DAY OF JUDGEMENT, see Yom Kippur.
DIASPORA, see galut.
ERETZ ISRAEL (Hebrew, Land of [people] Israel) — term used to define the historical territory before the creation of the State of Israel; sometimes synonymous with British Mandate (1917–1948) Palestine.
EREV (Hebrew, eve, evening) — a day or evening preceding a festive day.
ETZ chaim (Hebrew, lit. tree of life; pl. atzei chaim) — wooden rod with blocking round shields on both ends; a Torah scroll is rolled on two such rods.
FAST of ESTHER — observed the day before Purim; commemorates the fast observed by Queen Esther and other Jews to beg God for rescue. See also Purim, Haman.
GABAI (Hebrew, treasurer; pl. gabaim) — warden of a synagogue; in the past, a Jewish community official responsible for organising aid to the poor.
GALUT (Hebrew, exile) — Jewish diaspora.
GAON (Hebrew, genius) — title given to an illustrious rabbinical scholar and authority.
GEHENNA (from Hebrew Gehinnom) — Biblical valley where children were sacrificed to Moloch, the Canaanite deity; metaphorical place of terrible suffering and martyrdom; synonym for hell.
GEMARA (Aramaic, completion) — collection of rabbinical commentaries and supplement to Mishna; part of the Talmud.
GEMEINDE, see gmina.
GMINA [ŻYDOWSKA] (Polish) or kehillah (Hebrew) or [Jüdische] Gemeinde (German) — lit. community; traditional self-government organisation of Jews of a given town. See also kehillah; see also gmina in General Glossary.
GOY (Hebrew, lit. nation; pl. goyim; in Yiddish adj. goyish) — a non-Jew; neutral or
derogatory term. See also shabes goy.
HALACHA (Hebrew, law, rule; adj. halachic) — Jewish law based on rules and traditions of Judaism; also decisions of religious authorities based on this law.
HAMAN — highest official of the Persian empire under King Ahasuerus; villain of the Book of Esther. See also Purim, Fast of Esther.
