shed (plural: sheddim) — Half mortal half demon, physically conceived and born from the union of a mortal man and a succubus. Able to perceive the spirit world, but cannot enter or affect it. They are faster, stronger, and more personally magnetic than mortals. They are nearly immortal themselves and cannot be killed by normal physical means. They sustain themselves on a diet of water and slime.
Sheol — The netherworld. A formless realm where departed souls (the rephaim) await the coming of the Messiah either in comfort (sometimes called the Bosom of Abraham — particularly by Christians) or in torment. (see Gehenna).
shinnui shem — ‘changing of a name.’ A custom of changing the name in the hope that it will change that person’s fate.
shofar — A ritual trumpet made from the horn of a ram.
Shomer negiah — A person who abides by the commandment forbidding contact with an unmarried member of the opposite sex who is not a relative.
Shomrei shabbos — Persons who observe the commandments associated with the Sabbath.
The Sons of the Essenes — A secret mystic order of Jewish scholars who claim descent from the Essenes, an ancient Hebrew monastic sect mentioned by Philo of Alexandria and Pliny The Elder from around the time of Christ. Their central teachings culminate in the Merkabah Riders. There are nine enclaves located in cities across the world, with the main enclave located at Ein Gedi in Palestine.
tallit katan — ‘small prayer shawl.’ A four-fringed poncho like undergarment worn beneath the shirt.
tatelah — Yiddish for ‘little man.’
tefillin — Prayer phylacteries. Black leather straps which are wrapped around the arm (shel yad) and head (shel yosh) and bear two small leather boxes containing parchment scrolls inscribed with Bible verses.
tikkun — ‘Repair’ or ‘rectification.’ — The notion that adherence to the commandments will repair the imperfect cosmos and strengthen the Divine.
Tishri— The first month of the year in the Hebrew calendar (corresponding to September-October in the Gregorian calendar).
Torah — (‘teaching’) The Pentateuch — the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) in the Tanakh (Bible).
Tsath-yo — The script used by the prehistoric Hyporboreans.
tzadik nistari/tzadikim nistarim — ‘hidden righteous one.’ One of the fabled 36 Hidden Saints. Every generation there are born 36 righteous Jews whose presence in the world justifies the continued existence of mankind in the eyes of God, even in the face of barbarism. It is said that if even one of the Nistarim dies the world will end. Tradition holds that a tzadik is not aware of his own nature. In the Order of The Sons of the Essenes, the ruling rebbes of each enclave are bestowed the title tzadik and are thought to be actual Nistarim, although there are only thirty two.
tzi-daltai — An Apache fetish charm, carved from a tree struck by lightning (thunderwood) and into the shape of a man. They vary in markings and adornments, and are often prayed to, possibly as they represent the Gan.
Tzohar — A luminous stone containing the primordial light of creation. It illuminated the ark of Noah, hung from the neck of Abraham (and could heal the sick), and was given to the righteous of each generation.
Yenne Velt — The ‘other world.’ The astral plane perceived and navigated by mystics. A shadowy spirit world mainly inhabited by lost ghosts, a reflection of the physical world, but not heaven, not hell.
yeshiva — An academy instructing young Jewish males in sacred texts.
Yeshiva shel Malah — ‘The Academy on High.’ The place where the righteous dead will study Torah under the tutelage of the angel Zagzagel.
Yom Kippur — The Day of Atonement, traditionally the day Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. The holiest day of the Jewish year, a time of repentance aond confession. On this day the angels read from the Book of Life, and those whose names are not recorded within, die.
yored merkabah — A merkabah rider who successfully reaches the Divine Throne.
Zei gezunt — Yiddish. ‘Be well.’
About the Author
Edward M. Erdelac was born in Indiana, educated in Chicago, and lives in the Los Angeles area with his family. His various works and ruminations can be found on his blog, Delirium Tremens, over at emerdelac.wordpress.com.
Table of Contents
Episode Nine - The Long Sabbath
Episode Ten - The War Shaman
Episode Eleven - The Mules of the Mazzikim
Episode Twelve - The Man Called Other
Episode Thirteen - The Fire King Triumphant
Glossary
About the Author
Merkabah Rider: Have Glyphs Will Travel Page 43
