Judaism

abraham

the father of judaism, made a covenant with god

covenant

a promise

promise land

israel, given to all jews

patriarchs of judaism

abraham, isaac, jacob

tanakh

hebrew bible (old testament)

torah

first five books of tanakh, core sacred writings by moses

talmud

record of rabbinic teachings over the past 600 years, explains how commandments should be carried out

mishnah

compilation of jewish laws and ethical behavior

gemara

rabbinic commentaries and discussions on the mishnah

two talmuds

babylonian (more popular) and jerusalem

kabbalah

jewish philosophical mysticism, calling upon god to answer and interpret questions
receive don’t take

rabbi

teacher of judaism

cantor

help lead prayer during services

synagogue

place of worship

shabbat

holy day
also the name of a ceremony conducted by the women in the household each week

star of david

represents the 6 directions of the universe that god rules

mezuzah

on doorpost of jewish homes to represent god’s presence

shofar

ram horn blown on high holidays

kippa

cap worn to represent submission to god

tallit (prayer shawl)

a binding of oneself to god and his laws

rosh hashanah

the day adam and eve were created
the “head of the year”
jewish new year
when the book of life is written

yom kippur

day of atonement
reflection on all you’ve done through the year and you ask for forgiveness
mandatory fast

chai

means life
a symbol worn on a necklace by most jews

tzitzit

ritual fringes knotted to symbolize the 613 mitzvot in the torah

hamsa

a hand that represents the 5 books of moses
wards off evil

bris

circumcision 8 days after birth

bar / bat mitzvah

a boy / girls passage into adulthood

marriage

marry under the chuppa

death

kaddish, a special prayer, is said

sukkot

week long jewish holiday that comes 5 days after yom kippur
celebrates gathering of the harvest and commemorates the protection god provided when the jews left egypt

passover

10th plague over egypt
moses marked all the jews’ homes with lamb’s blood so the angel of death would pass over them

kosher

specific diet jews follow to be clean

observing shabbat

family dinner on fridays that include short prayers and rituals

reciting the shema

daily prayer said morning and night: declaration of faith

3 types of jews

conservative, reform, orthodox

reform

modernize jewish laws to apply to modern day

conservative

jewish law is obligatory

orthodox

adherence to traditional understanding of jewish law as interpreted by rabbis

hasidic

mystical orthodox jews

yeshivist orthodox jews

emphasize study of talmud

diaspora

forceful removal of jews and the dispersion of them throughout the world