Judaism World Religions

Covenant

Gods promise with the Jews that they were the Chosen People and that there was a Promised Land

Patriarch of the Covenant

Abraham as he was the one who made the deal with God

Exodus

When the Jews left Egypt, Moses first met God decades after he killed a man, God told him to free the Jews, God stuck the 10 plagues to convince ‘Pharaoh’ to let the Jews go

Passover

The last of the 10 plagues of the Exodus was to kill all first born sons, called the Angel of Death, the Jews put lams blood over their doors and to signal they were Gods people and the Angel of Death Passed over them

King David

Made Jerusalem his capitol, very good militarily, 2nd king

King Solomon

Very wise king, he built the temple, after his death his kingdom broke back into tribes, 3rd king

Exile

When the Israel was incaved, twice(the first time by the Assyrians the second by the Babylonians(Who destroyed the temple), they were freed from exile by the Persians after they conquered Babylon) and the Jews were put in exile, away from Jerusalem and the Temple

Diaspora(Dispersal)

When the Jews were Exiled they stated changing the rules, as they could not worship at the Temple they made Synagogues and teachers known as Rabbi’s started emerging as spiritual leaders. Even after the Jews were let back into Jerusalem some stayed away as they had made a life away from Jerusalem

Rabbi’s

Spiritual leaders and teachers within the Jewish community, essentially priests, they also interpret scripture

Messiah

The belief that one day a great king will come, an ‘anointed one’ to lead the Jews, this king has yet to appear.

How does one become a Jew

There are two ways to become a Jew, either your born one, if your mother was a Jew you therefor are a Jew(within Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism if either of your parents were Jews you are a Jew), or via gerut

gerut

The process of converting to Judaism, the candidates must showcase knowledge of Judaism(usually studying before hand), demonstrate will to act ethically and demonstrate a connection with the Jewish people

Monotheism

The belief in one God

G-d

It is considered rude to write God, so Jews tend to substitute in G-d, Lord, Adonay or YHWH(nobody knows how to pronounce)

Mitzvah

The act of performing a good deed, God commanded the Jews to live ethically, via Mitzvah.

Passover

When during the escape the 10 plagues happened and the Jews put lambs blood on their doors so that the last plague would Passover them

Hanukah

When during the Maccabean Revolt the Jews recaptured the Temple and then they lit a candle that had only enough wax for 1 day and it stayed fired for 8 days, the Menorah has 8 spokes and one is lit for each day the candle stayed alive

Orthodox Jews

The most traditional, they are strict and against change, no women Rabbi’s

Reform Jews

Believe that the Sacred texts were of human make, they believe that God allows them to each have a different interpretation of the Texts. First woman Rabbi

Conservative Jews

Mix of Orthodox and Reform, open to change but slowly, think the Reform is moving to fast. Women Rabbi’s are allowed

Reconstructionist Jews

Youngest, most lax way more adapted to modern life, everything up to interpretation, tradition exists but should pave the way for the now.

Temple

Singular, original place of worship for the Jews, got destroyed twice, now a holy place.

Synagogue

A place of worship for Jews, as the Temple is in Jerusalem, and not all the Jews are.