Glossary of 
Kabbalah and Chassidut
and other Hebrew terms found on this web-site

A

Abba (Father):

Abba is the general partzuf of chochmah ("wisdom"), the first conscious power in the soul.
For further explanation see Olam Ha'Atzilut--Abba.

 

Abba Ila'ah (the higher Father):

Abba Ila'ah is the higher of the two primary partzufim which develop from the sefirah of chochmah (and which together are referred to as the general partzuf of Abba).
For further explanation see Olam Ha'Atzilut--Abba Ila'ah.

Ach-bi:

Ach-bi is a method of alphabetic transformation.
For further explanation see: Alphabetic transformation -- chilufei otiyot..

Achas-beta:

Achas-beta is a method of alphabetic transformation.

For further explanation see: Alphabetic transformation -- chilufei otiyot..

 

Adam Kadmon (Primordial Man; abbr. as Ak):

Adam Kadmon is the first partzuf.

For further explanation see: The World of Adam Kadmon..

 

Adar:

Adar is the twelfth of the twelve months of the Jewish calendar.

For further explanation see "Living With the Times"--The Month of Adar. Also see the Hebrew Months.

 

Adnut:

Adnut is a Holy Name of G-d.

For further explanation see: Eleven Holy Names of G-d.

Ahavah ("love"):

Ahavah is the spiritual state associated with the sefirah of chesed.

For further explanation see The Powers of the Soul: Ahavah.

 

Ahavat Yisrael:

Ahavat Yisrael is the love of the people of Israel.

For further explanation see: Between Man and His Neighbor.

AK (abbr. for Adam Kadmon - Primordial Man):

See Adam Kadmon.

 

Akudim ("bound," "striped"):

Akudim is the first stage in the development of the world of Atzilut.

For further explanation see: Olam Ha'Akudim.

Akvah:

Akvah is a Holy Name of G-d.

For further explanation see: Eleven Holy Names of G-d.

 

Al-bam:

Al-bam is a method of alphabetic transformation.

For further explanation see: Alphabetic transformation -- chilufei otiyot. .

 

Alef:

Alef is the 1st letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

For further explanation see Alef-Beit Significances.

Also see: The Mystical Significance of the Hebrew Letters (including an image and audio pronunciation of each letter).

 

Alef-beit (the Hebrew alphabet):

The Hebrew Alphabet consists of twenty-two letters--eighteen consonants and four letters which serve both as consonants and vowels (alef, hei, vav, yud ). Five letters (kaf, mem, nun, pei, tzadik) take on an additional script-form when positioned at the end of a word.

For further explanation see Alef-Beit Significances.

Also see: The Mystical Significance of the Hebrew Letters (including an image and audio pronunciation of each letter).

 

Amidah (The "Standing" prayer):

The Amidah is the center core and highest point of every prayer service. In the progression of the prayer service it corresponds to the supreme world of Atzilut. It is recited as a silent devotion while standing, feet together, facing Jerusalem. The weekday version consists of nineteen blessings of praise, supplication and thanksgiving to G-d Almighty (is also known as the Shemoneh Esrei). The Sabbath and holiday versions consist of seven blessings, and the version of the Musaf of Rosh HaShanah consistis of nine.

 

Anavah ("humility"):

Unpretensciousness; the third of the four stages in the nullification of the ego

 

Ari or Arizal (Rabbi Isaac Luria):

Ari is an acronym for "the G-dly Rabbi Yitzchak [Luria Ashkenazi], of blessed memory." (1534-1572), who was a central figure of Kabbalah  whose teachings form the core of Kabbalistic doctrine and the basis for understanding the Zohar. He received and conveyed revolutionary new insights into the wisdom of Kabbalah. The primary "innovations" which he introduced in his exposition of Kabbalah consist of the following four concepts: Tzimzum, Shvira and Tikkun, Hitlabshut Partzufim, Avodat Haberuruim.

His teachings were recorded primarily by Rabbi Chaim Vital (1543-1620), whose writings have reached us in several versions:

For further explanation see: Three Stages in the Evolution of Kabbalistic Thought

 

Arich Anpin ("The Long Face" or "The Infinitely Patient One"):

Arich Anpin is the external partzuf of keter.

For further explanation see: Worlds--Partzufei Ha'Keter: Arich Anpin

 

Arvit ("evening"):

The night prayer service.

 

Ashrei ("Happy is"):

Ashrei the opening word of Psalms; a prayer recited three times a day, consisting of Psalm 145 preceded by two other verses beginning with the word Ashrei and one additional concluding verse.

 

Ashuritic script:

Ashuritic script is the sacred Hebrew script used in the ritual writing of Torah scrolls as well as Tefilin and mezuzah parchments.

 

Asiyah (Olam Ha'Asiyah--"The World of Action"):

Asiyah the lowest of the four worlds of Creation.

For further explanation see: The World of Asiyah (Olam Ha'Asiyah).

 

At-bach:

At-bach is a method of alphabetic transformation.

For further explanation see: Alphabetic transformation -- chilufei otiyot..

 

At-bash:

At-bash is a method of alphabetic transformation.

For further explanation see: Alphabetic transformation -- chilufei otiyot..

 

Atik:

Short for Atik Yoimin.

 

Atik Yomin ("The Ancient of Days"):

Atik Yomin is the inner partzuf of keter,

For further explanation see: Worlds--Partzufei Ha'Keter: Atik Yomin.

 

Atika Kadisha ("The Holy Ancient of One" [Aramaic]):

In some contexts, this term is a synonym for Atik Yomin; in others for keter in general.

 

Atzilut ("Emanation"):

Atzilut is the first and highest of the four worlds of Creation.

For further explanation see: The World of Atzilut..

 

Atzmut (G-d's Absolute Essence):

For further explanation see: Ten stages of G-d's Infinite Light--Atzmut.

 

Av:

Av is the fifth of the twelve months of the Jewish calendar.

For further explanation see "Living With the Times"--The Month of Av. Also see the Hebrew Months.

 

Ayik-becher:

Ayik-becher is a method of alphabetic transformation.

For further explanation see: Alphabetic transformation -- chilufei otiyot..

Ayin (Hebrew letter):

Ayin is the 16th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

For further explanation see Alef-Beit Significances.

Also see: The Mystical Significance of the Hebrew Letters (including an image and audio pronunciation of each letter).

Ayin (Nothingness):

For further explanation see: Ten stages of G-d's Infinite Light.