Intro to World Religion: Judaism

Ashkenazi

major Jewish diaspora population who settled in the Rhineland (Germany) and Northern France in the Middle Ages before migrating to Eastern Europe. Developed the Yiddish language.

Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah

boy/girl 13ths bday party showing that they are the son/daughter of the commandments, a ceremony where they read parts of the Torah and interpret it, parade carrying scroll

Ghetto

Confined to restricted, often segregated, quarters in European cities

Hasidic Judaism

they see no difference between them and orthodox, super strict, stand out (wear traditional clothing), anti-vax, men and women are separate

Kosher

what you can and cannot eat from Leviticus 11

Messiah

a human, mortal leader, not a deity, descended from King David, who will usher in an era of universal peace, means king, then savior

Mezuzah

box put on every doorpost, excluding bathroom, that includes the Torah, thought to guard the space

Orthodox Judaism

strict, made in response to reform Judaism, heavy on tradition, chant the Bible, turn to Torah

Pesach or Passover

celebrates when Moses led Hebrews out of Egypt, large meal Seder, Angel of Death passing over homes

Reform Judaism

declared themselves separate to stop antisemitism, abandon traditional clothing, assimilate into Europe, liberal

Rosh Hashanah

First of the year/Jewish New Year around October, comes from Day of Judgement and Kingship of God, blow the Shofar and eat sweet things

Sabbath

Friday night into Saturday morning, day of rest, have service

Seder

large meal had at Pesach/Passover including lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs and salt water, and sweet things that retells the story of Israelites’ exodus from Egypt

Sephardic

cultures and traditions and eating rice as a Passover meal

Shofar

ram’s horn that acts as an instrument you blow on Rosh Hashanah

Synagogue

means meeting place in Greek, but is just a temple lowkey

Tallit

prayer shawl to put over shoulders when praying or getting married, specifically for men, Orthodox Jews wear all the time

Talmud

multi-volume text based on Halakhot that has observances and laws

Tanakh

is the Old Testament of the Bible/Hebrew Bible

Tephillin

leather straps attached to a box that holds the Torah, wrap the straps around your left arm and head for prayer

Torah

the first 5 books of the Bible, the main focus of Judaism with emphasis on the law and teachings, the scroll

Shoah

the Hebrew word meaning catastrophe, used instead of Holocaust

Western Wall

closest to the arc of the covenant you can get, also known as the holiest site where Jews can pray

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement where the high priest asks for forgiveness at the temple, takes place 10 days after Hashana, you give to charity and fast for 25 hours

Zionism

originated in Europe (France) and is the idea of going home/returning to the homeland