Glossary
- Rachatz
- [Hebrew] ritual handwashing, upon reciting the blessing, that is part of the order of the Passover seder.
- Rachel
- Lavan's younger daughter and Jacob's beloved wife, though he is initially tricked into marrying her older sister Leah. Rachel grieves throughout her life that she is barren while Leah is so fertile. Ultimately, Rachel gives birth to Joseph and dies in childbirth with Benjamin. Rachel is remembered as compassionate (she is said to still weep for her children), and infertile women often invoke Rachel as a kind of intercessor and visit her tomb on the road to Bethlehem.
- Rebbetzin
- (Yiddish) Wife of a rabbi.
- Rebecca
- Isaac's wife, mother to Jacob and Esau. Rebecca is the active parent, talking to God when she is pregnant and learning the fate of her children, then ultimately manipulating Isaac and the children to ensure that that fate, Jacob's ascendancy, transpires.
- Reshut
- Domain. As in, the public domain (reshut harabim) or the private domain (reshut hayachid).
- Ribono Shel Olam
- Master of the Universe
- Rosh Chodesh
- The new moon, which marks the beginning of the Jewish month. According to tradition, because women did not participate in the sin of the golden calf, they were given the holiday of Rosh Chodesh. It is customary for women not to work on Rosh Chodesh.
- Rosh Hashana
- The Jewish New Year, also the Day of Judgment. The period of the High Holidays is a time of introspection and atonement. The holiday is celebrated with the sounding of the shofar, lengthy prayers in synagogue, the eating of apples and honey, and round challah for a sweet and whole year. Tashlich, casting bread on the water, also takes place on Rosh Hashana.
- Ruth
- The Book of Ruth, read on Shavuot, tells the story of Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and their return to Israel. Ruth’s story is read as the first story of conversion. Ruth is the grandmother of King David.
- Ru’ach
- Lit., spirit. Some new versions of blessings call God Spirit of the World, Ru’ach Ha’olam, rather than King of the World.