World Religions - Judaism Vocabulary

Sarah

Sarah

Matriarch of Judaism;

The wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac

Rebekah

the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau

Leah and Rachel

Two wives of Jacob;

7 years of labor to marry Rachel and another 7 years to marry Leah;

Leah is mother of Joseph

Abraham

Founder of Judaism (Patriarch);

Created covenant (circumcision);

Father of Ishmael and Issac

Issac

Husband of Rebekah, father of Jacob and Esau

Jacob

Grandson of Abraham;

son of Isaac and Rebekah, husband of Rachel and Leah, and the traditional ancestor of Israelites.

His name was changed to Israel, and his 12 sons became the 12 Tribes of Israel.

Moses

Most important prophet (only man to see god);

Led the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt;

received the 10 commandments

David

most beloved king of Israel, only person to rule a unified Israel in the history of the world

Maimonides

Wrote "A guide to judaism for the perplexed" and "13 principles of faith"

10 Commandments

moral code of laws, written by god and given to Moses on Mount. Sinai

12 Tribes of Israel

the future name for the descendants of Abraham; tribes named for the sons of Jacob/Israel

13 Principles of Faith

A summary of Jewish beliefs written by Maimonides

TaNaKh (Written Torah)

- Torah ("teachings" - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deteronomy)

- Nevi'im ("prophets")

- Kethurim (historical "writings")

Hasidic and Orthodox Judaism

No Oral Torah - Very Traditional

Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Judaism

Yes Oral Torah - Less Traditional (left to right)

Ashkenazi Jews

Jews whose traditions originated in central and eastern Europe

Sephardic Jews

Jews claiming descent from Spain and Portugal who were expelled beginning in 1492.

Passover

The feast that celebrates the deliverance of the Chosen People from bondage in Egypt and the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land.

Purim

A joyous festival in early spring that recalls the Jews' being saved from destruction, as told in the Book of Esther (similar to Madi Gras)

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish New Year

Shavuot

a religious feast held in commemoration of the revelation of the law on Mount Sinai

Sukkot

"booth" a festival that recalls the Jews' period of wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt.

Yom Kippur

Jewish Day of Atonement- fasting and reflecting on one's sins

Shoah, Holocaust

Mass murder of Jews during WWII by the Nazi Party; 6,000,00 victims

Synagogue vs. Temple

temple-only 1 (contains the original tablets of 10 comandments)

synagogue-house of prayer

Talmud (Oral Torah)

Mishnah , Gemara, and "Midrash"

Mishnah

Oral Torah - act of interpurting the Bible

Gemara

Oral Torah - commentary on Mishnah

"Midrash"

Oral Torah - result of interpretation the bible

Zionism and the UN Resolution

A policy for establishing and developing a national homeland for Jews in Palestine.