World Religions Vocabulary: Judaism

Front 1

going up; immigrating to Israel

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aliyah

Front 2

hostility & prejudice towards Jews

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anti-semitism

Front 3

the wooden chest that held the tablets inscribed with the 10 Commandments

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Ark of the Covenant

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the religious initiation ceremony of a Jewish boy/girl who has reached the age of 12/13

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bar/bat mitzvah

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the idea that God chose the Jewish people to be the keepers of his covenant on earth

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chosen people

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the cutting off of the foreskin of the penis

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circumcision

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

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covenant

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murder, extermination, enslavement, ...

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crimes against humanity

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a greek word meaning "sowing of seed"; refers to the Jewish population living outside of Israel

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Diaspora

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the significant event in which Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land

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Exodus

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the mass extermination of a group of people

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genocide

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the process of conversion to Judaism

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gerut

Front 13

an area of a city in which minority groups such as Jews were required to live

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ghetto

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the book used to explain the events of exodus

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haggadah

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the eight day festival of lights, commemorating the rededication of the temple

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Hanukkah

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adopting greek culture

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hellenization

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the mass murder of 6 million jews by the Nazis

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Holocaust

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a cabinet-like structure in synagogue that holds the Torah scrolls

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Holy Ark

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the literature, customs,etc which are particular relevance to Judaism

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Judaica

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Kiddush

Back 20

a blessing recited when people drink wine that has been specially sanctified for the Sabbath

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a small circular cap worn by Jewish men

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Yarmulke or Kippah

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Jewish dietary laws

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kosher

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a candelabrum with seven branches used at home or synagogue

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menorah

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means "anointed one"

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messiah

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interpretation and commentary on the Bible; compiled

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Midrash

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the quorom of 10 men over 13 years of age

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Minyan

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early rabbinic teachings on how to live a life in accordance with the Torah

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Mishnah

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a commandment from God; act of performing a good deed

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mitzvah

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believing in one God

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monotheistic

Front 30

the passover festival in spring commemorating Exodus

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Pesach

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the area of Canaan, that Hebrews believe was promised to them by God

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Promised Land

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a person who receives a message from God and delivers that message to God's people

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Prophet

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a Jewish scholar or teacher

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rabbi

Front 34

the Jewish "New Year"

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Rosh Hashanah

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

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seder

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the text of the 5 books of Moses handwritten on parchment

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Sefer Torah

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a 7 day period of mourning for the dead beginning immediately after funeral

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shiva

Front 38

term for the Holocaust, meaning "destruction"

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Shoah

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a trumpet made of ram's horn

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shofar

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a figure consisting of two interlaced triangles

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star of david

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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

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synagogue

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a prayer shawl

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tallis

Front 43

rabbinic teachings derived from the Mishnah

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Talmud

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the jewish bible, consisting of Torah, the prophets, and the writings

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Tanakh

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either of two small leather boxes containing parchment scrolls of Biblical text, worn my jewish men during prayer, except on sabbath

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tefillin

Front 46

refers to the law of Moses as well as the rest of the Hebrew scriptures and the entire belief system of the Jewish faith

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Torah

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

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Western Wall

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the most solemn religious day of the Jewish year, marked with fasting and prayer

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Yom Kippur

Front 49

a movement originally for the re-establishment of a Jewish nation

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Zionism