Kabbalah Glossary: A to I

A.

Abba: Father. Abba also refers to wisdom and the first conscious power in the soul.
Adam: Man. Also “Adam Kadmon” or the First Man ; primeval man.
Agol: Round. Often used in Kabbalah terminology to show 4 aspects of the desire to receive.
Ahavah: Love. Usually referred to as spiritual love or Chessed (lovingkindess).
Akvah: A Holy name for G-d.
Alef: First letter in Hebrew alphabet (A).
Amidah: Standing. Also an important daily Jewish prayer.
Aroch: Long. Also a bestowal of knowledge (Chocma).
Ashreih: "Happy is" - an important daily prayer.
Atzihut: Emanation and the first of the four highest worlds of creation.
Avot: Fathers. An important prayer is “Perche Avot” (blessings of the fathers).

Ba'al: Lord or Master. Also husband.
Ba'al Shem Tov: Master of the Good Name (of G-d). Also the founder of the Chassidic Movement, Rabbi Yisrael ben-Eliezer, was named the Baal Shem Tov.
Ba'al Teshuvah: Returnee or one who returns to religious practice in Judaism.
Ben: Son. Also “Ben Adam”: son of Man.
Beinoni: An "intermediate one" or one who possesses evil urges even while studying the holy books or while at prayer.
Binah: Understanding; relating to how one is affected by something.
Birur: Separation or choosing. Usually meant for choosing good over evil, especially in acts and deeds.
Boreh: The Creator, i.e. Creator of the Fruit of the Vine, (G-d).
Brit: Covenant. Also refers to the male sexual organ in the circumcision ceremony "Brit Milah".

Chafetz Chesed: Loving kindness, especially according to G-d's will.
Chalal and Chalal Panui: Empty of Light and empty space or vacuum. Meant to refer to the earth during its creation, before The Creator separated the earth, form, and light.
Chabad: Abbreviated term for Chochma – Binah – Da'at (Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge). The name of the well-known Chassidic movement.
Chassid: Pius one. Plural is Chassidim. Name of Jewish religious movement in which religious and mystical studies, such as the Kabbalah, are often pursued.
Chayot: Living beings, animals.
Chochma: Wisdom (particularly in study).
Chomer: Substance, material.
Churvah: Place of destruction, ruin.

Da'at: Knowdedge. The last power of Creation (Adam and Eve).
Dalet: Fourth letter in Hebrew alphabet. Used often in Kabbalah study.
Din: Judgment (Beit ha Din is a House of Judgment or court).
Dofen: Side. Often referred to as when an object, or “Kli”, receives light by being positioned on its spiritual side.
Dveikut: Attachment or merging of two spiritual objects. Also, a "clinging" as between a husband and wife (sexual).

Echad: One or unity. Also refers to the Devine Light from G-d.
Elokim: Another name for G-d, usually recited when not in actual prayer.
Emet: Truth. Referred to a high spiritual state.
Emunah: Faith. Belief in the powers of the Almighty, no matter what the outcome.
Etz Haim: Tree of Life. Very important usage in Kabbalah teaching and symbolism.
Et Ratson: Time of Will or Desire. Refers also to the light of “Chochma”, or knowledge.

Faith: Heb. Emunah. One of the highest religious experiences and is one of the three "heads" of the Keter.

Gag: Roof or highest level of learning.
Gaon: Genius. Often referred to great Talmudic sages who lived in the 7th to 12th centuries.
Gematria: Hebrew numerical system with very important usage in calculating numerical equivalents of letters and words.
Gevurah: Might or Strength. One of the ten “Sephirot”, or Devine energy channels, spoken of in the Kabbalah.
Guf: Body. It is the “Guf”, or body, that receives the Devine inspiration of the Chosen One.

Hakaah: Striking. Refers to the Upper Light being blocked as if there is a screen or barrier.
He'elem v'Gilui: Concealment and revelation. Refers to the fundamentals of Creation, or the Devine issue or flow.
Hitkasrut: Connection. Also refers to the ten “Sephirot” of the Devine Light.
Hitpashtut: Light, as brought forth by the issuer to one longing for the Light.
Hod: Splendor. The fifth of the attributes of Creation in the 10 Sephirot.

Ibur: Infant or embryo. In Kabbalistic terms, as an embryo or infant receives nourishment from its mother so does the soul receive spiritual nourishment from G-d.
Igul: Circle. The circle appears many times in Kabbalah learning, often referred as the “ha’Igul ha’Gadol” (the big circle) which has to do with the circle of life, from birth to death, in which the soul returns to G-d.
Imma: Mother. As the mother is the physical creator of life, so is the mother image connected with the process of creation.
Iyar: Second month of the 12 month Hebrew calendar.