By Rabbi Julian Sinclair
“Take the vestments, and clothe Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod” Exodus 29:5
Chatzi hamalchut comes from Megillat Esther. Ahasuerus tells Esther three times that he would do anything for her "even to half the kingdom, it shall be granted you".
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.
The latest stories from the Jewish world
A weekly digest of our best stories from the editor
Your daily guide to the war in Israel
For what’s got British Jews talking
Achsania is the talmudic term for lodgings.
A nudnik is someone who is constantly asking you for something or otherwise taking up your time.
The shkediyah is the almond tree, and its fruit is called a shaked.
An ezrach is someone native-born, with roots to the land.
Gaon is the modern Hebrew for genius.
Zimun is the mishnaic Hebrew for invitation. In modern Hebrew, we say hazmanah.
The term oferet yetzukah means a solid mould of lead and conjures up images of families playing dreidl, with Chanucah candles shining on the window sill.
Nezikin means damages, from the verb l’hazik, to hurt or damage.
Techelet is the sky-blue dye colour that was familiar in ancient Israel, best known from the Shema’s command to “put upon the fringe of each corner a thread of blue”.