Czar: The Russian Term for ruler/emperor, often assuming total power

Pale of Settlement: Western region of the Russia with differentiating borders that existed during 1791 to 1917

Crimean War: A fight between the Russian Czar, Nicholas I and the Ottoman Emperor, Abdulmejid I, to determine which empire would have power over Orthodox Christians residing in Ottoman territory

Kahal: A Yiddish term for a local executive board of Jewish communities, specifically that in Russia, that organize and regulate taxes/laws

Pogroms: Originates from the Russian word meaning “to wreak havoc, to demolish violently.”, were a series of violent attacks by local non-Jewish populations on Jews in the Russian Empire

Canaan: The ancient region lying between the Jordan, the Dead Sea, and the Mediterranean: the land promised by God to Abraham

Covenent: An agreement

Torah: The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, mostly the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

Synagogue: A Jewish place of worship that also acts as a school and community center

Crusades: A series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims started primarily to secure control of holy sites

Cantillation: Ritual chanting of prayers and responses

Synagogue Liturgy: The prayer recitations that form part of the observance of Rabbinic Judaism

10 Commandments: Set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship originally from the Jewish tradition that play a fundamental role in Judaism and Christianity