Jewish History Quiz 1

Ashkenazi

• Jews from Germany & Eastern Europe

• Spoke Yiddish & local languages

• Subgroups: Litvak (Lithuania), Yekke (Germany), Galitzianer (Poland-Ukraine), etc.

Sephardi

• Jews from Spain & Portugal

• Expelled in 1492, moved to North Africa, Italy, Ottoman Empire

• Spoke Ladino

Orthodox

• Traditional branch of Judaism

• Strictly follows Jewish law (Halakha)

• Includes Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) & Hasidic groups

Reform

• Modern, less strict Judaism

• Started in Europe & America in the 1800s

• More flexible on gender roles, kosher laws, and rituals

Hasidic

• Ultra-Orthodox revivalist movement from the 1700s

• Focus on spirituality, prayer, and mysticism (Kabbalah)

• Follows charismatic rabbinic leaders (Rebbes)

Kosher

• Jewish dietary laws

• No mixing meat & dairy, only certain animals allowed

• Animals must be slaughtered in a specific way

Torah

• The central text of Judaism

• First five books of the Hebrew Bible

• Contains laws, history, and teachings

Blood Libel

• False claim that Jews kidnapped and sacrificed Christian children

• Used to justify persecution, especially in medieval Europe

Hebrew

• Ancient language of the Jewish people

• Used in religious texts and modern Israeli society

Deicide

• Accusation that Jews were responsible for killing Jesus

• Led to centuries of antisemitism in Christian Europe

Yiddish

• Language of Ashkenazi Jews

• Mix of German, Hebrew, and Slavic languages

Ladino

• Language of Sephardic Jews

• Mix of Spanish, Hebrew, and Turkish influences

Reconquista

• Christian conquest of Spain from Muslim rule (790-1492)

• Led to persecution & expulsion of Jews in 1492

Responsa

• Rabbinic answers to Jewish legal questions

• Helped guide Jewish communities across different regions

Maimonides (Rambam)

• Jewish philosopher & legal scholar (1100s)

• Wrote major works on Jewish law & ethics

• Lived in Spain, Morocco, and Egypt

Isaac Mayer Wise

• Founder of Reform Judaism in America

• Promoted modernization & inclusion in Jewish practice

Secular and Religious Zionism

• Secular Zionism: Focus on Jewish nationalism & statehood

• Religious Zionism: Views the Jewish state as part of divine redemption

Benjamin Netanyahu

• Israeli politician & long-time Prime Minister

• Key figure in Israeli right-wing politics

Eretz Israel

• Hebrew for "Land of Israel"

• Refers to both the biblical homeland & modern Israel