p'shat -- straightforward literal meaning of a passage
pareve -- food that is neither meaty nor milky -- e.g. vegetables
parsha -- the weekly Torah portion
Passover -- springtime holiday commemorating the Exodus from Egypt
Pat Haba B'Kisnin (Pas) -- grain foods generally eaten as a snack, such as cakes and crackers
patur -- exempt from an obligation
Pesach -- springtime holiday commemorating the Exodus from Egypt
pesolet (pesoles) -- garbage; the unwanted material
Pesukei Dizimra -- Psalms recited at the beginning of the Shacharit morning service
peyot (peyos) -- sidelocks, worn in enhancement of the Torah prohibition against cutting the hair of the temples (Lev. 19:27)
Pidyon HaBen -- redemption of the first born, taking place at least 30 days after birth
pikuach nefesh -- a matter of life and death; usually in context of special permission to break Shabbat or other mitzvot
Pirkei Avot (Avos) -- lit.: Chapters of the Fathers; the Talmudic tractate which contains ethical teachings
posek -- an authority on Jewish law who issues halachic decisions
poskim -- authorities on Jewish law who issue halachic decisions
potzaya -- un-weaving; one of the 39 primary categories of forbidden Shabbat activity
Pri Megadim -- classic commentary to the Shulchan Aruch, authored by Rabbi Yosef ben Meir Teomim (1727-1792)
Priestly Blessing -- blessing recited by the Kohanim every day, as per Numbers 6:22-27
psik reisha -- it is forbidden to do an 'unintentional' action that inevitably results in a melachah
public fast days -- introduced by the prophets in ancient times, as days of national introspection
Purim -- festive day in month of Adar, celebrating the dramatic turn-around of events in Persia 2,300 years ago, when tremendous Divine providence -- channeled through Esther and Mordechai -- saved the Jewish people from Haman’s decree of annihilation
