HANUKKAH (Hebrew, dedication, renewal) — also called Festival of Lights, celebrated for a week starting on the 25th day of Kislev to commemorate the victory of the Maccabees over Antiochus IV in 164 B.C.E. and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
HASID (Hebrew, lit. pious; pl. Hasidim; adj. Hasidic) — follower of Hasidism.
HASIDISM — religious movement based on messianic ideas, started in mid–18th century in Podolia; from then on, one of the most important currents of Judaism.
KABBALAH (Hebrew, receiving, tradition; an adherent is a Kabbalist; adj. Kabbalistic) — mystical movement in Judaism, probably dating back to 2nd–3rd centuries C.E.
KAHAL, see kehillah.
KEHILLAH (Hebrew, community; pl. kehillot) — self-governing community of the Jews of a given town; also the community board. See also gmina.
KIDDUSH HA-SHEM (Hebrew, lit. sanctification of the Name, i.e. of God) — the term used to denote choosing martyrdom rather than deny one’s faith or fail to fulfil the commandments.
KITTEL (German, shirt) — long loose white gown, looking like a shroud; worn on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover (Pesach), and by grooms.
KOL Nidrei (Aramaic, all vows) — prayer immediately preceding the evening service on Yom Kippur.
KOSHER (Hebrew) — term referring to ritual purity of food and various objects according to Jewish law; the opposite of treyf. See also chalaf, shochet.
LAG BA-OMER (Hebrew, the 33rd day of the omer) — a minor festival on which the abstinence rules in force during the other 48 days of the period are relaxed; at school, day of excursions.
LAND OF ISRAEL, see Eretz Israel.
LINAT HATZEDEK (Hebrew, lit. proper lodging) — charity institution providing medical help to the elderly and sick.
MELAMED (Hebrew, teacher; pl. melamdim) — teacher in a cheder.
MIKVAH (Hebrew) — ritual bath.
