Quiz 1 Premodern Judaism - RELGST 0105

The Shema can best be described as 

a Jewish credo and prayer incorporating passages from the Pentateuch

Which of the following was NOT an aspect of or key idea of Judaism before 70 CE?

Gemara

Which ancient empire allowed Judeans to rebuild a Temple in Jerusalem? 

Persian

In which year was the SECOND Temple in Jerusalem destroyed?

70 CE

What is the Greek word that refers to communities of Jews outside of the land of Israel who maintain their Jewish identity.  In modern terms, the word is used to refer to groups of expatriates and migrants more widely. 

Diaspora

Rabbinic Jews believe that God gave Moses what at Mount Sinai?

the Oral and Written Torah

What are the languages found in rabbinic texts?

Hebrew and Aramaic

What is the main language we find Jews in Babylonia, Palestine, North Africa, and Spain speaking (and writing for most purposes) in the Middle Ages?  

Judeo-Arabic

Which of the following is a belief held by Karaite Jews?

The concept of the Oral Torah is false

Rabbis proposed a new model for authority in Judaism after 70 CE.  Which of the following terms is the best description of this model?

scholar-sage

Which of the following was not/is not a function of synagogues?

place of animal sacrifice

In which area were the major geonic academies located in the years before 1000 CE?

Babylonia

Jews were tolerated as a religious minority in the medieval Christian and Muslim countries despite the universalistic claims of both religions. T/F

True

Which of the following was NOT a factor in the spread of the Babylonian Talmud as an important text?

the belief that God spoke to the rabbis of Babylonia

Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac aka Rashi was famous for what?

writing a commentary on the Talmud and much of the Bible

“Henotheism" is defined as

a belief that while there may be multiple gods, one's group or people should only worship one of them

The Psalms were often used in Jewish liturgy. T/F

true

The Rabbis who compiled the Mishnah and Talmud limited Jewish law to ritual laws that could be performed outside the Temple.  T/F

False

Which foreign ruler is praised as "anointed" by God in some biblical texts and seen as a savior of the Jews?

Cyrus of Persia

According to Bruce Lincoln, the study of religion requires the scholar to reconcile the teachings of history and religion. T/F

false

In his ethical will, Judah ibn Tibbon urged his son Samuel to do what? 

take care of his books, respect his wife, and make sure his pharmacy was in good-working order

Mishnah Avot primarily consists of

ethical teachings of the rabbis

In what rabbinic text do we see a "chain of tradition" that links the rabbis of the late 2nd Temple period and post-2nd Temple period back to Moses at Mount Sinai? 

Mishnah Avot

What is the best description of "halakha" in rabbinic Judaism? 

the entire legal system believed to be enjoined on Jews in the Oral and Written Torah

The prohibition against eating a chicken sandwich with goat cheese for a Jew keeping kosher could be classified as: 

a fence around the Torah