Year End Final SLD Study Guide: Biblical History and Zionism

Vocabulary and key concept flashcards covering the Book of Joshua, Esther, Modern Zionism, the British Mandate, and the Books of Judges and Samuel.

Spy

A person sent secretly to gather information, such as the two men Joshua sent into Jericho.

Jericho

A city in Canaan that Joshua sent spies to scout for structure of fortifications and invasion.

Scarlet cord

The sign Rahab hung from her window so her family would be saved from the Israelite invasion.

Anti-Semitism

Hatred or prejudice against Jewish people, as seen in the story of Haman and the case of Alfred Dreyfus.

Purim

A celebration of the survival of the Jewish people and the pride of Esther and Mordechai that saved them from death.

Zionism

The movement supporting a Jewish homeland in the Land of Israel, based on the belief that Jewish people needed a place of safety and self-determination.

Theodore Herzl

Known as the father of Modern Zionism, he believed Jews needed their own country because they could not assimilate in Europe.

The Jewish State

The book written by Theodore Herzl that inspired Jews around the world.

First Zionist Congress

A meeting organized by Herzl in $1897$ in Basel, Switzerland to discuss Zionist issues.

Alfred Dreyfus

A Jewish officer in the French army falsely accused of spying, whose case influenced Theodore Herzl.

The Bordereau

An intelligence report that gave classified information to rivals of France, used as the basis to falsely accuse Alfred Dreyfus.

British Mandate

The right given to Britain after World War I to control Palestine and exercise administrative power.

White Papers

British documents that limited Jewish immigration to Palestine, particularly when Jews fleeing danger needed to enter.

Balfour Declaration

A $1917$ statement by Britain, in a letter from Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild, supporting a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Partition Plan

A United Nations plan in $1947$ to divide Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states.

Haganah

A pre-IDF Jewish defense group that protected settlements and later became part of the Israel Defense Forces.

Irgun

One of the pre-IDF brigades formed to protect Jewish communities and perform defense during conflicts.

Lehi

One of the three main pre-IDF brigades used for defense before the creation of Israel.

Song of Deborah

The song of praise found in Judges Chapter 5 that Deborah sang to God after the victory over Sisera.

Shimshon (Samson)

A judge of Israel whose great strength came from God via his Nazirite vows to never cut his hair.

Goliath

A Philistine challenger who was $9\, \text{feet}\, 9\, \text{inches}$ tall and was defeated by David with a sling and a stone.

Anoint

The act of choosing and dedicating someone to a task, such as when Samuel anointed Saul and David as kings.

Prophet

A spokesperson for God, such as Eli, Samuel, or Nathan, who provides spiritual guidance and leadership.

Rebellion

An act of defiance against established authority, such as when Abshalom turned the people of Israel against King David.

Covenant

A solemn agreement or promise, such as the Nazirite vows taken by Shimshon or the promises made between God and the Israelites.