Untitled Flashcards Set

Key Terms

Familiarize yourself with the following key terms and their significance in Judaism:

• God – The central deity in Jewish belief, emphasizing monotheism. In Judaism, God is viewed as omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent, forming a personal relationship with the Jewish people.

• Israel – Both a land and a people, representing the Jewish nation. It is the biblical homeland promised to the Jewish people in the Torah and serves as a spiritual and cultural center for Judaism.

• Rabbis – Jewish religious leaders and scholars who interpret and teach Jewish law (Halakha) and tradition. They guide communities in religious practice and ethical behavior.

• Torah – The sacred text of Judaism containing laws, teachings, and history. It consists of the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and is read publicly in synagogues.

• Diaspora – The dispersion of Jews beyond Israel, beginning with the Babylonian exile. Jewish communities have formed around the world, maintaining religious and cultural traditions despite geographic separation.

• Covenant – The sacred agreement between God and the Jewish people, established through figures like Abraham and Moses. It defines Jewish obligations to follow God's laws in exchange for divine protection and blessings.

• Bimah – The raised platform in a synagogue where the Torah is read during services. It serves as a focal point for worship and ritual.

• Synagogue – A place of Jewish worship, study, and community gathering. It serves as a spiritual center for Jewish life, distinct from the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.

• Shofar – A ram’s horn blown during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as a call to repentance and spiritual awakening.

• Tashlich – A ritual performed on Rosh Hashanah in which Jews symbolically cast away their sins by throwing bread crumbs into a body of water.

• Sukkah – A temporary hut built for Sukkot, representing the dwellings of the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness. Families eat and sometimes sleep in the sukkah to fulfill the mitzvah.

• Seder – A ritual meal eaten during Passover that includes symbolic foods and the retelling of the Exodus story. It follows a structured order (seder means “order” in Hebrew) outlined in the Haggadah.

• Menorah – A candelabrum with seven or nine branches. The seven-branched menorah was used in the ancient Temple, while the nine-branched Hanukkiah is lit during Hanukkah.

• Ark – The sacred space in a synagogue where the Torah scrolls are kept. Also known as the Aron Kodesh, it is often adorned with decorative curtains or doors.

• Ner Tamid – The eternal flame that burns in synagogues above the Ark, symbolizing God's constant presence and the eternal nature of Judaism.

• Messiah – A future savior who will bring an end to suffering and death. Unlike Christian belief, Judaism does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah; rather, the Messiah is expected to restore peace and justice in the world.

Key Concepts

A) The Trifecta: God, Israel, and Torah (Short Answer)

• God – The singular divine being in Judaism, emphasizing the belief in one God.

• Israel – The people chosen by God and the land promised to them, central to Jewish identity.

• Torah – The guiding scripture containing laws, teachings, and history that form the foundation of Jewish life.

• These three elements interconnect to define Jewish identity, faith, and practices, shaping the way Jews live and worship.

B) The Temples and Their Destruction (Multiple Choice)

• The First Temple, built by Solomon, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, leading to the centralization of Torah study.

• The Second Temple, built after the Babylonian exile, was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, leading to the rise of rabbis and synagogues as new centers of worship.

• How did Israelites adapt? Transition from temple-based worship to synagogue-based religious life, emphasizing study and prayer.

C) The Significance and Function of the Torah (Short Answer)

• The Torah is the foundation of Jewish religious life, containing the Covenant between God and the Jewish people. It sets forth the laws, moral guidelines, and responsibilities that define Jewish identity and faith.

• The Torah reveals Jewish beliefs about Creation, stating that God is the ultimate creator of the universe. It emphasizes human responsibility in maintaining justice, compassion, and obedience to divine laws.

• In terms of the After-life, Judaism generally focuses on life in the present, but the Torah includes references to resurrection and a Messianic age, a future period of peace and redemption where suffering and death will cease.

• The Torah serves as a guide for everyday living, influencing Jewish law (Halakha), worship practices, and ethical behavior. It is studied continuously, and its teachings are interpreted by rabbis to address contemporary issues.

• Unlike Christianity, which emphasizes salvation through faith, Judaism places importance on following the Torah's commandments (mitzvot) as a way of fulfilling the covenant and maintaining a strong relationship with God.

D) The Function of a Synagogue (Short Answer)

• Synagogue vs. Temple – A synagogue is a house of worship, study, and community gathering, while the Temple refers to the ancient Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

• Important synagogues: Temple Israeliticio (Cordoba), Dohany Street Synagogue, Temple Emanu-El.

• The synagogue serves as a center for prayer, Torah reading, education, and community events, ensuring the continuation of Jewish tradition.

E) Jewish Festivities (Multiple Choice & Detailed Explanation)

• Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year, a time of self-reflection and renewal. Traditions include blowing the shofar, eating sweet foods like apples and honey, and performing Tashlich, symbolically casting away sins into a body of water.

• Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement, the holiest day in Judaism. Jews fast for 25 hours, pray for forgiveness, and attend synagogue services focused on repentance.

• Sukkot – A week-long festival commemorating the Israelites' journey in the wilderness. Jews build and dwell in a sukkah, a temporary hut, and shake the lulav and etrog (palm branch and citron fruit) in prayer.

• Pesach (Passover) – Celebrates the Exodus from Egypt and freedom from slavery. Families hold a seder meal, retelling the story of liberation, eating matzah (unleavened bread), and drinking four cups of wine.

• Purim – A joyous holiday celebrating Jewish survival in ancient Persia. Traditions include reading the Book of Esther, dressing in costumes, giving charity, and eating hamantaschen pastries.

• Hanukkah – Commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple after the Maccabean Revolt. Jews light the menorah for eight nights, play with a dreidel, and eat fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts).

• Shabbat – The weekly day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Jews light Shabbat candles, recite blessings over challah bread and wine, and refrain from work.