Rel C 351 - Judaism Terms

Front 1

Afikomen

Back 1

The broken piece of the unleavened bread set aside (or hidden) to be eaten at the end of the Passover meal.

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Aggadah

Back 2

Jewish "lore"; that part of the oral Torah which contains expositions of biblical texts, theologies, philosophies, and stories related to Jewish life.

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Antiochus IV

Back 3

Ruler of Syria (175-163 B.C.E.) who tried to force Jews to assume Hellenistic ways.

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Ashkenazim

Back 4

Those Jews who come from Europe, especially eastern Europe.

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Bar Mitzvah

Back 5

Literally, "son of the commandment"; refers to a boy's attainment of adulthood at age thirteen and his obligation to keep the Jewish law. In his Bar Mitzvah, a boy is called up in the synagogue to read from the Torah.

Front 6

Bat Mitzvah

Back 6

Literally, "daughter of the commandment"; a ritual for twelve-year-old girls of the Conservative and Reformed Jewish traditions similar to the Bar Mitzvah for boys.

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Diaspora

Back 7

The world outside Israel.

Front 8

Gemara

Back 8

Commentary by later rabbis on issues raised in Mishnah.

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Get

Back 9

Religious divorce obtainable only at the request of the husband.

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Hagaddah

Back 10

The ritual retelling of the story of the Passover during the seder meal.

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Halacha

Back 11

That part of the oral Torah which is law.

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Hanukkah

Back 12

The festival of lights which celebrates the Jewish victory over the Hellenization program of Antiochus IV.

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Hasidim

Back 13

Members of a mystical Jewish movement that emerged in eastern Europe in the eighteenth century which focuses on the love of and a personal relationship with God.

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Hoshana Rabba

Back 14

"The great Hosanna"; the seventh day of Succoth, on which prayers are said for a good harvest cycle.

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Kaddish

Back 15

Prayer which reflects on the greatness of God and his ultimate triumph; also recited by mourners at prayer services during the period of their mourning.

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Ketuvim

Back 16

Hebrew word meaning "writings"; refers to the third portion of the Jewish Bible

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Kippah

Back 17

Hebrew word for the circular head covering worn by many Jewish males.

Front 18

Kol Nidre

Back 18

A prayer said on the eve of Yom Kippur which asks God to forgive a person for the breaking of any vows which were made to God.

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Kosher

Back 19

Means "fit"; used primarily in relation to food which Jews are permitted to eat.

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Mazzah

Back 20

Unleavened bread.

Front 21

Megillah

Back 21

The scroll read during the celebration of Purim, retelling the story of Esther.

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Menorah

Back 22

Candelabrum. The seven-branched version was one of the temple furnishings and today symbolizes Israel on its national seal; the nine-branched version is specifically used to commemorate Hanukkah, eight of the candles symbolizing the eight days of the festival and the ninth traditionally being used to light the others.

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Mezuzah

Back 23

Literally, "doorpost." Ritually, it is a small parchment containing the first two paragraphs of the Shema (Deut. 6:4-9, 13-31) which is usually placed in a small box or container and affixed to the doorpost.

Front 24

Midrash

Back 24

Literally, "search" for meaning; indicates the portion of the oral traditions not incorporated into the Gemara and later recorded separately.

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Mikveh

Back 25

Ritual bath

Front 26

Minyan

Back 26

Ten males (Orthodox) or males and females (Conservative or Reformed) required for certain prayers.

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Mishnah

Back 27

The written compilation of what had been oral halacha (law). It was set down in written form about 200 C.E.

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Mitnagdim

Back 28

Opponents of the Hasidim who placed emphasis on learning the tradition rather than emotion.

Front 29

Mohel

Back 29

The person who performs the ritual of circumcision.

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Nevi'im

Back 30

Hebrew word meaning "prophets"; refers to the second part of the Jewish Bible.

Front 31

Passover

Back 31

Spring festival celebrating the salvation of the people of Israel when the angel of death passed over Israel's firstborn in Egypt, as well as Israel's ultimate deliverance from bondage.

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Pogrom

Back 32

Organized riots which resulted in the murder of Jews and the pillaging of their homes and possessions.

Front 33

Purim

Back 33

Spring festival celebrating the deliverance of the Jews in the days of Queen Esther.

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Rabbi

Back 34

Means "my master"; an authorized teacher.

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Rebbe

Back 35

The spiritual head of a Hasidic community.

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Rosh Hashanah

Back 36

Festival celebrating the new year.

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Seder

Back 37

The order of the ritual of the Passover meal.

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Sephardim

Back 38

Jews who have come from Spain or Arab lands.

Front 39

Shema

Back 39

Literally, "hear"; the name of Israel's fundamental confession of faith found in Deuteronomy 6:4.

Front 40

Shemini Atzeret

Back 40

The eighth day of assembly following Succoth, on which the prayers for rain are said.

Front 41

Shiva

Back 41

Seven-day period of mourning deceased relatives in the home, during which the family sits on low stools and receives guests.

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Shofar

Back 42

The ram's horn sounded one hundred times on Rosh Hashanah and again to end Yom Kippur.

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Simhat Torah

Back 43

"Rejoicing in the Torah"; the celebration of the conclusion and the recommencement of the Torah reading cycle which takes place on Shemini Atzeret (or the second day of Shemini Atzeret in the diaspora).

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Succoth

Back 44

The Feast of the Tabernacles, commemorating divine protection of Israel during her wanderings in the wilderness.

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Sukkah

Back 45

Literally, "tabernacle"; a booth constructed of three walks and a partial roof in which Jewish families should partake of meals and may sleep during the celebration of Succoth.

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Tallit

Back 46

Prayer shawl.

Front 47

Talmud

Back 47

The Mishnah plus the Gemara; the foundational writings of Orthodox Jewish life.

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Tanak

Back 48

The made-up name for the Jewish Bible (the Christian Old Testament) based on its three parts - Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.

Front 49

Tashlich

Back 49

The custom of symbolically casting one's sins into flowing water; performed on Rosh Hashanah.

Front 50

Tefillin

Back 50

Two leather boxes which are worn on the arm and on the forehead at weekday morning prayers.

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Torah

Back 51

The Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Tanak.

Front 52

Tzitzit

Back 52

The fringes on the prayer shawl or on an undershirt which remind one of the commandments in the law.

Front 53

Yarmulka

Back 53

Yiddish word for the round head covering often worn by Jewish males.

Front 54

Yom Kippur

Back 54

The Day of Atonement.

Front 55

Zionism

Back 55

The movement to establish a Jewish state in the land of Israel.