Final Flashcards
(34 cards)
Mesorah (מסורה)
- Essentially means tradition.
- The etymology of this word comes from the root מסר, or passed down/along.
- Mesorah contains the contents of Jewish writings and the process as to how it gets passed along.
- Judaism’s system of interpretation and debate comes from the content and transmission of the Mesorah.
Etymology
The study of the origin of words and sometimes the way their meanings have changed throughout history.
Assimilation
The process of abandoning one’s culture to completely adopt another culture.
Syncretism
The process of blending two different cultures to create a new type of idea that doesn’t belong to either culture.
Accomodation
The process of adopting aspects of another culture without abandoning their own core cultural values.
Cultural Resistance
The process of completely rejecting another culture and not absorbing any of their influence.
Canonization
- The process of deciding which Jewish texts are in or out of the religion, setting clear boundaries for the faith.
- Can cause division between different Jewish groups or factions.
Sectarianism
- In this case involved in Greek influence.
- A group would blend aspects of Greek and Judaism then declare themselves as a new sect or group of Judaism.
Complete Hellinizers
The people who abandoned the majority of Judaism to embrace Greek culture. They only thought of themselves as Jewish because they saw G-d as a manifestation of Zeus and that Judaism should be a branch of Greek religion.
Sadducees
The upper class Cohanim who served in the temple. By coming in contact with urban Greeks, they absorbed Greek aspects such as their belief in the afterlife (no reward or punishment), no Moshiach, and that G-d was separate from the world.
Essenes
The group who generally rejected Greek culture but still absorbed some ideas. They see G-d as a divine king with angels who have the power to play important roles and to potentially challenge Him. They are monotheistic but are open to other divine beings.
Pharisees
The group that is closest and almost similar to the original Judaism. They rejected any religious Greek influence, but absorbed some aspects related to using Greek words and their math and astronomy (one example of this is to calculate Rosh Chodesh).
Great Jewish Revolt 63-73 CE
Jews rebelled against Rome; the Second Temple was destroyed and 100,000’s of Jews were killed. This event transformed Rome’s view of Jews into a dangerous, rebellious people.
Kitos War 114-117CE
Jewish uprisings across the diaspora were brutally crushed. Rome saw Jews as violent troublemakers, increasing hostility and crackdowns.
Bar Kochba Revolt 132-135 CE
Jews attempted to restore Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Rome retaliated with genocide, renamed Judea “Palestina,” and banned Jews from Jerusalem.
Medina Model
Cooperative and tolerant. Jews had legal rights under the Constitution of Medina, though still seen as second-class.
Mecca 2 Model
Hostile and discriminatory. Jews faced humiliation and severe restrictions under the Pact of Umar.
Restrictions and Rights under the Constitution of Medina
Rights: Equal protection in warfare; could maintain their religion and community.
Restrictions: Had to surrender Jews who harmed Muslims; couldn’t punish Muslims for harming Jews.
Severe restrictions from the Pact of Umar
Jews couldn’t build or repair synagogues.
Jews had to dress differently and wear humiliating clothing.
Jews had to pay the jizya tax with a humiliating slap to the neck.
Is the Umayyad Caliphate in the Medina or Mecca 2 Model?
Though based on the Medina model, Jews were moved off Temple Mount and used as tax collectors—showing a transition toward Mecca 2-style control.
How did the Mongol conversion to Islam change their treatment of Jews (which model)?
After converting, the Mongols became more oppressive to Jews than they had been under their earlier, non-Muslim rule (Umayyad Caliphate)—moving toward a Mecca 2 model.
Did the Safavid Shia belong to the Medina or Mecca 2 Model?
Shia beliefs led to extreme restrictions: Jews were treated as impure, couldn’t touch Muslims, and were excluded from many public spaces—fully Mecca 2.
Was Herod good or bad for the Jews?
Herod expanded the Second Temple and brought infrastructure—but ruled as a brutal Roman puppet, murdering rabbis and his own family. Most Jews distrusted him deeply.
Torah
The foundational written text of Judaism, containing the Five Books of Moses.
