשה, תפל״מ - lit. Harmony to Moses; a commentary on the Tur by Rabbi Moshe ben Avraham MiGeza Tz'vi

ת·ק

  • תק', תקופה - a period, an era
  • תנא קמא, ת״ק - the first Tanna
  • תקוני זהר, תקו״ז - Rectifications of the Zohar; a section of the Zohar
  • תקונים חדשים, תק״ח - New Rectifications; a section of the Zohar

ת·ר

  • תרי״ג The 613 mitzvot. 2) The 613 corresponding organs and veins of the human body. See also רמ״ח and שס״ה
  • תקיעה תרועה תקיעה, תר״ת - a series of shofar blasts

ת·ש

  • תָּא שְׂמַע, ת״ש - this implies; lit. come and hear/understand
  • תורה שבכתב, תשב״כ - the Written Torah. Also, תושב״כ. Compare תושבע״פ.
  • תפילה של יד, תש״י - the arm tefillin
  • תפילה של ראש, תש״ר - the head tefillin
  • תקיעה שברים-תרועה תקיעה, תשר״ת - a series of shofar blasts
  • תשמיש המיטה, תשה"מ - marital relations; lit. use of the bed
  • תקיעה שברים תקיעה, תש״ת - a series of shofar blasts

ת·ת

  • תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה, ת״ת learning Torah. 2) Torah learning

Other lists of Hebrew abbreviations

In modern editions of many Hebrew books with technical jargon, it is common to find lists of the abbreviations used in the work, for example, in the back near the index, or sometimes near the table of contents.
  • , from Jastrow's Dictionary of Targumim, Talmud and Midrashic Literature
  • Milon Likutei Sichos: Likutei Sichos Dictionary by Schneer Zalman Goldstein, 5th ed 2010.
  • , "Acronyms and Abbreviations in Hebrew", from Abbreviations.com
  • , from hebrew4christians.com
  • Lu'ach Roshei Teivot, "Table of Abbreviations", an appendix to the Tanya
  • Lu'ach Roshei Teivot, "Table of Abbreviations", appendices to each volume of the Badei HaShulchan on the Shulchan Aruch
  • Lu'ach Roshei Teivot, "Table of Abbreviations", an appendix to Sefer Taharat Yisrael by R. Yisrael Yitzhak b. Eliyahu of Prague
  • Reshimat Roshei Teivot, "List of Abbreviations," an appendix to Likkutei Torah, 177a onwards
  • Frank, Yitzhak. "Acronyms and Abbreviations Used in this Dictionary: Hebrew." pp. XX-XXI. And, "Acronyms in the Talmud." pp. 271–94. The Practical Talmud Dictionary. 2001: Jerusalem, The Ariel Institute.
  • Doctor, Ronald D.