SHABES GOY (Yiddish) — a non-Jew who performs certain types of work which Jews are prohibited from doing on the Sabbath.
SHACHARIT (Hebrew) — morning prayer service.
SHAMES (Yiddish, pl. shammosim) see shammash.
SHAMMASH (Hebrew, lit. servant) — an attendant in a synagogue; also an additional candle in a Hanukkah lamp, which serves to light the other candles.
SHAVUOT (Hebrew, lit. weeks) — festival celebrated seven weeks after Pesach; commemoration of giving the Torah on Mount Sinai; originally, celebration of the end of the harvest.
SHEMA ISRAEL (Hebrew, Hear, O Israel!) — the most important Jewish profession of faith in God, recited daily. The first two lines are: Shema Israel adonai eloheinu adonai echad: baruch shem kevod malchuto le’olam va’ed (Hear, o Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever.)
SHEMINI ATZERET (Hebrew, Eighth [day] of congregation) — the last day of Sukkot.
SHLIT”A — acronym for (Hebrew) sheyihye leorekh yamim tovim amen; may he live long and good days, amen. The acronym is added after the names of rabbis when mentioned in letters.
SHOCHET (Hebrew) — ritual slaughterer. See also chalaf, kosher.
SHOFAR (Hebrew) — musical instrument made of a ram’s horn; used during the synagogue service on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and on weekday mornings during Elul, the month before Rosh Hashanah.
SHTIBEL (Yiddish, a little room) — a modest prayer room, often established and supported by Hasidim, followers of one tzaddik.
SHUSHAN Purim (Hebrew, Purim of the town of Suza) — the day on which Purim is celebrated in Jerusalem and other walled cities.
SIDDUR (Hebrew) — prayer book including all prayers for every day and Sabbath, for use both at home and in a synagogue.
SIDELOCKS or PEYES — long strands of hair, often curled, left uncut on both sides of a man’s face. Worn by Orthodox men and boys based on an interpretation of the Biblical injunction against shaving the “corners” of one’s head.
