World Religions: Judaism Vocabulary Terms

Covenant

the agreement established between God and the ancient Israelites, first through Abraham and later through Moses, that designates the Jews as God’s Chosen People, with special rights and responsibilities.

Shema

(Hebrew “hear”) From Deuteronomy 6-4, Judaism’s most basic theological statement

Torah

(Hebrew “instruction”) Generally, the revelation of God’s will to the people; more specifically, the divine Law, especially as contained in the first five books of the Bible, which are often called this.

Tanakh

A common way of referring to the Hebrew Bible, derived from the first letters of the Hebrew names of its three sections, Torah (T), Prophets (N), and Writings (K).

Mishnah

Written down in about 200 CE; contains collected teachings of the rabbis of the preceding four centuries; along with the Talmud, is the most important text if the oral Torah.

Talmud

(Hebrew “study” “knowledge”) The vast depository of the oral Torah, based on the Mishnah with extensive rabbinic commentary on each chapter; there are two versions, the Palestinian (completed about 450 CE) and the Babylonian (completed about 600 CE)

Diaspora

(Greek “dispersion”) The situation of Jews living away from their ancestral homeland, a circumstance that has been true for most Jews since the classical period.

Kabbalah

Jewish mysticism, which teaches that God can best be known through the heart; developed mainly in the medieval period with such texts as the Zohar.

Anti-Semitism

Hostility towards Jews and Judaism; ranges from attitudes of disfavor to active persecution.

Sabbath

The day form sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday that is set aside for rest and religious celebration, as decreed by one of the Ten Commandments.

Shabbat

The Hebrew word for Sabbath.

Mitzvah (mitzvot)

(Hebrew "commandment") Referring to a sacred religious and ethical duty required by Jews.

Mezuzah

A small case containing a scroll inscribed with the Shema.

Pentateuch

Refers to the first five books of the Hebrew and Christian Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.