k'beitza -- a Hebrew measure for solids (approx. 30 grams - 2 fluid ounces)
Kabbalah -- lit.: received; Jewish mysticism, based primarily on the second century “Zohar,” and on the teachings of the Arizal (16th century, Tzfat). Also refers to someone “accepting” upon himself a spiritual commitment.
kabbalat mitzvot (kabbalas mitzvos) -- acceptance of the Torah commandments as binding; a key component of conversion to Judaism
Kabbalat Shabbat (Kabbolas Shabbos) -- service welcoming the Sabbath
Kaddish -- prayer proclaiming God’s greatness, that separates parts of the prayer service; Mourner’s Kaddish is recited at the end of the service
kal v'chomer -- a halachic inference from a lenient case to a strict case -- i.e. “all the more so”
kalei ha-bishul -- easily-cooked foods
karmelit (karmelis) -- a public domain in which less than 600,000 people travel daily. Carrying on Shabbat in these areas and transferring items from private domains into these public ones is prohibited by the rabbis, unless an eruv has been established from before Shabbat
kashrut (kashrus) -- lit.: prepared; term given to food that is permitted for a Jew to eat
kavanah -- intention; concentration during prayer or while performing a mitzvah
kavod ha'briyot (ha'briyos) -- the honor of a person
kavod ha'tzibur -- the honor of the community
kedusha -- sanctity, holiness; “Kedusha” is also a congregational prayer describing the angels’ praise of God
ketubah (kesubah) -- the marriage contract
Ketuvim (Kesuvim) -- lit.: Writings; final section of the Jewish Bible containing various scriptures
keviyat seudah (keviyas) -- When cake (or any Pat Haba B'Kisnin) is eaten in a quantity that you would normally eat bread as a meal, it requires Netilat Yadayim, Hamotzee and Birkat Hamazon.
kezayit (kezayis) -- a Hebrew measure for solids (approx. 15 grams - 1 fluid ounce)
kiday achilat pras (achilas) -- lit.: the time it takes to eat a portion (3-4 minutes)
kiday seudah -- lit.: the amount of a meal; amount of bread normally eaten in a meal
kiday shetiyat revi'it (shetiyas revi'is) -- lit.: the time it takes to drink a revi'it (approx. 98cc - 3.3 oz); generally defined as 2 gulps with a short pause
Kiddush -- lit.: sanctify; commonly refers to the blessing over wine said at Shabbat and holiday meals; also used to describe the refreshments served after Shabbat morning services
kiddush hachodesh -- decision from the Sanhedrin (Jewish Supreme Court) to accept testimony from witnesses who observed the first sighting of the new moon, thereby determining when the new month should begin
kiddush Hashem -- sanctification of God’s name; refers to any public act that casts a positive light on Torah and the Jewish people
kiddushin -- marriage betrothal
kippah -- traditional head covering worn by Jewish men; also called a yarmulke
Kislev -- month in the Jewish (lunar) calendar, coinciding with November and December; the eight-day celebration of Chanukah begins on the 25th day of this month
kitniyot (kitniyos) -- foods such as rice, corn, beans and seeds, not eaten by Ashkenazi Jews during Passover; Sefardi Jews do not have the custom to prohibit kitniyot
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch -- popular book of Jewish law, authored by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried (1804-1886)
klal Yisrael -- the Jewish community as a whole
kli she'melachto li'issur -- an item which is used for doing jobs that are forbidden on Shabbat; examples: pen, hammer, scissors, grater
kli shelishi -- a third vessel
Kodshim -- Lit.: “holy things”; fifth section of the Mishnah, concerning laws of the Temple
kohanim (sing.: Kohen) -- descendents of Aaron who served in the Holy temple; today, a kohen gets the first aliyah in shul, and has certain restrictions regarding marriage, visiting a cemetery, etc.
kohen (pl.: kohanim) -- descendent of Aaron (Moses's brother, and the first kohen), today, a kohen gets the first aliyah in shul, and has certain restrictions regarding marriage, visiting a cemetery, etc.
kol hakavod -- lit.: all honor; used idiomatically to express praise or congratulations for an achievement
kol isha -- lit.: the voice of a woman; prohibition against Jewish men hearing a female singing
kol tuv -- lit.: everything good; like wishing someone “all the best”
kollel -- Torah study groups for married men
koraya -- tearing; one of the 39 primary categories of forbidden Shabbat activity
korban -- animal offering brought to the Holy Temple
koshair -- knot-tying; one of the 39 primary categories of forbidden Shabbat activity
kosher -- lit.: legally proper; refers to food permitted under Jewish dietary laws; colloquially refers to anything that is within the boundaries of (moral) law
Kotel (Kosel) -- The Western Wall in Jerusalem, part of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount
kotzer -- lit.: “harvesting”; the forbidden Shabbat activity of taking a growing thing from its natural source
kriyah -- the act of tearing one's garment upon hearing of a relative's death; also done upon seeing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
