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SIN (28)

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Original Sin: Judaism completely rejects the doctrine of original sin. See Birth; The Dual Nature.
Sin Offering: A type of sacrifice used to atone for and expiate unintentional sins.
Singer, Isaac Bashevis: A Nobel Prize winning author who wrote in the Yiddish language, best known to Americans for his story Yentl the Yeshiva Boy, which was adapted into a movie by Barbara Streisand. Singer hated that movie. See Yiddish Literature.
Synagogue (SIN-uh-gahg): From a Greek root meaning "assembly." The most widely accepted term for a Jewish house of worship. The Jewish equivalent of a church, mosque or temple.

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Speech and Lashon Ha-Ra: Learn about the sins of wronging people through speech.

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Adultery: The Hebrew term for adultery found in the Ten Commandments (teen-AF) is generally understood to be a generic term for any kind of sexual immorality. The specific sin in Jewish law refers to sex between a man and a married woman only, not to sex between a married man and an unmarried woman, because polygyny was permitted under Jewish law.
Al Cheit (AHL CHAYT): Lit. for the sin. A confession of community sins recited repeatedly on Yom Kippur. See Yom Kippur Liturgy.
Asham (ah-SHAHM): A guilt offering. A type of sacrifice used to atone for sins of stealing things from the altar, for when you are not sure whether you have committed a sin or what sin you have committed, or for breach of trust.
Chatat (khah-TAHT): A sin offering. A type of sacrifice used to atone for and expiate unintentional sins.
Days of Awe: Ten days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, a time for introspection and considering the sins of the previous year.
G-d: A way to avoid writing a name of The Creator, to avoid the risk of the sin of erasing or defacing the Name. See The Name of G-d; The Nature of G-d.
Gossip: Gossiping is a serious sin in Judaism. See Speech and Lashon Ha-Ra.
Guilt Offering: A type of sacrifice used to atone for sins of stealing things from the altar, for when you are not sure whether you have committed a sin or what sin you have committed, or for breach of trust.
Homosexuality: Homosexual orientation is not a sin in Judaism, but homosexual acts are. Male-male sex is forbidden by the Torah. Lesbian sex is not prohibited by the Torah, but is generally considered prohibited as "licentiousness."
Jerusalem: The holiest city in Judaism, King David's capital and the site of King Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple. Since ancient times, Jews have faced Jerusalem during prayer, and have prayed daily for a return to Israel and Jerusalem. See The Land of Israel.
Kareit (kah-REHYT): The penalty of spiritual excision, imposed by G-d. Certain sins, such as failure to circumcise, are so severe that one who violates them has no place in the World to Come.
Lashon Ha-Ra (LAH-shohn HAH-rah; luh-SHOHN hah-RAH): Lit. the evil tongue. Sins against other people committed by speech, such as defamation, gossip, swearing falsely, and scoffing.
L-rd: A way of avoiding writing a name of G-d, to avoid the risk of the sin of erasing or defacing the Name. See The Name of G-d.
Motzi Sheim Ra (MOH-tsee SHAYM RAH): A person who "spreads a bad report"; that is, who tells disparaging lies. It is the worst of the sins involving speech. See Speech and Lashon Ha-Ra.
Mysticism: Mysticism and mystical experiences have been a part of Judaism since the earliest days, but specific beliefs in this area are open to personal interpretation.
Offerings: Jewish practices of sacrifices and offerings were extensive in ancient times, but have not been practiced since our Temple was destroyed, because we are not permitted to bring offerings anywhere else.
Original Sin: Judaism completely rejects the doctrine of original sin. See Birth; The Dual Nature.
Rakheel (Rah-KHEEL): A tale-bearer. Derived from a word meaning trader or merchant. Tale-bearing is a serious sin in Judaism. See Speech and Lashon Ha-Ra.
Sacrifice: Jewish practices of sacrifices and offerings were extensive in ancient times, but have not been practiced since our Temple was destroyed, because we are not permitted to bring offerings anywhere else.
Sex: Sex is not shameful, sinful or obscene. It is not solely for the purpose of procreation. When sexual desire is satisfied between a husband and wife at the proper time, out of mutual love and desire, sex is a mitzvah. See also Marriage.
Sin Offering: A type of sacrifice used to atone for and expiate unintentional sins.
Singer, Isaac Bashevis: A Nobel Prize winning author who wrote in the Yiddish language, best known to Americans for his story Yentl the Yeshiva Boy, which was adapted into a movie by Barbara Streisand. Singer hated that movie. See Yiddish Literature.
Slander: Slander is a serious sin in Judaism, even if the disparaging comment is true. See Speech and Lashon Ha-Ra.
Speech: For information about the power of speech and sins committed through speech, see Speech and Lashon Ha-Ra. For information about pronouncing the Name of G-d, see The Name of G-d.
Synagogue (SIN-uh-gahg): From a Greek root meaning "assembly." The most widely accepted term for a Jewish house of worship. The Jewish equivalent of a church, mosque or temple.
Tale-Bearing: Tale-bearing is a serious sin in Judaism. See Speech and Lashon Ha-Ra.
Tashlikh (TAHSH-likh): Lit. casting off. A custom of going to a river and symbolically casting off one's sins. See Rosh Hashanah.
Yom Kippur (YOHM ki-PAWR): Lit. Day of Atonement. A day set aside for fasting, depriving oneself of pleasures, and repenting from the sins of the previous year.

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