Introduction To Judaism Part 2

Front 1

Account of the Chariot (Chariot/Merkabah Mysticism)

Back 1

-Talmudic literature
-Ezekiel's vision of a chariot being led by heavenly beings
-People couldn't study it without going crazy
-Chariot Mysticism: Other passages were combines wit this one in the Kedushah passages
Heikhalot Literature:
-Rabbi Akiva mastered the account of the chariot
-Mystics have to ascend through various places before arriving at the chariot
-A horrible fate for people who are rejected by the guards (must be pure)

Front 2

Agudat Israel

Back 2

-An association representing the interests of traditional ultra-Orthodox groups
-The Knesset in parliament
-Get money for their yeshivahs
-Advocate for religious legislations

Front 3

Aninut

Back 3

-The initial and most intense stage of grieving, from the moment of death until burial
-Mourners are expected to be entirely concerned in arguing burial
-Exempt from religious obligations

Front 4

Apocalypse

Back 4

-A popular genre of ancient Jewish literature, especially during the Roman era in which the hero, usually a figure from the Bible, receives a graphically symbolic vision of a catastrophic future when God will overthrow the forces of evil and institute the kingdom on Earth
-Idea that there has always been a plan
-Dead Sea Scrolls talk about Apocalypse

Front 5

Aravah

Back 5

-Willow, one of the "four species" that is carried during the rituals on the feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
-During celebration of ingathering of crops, commemoration of booths in which the Israelites dwelled during the 40 years they wandered the wilderness after Exodus

Front 6

Attributes of Actions

Back 6

-In the thought of Mainmonides, these are descriptions of God that are to be understood metaphorically, as analogous to the gram of mind that would have produces a certain result if a similar effect had been produced by a human being

Front 7

Bad Urges

Back 7

-In rabbinic homilies, the aspect of the human personality that seduces people to sin. It is equated with the sexual urge and therefore is essential for human survival

Front 8

Bar Mitzvah

Back 8

-"Subject to the commandments"
-A Jewish male who has reached the age when he is legally responsible under Jewish religious law; equated with the attainment of puberty, which is assumed to have occurred by the age of thirteen years and one day
-The first wearing of the t'fillin (able to keep his body clean)
-The first time the youth recites the Torah in the synagogue
-The recitation of blessing by parents to God to release them from being responsible for their child's offences
-Deliver discourse of religious topic

Front 9

Beit Ya'akov

Back 9

-A network of Orthodox schools for girls founded by Sara Schnirer in 1917
-Was radical and controversial but is now common

Front 10

Bimah

Back 10

-The elevated platform of a synagogue, used principally for the reading of the Torah
-Traditionally would face towards Jerusalem but now faces "audience"

Front 11

Canaan/Canaanites

Back 11

-The name for the people/land of Israel prior to it's conquest by Joshua
-Conquest of Canaan involved slaying an entire population of people

Front 12

Chair of Elijah

Back 12

-A chair that is customarily set aside for the biblical prophet Elijah at circumcision ceremonies
-A sandak (an honoured person who holds the baby) holds the baby in that chair
-Apparently Elijah attends every circumcision

Front 13

Children of Light/Darkness

Back 13

-From teachings of Qumran documents (Dead Sea Scrolls)
-Children of darkness do not follow God's way while children of light faithfully follow God's law

Front 14

Covenant

Back 14

-A mutual agreement between God and the people of Israel
-More of a legal agreement than anything
-Was established when God gave Moses the Torah at Mount Sinai
-God punishes us for breaking the covenant
-Some people (Elie Wiesel) think that God can break the covenant

Front 15

Day of Atonement

Back 15

-Annual holy day designated by the Torah for the forgiveness and atonement of sins. It falls on the tenth day of the 7th month, Tishri, and is observed through fasting and prayer
-Lots of people spend the whole day at the synagogue

Front 16

Derash

Back 16

-Interpretations that follow the methods of rabbinic midrash
-Contrast of peshat

Front 17

Devekut

Back 17

-"Cleaving"
-Hadific ideal of maintaining uninterrupted consciousness of God, especially during prayer

Front 18

Eighteen Benedictions (Amidah, T'fillah)

Back 18

-The central prayer of the rabbinic liturgy, whose original structure consisted of a sequin of eighteen blessings or praise, petition and thanksgiving. The current version contains nineteen blessings.

Front 19

Epicurean

Back 19

-In rabbinic terminology, the most common designation fee a heretic, presumably referring to the Greek philosopher Epicurus who denied Hod's active involvement in the created world

Front 20

Etrog

Back 20

-A citron
-The "fruit of a goodly tree" that is included among the "four species" in the rituals of the feast of Tabernacles

Front 21

Fifteenth of Shevat

Back 21

-A date in the winter used for measuring the ages of fruit trees for the purposes of various agricultural regulations. Mainly among the kabbalists and zionists it has taken on the status of a holiday celebrating the land of Israel and its produce.

Front 22

Four Species

Back 22

-Plants that are carried in ritual processions on the feast of Tabernacles as commanded in the Torah. Rabbinic traditions identify the species as date-palm fond, citron, myrtle branches, and willow branches

Front 23

Gaon

Back 23

-From Hebrew word meaning pride
-The title given to the heads of the talmudic academics, especially ion Babylonia after the talmudic era

Front 24

Garden of Eden

Back 24

-The paradise in which the first man and woman were places until they were banished for their disobedience. In traditional Jewish thought, the term is used to designate the abode of righteous in the afterlife.

Front 25

Gehinnom

Back 25

-A notorious and cursed site of heathen child sacrifice in biblical times, in later became identified with the place where sinner suffer torments in the afterlife.

Front 26

German Pietism/Hasidut Ashkenaz

Back 26

-An influential mystical and moralistic ideology that arose in the Rhineland in the 12th and 13th centuries.
-Differed from Kabbahlic mysticism
-Different from Hasidism

Front 27

Get

Back 27

-Jewish bill of divorce
-By husband to the wife
-Court can compel the husband to do so for the wife
-Lots of dispute over what is required for divorce

Front 28

Gush Emunim (Bloc of the Faithful)

Back 28

-An Israeli religious and political movement that is concerned with maintaining Jewish settlement in territories acquired in the 1967 Six Day War

Front 29

Haggadah

Back 29

-"Telling"
-The liturgy for the traditional Passover night meal (seder) in which the liberation of the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery is recounted. The reciting of the Haggadah is seen as the fulfillment of the precept from Exodus.

Front 30

Hanukkah

Back 30

-The "feast of dedication" commemoration the purification of the Jerusalem Temple after is had been used for pagan worship during Antiochus IV's persecutions. The holidays lasts eight days in the winter and is celebrated by lighting lamps every night.

Front 31

Hareidi

Back 31

-"Those who tremble"
-A term used to described the most conservative type of traditional Jews in terms of their dress, observance, devotion to full-time religious study and insulation from the modern world

Front 32

Havdalah

Back 32

-"Separation"
-A ceremony marking the conclusion of the Sabbath or festivals

Front 33

Heder

Back 33

-"Room"
-Used to designate the traditional European Jewish elementary schools that were often criticized for their primitive pedagogy
-Kids started out going here at age 6 and they went from dawn until dusk
-Studied the Torah

Front 34

Heikhalot Literature

Back 34

-"Palaces"
-Genre of Hebrew mythical literature involving the ascent through multiple levels of palaces that are guarded by angels
-Can only get though if you're pure and have the password

Front 35

Hitlahavut

Back 35

-"Bursting into flames"
-Hasidic ideal of religious ecstasy or fervour, especially in prayer

Front 36

Huppah

Back 36

-Canopy under which Jewish wedding ceremonies are conducted, symbolizing the household now shared by the newly married couple

Front 37

Kaddish

Back 37

-A prayer consisting of praises of God that is recited at the conclusions of units of the liturgy or of religious study. Since the Middle Ages it has been customary for the mourners to lead certain instances of the Kaddish during the first eleven months after the death or on the Yahrtzeit.

Front 38

Kelippot

Back 38

-"Husks", "shards"
-In the kabbalistic doctrine of Rabbi Isaac Luria, there are the remains of the shattered vessels that could not contain the divine light. They are the metaphysical source of evil in the world.

Front 39

Ketubbah

Back 39

-A Jewish marriage contract, who main purpose is to quarantee the support of the wife in the event of a divorce or widowhood. It also outlines the couple's mutual obligations during the marriage.

Front 40

Kiddush

Back 40

-"Sanctification"
-A liturgical ceremony, usually recited over a cult of wine, inaugurating the Sabbath or a festival

Front 41

Kohen

Back 41

-A priest
-In Jerusalem, all priests are paternal descendants of Aaron, Moses' brother, who was designated the first high priest

Front 42

Kol Nidrei

Back 42

-"All the vows"
-A ceremony for the cancelation of vows, recited before the evening service of the Day of Atonement

Front 43

Kolel

Back 43

-An institution for advanced talmudic studies for married students

Front 44

Kosher

Back 44

-"fit"
-Colloquially applied to foods that are prepared according to the Jewish dietary regulations

Front 45

Lulav

Back 45

-The green, closed frond of the date palm. It is one of the "four species" taken in the ritual processions of the Feast of Tabernacles

Front 46

Maror

Back 46

-"bitter herb"
-A required food at the Passover sever, symbolizing the bitterness of the slavery in Egypt

Front 47

Mashiah (Messiah)

Back 47

-"anointed one"
-A legitimate king or priest who has been installed through the biblical ceremony of anointing the head with olive oil. As an eschatological concept, it refers to the future restoration of the legitimate Davidic monarchy and Zadokite priesthood.

Front 48

Matzah

Back 48

-Unleavened bread eaten at Passover to recall how the Israelites left Egypt in haste and their dough did not have time to rise

Front 49

Megillah/Scroll of Esther

Back 49

-Read at Purim
-Became queen of Persia and thwarted a plotted genocide of the Jewish people

Front 50

Mikveh

Back 50

-A pool of water used for purification
-Women used this after they menstruation to purify themselves for marital intercourse

Front 51

Mohel

Back 51

-One who performs circumcisions

Front 52

Negative Theology

Back 52

-In Mainmonides's philosophy the belief that the use of attributes in the Bible does not convey positive information about God but serves to deny any deficiencies

Front 53

Neturei Karta

Back 53

-"Guardians of the city"
-Traditionalist religious movement that opposes Zionism

Front 54

Ninth of Av

Back 54

-The date of an annual day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of the two jerusalem temples and several other national catastrophes

Front 55

Noachide Commandments

Back 55

-Seven moral and religious obligations that are considered binding ing all humanity (descendants of Noah)

Front 56

Omer

Back 56

-"sheaf"
-A sheaf of barley offered up on the second day of Passover, thereby beginning a count of seven weeks until Shavuot, the feast of weeks. By extension, the term is used to refer to the process of counting the seven weeks, and to the period during which the counting takes place

Front 57

Passover

Back 57

-"Pesah"
-The springtime festival commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The name is taken from the biblical story of how death "passed over" the Israelites dwellings when slaying the Egyptian firstborns.

Front 58

Peshat

Back 58

-"Simple"
-Literal or contextual exegesis

Front 59

Piyyut

Back 59

-Hebrew liturgical poetry

Front 60

Purim

Back 60

-"feast of lots"
-"feast of Esther"
-A holiday commemorating the events of recounted in the book of Esther when the Jews of the Persian empire were saved from Haman's plot for murder them.

Front 61

Rashi

Back 61

-Acronym for Rabbit Solomon ben Isaa of Troyes France the foremost Jewish commentator on the Bible and Talmud

Front 62

Redemption of the Firstborn

Back 62

-A ritual in which the firstborn son is redeemed from kohen for five silver shekels in order to formally release him from his obligation to serve in the Temple. The ceremony is us ally conducted when the body is one month old.

Front 63

Responsa

Back 63

-"questions and answers"
-replies written by prominent rabbits to questions about Jewish law and other topics

Front 64

Rosh Hashanah

Back 64

-The Jewish New Year, a biblical holiday celebrated on the first day of the seventh month. It is portrayed as a solemn day of divine judgment.

Front 65

Sabbath/Shabbat

Back 65

-The weekly day of rest oversewed from sundown o Friday until Saturday night in commemoration of God's complete the six days of creation.

Front 66

Scapegoat

Back 66

-In the Day of Atonement observances in the Temple, a goat was chosen by lot, then the high priest symbolically placed the sins of the people on its head and sent in to perish in the wilderness

Front 67

Seder (Passover)

Back 67

-"order"
-The procedures for the ceremonial meal on the first night of Passover, or by extension, the meal itself

Front 68

Shavuot (Feast of Weeks)

Back 68

-A biblical pilgrimage festival observed fifty days after the beginning of Passover. The Torah depicts it as a time of agricultural thanksgiving, and the rabbinic traditions identified it as the anniversary of the revelation of the Torah.

Front 69

Shekhinah

Back 69

-The divine presence in the world.

Front 70

Shema

Back 70

-A central comment of the daily liturgy embedded in the framework of blessings.
-contains"Hear O Israel"

Front 71

Shemini Azeret (Eighth Day of Assembly)

Back 71

-The day following the feast of Tabernacles which is celebrated as a separate holiday

Front 72

Sheva Berakhot

Back 72

-"seven blessings"
-Seven blessings, several of them poetic celebrations of marriage that are recited at a Jewish wedding and during the subsequent week of festivities

Front 73

Shivah

Back 73

-"seven"
-The first week of mourning, when the mourners remain at home and are consoled by the community

Front 74

Shofar

Back 74

-A trumpet made of ram's horn, sounded especially on Rosh Hasanah

Front 75

Shulhan Arukh

Back 75

-"set tabel"
-An influential sixteenth century codification of Hewish law by Rabbi Joseph Caro

Front 76

Simhat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law)

Back 76

-A celebration of the completion of the cycle of reading the Torah and the commencement of a new cycle. It is standardly observed on the second day of Shemini Azeret

Front 77

Sukkah

Back 77

-"Tabernacle"
-The temporary structure in which one swells during the feast of Tabernacles, in commemoration of wandering of the Israelites in the desert after the exodus of Egypt

Front 78

Sukkot (Feat of Tabernacles)

Back 78

-Seven day pilgrimage festival held in the fall commemorating the ingathering of the crops and the sojourn of the ancient Israelites in the Sinai wilderness

Front 79

Targum

Back 79

-"translation"
-The Aramaic translation that used to accompany the liturgical scriptural reading in the synagogue for the benefit of those who are not fluent in Hebrew.

Front 80

Ten Days of Repentance

Back 80

-The period extending from Rosh Hashanah to the Day of Atonement, when Jews repent their sins with a view to attaining divine forgiveness

Front 81

T'fillin

Back 81

-Passages from the Torah that are written on pieces of parchment and inserted in leather boxes that are strapped to that arms and forehead

Front 82

Tosafot

Back 82

--"supplements"
-Critical comments to the Talmud, especially those produces in medieval France and Germany

Front 83

Wissenschaft des Judentums

Back 83

-The Science of Judaism
-The scientific or academic study of Judaism, especially as it developed in the 18th and 19th century Germany.

Front 84

Yahrzeit

Back 84

-"anniversary"
-The anniversary of the death of a loved on commemorated through the recitation of Kaddish and other observances

Front 85

Yeshivah

Back 85

-An institution for advances talmudic studies
-Not usually for people wanting to be rabbis

Front 86

Yizkor

Back 86

-"May God Remember"
-Title and opening word of the memorial prayer for the dead, recited on some Jewish holidays

Front 87

Zionism

Back 87

-Political movement founded by Theodor Herzl in the late 19th contrary that advocated the establishment of a nation home for the Jewish people in it's historical homeland of Israel

Front 88

Zizit

Back 88

-"tassel"
-Knotted strings attached to the corners of a garment as a reminder of the commandments in fulfillments of Numbers 15:38