Judaism

Mishnah

A codification of oral law, serving as the basis for later rabbinic discussions.

Omnipresent

Existing everywhere simultaneously.

Torah

The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, containing the origins of the Israelites, their laws, and the covenant with God.

Gemara

Commentary on the Mishnah, forming the Talmud when combined.

Polytheistic

The belief in multiple gods, common among cultures surrounding the ancient Hebrews.

Moses

The leader who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and received the Ten Commandments.

Exodus

The departure of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses.

Monotheism

Belief in a single God.

Judaism

A major world religion originating with the Hebrews, serving as the spiritual ancestor of Christianity and Islam.

Canaan

The ancient homeland of the Hebrews, located between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Abraham

A shepherd from Ur in Mesopotamia, considered the patriarch of the Jewish people.

Yahweh

The name of the single deity worshipped by the Hebrews.

Judah

The name of the southern kingdom that was formed after the split of the United Kingdom.

Nebuchadnezzar

The Babylonian king who besieged Judah, destroyed Jerusalem, and initiated the Babylonian Captivity.

Mount Sinai

The location where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.

Assyrian Tribute

A payment made by the kingdom of Israel to avoid conquest by the Assyrian Empire.

David

The second king of the United Kingdom of Israel, who unified the tribes and established Jerusalem as the capital.

Ten Commandments

A set of ethical and religious principles given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Writings

A collection of books in the Hebrew Bible including Psalms, Proverbs, and Job, offering poetry, wisdom, and hymns.

Israel

The name of the northern kingdom that was formed after the split of the United Kingdom.

Babylonian Captivity

The period when many Hebrews were exiled to Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.

Second Temple

The religious structure completed in Jerusalem in 515 B.C. after the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon.

Samaria

The capital of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the United Kingdom.

Solomon

The third king of the United Kingdom of Israel, known for expanding trade and building the First Temple.

Jerusalem

A city established as the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel by King David.

Covenant

A mutual pledge or agreement between God and Abraham's descendants, promising protection and blessing in exchange for obedience.

Prophet Ezekiel

An individual who urged the preservation of faith during the Babylonian exile.

Ur

The Mesopotamian city from which Abraham originally came.

Prophets

A collection of books in the Hebrew Bible containing historical accounts and calls to repentance.

Cyrus the Great

The Persian king who allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple.

Saul

The first king of the United Kingdom of Israel.

Palestine

A region on the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, named by the Romans after the Philistines.

First Temple

A religious structure built by King Solomon in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant.

Talmud

A central text of Rabbinic Judaism, consisting of the Mishnah and its commentary (Gemara).