The Jewish People: Faith, History, and Identity

Practice flashcards covering the history, beliefs, texts, and cultural traditions of Judaism based on the lecture notes.

Judaism

Regarded by History.com Editors ($2020$) as the world’s oldest monotheistic religion, dating back nearly $4,000$ years.

Covenant

The special agreement established between God and the Jewish people through which God communicates and rewards good deeds or punishes evil.

Synagogues

The holy places where Jewish people worship.

Rabbis

The spiritual leaders of the Jewish community.

Star of David

The six-pointed star that serves as the symbol of Judaism.

Tanakh

The Jewish sacred text, also called the "Hebrew Bible," which includes the same books as the Christian Old Testament but in a different order.

Torah

The first five books of the Tanakh—also referred to as the Pentateuch—which outlines laws for Jews to follow.

Abraham

Known as the founder of Judaism; Jews believe God made a special covenant with him and his descendants as chosen people.

Israelites

The descendants of Abraham's grandson Jacob (who took the name Israel).

Moses

The prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God at Mt. Sinai.

First Temple

The central place of worship in Jerusalem built by King Solomon around $1000$ B.C.

Mishnah

A text compiled around $200$ A.D. that describes and explains the previously oral Jewish code of law.

Talmud

Known as "Oral Torah," it is a collection of interpretations by rabbis containing the Mishnah and the Gemara, outlining the importance of the $613$ commandments.

Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith

A set of fundamental beliefs written by the Jewish philosopher Maimonides.

Shabbat

A day of rest and prayer beginning at sunset on Friday and lasting until nightfall on Saturday.

Zionism

A movement emerged in $19\text{th}$-century Europe for the creation of a Jewish state in the homeland of Palestine.

David Ben-Gurion

The leading promoter of a Jewish nation state who became the first prime minister of independent Israel in $1948$.

Holocaust

The state-sponsored persecution and execution of approximately $6,000,000$ Jews by the Nazi regime in Germany from $1933$-$1945$.

Orthodox Judaism

A sect known for strict observance of traditional Jewish law and rituals, including subgroups like Hasidic Jews.

Reform Judaism

A liberal category of the religion that values ethical traditions over strict law observance and promotes progressive ideas.

Conservative Judaism

A form of Judaism that fits between Orthodox and Reform, honoring traditions while allowing for some modernization.

Reconstructionist Judaism

A sect founded in $1922$ by Mordecai Kaplan that views Judaism as a constantly evolving religious civilization.

Humanistic Judaism

A denomination founded by Rabbi Sherwin Wine in $1963$ that celebrates Jewish history and culture without emphasizing God.

Menorah

A candelabrum that serves as an ancient universal symbol of Judaism.

Kippah

A skullcap (also known as a yarmulke) worn by Jews as a pious custom.

Chai

The number $18$, which is considered a favorable number and is often found on Jewish jewelry.

Kosher

Jewish dietary rules based on the Torah, including prohibitions against eating blood, shellfish, or cooking a kid in its mother's milk.

Brit Millah

The naming and circumcision ceremony for a male child, performed on the eighth day after birth.

Nazirite

A person dedicated to the special service of God through a vow of abstinence from strong drink, shaving, and contact with dead bodies.

Samson

A legendary Israelite warrior and judge whose prodigious strength was derived from his uncut hair as part of a Nazirite vow.

Ten Commandments

The ten absolute laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai which serve as the basis for Jewish laws.