Jewish Spirituality

Quiz: How many years of historical development does the Jewish religion have?

4,000 years

Judaism is based upon the existence of how many gods?

One god (monotheism)

What are the attributes of God in Judaism?

All knowing, all powerful, the creator, has no children, rivals, or equals

What does “Son of God” mean in Christianity?

Title affirming equality with God; not a biological father-son relationship

When did the Maccabean (Matthean) Revolution end, making major changes in Judaism?

Around 150 BC

What is the earliest explanation of Judaism’s covenantal foundation?

The covenant on Mount Sinai, explained in Deuteronomy

What happened in 70 AD that changed Jewish worship?

Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem, ending the priesthood.

What were the two central pieces of Jewish faith before 70 AD?

The Temple and the Priesthood

What challenges did medieval Judaism face?

Persecution by Christian nations; reformulated theology in dialogue with Christian and Islamic philosophy. 

When did the new Jewish movements emerge?

In the 18th century.

What characterizes Reform Judaism?

The integration of science into faith

What is another name for Reform Judaism?

Deriveral or Progressive Judaism

What does Reform Judaism believe about revelation?

There is a constant revelation of God’s will in the World.

What are Reform Judaism’s social and political values?

Progressive agendas such as repairing the world (Tikkun Olam)

What is the size ranking of Reform Judaism among the Jewish sects?

Second-largest

Quiz: Which Jewish Group is regarded as liberal or progressive?

Reform Judaism

What is the major current of Judaism called?

Orthodox Judaism

What do Orthodox Jews believe about the Torah and the Talmud?

Both were given to Moses on Mt Sinai.

What does the term Hanukkah mean?

“The path one walks”

What is the Torah?

First five books of the Old Testament

What is the Talmud?

Central text of Rabbinic Judaism (completed around the 4th century AD)

What does the Talmud teach?

God gave Moses both the written and oral Torah

The teaching of the prophets come from both

When and where did Orthodox Judaism arise?

19th Century

Quiz: Which Jewish group arose as a reaction against Jewish reformist tendencies?

Orthodox Judaism

What do Orthodox Judaism emphasize?

Observance of the commandments (Mitzvot) , which is central to Jewish Law.

How many people follow Orthodox Judaism today?

About 2 million

What is the foundation of authority in Conservative Judaism?

Authority of tradition comes from its acceptance by the people

What does Conservative Judaism emphasize?

Belief in a personal God and the survival of the Soul

How many adults follow Conservative Judaism?

Over 1 million people (600,000 in Israel)

What future belief do Conservative Jews maintain?

Resurrection and the coming of the Messianic Age

What is another name for Conservative Judaism?

Traditional or Positive-Historical Judaism

What does Messiah mean?

Anointed One

What does “Hasidic” mean?

“The Pure Ones”

What is Hasidic Judaism a part of?

It is a group within Orthodox Judaism.

When did Hasidic Judaism emerge?

18th century

Quiz: What is the basic through about God underpinning Hasidic thought and life? (What does Hasidic Judaism emphasize about God?)

God’s immanence - his divine presence throughout the universe

The need to give him respect

How are Hasidic Jews recognized?

Heavy hates, black clothes, and side curls.

What is the central belief of Judaism?

Monotheism- one God revealed to Abraham

What does God’s liberation of Israel from Egypt show?

God’s love for freedom.

How did God establish Israelites as the chosen people?

Through covenants, especially the one on Mount Sinai.

What did God give the Israelites on Mount Sinai?

The Ten Commandments (Decalogue)

What is the Sabbath in Judaism?

Day of rest and worship from sundown to sundown.

What is a Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah?

• Bar Mitzvah (13-year-old boy): “Son of the commandment.”

• Bat Mitzvah (12-year-old girl): “Daughter of the commandment.”

What does Leviticus 11 teach?

Jewish dietary laws

What moral values are central in Judaism?

Justice, morality, acknowledgment of God, and refraining from murder, adultery, theft, and blasphemy.

What does the word Kritos mean?

Christ

What do some Jews see Christ as?

Some see him as a political king like King David.

Some see him as a divine being.

What did the Jews believe about the Messiah?

The Messiah would come and restore God’s sovereignty over all creation. The just or righteous would rise to eternal life, and the wicked to contempt and doom.

The Messiah would restore creation.

Quiz: How many mandated Jewish Feasts are listed in the Book of Leviticus, chapter 23?

7 feasts

What does the Passover mean?

“To cross over” - when God passed over Israelite homes during Exodus

What does Passover commemorate?

Freedom from Egyptian slavery

What is the Christian parallel to Passover?

Easter, celebrates freedom from sin

What months is the Passover in?

March- April

When does the Feast of Unleavened Bread occur?

The night after Passover

Why is unleavened bread eaten?

The Israelites left Egypt in haste- no time for the dough to rise (Deut 16:3)

Quiz: In Judaism, what is the symbolic meaning of the spread of leaven in bread?

Sin- a little leaven spread through the whole dough.

What is the Christian meaning of unleavened bread?

The Eucharist Bread is unleavened.

Represent Jesus without sin, the lamb without blemish

How did Jesus use leaven symbolically?

In Matthew 13:33, the kingdom of God grows from small beginnings.

What months does the Feast of Unleavened Bread occur?

March-April

What does the Feast of First Fruits celebrate?

Reaping of the first harvest

What ritual was performed by the priests?

Waving a sheaf of first fruits before God after the Sabbath.

What is the Christian connection?

Christ as the first fruit to rise from the dead (promise of eternal life)

What months does the Feast of First Fruits occur?

May-June

Quiz: In the celebration of the Feast of Weeks, how many days are counted after the special Sabbath that follows the Feast of Unleavened Bread? 

50 days

What does it commemorate for Jews?

The giving of the Torah (Law) to Israel 50 days after crossing Red Sea

What is the Christian name for this feast?

Pentecost ( 50th), celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2)

What months does the Feast of Weeks fall in?

May-June

What makes the Feast of Trumpets?

Blowing of trumpets or rams’ horns

Quiz: According to the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 60-61, whose coming does the action of blowing the trumpets announce to Israel?

Reminds Israel of the coming of their KING

What is the Christian link?

1 Thessalonians 4:16- trumpets announce resurrection at Christ’s return

What months did the Feast of Trumpets occur?

Sept-Oct

What does Yom Kippur mean?

Day of Attonement

What are the main practices of Yom Kippur?

Rest, prayer, fasting, and repentance

What does it represent for Christians?

Christ’s atoning sacrifice and reconciliation with God

What months did Yom Kippur occur in?

Sept-Oct

Quiz: How many days is the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles to be celebrated by Israel?

7 days

What does it commemorate?

Israel’s 40 years in tents in the wilderness before reaching Canaan.

What does it symbolize for Christians?

Gathering of all believers into the Kingdom of Heaven.

What months does the Feast of Tabernacles occur?

Sept-Oct

What is a covenant?

A sacred promise or agreement between God and His people

Quiz: Which covenant is emphasized in the Book of Deuteronomy?

Sinaitic Covenant

What does Immanence mean?

God’s presence in all creation

What does Transcendence mean?

God’s existence beyond the physical world

What does “Iglesia” (Greek) mean in relation to festivals?

“Church” or “holy gathering”- from the term “holy convocation”