Jewish Terms and their Meanings
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Group |
Description |
Reference |
| Ra'ah | Buzzard, bird of prey. | |
| Rabban | A higher title than "rabbi". | |
| Rabbi | Used as a name for JUDAH HA-NASI (latter half of the second and beginning of the third century A.D.), patriarch of Judea and redactor of the Mishnah. | |
| Rabbi, Rabbinate | The title "rabbi" is derived from the noun "rav", which in biblical Hebrew means "great", but does not occur in the Bible. The word "rabbi" therefore means literally "my master. | |
| Rahamim | Mercy | |
| Rambam | Another name for Moses Maimonides. | |
| Ramban | Another name for Nachmanides | |
| Rashei tevot | Initials; an abbreviation. | |
| Re'iyyah | Literally "appearance"; name of a tractate of the Mishnah; also called "Hagigah". | |
| Red Magen David | The Israeli version of "The Red Cross". | |
| Remez | "Hint," i.e. veiled allusions such as gematria, and notarikon. | |
| Resh Galuta | Lay head of the Jewish community in Babylon. | |
| Resh Kallah | Title that was awarded to the leading sages in Babylonian academies during the talmudic and geonic periods. | |
| Riglei | Festivals | |
| Rishonim | Literally "the early authorities"; a term with many connotations: chronological, literary, ethical, and halakhic. | |
| Rosh | Head | |
| Rosh ha-Shanah | "Head of the year"; applied to Tishri 1 by the Jews. | |
| Rosh Hodesh | "Head of the month"; new moon. | |
| Rosh Yeshivah | The head academy or school. | |
| Ru'ah ha-Kodesh | The Holy Spirit |