CULTURAL PROTOCOL FOR THE
ETHNICALLY CHALLENGED
{THE GREEK LANGUAGE & TRADITION
CULTURAL PROTOCOL IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
To Be Posted Early in October, 2011}
Even though he is a professor of chemistry, we asked George Papadantonakis, Ph.D., to compile this information on basic Judaism because of his passion for Judaism and history. If there are any errors, they cannot be attributed to George as his text was edited for simplicity which, sometimes may result in incomplete information. If you wish to take exception with these definitions, or to point out ommisions, please write to us in the communication space provided at the bottom of the page, but keep your statement concise, no more than about two lines if you wish us to publish it.
The same rules apply to the forthcoming listing of Greek words and traditions, but in that case you cannot charge George with any exceptions you may be taking. If you wish to write – or offer suggestions – about Greek words/ traditions, to be included, feel free to do so. We will make every effort to include your suggestions but we cannot guarantee it.
Romaniote is a historical term, denoting Jews who have lived in the territory of today's Greece, and in neighboring areas with large Greek populations, since the Hellenistic Era, 300 bce. They derived their name from the old name for the people of the Byzantine Empire, Romaioi. Traditionally their language was Yevanic or Judeo-Greek, based on Greek with words taken from Hebrew.
Sephardi Descendants of Jews from Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East. The traditions and the culture are Sephardic. The Sephardim first arrived in Greece from Spain, fleeing the Inquisition established by Queen Isabela in 1492.
Ashkenazi Descendants of Jews from France, Germany and Eastern Europe who often speak a dialect called Yiddish which is based on German.
Mizrachi Descendants of Jews from North Africa and the Middle East. The aforementioned groups derive their name from the Hebrew words for Germany, Spain and Eastern Europe.
Synagogue is the most widely accepted term for a Jewish house of worship (from the Greek word Συναγωγή meaning "assembly.")
Schul is the term used for house of worship primarily by Ashkenazi Jews.
Temple is the term used by Reform Jews who consider every one of their meeting places to be equivalent to, or a replacement for, The Temple, the central place of worship in ancient Jerusalem destroyed in 70 c.e. by the Roman legions.
The Hebrew term is beit k'nesset (literally, House of Assembly).
Orthodox Jews believe that Jewish law comes from God and cannot be changed.
Conservative Jews accept the binding nature of Jewish law but they believe that the law can change.
Reform Jews believe that Jewish law was inspired by God and one can choose which laws to follow. The beliefs of Sephardic and Romaniote Jews are in accordance with the Orthodox Jews.
Rabbi Teacher and decider in matters of religious law. He is not a priest -- neither in the Jewish sense of the word, nor as Christians understand the duties of the priest.
Chazan: Cantor, who leads congregation in prayer
Gabbai: A lay person who assists with Torah readings
Kohein: Descendant of Aaron, the original High Priest, charged with performing various rites in connection with religious rituals.
Levi: Descendant of the biblical Levites
Kosher means fit, proper or correct. The term refers to Jewish dietary laws (kashrut) dealing with what foods we may or may not eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten. There is no such thing as "kosher-style" food. Kosher is not a style of cooking, but it involves examining the ingredients used to make the food, examining the process by which the food is prepared and the processing facilities.
In Greece, visitors may contact the Chabad of Athens (
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). A professional Greek chef prepares fresh, ready to eat Glatt Kosher meals under strict supervision. There are also various kosher products available in the Athens and Thessaloniki Israelite Community Offices.
Jewish holidays begin at sunset the night before the first day of the holiday, and “work" is forbidden on many holidays. Some holidays may fall on different dates every year.
Rosh Hashanah --New Year begins, and leads, seven days later, into the observance of
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, set aside for fasting, and repenting from the sins of the previous year. It also lasts seven days.
Traditional greetings and wishes for the New Year, year 5772 (which begins end of September 2011 in the Common Era calendar) are: L'shana Tovah! meaning Happy New Year and, in greeting cards, May You be Inscribed in the Book of Life.
Chanukkah, is the Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the festival of lights, an eight-day festival.
The Pesach commemorates the Exodus of Israelites from Egypt. During the 8 days of Pesach all leavened grain products and related foods are forbidden to eat. On the first night of Pesach (or first two nights for traditional Jews), during the special family meal called a Seder, family and friends take turns reading passages from the Haggadah, which tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt and explains some of the practices and symbols observed during the meal.
Torah in the narrowest sense refers to the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch). In a broader sense, Torah includes all Jewish law and tradition. Torah was given to Moses in written form with oral commentary. The oral component of the Jewish Law is written in the Talmud.
Mitzvah means Commandment (pl. mitzvot), any of the 613 commandments that Jews must observe. It can also refer to any Jewish religious obligation, or more generally to any good deed. The most popular mitzvot are:
Bar mitzvah (son of the commandment) and Bat mitzvah (daughter of the commandment.) A boy who has reached age 13 or a girl, age 12, are obligated to observe the commandments following a ceremony. The 613 commandments, unchangeable, are given by God to the Jewish people in the Torah.