judaism

tanak

torah, nevi’im, and kethuvi’im

torah

narratives of jewish history alongside various ethnical and ritual commands (law)

nevi’im

prophets and their books

kethuvi’im

writings, between narratives and mixed literature

books of the torah

genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy

former prophets

joshua, judges, samuel, and kings

latter prophets

isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel, and the twelve

the Twelve

hosea, joel, amos, obadiah, jonah, micah, nahum, habakkuk, zephanian, haggai, zechariah, and malachi

synagogue

local center for Jews to gather and study or pray

why did the synagogue develop

Jews of the Diaspora were cut off from the Temple

oral torah

application of written torah and applying today’s ideas to understand how to uphold the commandments

mishnah

collection of legal instructions written by Rabbi Judah which included both legal decisions and conflicting opinions

midrash

interpretation of the tanak by rabbis, some was legal and some wasn’t

halakah

legal

haggadah

illegal

Talmad

further reflection compiled in either Babylon or Palestine which is combined with the Mishnah

sadducees

High Priest and other priestly families who rejected the Oral Torah and maintained the 5 books of Moses, favored cooperation with Romans

pharisees

emphasized obedience to the Torah + believed in adapting guidelines of written Torah, more open-minded, became ruling party after the Second Temple was destroyed

zealots

favored violent overthrowal of Romans, believed taking arms would hasten the coming of a messiah

essenes

monastic communities preparing for a new age, considered other schools corrupt

kabbala movement

draws on numerology to probe the hidden meanings of the Hebrew Bible

ashkenazic jews

jews who settled in central Europe after migrating from France of West Europe, spoke Yiddish

yiddish

a mix of medieval German mixed with Hebrew words + characters

falasha

jews in Ethiopa who traced roots back to King Solomon, recognized only the first 5 books of the Torah

pogroms

spontaneous attacks against Jews in Eastern Europe

hasidism

movement focused on enjoying God as well as studying him, rejected overemphasis on study of Talmud

reform judaism

dedicated to preserving basic principles by adapting them, believed the written + oral Torah isn’t the direct word of God

orthodox judaism

strict adherence to traditional commandments of the Torah

conservative judaism

middle ground between reform and orthodox, combined commitment to observe commandments while recognizing legal practices change

reconstructionism

stresses Judaism as a civilization, commitment to Jewish culture is key to Jewish well-being

judaism problem

sin; failure to obey the divine commands. humans have two contradictory impulses, one good and one evil

judaism cause

free choice; humans choose to disobey

judaism reality

God is good and created all that is, humans are created in God’s image, the world is quasi-independent of God but the created order derives from God

judaism end

becoming a certain kind of person, being in righteous relationship, and being in a righteous environment

orthodox judaism end

a messiah will come, restore Israel, and rule from Jerusalem. jews who have obeyed the Torah + Gentiles who have followed basic ethical commands will enter into a Kingdom of God

reformed judaism end

coming of a messiah will happen when all humans live at peace with each other

judaism means

in order to attain the Kingdom of God you must obey both the written and oral Torah

Orthodox Judaism means

obedience of God’s commands, follow dietary restrictions

reformed judaism means

obey ethical commands, left to conviction of each individual if any ritual commands are followed

sabbath

25 hour weekly observance (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) to commemorate God’s creation of the world and deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt

Orthodox Jews Sabbath

will attend Saturday morning synagogue services where Torah is publiclyy read

Reformed Judaism Sabbath

celebrate worship services either Friday evening or Saturday morning in temples

Sabbath ritual

at sunset on Friday light candles and recite the Kiddush along with informal study during the Sabbath, concluding prayer at the end of Sabbath called the Haddalah

birth rites

circumcision of male children, naming of babies

adulthood rites

bar mitzvah for boys or bat mitzvah for girls

death rites

bathing of the corpse, full week of mourning, tearing of clothes at the death of loved one, ritual prayers, placing of tombstone after a year

judaism sacred

belief in one God, Yahweh: God is creator, spirit, lawgiver, helper, savior