Jewish History | Study Guide For Test 3

A set of flashcards designed to help review key terms for Test 3 of Jewish History

Abbé Grégoire

A French Catholic priest and revolutionary who advocated for the rights of Jews in France. His essay, “Essay on the Physical, Moral, and Political Reformation of the Jews”, called for their integration into French society.

Declaration of Independence (1789)

France’s revolutionary document declaring the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity, influencing Jewish emancipation.

The Constitution of the United States

Established fundamental rights and freedoms, providing a framework for religious liberty, including Jewish communities.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789)

A foundational document of the French Revolution affirming equal rights for all men, impacting Jewish emancipation.

Count Clermont-Tonnerre

 A French politician who supported Jewish emancipation, famously stating, “Everything must be refused to the Jews as a nation and everything must be granted to them as individuals.”

Emancipation of the Jews of France (1791)

The official granting of civil rights to Jews in France, making them full citizens.

The Assembly of Notables

A Jewish leadership group convened by Napoleon to address Jewish integration into society.

The Napoleonic Sanhedrin

A council of Jewish leaders organized by Napoleon to establish guidelines for Jewish civil and religious life under French law.

Answers to Napoleon

Responses given by Jewish representatives to Napoleon’s inquiries about Jewish customs, proving their compatibility with French citizenship

Solomon Maimon

A Jewish philosopher who was critical of traditional Judaism and Hasidism, advocating for enlightenment ideas.

“New” Hasidim

A movement emphasizing spiritual connection, charismatic leadership, and joyous worship, originating in Eastern Europe.

R. Israel ben Eliezer (Ba’al Shem Tov / BESHT)

Founder of Hasidism, promoting direct personal connection to God, prayer, and mystical experiences.

Mezhibyz, Podolia

 A town in modern Ukraine, considered the birthplace of Hasidism.

New Rituals

 Hasidic practices emphasizing joy, song, dance, and a close connection to God.

Polished Rivneks

The spreading of Hasidic customs into Poland, influencing Jewish religious practices.

Ritual Immersion

The practice of mikveh (ritual purification) emphasized in Hasidism.

Ecstatic Prayer

An intense form of prayer involving movement, singing, and deep emotional expression.

Rabbi Shneur Zalman (Alter Rebbe), leader of HaBaD Hasidism

Founder of Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidism, which combined mysticism with intellectual study.

New religious leadership

The Hasidic model of leadership centered around charismatic Rebbes who guided followers.

Rebbe/Zaddik/Hasidic Master

Spiritual leaders in Hasidism who served as intermediaries between their followers and God.

Contention/Opposition to Hasidism

Traditional Jewish authorities (Misnagdim) opposed Hasidism, seeing it as a deviation from scholarly Judaism.

Mitnaggedim

Opponents of Hasidism, led by figures like the Vilna Gaon, who emphasized Talmudic scholarship.

Bans/Herem/Excommunication

Official bans placed by rabbinic authorities against Hasidism to prevent its spread.

Brody and Vilna

Key centers of opposition to Hasidism.

Rabbi Alexander of Shklov

A leader among the Misnagdim, known for his scholarly opposition to Hasidic teachings.

1812, Prussian Jewry Law

A law granting Jews civil rights in Prussia while still enforcing some restrictions.

1815, Congress of Vienna

A meeting that redrew European boundaries after the Napoleonic Wars and influenced Jewish legal status.

1817, Establishment of the Hamburg Temple

The first modern reform synagogue, introducing changes to Jewish worship.

1819, “These are the Words of the Covenant” / Eleh Divrei ha-Berit

 A document that outlined reforms in Jewish religious practice.

Abraham Geiger

A leader of the Reform Judaism movement, advocating modernization of Jewish practices.

Samuel Holdheim

 A reformer who supported radical changes in Jewish liturgy and customs.

Zacharias Frankel

The founder of Positive-Historical Judaism, a middle ground between Orthodox and Reform Judaism (Conservative).

Samson Raphael Hirsch

A leader of Neo-Orthodoxy, arguing that Jews should engage with modern society while maintaining traditional beliefs.

Issues at the Rabbinical Conferences (Mid-19th Century)

Debates among Jewish leaders over religious reforms and modernization.

Authority of the Oral Law

Discussions on whether traditional rabbinic law should be upheld or reinterpreted.

Messianism / Prayers for Ingathering / Prayer Book Changes

Reforms altering traditional prayers about the coming of the Messiah and the return to Israel.

Language (Hebrew or German / Vernacular Debate)

A debate over whether Jewish prayers should be in Hebrew or translated into local languages.

Gender Equality

Some reformers pushed for increased roles for women in Jewish life.

Conversion and Circumcision

Disputes over whether Jews should encourage conversions or abandon circumcision.

Musical Instruments in Prayer Services

Reform congregations introduced organs and other instruments into worship, sparking controversy.

The Partitions of Poland (1772, 1793, 1795)

The division of Poland among Russia, Prussia, and Austria, impacting Jewish communities.

Pale of Settlement

A region in the Russian Empire where Jews were legally allowed to reside, restricting their movements and opportunities.

Tsar Catherine the Great

 Russian ruler who established policies affecting Jewish communities, including legal segregation.

Tsar Alexander I and 1804 Legislation

 Laws regulating Jewish life, including settlement, education, and economic restrictions.

Nicholas I Conscription Statute (1827)

A law requiring Jewish boys to serve long terms in the Russian military, often leading to forced assimilation.

Cantonist Brigades / Khappers

 Young Jewish boys forcibly conscripted into the Russian army, often taken from their families.

Psalm Society

A group that recited Psalms for the safety of Jewish boys taken into conscription.

Crown Rabbinate

Government-appointed rabbis used to control and regulate Jewish communities.

Crown Schools

State-controlled schools designed to assimilate Jewish children into Russian culture.

S. J. Fuenn

A Jewish historian and advocate of the Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment).

Judah Leib Gordon

A prominent Hebrew poet and advocate for modernization and secularization of Jewish life.

Tsar Alexander II and the Great Reforms

Policies that relaxed restrictions on Jews but also promoted assimilation.

Haskalah and the Rise of Secular Hebrew and Yiddish Writing

The Jewish Enlightenment movement encouraging secular education, literature, and integration into society.