Unit 9 Judaism Test

Covenant

promise between God and his people

Abraham

The first patriarch and father of Jewish people

Moses

most important prophet, credited with writing the Torah

Cultural Jew

identifies with history and/or community of the Jewish people

Religious Jew

actively practices faith as part of the community

God = providential

God cares for people and provides for them

history reflects how well they are keeping the covenant

Diaspora

meaning “dispersion”

Jewish people living away from their homeland

Yahweh

name of the god of Israel, revealed to Moses in the book of Exodus

Torah

meaning “law” or “teaching”
first five books of the hebrew bible (Tanakh)

Shema

prayer recited daily by devout Jews every morning and evening

Orthodox

most traditional division, hebrew liturgies

Conservative

allows male and female rabbis, hebrew liturgies

Reform

most progressive division, male and female rabbis

Kosher

meaning “proper”

food permitted by Jewish dietary laws

jews observe kosher as a reminder that they are to be holy and separate people

Rosh Hashanah

New year, day when Jews believe God judges their actions of the previous year

Yom Kippur

meaning “day of atonement”

Holiest day of the year, day of prayer, fasting, and repentance

Passover

“pesach”

celebrates Hebrew’s release from Egyptian slavery after angel of death “passover” the houses of Hebrews that were marked with the blood of a lamb

rabbi

teacher of Torah and leader of Jewish worship

Tanakh

Jewish sacred scriptures, Hebrew Bible

Talmud

Question 2

two collections of Jewish teachings, including commentaries

Shoah

meaning “mass destruction”

Prophet

“one who speaks for”

Zionism

movement to restore Jewish homeland in Palestine in response to anti-semitism

Anti-semitismsm

hostility towards people who are Jewish and Judaism

Menorah

candelabra found in Jewish homes and synagogues

usually 9 branches

Huppah

a canopy under which the bride and groom stand under during a wedding

Mezuzah

meaning “doorpost”

small parchment containing scripture, placed in a case or near the right doorframe of the house

Hanukkah

celebrates one of the great military victories in Jewish history

circumcision

symbolizes sign of the covenant between God and his people

3 major elements of a Jewish marriage

Huppah, blessings, breaking of glass

Midrash

sciptural interpretation found in rabbic literature, especially the Talmuds

Ark

place in or against the wall of a synagogue where the scrolls of the Torah are kept

Mitzvot

commandments of Jewish law

Shabbat

weekly day of rest and worship

seventh day of the week; Jewish sabbath

Halakhah

total body of Jewish law, legal part of the Talmud, interpretation of laws of scripture

What are the 3 sections of the Tanakh? what do they include?

Torah - law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

Nevi’im - Prophets (Former, Latter, Minor)

Ketuvim - writings (Jobs, Psalms, Proverbs)

Difference between Written and Oral Torah

written - first five books of the Hebrew Bible

oral - interpretations, explainations of written Torah

What are the two different Talmuds

Babylonian Talmud

Jerusalem Talmud

How can Jewish belief be summarized according to the text?

God, Torah, Israel

Why are the Torah and Mitzvot are not viewed as sterile nor as a source of bondage

They are understood as divine connection rather than just rules

What does it mean when Jewish people are referred to as God’s Chosen people? How is it a privilege and responsibility?

God chose Jewish people for a unique purpose and relationship with him

privilege - God made a special covenant with Jewish people to be their God

responsibility - Jews must choose to accept God’s commandments and live lifes that are holy and righteous

What does Purim celebrate? How do they celebrate it? How long does it last?

1.Celebrates the survival of Jews in the 5th BCE, who were marked by death by their persian rulers

2. Exchanging gifts. fasting, making/eating three cornered pasteries called hamantaschen

3. Lasts for 2 days, starting on the 13th day of Adar