A.D. - from the Latin Anno Domini meaning "In the Year of Our L-rd", refers to the timeline since the birth of Jesus. Same as B.C.E.
Baptism - usually refers to an immersion in water, what Jews would call a mikveh. Like Jews, Christians do not believe that water washes away sin. Baptism symbolizes a life purified by G-d. The term baptism may also refer to spiritual immersion, such as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
B.C. - "Before Christ", refers to the timeline going back from the time Jesus was on earth. Same as B.C.E.
B.C.E. "Before Common Era", refers to the timeline going back from the destruction of the second Temple. It's the same as BC, but more PC for those who don't so much like JC. This doesn't exactly work, since the Temple was not destroyed until 70 CE, but just go with it.
C.E. - "Common Era", refers to the timeline since the destruction of the second Temple...Well, really since 70 years before the destruction of the second Temple. See BCE for more explanation.
Christ - see Messiah, "Christ" comes from the Greek word Kristos, and means the same as the Hebrew word Meshiach, or Messiah. It means "Anointed"
Christianity - the faith that is based on both the writings of the Tanach (Old Testament or First Covenant) and the New Covenant (New Testament). Christianity teaches that the One True G-d came to earth in the form of a man: Y'shua (Hebrew for Jesus). As Y'shua, He gave the atoning blood sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, rose from the dead, and is the Savior of all who will receive Him. Christianity has many different denominations, based on differing interpretations of the Bible.
Church - The word "church" comes from the Greek word ecclasia. It means "called out assembly". The church is made up of all believers in Y'shua (Jesus), both Jews and Gentiles, of all denominations, from every place and every time. Local gatherings and buildings used for worship are called churches, but they are not The Church.
Diaspora - The Body of Jews scattered throughout the world, living outside of Israel.
Gentile - one who is not Jewish
Goy- one who is not Jewish. A Gentile. Plural is goyim.
Hashem or HaShem - literally means "the Name" . HaShem is used in place of the Name of the Almighty G-d,
to be respectful and never use His Name carelessly
Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost - Hebrew, Ruach Hakkodesh. Refers to the One True G-d presenting Himself in Spirit form.
David wrote of the Holy Spirit when he said, "Where can I escape from Your spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?" (Psalm 139:7, New JPS)
Jewish - pertaining to the race and/or faith of Hebrew people.
Judaism - the faith that is based both on the Tanach (Old Testament) and also on the traditions and teachings of the Talmud. Judaism has many denominations, based on differing rabbinic interpretations of the Bible.
Kashrut- The body of Jewish law that expounds upon Biblical dietary commandments.
Kiddush - literally means "sanctification", set apart for G-d. A kiddush cup is the wine that is sanctified for Shabbat or for Passover, etc. Kiddush Hashem is to "sanctify the Name". It means to bring honor to G-d by your righteous actions.
Kosher - means "fit for use, legitimate, ritually pure". It does not mean blessed by a rabbi. Generally, the term "kosher" refers to following the commandments of not only the Bible, but of the Kashrut. "Biblically kosher" means following the dietary laws according to the Bible, without regard to the Kashrut.
Messianic - based on faith that the New Covenant (New Testament) does not destroy the First Covenant (Old Testament), and that Y'shua (Jesus) is the promised Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world. Messianic Judaism is made up of a mixture of Jews who choose to follow Jesus without abandoning their Judaism, and Gentile Christians who choose to follow traditions and teachings of Judaism as the foundation of their Christian beliefs. In Messianic congregations, Jews and Gentiles worship side by side.
Messiah - literally means "Anointed" - the One appointed by G-d to restore Israel and to bring peace on earth
Mashiach - Hebrew for Messiah
Mikveh - immersion in water as a ritual cleansing or show of conversion. Christians call it "baptism". It is not washing away of sins, and does not get a person a spot in heaven. It is practiced as a picture of cleansing and purity
Pushke - box kept in the home for collecting coins for tzedakah
Rapture- The word Rapture does not occur in either the Tanach or in the New Testament. It is the term that Christians use to describe the event spoken of by the apostle Paul. "For the L-rd himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of G-d, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the L-rd in the air. And so we will be with the L-rd forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV).
Tallit - prayer shawl
Talmud - collection of Jewish law, history, and rabbinical teachings
Tanach or Tanakh or Tenach - The Jewish Bible. Christians see it as the first 39 books of the Bible, called the Old Testament, or First Covenant. Non-Messianic Jews do not consider the New Testament part of the Bible, so they do not call the Tanach the "Old Testament". They simply call it the Bible.
Torah - literally means "teaching" or "instruction"- the first five books of the Bible. Called the books of Moses, the books of the law, or simply The Law. Sometimes the word Torah is used to refer to the entire Tanach.
Trinity - Christians use this term to represent the triune nature of HaShem. One G-d, who represents Himself to mankind in three different forms, Father, Y'shua (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity is called the Son of G-d, but is considered by Christians to be G-d himself, called "Son" only because His human life came from the life force of His Spirit form.
Though the terminology gets fuzzy, Christianity does not teach that there are three gods. It teaches One G-d who presents Himself in three forms or three Persons. Some Christians believe that G-d is multifaceted, and not limited to the traditional Christian teaching of the Trinity. The word "Trinity" does not appear in either the Tanach or in the New Testament.
Tzedakah - literally means "righteousness, justice, fairness" To perform tzedakah is to give to the needy: a charity, synagogue, church, to support parents in old age, or to any worthy cause. Not just caring for our own, but for anyone in need. Tzedakah makes things more fair... sharing what we have, even if we ourselves are also in need.
Y'shua or Yeshua - Hebrew pronunciation of the name Jesus. Y'shua is the Name that Jesus used when on earth.
