Judaism Terms

World Religions

Abraham

The patriarch, acknowledged as the father of the lineage of faith by the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions

Presumed to have lived sometime in the period 2000-1700 BCE

Adam

Hebrew for “human, man”; name given to the first person created by God and has an important symbolic role in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions

Aramaic

Language of the Talmud and core parts of liturgy used by Jews today

Famous teaching expressing the uniqueness of Aramaic - even the angels do not understand Aramaic, so when Jews pray in Aramaic the prayer goes directly to God

Ark

(Aron ha-Kodesh = The Holy Ark), the holy chest or cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept in a synagogue on the wall facing Jerusalem

Originally the Ark of the Covenant was where the Ten Commandments were kept inside the temple in Jerusalem

Bar Mitzvah

“son of the commandment”, Jewish boy who has achieved the age of 13 and is obligated to observe the commandments

The ceremony in which the boy marks this important rite of passage by reading from the Torah in the synagogue for the first time

First instituted in the 20th century

Bat Mitzvah

“daughter of the commandment”, Jewish girl who has achieved the age of 12 and is obligated to observe the commandments

In non-Orthodox communities it is the ceremony in which the girl marks this important rite of passage by reading from the Torah in the synagogue for the first time

First instituted in 20th century

Not performed in Orthodox Judaism

B’rit Milah

The covenant of circumcision, ritual in which an eight day old male baby or male convert to Judaism is circumcised

Referred to as a bris; removal of the foreskin, commandment in Judaism performed on the 8th day of child’s life/upon conversion

Meant to signify covenant Abraham made with God

Conservative Judaism

an American Jewish movement, reacting to early Jewish reform movements by attempting to retain clearer inks to Jewish law and tradition, while at same time adapting to modern situations

Scholarly center in the US is Jewish Theological Seminary in New York

Covenant

Mutual promise of compact between two parties

Of deep significance in describing the mutual relationship of God and the people of faith

Major covenants in scriptures are God’s covenant with Abraham and the Siani/Moses covenant b/w God and Israel

Eternal bond between God and people of Israel grounded in God’s gracious and steadfast concern, calling for obedience to divine commandments (mitzvot) and instruction (torah)

Book of Deuteronomy

Fifth book of Humash/Five Books of Moses

Final speech of Moses’ life, followed by narration of his death

Contains retellings of events and laws that appear earlier in Torah, like the Ten Commandments

Diaspora

The “dispersion” of Jewish communities living in countries other than Israel

Elijah

Hebrew prophet and visionary

Did not die but was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire

Periodic return to earth has become part of the rabbinical and mystical Jewish tradition

In the b’rit milah (circumcision) a special chair is designated for Elijah and at Passover seder a cup of wine is poured and the door left ajar for him

Book of Exodus

Second book of the Five Books of Moses

Relates narrative of Moses who led the people of Israel in their “exodus” or escape from slavery in Egypt

Exodus from Egypt is pivotal event of redemption that shaped identity and memory of Jewish people

Book of Genesis

First book of Five Books of Moses

Details Jewish understanding of the creation of the universe, from seven days of creation, through Garden of Eden, ending with events of Joseph and brothers in Egypt

Hanukkah

“dedication, eight day Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it was reclaimed from the Seleucid Greeks in 167 BCE

Celebrated with the kindling on the menorah lights and the giving of gifts

Hasidic

Those who have developed extraordinary devotion to the spirituality of Jewish life

Hebrew

Ancient language of the Israelites in which the Bible and most of Jewish liturgy is written

High Holy Days

Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (day of atonement)

Fall in the lunar month of Tishri, begin with Rosh Hashanah and following ten days later with Yom Kippur

Called the “Days of Awe” because the period constitutes a season of judgement and repentance, forgiveness and spiritual renewal, standing in awe before God

Holocaust

The Nazi German campaign to exterminate the Jewish people during 1930s and 40s with death camps and gas chambers

Isaiah

Hebrew prophet whose spiritual vision is recorded in the biblical book of Isaiah, part of book is commonly held to have been written by a second author referred to as Deutero-Isaiah

Israel

Name given to Jewish patriarch Jacob and came to refer to the entire nation, bound in eternal covenant to God

Jews regard themselves as the continuation of the ancient religious nation of Israel

Jeremiah

Hebrew prophet who foresaw the downfall of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians

Jerusalem

Ancient capital of Israel

Ritual and spiritual center of the Jewish people until the destruction of the Second Temple

Still the geographical epicenter of the tradition

Joshua

Leader of Moses appointed to succeed him after death, laying his hands upon Joshua and committing him the leadership of the people of Israel

Joshua led Israelites, who were tested for forty years in the desert, across the River Jordan and into the promised land of Israel

Judaism

Worldview, way of life, and religious practice of Jewish people, living in covenant with God and in response to Torah, laws and ethics which guide the pattern of Jewish life

Kabbalah

Jewish mystical tradition

King David

King of Israel credited with uniting tribes of Israel into a centralized kingdom with Jerusalem as capital

Planned for the Temple in Jerusalem, subsequently built by his son Solomon

Book of Psalms found in the Bible also attributed to young David

Kippah

Head covering, skull cap, worn by Jewish men for worship, religious study, meals, or at all times

Kosher

Refers to food that is permissible to eat under Jewish dietary laws

Prescribe what foods may be eaten, how animals must be slaughtered, etc

Book of Leviticus

Third book of Humash

Details the priestly obligations, the spiritual heart of the forty year journey in the wilderness, basis for the later service in the Temple in Jerusalem

Almost completely devoid of narrative, sometimes seen as less accessible than the other four books of the Humash, due to fact that sacrifices are no longer part of Jewish ritual life

Matzah

Unleavened break that must be eaten during the eigth days of Passover, recalling the bread made in haste as people of Israel fled from slavery in Egypt

Menorah

Candelabrum originally used in ancient Temple

Seven branched candelabrum is used in Jewish synagogues as symbol of the state of Israel

Nine branched used during the eight day festival of Hannukah, referred to as menorah, is more accurately termed a Hanukiah

Messiah

A redeemer and royal descendant of the dynasty of David wo would restore the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah and usher in an age of peace, justice and plenty, sometimes called the Messianic Age

Mikvah

Ritual bath, used for purposes of purification and conversion in the Jewish tradition

Mishnah

The written compilation of the oral Torah, believed to have been revealed at Sinai

Includes laws and observances to do with agriculture, holy seasons, women, family, civil law, temple rituals and laws of purity

Became the basis of the monumental code of law, the Talmud

Mitzvah

Refers to the 613 commandments that Jews are obligated to observe

Refer to any Jewish religious obligation or any good deed

Moses

Biblical prophet credited with leading people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and teaching the divine laws at Mount Sinai

Story of Moses told in book of Exodus in Bible and told in the Quran, where prophet is called Musa

Noah

Descendant of Adam

Built and ark and saved himself and family from a flood, taking with him pairs of animals of all kinds

After earth was devastated by flood, God made covenant with Noah, sealed by the rainbow, never again to destroy the earth

Book of Numbers

Fourth book of Humash

Details the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness, including the formative events of the twelve spies journeying into Canaan, rebellion of Jorach, wars against the nations of Moab and Edom, and the deaths of Moses’ siblings Aaron and Miriam

Orthodox Judaism

Affirms its commitment to the unchanging divine revelation of Torah, with the theological views and scrupulous ritual observances that accompany this understanding of the divine law

Passover

Jewish holiday

Jews commemorate God’s deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, eating only unleavened bread or matzah, as did those who fled from Egypt

At special ritual meal called seder, the traditional narrative of Passover, as contained in the Passover Haggadath, is told

Purim

Jewish festival commemorating the legendary rescue of the Jewish people from the threat of extermination in Persia

Includes the reading of the book of Esther which tells the tale of the survival of the Jews

Prophet

Spokesman for God, chosen to convey a message or teaching

Prophets were role models of holiness, scholarship, and closeness to God

Rabbi

Authorized teacher or master of the Torah and classical Jewish tradition

Role of rabbi is important in gathering the people, teaching tradition, passing lamp of learning from generation to generation

In reform Judaism can be women

Rabbinic

Judaism descended from the rabbis, teachers, who compiled the Mishnah and the Talmud and all the tradition and learning of Judaism that has issued from them

Reform Judaism

Major modern Jewish movements

Emphasizes the legitimacy of change, the commanding importance of ethical monotheisms, the liberal Jewish commitment to ethical teachings above ritual observance

Rosh Hashanah

Day of the Jewish New Year, falls on first day of the autumn month of Tishri

Seder

The traditional family service, held around the dinner table, that marks the opening of the celebration of Passover

Meal includes special foods, symbols, and narratives

Order of service is found in the traditional narrative called the Passover Haggadah

Shabbat/Sabbath

Day of rest, seventh day, recalling Biblical creation narrative in which God rested from labors of creation on the seventh day

Jewish tradition, Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and runs through sundown of Saturday

For observant Jews its day of family and communal worship, study, and rest from labor, following the commandment found in Exodus

Shema

One of basic Jewish prayers, every morning and night, daily

Major tenant of Judaism

Mount Sinai

Holy mountain on which Moses is said to have received the Torah, and where the people of Israel once again entered into covenant with God

Star of David

Six pointed star which has become emblematic of the Jewish tradition and community

Synagogue

Jewish house of worship

Central institution of Jewish communal life

Structure and role has changed through centuries, but all cases contains the ark in which the Torah scrolls are stored and ritually removed for communal reading

Talmud

Compendium of many texts, comprehensive legal code, includes rabbinic disputation and other material

Most significant compilation of Rabbinic Judaism

Tanakh

Hebrew Bible

What non Jews call the Old Testament

Torah

The first five books of the Bible, Pentateuch or Books of Moses, scrolls on which the teachings are written

Whole Hebrew Bible and whole body of Jewish law and tradition

Tzedakah

Biblical mitzvah, commandment, to give to the needy

Traditionally interpreted by Jews as 10 percent of one’s wealth

Yetzer Ha-Ra

Evil impulse

Selfish desire for satisfaction of personal needs, can lead a person to do evil if not restrained by the yetzer Ha-Tov

Yetzer Ha-Tov

Good impluses

Moral conscience, motivated us to follow God’s law

Yiddish

Language of Eastern European Jews, based on German with words taken from Hebrew and many Slavic languages, written in Hebrew alphabet

Yom ha-Shoah

Holocaust remembrance Day has been added to yearly Jewish calendar to remember the Holocaust/Shoah and to ensure that such crime against humanity will not be repeated again

Day to remember what/who was lost

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement, holiest day of the Jewish year, day of fasting and atonement

Zionism

Zion is a sacred hill in Jerusalem and refers to Jerusalem and the homeland of the Hebrew people

Zion symbolizes Jewish national-religious hopes of renewal and Zionism became the name of the movement to create a new homeland for the Jewish people in Israel