Judaism Review

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Aliyah

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Literally "going up," immigrating to Israel; generally referred to in English as "making aliyah,"

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Anti-Semitism

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Hostility and prejudice toward Jews

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Ark of the Covenant

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The wooden chest that held the tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. The temple in Jerusalem became the home of the Ark

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Bar/bat mitzvah

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The religious initiation ceremony of a Jewish boy who has reached the age of thirteen/ a Jewish girl who has reached the age of twelve or thirteen. Means "son/daughter of the commandment"

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Chosen people

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Idea that God chose the Jewish people to be the keepers of his covenant on earth. Concept of "chosen" is reciprocal, with God choosing humanity and humanity choosing God.

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Circumcision

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Abraham and his family were the first to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant.

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Covenant

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As used in the Bible, a solemn and binding agreement between God and humanity

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Crimes against humanity

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Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, persecution, or any other inhumane act committed against a civilian population or any other identifiable group

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Diaspora

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"sowing of seed" or "dispersal". Used when referring to the Jewish population living outside of Israel.

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Exodus

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Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. "Going out" or departure"

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Genocide

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Mass extermination of a group, especially a race, religious group, or nation

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Gerut

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The process of conversion to Judaism

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Ghetto

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An area of a city in which minority groups such as Jews were required to live. The first was in Venice in 1516

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Haggadah

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Book used to explain the events of the Exodus

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Hanukkah

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Eight day festival of lights, usually in December, commemorating the rededication of the temple

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Hellenization

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Process of adopting Greek culture and language

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Holocaust

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The mass murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis during the Second World War

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Holy Ark

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A cabinet-like structure in a synagogue that houses the Torah scrolls

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Judaica

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Literature, customs, ritual objects, artifacts, etc which are of particular reevance of Judaism

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Kiddush

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A blessing recited when people drink wine that has been specially sanctified for the Sabbath or a holy day

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Kippah

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Small circular cap worn by Jewish men; also known as a yarmulke

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Kosher

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Fulfilling the requirements of the Jewish dietary laws of Kashruth

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Menorah

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A candelabrum with seven branches, used a home and in the synagogue on the Sabbath and holidays

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Messiah

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Means "anointed one". The Jews hope that a great king will come lead them

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Midrash

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Interpretation and commentary on the Bible. By 100 CE, the rabbis had compiled a sizable body of commentary on the Bible

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Minyan

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the quorum of ten men (or men and women) over thirteen years of age required for worship

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Mishnah

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Early rabbinic teachings on how to live a life in accordance with the Torah. It was compiled around 200 CE

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Mitzvah (mitzvoth-plural)

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A commandment from God; act of performing a good deed. The most well known mitzvoth are the Ten Commandments

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Monotheistic

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Believing in only one God

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Pesach

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Passover festival in spring commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt

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Promised Land

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Area of Canaan that the Hebrews believed was promised to them by God

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Prophet

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A person who receives a message from God and delivers that message to God's people. The message belongs to God, with the prophet acting as God's messenger

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Rabbi

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A Jewish scholar or teacher, especially of the law; a person appointed as a Jewish religious leader

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Rosh Hashanah

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The festival celebrating the Jewish New Year

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Seder

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A ritual service and ceremonial dinner for the first night or first two nights of Passover

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Sefer Torah

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The text of the five books of Moses handwritten on parchment. It is the most sacred object of Jewish life and is essential for worship

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Shiva

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A seven day period of mourning for the dead beginning immediately after the funeral

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Shoah

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A Hebrew term for the Holocaust meaning "destruction"

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Shofar

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A trumpet made of ram's horn, used in religious ceremonies

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Star of David

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Figure consisting of two interlaced equilateral triangles. It is used as a Jewish and Israeli symbol

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Synagogue

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A place for worship that emerged during the Exile and became important in the period after the destruction of the temples in 586 BCE and 70 CE. Synagogues continue to be the central place of worship for Jews today

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Tallis

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A prayer shawl

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Talmud

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Rabbinic teachings derived from the Mishnah. It is the main source of Jewish teaching from the medieval period to the present

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Tanakh

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Jewish Bible, consisting of the Torah (the Law of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings

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Tefillin

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Either of two small leather boxes containing parchment scrolls of Biblical text, worn by Jewish men during morning prayer, except on the Sabbath

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Torah

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Law of Moses as well as the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures and the entire belief system of the Jewish faith. Often translating to "law", teaching or instruction

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Western Wall

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The remaining part of wall of Herod's temple in Jerusalem where Jews traditionally pray and lament on Fridays

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Yarmulke

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Small circular cap worn by Jewish men; also known as a kippah

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Yom Kippur

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Most solemn religious day of the Jewish year, marked by fasting and prayers of repentence

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Zionism

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Movement originally for the re-establishment of the Jewish nation, and now for the development of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel.

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Period of Kings

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Soul, David, Soloman; 1000 BCE

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End of era of kings

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Northern tribes separate and become called Israel, South are called Judah in Jerusalem
Predicted by prophets
921 BCE

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Period of Exile

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Assyrians invaded and captured Israel; evicted citizens, now scattered population 721 NCE

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Prophets

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One who speaks on behalf of God and one who predicts the future

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Tanakh

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Holy scriptures of Judaism of the messages of God through prophets; practical advice, social critism, poetic beauty

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Rabbis

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teachers of law that study scripture

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Diaspora

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Jewish population living outside Israel; east Mediterranian sea; led by rabbis

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Hellenization

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When Jews fell under the influence of Greek culture

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Babylonian invasions

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Destroyed temple, captured Judah, the exile
586 BCE

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Release of Jews

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Released when Cyrus the Great of Persia defeated Babylonians; needed to find a new way to honor God; synagogues created; Messiah term
538 NCE

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Messiah

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Anointed one or most blessed; hopes of a Messiah became stronger with increased oppression
515 BCE

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Second Temple

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515 BCE; Judaism became worldly

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Alexander the Great

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Hellenization; Bible translated into Greek; diaspora
332 BCE

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Antiochus IV Epiphanes

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converted temple into shrine for Zeus; Maccabees rebelled and ruled until Roman conquest of Israel
168-164 BCE

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64 BCE

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Romans take over and tolerate Jews but unfairly tax them; Jews revolt and temple gets destroyed

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Tallit

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Worn dring morning prayers; fringes; reminds Jews of all commandments; some wear tallit katan to fulfil commandment

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Teffilin

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Small leather box with straps that can be tied on the arm and around the head; has verses from four sections of the Torah; worn during prayers; remind of God's commandments; arm to serve god with body and head to serve god through study and belief

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Mezuzah

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On doorpost as you enter a Jewish home; a small piece of parchment inside are the first 2 paragraphs of the Shema

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Kippah

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Yarmelka, Yiddish; small cap; worn by both men and women; in Orthodox synagogues only men wear it; some wear all day; some only when praying; signifies that human beings are beneath or dependant on God

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Shofar

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Ram's horn blown during month prior to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; wake people up and remind them of their responsibility to ask forgiveness of their sins; brings people together

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Star of David

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Six pointed star; Magen David (shield of David), somewhat new symbol; named after King David; on the flag of the State of Israel; means eternal light

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Sedar Plate

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Centerpiece of Passover meal; foods tell the story of the Passover; six different foods; telll the story of Exodus; shankbone, karpas, chazeret, charoset, maror, egg

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Menorah

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Ancient source of light; when temple was build in Jerusalem; 7 branched menorah only had enough oil to burn for one day but burned for all 7; one branch for each of the 6 days of creation; one for Sabbath

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Candelabrum

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9 branch menorah that is used in celebration of Hanukkah in temples and homes

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Torah Scroll

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typically dressed; read from right to left; housed in the holy ark; sacred; read continuously for one year; 5 books written on parchment paper; need pointer, cannot be touched

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Yad

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Torah pointer; used to follow text during the Torah reading; shaped like a long rod, with a small hand and index finger pointing

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Sabbath

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based on creation story; beings Friday evening at sunset and ends Saturday sunset; put aside everything for family and friends; spent at the synagogue; celebrates that the heavens and earth and everything is a gift from God

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What are the two places of worship for Jewish people?

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Synagogue and home

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Passover

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7-8 days in March/April; begins with Seder Meal; recalls event of freedom; reminds Jews to fight for freedom; celebrates liberation of the Hebrews from slavery; plague that took first born son but Jews were protected; celebrates identity as a people of God

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Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur

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Beginning of New Year; in synagogue; Jews pray for God's protection; recall covenant; rabbi blows shofar after prayers; renewal of covenant

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Rosh Hashanah

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10 day period of repentance

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Yom Kippur

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Day of atonement/reconciliation with God; 25 hour fast and prayers for repentance; 2 days in September or October; deny self pleasures

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Tisha b'Av

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Lasts 1 day in July/August; commemorates destruction of temples and Jewish tragedies; spent mourning at Western Wall; Holocaust remembered; remember brave people that protected them

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Sukkot

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Lasts 1-8 days and God is praised for protecting his people; build a small structure; commemorates time that the Hebrews spent as nomads travelling from Egypt to Jerusalem

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Maror

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Bitter herb; recall bitterness of slavery; recall slavery in Egypt or own bitter enslavements (addiction or habit)

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Charoset

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Salad of apples, nuts, wine and cinnamon that represents the mortar used by the Hebrew slaves to make bricks

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Birth and Circumcision

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Significance: oldest Jewish ritual; seen as a sign of faith
-boys circumcised and named in a ceremony that takes place 8 days after birth; ceremony at parents' house; girls named at synagogue during Sabbath service;

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Bar/Bat Mitzvah

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Coming of age ritual; take on responsibilities as an adult; must now observe all laws' read Toray; recite blessing, chant; father thanks God for removing burden of son's sins

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Marriage

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2nd biggest event in a person's life; family is basic unit of society

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What does breaking a wine glass beneath the groom's foot symbolize?

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Symbol of destruction of the two temples in Jerusalem; marriage brings difficulties and pain along with joy

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What do the newly wed couple stand under and why

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Huppah/bridal canopy; symbolize home together; ceremony takes place under this structure; symbolic of living together

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Death and Burial Stage 1

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Family members recite verse; mourners restricted from certain activities; relied of many requirements; dead is buried in wooden coffin because death stresses equality; coffin should decompose as quickly as the body

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Death and Burial Stage 2

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Recital ofKaddish; prayer of mourning; lasts 7 days; mirrors are covered; wear veil; people visit family;

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Death and Burial Stage 3

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Lasts until 39 days after burial; normal activities resumed but celebrations are avoided

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Death and Burial Stage 4

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Follows if decreased is one's parent; lasts until the first anniversary of death; mourners avoid usual seats at synagogue; recite kaddish during services and anniversary of death

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Is cremation allowed in Judaism?

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No, cannot destroy what God has created

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What do Jews believe about the body and soul?

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They are one; Christians believe they are seperate

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Who are the three Patriarchs?

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Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

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What are the 2 ideas that are the foundation of the covenant?

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1st idea-Jewish people represent God's chosen people
2nd idea- idea of a promise land was established

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Basic Concepts of judaism

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God; Messiah; Role of Jesus in Jewish belief; Man and his importance; sin and repentance; suffering; prayer;

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God concept

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focus of everything; monotheism; created good and evil; demands good, punishes evil; promised Jews to be founder of a great nation; believe to be born without sin

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Messiah

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annointed one; still waiting for Messiah; will perfect our world and lead them to the promised land

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Role of Jesus in Jewish Belief

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He was a prophet and a good teacher but not a Messiah

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Man and His importance

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people are responsible for their own actions and for all those of mankind; this is why there are laws and respect for the government

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Sin and Repentance

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Sin is regarded as rebellion against God; conscious decision

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Suffering

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Jews feel they are the chosen people; expected to suffer for all of mankind

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Prayer

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Direct contact with God; God hears prayers and answers them in certain ways

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Shema

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Jewish Creed of Faith; Mezuzah; 'Hear oh Israel, The Lord is our God, the Lord is One".

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YHWH

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God reveals his name to Moses at the burning Bush on Mount Horeb; "I am in the process of becoming", God said I know you and I care for you

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Covenant

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a fact of life that joins all creation together

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Mitzvah

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Act of performing a gooddeed

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Tanakh

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Torah, Prophets, and Writings

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Torah

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First five books of the Pentateuch, God revealed its contents to Moses; every synagogue has scrolls of entire Torah

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Prophets

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Contains historical amounts of Israel's and God's proclamation as recorded by the prophets

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The Writings

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Different forms, poetry to psalms, short stories, historical accounts; composed later than rest of the Tanakh

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Western Wall

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Remains of the Jewish Temple destroyed by the Roman Empire in 70 CE

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Who built the first temple and who destroyed it

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Soloman, destroyed by the Babylonians

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Who build the second temple and who destroyed it?

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Jewish people after return to homeland from exile; destroyed by Romans in 70 CE; symbolizes fact that Jewish people cannot be destroyed

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Sadduccees

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co op w/ Romans provided that religious worship was not severely restricted; aristrocracy and wealthy people; read Torah literally; temple life

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Pharisees

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Believed in co op w/ Romans, common people; broad interpretation of Torah; synagogue worship

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zealots

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Did not believe in co op w/ Romans and south to overthrow Roman rule

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Essenes

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lived in seperate, segregated communities; followed purification rites and rituals

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Samaritans

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descendants of the northern tribe; accept Torah, reject Prophets and Writings