Religion - Judaism

Tanakh

the complete Jewish Bible

Torah

teachings that comprise the first five books of the Bible

covenant

the binding agreement between God and his chosen people

Passover

Jewish holiday in the Spring celebrating God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery

matzah

unleavened bread eaten by Jews during Passover

Ark of the Covenant

a box containing the ten commandments

Shema

“hear”

Canaanites

the people among whom the Israelites settled on their return from slavery in Egypt

Baal

god or gods of Canaan

Asherah

goddess of Canaan and a counterpart to the male god, Baal

prophet

a person inspired by God to speak in his name

rabbi

a teacher

theodicy

a justification of God’s goodness, justice and knowledge

scribe

a trained scholar in Torah studies

Hanukkah

the eight-day festival commemorating the rededication of the Jerusalem temple

Sadducees

wealthy jews that followed the Torah

Zealots

a party of Jews actively opposed to Roman occupation of Judea

Essenes

a group of pious Jews of the first century who lived in separate communities and practiced ritual washing and other acts of purity

Pharisees

a group of Jews who represented the piety of the common people

Mosaic Law

the ancient law of Hebrews; the law of Moses

Messiah

the anointed one who will deliver Jews from oppression

Sanhedrin

the supreme judicial body of the Jews

Western Wall

the platform of the former Temple destroyed by the Romans

Hillel

a prominent Jewish teacher and founder of the Hillel school of rabbis

Mishnah

teachings of the rabbis

Talmud

the collection of rabbinic teachings

Midrash

Rabbinic exposition explaining the meaning of the scriptures

Aggadah

the nonlegal, story aspect of rabbinic literature

Halakhah

the legal part of Jewish religion that was developed in rabbinic writings

Gemarah

the “learning” of the rabbis

diaspora

Greek word for the dispersion of Jews

Muslim

one who surrenders to God

Sephardim

Jews who lived in medieval Spain

Ashkenazim

a Yiddish-speaking group of Jews who settled in central and northern Europe

Kabbalah

a form of rabbinic teaching giving “hidden” or “secret” meaning to Hebrew scriptures

Islam

believes the Muhammad is the last and most important of the prophets of God

modernism

emphasis on reason in philosophy and science instead of traditional beliefs