GLOSSARY OF ISRAELI KASHRUT A B

The following glossary includes additional terminologies relating to kashrut beyond the scope of this guide, to enhance the reader’s overall familiarity with kashrut related topics. This glossary has been updated to include Pesach terminology.

ASHKENAZIM (םיזנכשא) – a Jewish ethnic group which originated from Western and Eastern Europe. The customs of Ashkenazim differ from SEFARDIM.

ARAVA DROMIT (הברע תימורד), Southern Arava –A region in the southern Negev desert that is considered to be CHUTZ LA’ARETZ and thus exempt from certain MITZVOT HAT’LUYOT BA’ARETZ (TERUMAH, MA’ASER, SHEMITTAH). Authorities dispute the exact location and borders of this area.

ACHRONIM (םינורחא)

The great rabbis in the era following the SHULCHAN ARUCH, from the fifteenth century to today.

ATZITZ NAKUV (ץיצע בוקנ lit. “Perforated flowerpot”) – A flowerpot or planter with holes on the bottom. Halachically, such a receptacle is considered connected to the ground. All halachot pertaining to vegetation grown in the ground apply to produce grown in an atzitz nakuv. Authorities debate how large a pot’s holes must be in order for it to be considered an atzitz nakuv.

BADATZ (ץ”דב, acronym for קדצ ןיד תיב) – Private Israeli kashrut certification. Not all badatzim have the same standards. Not affiliated with the Chief Rabbinate.

BAYIT SHENI (ינש תיב) The Second Temple, which stood in Jerusalem from 3622 (139 CE) to 3829 (69 CE).

BESARI (ירשב) Meaty, fleishig – This term appears on kashrut certificates issued to restaurants serving meat as well as on products which contain meat.

ATZITZ SHE’EINO NAKUV (בוקנ וניאש ץיצע lit. “non-perforated flowerpot”) – A flowerpot or planter that’s completely sealed on the bottom. Our Sages decreed that anything growing in an atzitz she’eino nakuv is obligated on a rabbinic level in all halachot pertaining to produce grown in the ground. Authorities debate whether certain halachot don’t apply to atzitz she’eino nakuv.

BEDI’AVAD דבעידב); “after the fact” – A less than ideal approach to a halachic issue, based on circumstances that have already occurred.

BEIT DIN (ןיד תיב; lit. “house of judgment”) –Court of three rabbis, certified as Torah judges, which rules based on halachah.

BERACHAH (הכרב) – Blessing, usually referring to a prescribed text recited before or after performing various actions.

BISHULEI AKUM (ילושיב ם”וכע) – Kosher food cooked by a non-Jew which is prohibited for consumption by Jews. Only certain foods are included in the prohibition. Foods not included in the prohibition may be fully cooked by non-Jews.

BISHUL YISRAEL (לושיב לארשי) – Kosher food cooked by Jews. There is a dispute among authorities as to how much Jewish intervention is required in order to deem the food bishul Yisrael rather than BISHULEI AKUM. Not all food requires bishul Yisrael.

BIUR (רועיב) – The act of removing SHEMITTAHsanctified produce from one’s possession.

CHALAV YISRAEL (בלח לארשי) – Milk that was milked from a kosher animal by a Jew, or alternatively, by a nonJew while a Jew was present or in close vicinity.

CHALAVI (יבלח) – Milky, milchig, listed on certificates or labels to state that a restaurant or food is dairy.

CHUTZ LA’ARETZ (ץוח for one item or service in order to receive another as well.

ץראל; lit. “outside the land”) – Any location outside the land of Israel.

HETER MECHIRAH (רתיה הריכמ, lit. “dispensation based on sale”)

CCHADASH (שדח lit. “new”) – Grains wheat, barley, oats, spelt and rye) that have been planted after the fifteenth of Nisan and reaped before the fifteenth of Nisan of the next year is considered chadash and may not be consumed until the latter date passes.

CHALAV AKUM (בלח ם”וכע) – Milk from a kosher animal which was milked by a nonJew without any Jew present or in close vicinity. Our Sages decreed that chalav akum is prohibited for consumption.

CHALAV STAM (םתס בלח) – Milk that was milked from a kosher animal by a non-Jew in a place with government supervision. The governing body also fines companies that break such regulations and holds them accountable. This supervision protects against any tampering with the milk, including adding milk from other animals.

CHALAK (קלח lit. “smooth”) – Refers to the smoothness of the lungs of a cow. This term is used to define if beef is glatt kosher. In Israel, not all meat is glatt. The term is also commonly misused regarding the kosher status of slaughtered chickens, although in certain circles it has become accepted as a term to define a higher standard for the SHECHITAH of chickens.

CHAMETZ- (ץמח) - Grains (wheat, barley, oats, spelt or rye) that have been mixed with water and not baked within 18 minutes. Any chametz or product containing chametz is prohibited for consumption or benefit throughout the seven days of Pesach.

CHARAKIM (םיקרח) –Insects, see TOLAI’IM.

CHUMRAH (הרמוח) –Stringency in observing Jewish law within and sometimes beyond halachic requirements.

DDEMAI (יאמד) – All fruit that carries a doubt as to whether halachic tithes were taken.

– Circumvention of SHEMITTAH observance by selling or leasing land in Israel to a non-Jew for the duration of the SHEMITTAH year.

HHAGALAH (הלעגה) – The procedure for kashering utensils using boiling hot water.

HANA’AH (האנה) –Benefit. It is forbidden to benefit (sometimes even indirectly) from certain prohibitions or transgressions.

HARABBANUT

HARASHIT (תישארה תונברה) – Chief Rabbinate. In Israel there is a state rabbinate that oversees matters such as kashrut, to a minimum halachic standard.

HASGACHAH TZEMUDAH (הדומצ החגשה lit. “tight supervision”) -The term refers to production where a mashgiach is on site throughout the entire production.

HAVLA’AH (העלבה, lit. “swallowing”) – Bundling, packaging, i.e., the practice of overpaying

IISUR VE’HETER (רוסיא רתיהו lit. “the prohibited and the permissible”) –The halachic expression pertaining to kashrut and dietary laws.

KKASHER LEPESACH

LEMEHADRIN (רשכ ןירדהמל חספל) -The term appears on restaurants or establishments during Pesach. Normally the mehadrin term refers to products not containing kitniyot, although they may contain sheruyah products (gebrochts).

KEDUSHAT SHEVI’IT (תיעיבש תשודק,lit. “holiness of the seventh”) –SHEMITTAH sanctity. The term applies to produce that grew in Eretz Yisrael during the SHIMITTAH year.

KILAYIM (םיאלכ) –Forbidden mixtures, such as the prohibition on planting certain different species together.

KITNIYOT (תוינטק lit. Legumes) – many early halachic authorities rule that there is a binding custom not to consume certain types of legumes during Pesach. The custom is observed by Jews of Ashkenazic ancestry and certain Sephardi communities as well; other Sephardic Jews do consume kitniyot on Pesach.

LE’OCHLEI KITNIYOT distribution of TERUMAH and MA’ASER RISHON, which in the times of the Temple would be brought to Jerusalem. If the quantity of the ma’aser was too large to transport, it was redeemed monetarily on animals for sacrifices or on food consumed in Jerusalem. Today, all MA’ASER SHENI is redeemed through money. The money is not spent and remains “holy.”

BILVAD (דבלב תוינטק ילכואל lit. “only for those who consume kitniyot”). The term may appear on food certified kosher for Pesach. It testifies that only those who have the custom to eat kitniyot on Pesach may consume this product.

L’CHATCHILAH (הליחתכל, lit. “from the outset”) – In the most ideal manner, i.e., the way one should ideally approach an issue of halachah.

LIFTIT/ MECHIL LIFTIT (תיתפל ליכמ/תיתפל lit. “contains rapeseed”)Later authorities dispute whether rapeseeds are included in the custom of those who do not consume kitniyot. The term appears on food that does not contain actual kitniyot yet contain rapeseed oil (more commonly known as canola oil).

MATZA MENUTAK (עצמ קטונמ; lit. “separated surface”) – Methods of growing produce during SHEMITTAH in indoor greenhouses on raised surfaces and disconnected from the ground.

MATZVOT AVODAT YAD (די תדובע תוצמ) – Kosher matzah made by hand.

MATZOT MECHONAH/ MACHINE (/הנוכמ תוצמ ןישאמ) – Kosher matzah made using machinery. There is doubt regarding whether every mechanical function, such as using an electric, rather than manual, grinder would define matzah as machine-made.

MEHADRIN (ןירדהמ) –Exceeding the minimum standards of halachah, generally associated with kashrut, although many standards and opinions exist regarding what exactly is considered “mehadrin”. The subject of mehadrin is very subjective and complex. One should consult with their rav.

MA’ASER pl. MA’ASROT (תורשעמ) – Tithes that one is obligated by Jewish law to remove from produce grown in the land of Israel.

LIBUN (ןוביל) The method of kashering utensils using an open flame. There are two different types of libun: libun kal and libun chamur.

LELO CHASHAH

KITNIYOT תוינטק ששח אלל lit. “Without any concern of kitniyot”). The term appears on many foods that are certified kosher for Pesach. It testifies that those who keep the custom not to consume kitniyot may consume such a product.

MA’ASER RISHON (רשעמ ןושאר lit. “First Tithe”) – A tenth of what is left in the grain or produce after the distribution of TERUMAH. By Biblical law, the tenth is set aside and given to the Levites.

MA’ASER SHENI (רשעמ ינש lit. “Second Tithe”) – A tenth of the crop remaining after the

MASHGIACH pl. MASHGICHIM (חיגשמ) – Kashrut supervisors. Normally mashgichim are on-site workers supervising kosher production. The amount of time the mashgiach needs to be present depends on the type of food and production.

MATZOT CHAI DAKOT (תוקד י”ח תוצמ) - Kosherfor-Pesach matzah. The process of mixing, kneading, shaping and inserting into the oven is completed within 18 minutes.

MEHUDAR (רדוהמ, lit. “beautified”) –Exceeding minimum halachic standards or requirements.

MINHAG (גהנמ) – custom, normally refers to customs in the area of halachah.

MITZVOT HAT’LUYOT BA’ARETZ (תווצמ ץראב תויולתה) – Torah commandments pertaining to the land of Israel, mostly referring to agricultural laws.

MATZOT CHAI REGA’IM (םיעגר י”ח תוצמ) – Another term for MATZOT CHAI DAKOT; see above.

NETA REVAI (יעבר עטנ)

– Produce of a tree in the fourth year of its growth, after the prohibited three-year ORLAH period has passed. The fruit needs to be eaten in a certain part of YERUSHALYIM or redeemed on a coin. Today all NETA REVAI is redeemed and not eaten in YERUSHALAYIM sanctified in the time of the First Temple. The area wasn’t reconquered by the Jews during their return from Babylonia. According to certain authorities, one may be lenient regarding the mitzvot of the land of Israel (TERUMA, MA’ASER, SHEMITTAH) in these areas. authorities and later poskim regarding the validity and extent of this prohibition.

NOCHRI (ירכונ; lit. “stranger”) – non-Jew.

OLEI BAVEL (לבב ילוע lit. “those who made aliyah from Babylonia”)

– The territories of the land of Israel that were conquered by the Jews who moved from Babylonian at the beginning of the Second Temple and were sanctified by Ezra and his BEIT DIN. This conquest of the Jews is also called “second holiness” (Kedushah Sheniyah). It is universally accepted that this area is biblically obligated in the MITZVOT HAT’LUYOT BA’ARETZ.

OLEI MITZRAYIM (ילוע םירצמ lit. “those who made aliyah from Egypt”)

– The territories of the land of Israel that were conquered by the Jews in the days of Yehoshua Bin Nun and were sanctified by Yehoshua Bin Nun and his beit din, and ended in their conquest in the days of King David and were

ORLAH (הלרע) – The Torah prohibition on eating fruit that grows from a tree during the first three years after it was planted.

OTZAR BEIT DIN (רצוא ןיד תיב lit. “a storehouse [operated by] beit din”) – A system in which the beit din takes control of the growing conditions and the distribution process of produce during the SHEMITTAH year.

PAT YISRAEL (לארשי תפ) – Kosher bread from any of the five grains (wheat, barley, oats, spelt and rye) baked by a Jew. It is sufficient for a Jew to have minimal involvement in the baking process in order to deem the bread pat Yisrael. For example, according to all opinions, if a Jew lit the oven and a non-Jew placed the bread in the oven, the bread is considered pat Yisrael.

SEPHARDIM (םידרפס lit. “those from Spain”) – a Jewish ethnic group originating from Spain, North America, the middle east and western Asia. This group has a wide range of customs regarding kashrut which varies from that of ASHKENAZIM.

PPACH SHEMITTAH (חפ

הטימש lit. “SHEMITTAH Bin”) – A special bin/ waste basket for leftovers and edible peels of holy SHEMITTAH produce.

PAT AKUM (ם”וכע תפ) –Kosher bread from any of the five grains (wheat, barley, oats, spelt and rye) baked by a non-Jew. Early sources record a rabbinic prohibition against consuming pat akum. There is a dispute among early

RABBANUT MEHADRIN (ןירדהמ תונבר) – A higher standard of kashrut from local rabbinates. Not all local rabbinates have the same standard.

RABBANUT MEKOMIT (תימוקמ תונבר) – Local Rabbinate, municipal rabbinate in charge of kashrut for different jurisdictions. The local rabbinate follows the standards of the chief rabbinate and is an extension of the larger government organization.

RISHONIM (םינושאר; lit. “the First Ones”) – The great rabbis in the era preceding the SHULCHAN ARUCH, from the eleventh to fifteenth centuries

SAFEK (קפס) – A halachic doubt or question.

SEFICHIN (ןיחיפס; lit. “herbs”) – A prohibition enacted by the Sages forbidding the consumption of all selfseeded (and purposely grown) produce that sprouts during the SHEMITTAH year. Legumes, grains and vegetables are part of the decree. Fruit is not included.

SHA’AT HABIUR (תעש רועיבה) – Deadline by which one must renounce ownership of all SHEMITTAHsanctified products.

SHABBAT HA’ARETZ (תבש ץראה) – The sabbatical year of the land of Israel. Also a book on the laws of SHEMITTAH by Rav

Avraham

Yitzchak Hakohen Kook zt” l (18651935)

SHAMUR V’NE’EVAD (דבענו רומש; lit. “guarded and worked”) –SHEMITTAH produce that was guarded and/ or worked in a prohibited fashion.

SHECHITAH (הטיחש) –Ritual slaughter.

SHEMIRAT HAMITZVOT (תווצמה תרימש) –Observance of the commandments. A non-observant Jew isn’t trusted in certain halachic areas.

SHEMITTAH (הטימש) – The sabbatical year which takes place in the land of Israel according to Torah law (Vayikra 25:1–5).

SHEMITTAH occurs every seven years, based on an ancient cycle. In a leap year, SHEMITTAH lasts thirteen months.

SHE’ERIYOT (תויראש lit. “leftovers”) – Leftover food or edible peels of holy SHEMITTAH fruit that may not be discarded in a regular manner.

SHERUYAH (היורש) –Commonly known as gebrochts. Matzah that was baked properly and placed in liquid is not considered chametz. However a widelyobserved custom exists not to consume any matzah that was placed in any liquid after being baked. The term, which normally appears on foods or advertisement for programs refers, to the custom to either eat or not eat such matzah.

SHISHIT (תישש; lit. “the sixth”) – The sixth year of the seven-year SHEMITTAH cycle.

SHULCHAN ARUCH (ןחלוש ךורע; lit. “set table”) – The Code of Jewish Law. The Shulchan Aruch was written by Rabbi Yosef Caro in Safed in 1563. The Rema (Rabbi Moshe Isserles) added in his comments to this work

Kohen. Terumat ma’aser can only be consumed by a (ritually) pure Kohen while the produce is still ritually pure.

TEVEL (לבט) – Untithed produce grown in Israel. Such produce is prohibited for consumption until tithed.

Jews. In many cases, the non-Jewish produce is from Palestinian farmers in Judea and Samaria. According to certain authorities, one should treat YEVUL NOCHRI with the sanctity of SHEMITTAH (KEDUSHAT SHEVI’IT).

YISHUV, the (בושיה; lit. “settlement”) – In context, this refers to the modern-day Jewish settlement of Israel.

YITZUR MEYUCHAD

TOLAI’IM םיעלות lit. “worms” – Non-kosher insects present in foods.

TZIBBUR (רוביצ). Community. The term is sometimes used in relation to a custom or practice of a certain group (see Avot 2:4

(דחוימ רוצי lit. special production) – Special kosher production performed at times at non-kosher factories worldwide. In Israeli plants, it refers to a special production carried out by private certifications.

YITZUR MEYUCHAD

SHEMINIT (תינימש lit. “The Eighth Year”) –The year following the SHEMITTAH year. Certain halachot pertaining to SHEMITTAH apply to the eighth year as well.

SHEVI’IT (תיעבש; lit. “the seventh”) – The seventh year of the seven-year SHEMITTAH cycle. See SHEMITTAH

TTE’UDAT KASHRUT (lit. Certificate of Kashrut) –Certificate of kashrut for an establishment.

TERUMAH, TERUMOT (תומורת; lit. “Removed portions”) – A type of tithe given to the Kohen. Terumah can only be consumed by a (ritually) pure Kohen while the produce is still ritually pure.

TERUMAT MA’ASER (רשעמ תמורת) – A tithe given from the Levi to the Kohen. A tenth of the MA’ASER RISHON the Levi received is given to the

YYERUSHALAYIM (םילשורי). Jerusalem. Certain foodrelated mitzvot apply only in Yerushalayim, and even then, only on Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount) and in some sections of the Old City.

YEVUL CHU”L (ל”וח לובי lit. “Diaspora Crop”) –Produce imported from non- Jewish farmers living outside ERETZ YISRAEL. According to all opinions there is no need to keep the sanctity of SHEMITTAH (KEDUSHAT SHEVI’IT) with yevul chul.

YEVUL NOCHRI (ירכונ לובי lit. “Non-Jewish Crop”) – Produce marketed during SHEMITTAH from farms in Israel owned and controlled by non-

LEPESACH דחוימ רוצי חספל): Special Pesach production run, performed at times at non-kosher-for-Pesach factories worldwide and in Israel.

YASHAN (ןשי lit. “old”). Grain (wheat, barley, oats, spelt and rye) harvested after the fifteenth of Nisan and therefore permitted for consumption.

YOVEL (לבוי) – The jubilee year which following seven SHEMITTAH cycles. Authorities debate whether yovel is the forty-ninth year (coinciding with SHEMITTAH) or the fiftieth. Among the unique halachot of yovel, certain land purchases must be returned to their original owners, and Jewish slaves go free.