Religion Judaism

Hellenization

The adoption of Greek ways and speech by the Jewish.

Talmud

An acronym for what comprises the Hebrew Bible.

Midrash

A literary genre used in interpreting scripture.

Septuagint

The Hebrew Bible translated into Greek.

Sadducees

Did not believe in the resurrection; strict interpretation of scripture.

Pharisees

Believed in oral tradition and customs; looser interpretation of scripture and the resurrection.

Essene

A celibate community discovered in 1948 through the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Tanakh

The term for the Jewish Bible.

Kosher

Food that meets the dietary laws of Judaism; indicated by a symbol on the packaging.

Shabbat

Celebrated from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown by reading the Torah, praying, and resting.

Seder meal

The Passover meal.

Jerusalem

The most sacred place in Judaism.

House of Prayer

One of the three functions of a Jewish synagogue.

House of Study

Another function of a Jewish synagogue.

House of Assembly

The third function of a Jewish synagogue.

Queen Esther

The queen who saved the Jewish people from destruction.

Mordecai

The cousin of Queen Esther.

Toshri

The Fall cycle of Jewish festivals.

Nisan

The Spring cycle of Jewish festivals.

Hebrew

The language in which the Torah is written.

Can Jews eat pork?

No.

How was the Essene discovered?

Through the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1948.