Judaism

Question 1

Shabbat

Answer 1

The Jewish Sabbath, from Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown

Question 2

Kiddush

Answer 2

Ceremonial family blessing and meal Friday night to welcome the Sabbath

Question 3

Challah

Answer 3

The special braided bread baked specially for the Sabbath meal

Question 4

Havdalah

Answer 4

A family ceremony on Saturday night marking the end of the Sabbath

Question 5

Kashrut

Answer 5

The term which describes the Jewish “kosher” dietary laws

Question 6

Kosher

Answer 6

The term describing food as “fit” or “proper” in Judaism

Question 7

Treif

Answer 7

The word means “torn” and describes un-kosher food

Question 8

Pareve

Answer 8

This word describes foods which are considered “neutral”

Question 9

Brit Mila (or Bris)

Answer 9

Covenant biblical circumcision for Jewish males

Question 10

Bar Mitzvah

Answer 10

A ceremony where 13 year old Jewish boys become “sons of the commandment”

Question 11

Bat Mitzvah

Answer 11

A similar ceremony (in Reform Judaism) for girls who have turned 12 years old

Question 12

Halakah

Answer 12

The term means “walk” or “way” – describes the body of Jewish law and practice

Question 13

Shema

Answer 13

The most sacred prayer in Judaism; repetition in Hebrew of Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Question 14

Talit (or Talis)

Answer 14

The Jewish “prayer shawl” with colored bands and fringes

Question 15

Talit Katan

Answer 15

“Small Talis” – A linen undershirt with fringes worn by some Orthodox men

Question 16

Tzitzit

Answer 16

The biblical Hebrew term for “fringe” – the fringes on the Talit prayer shawl

Question 17

Tefilin

Answer 17

Phylacteries – Small leather prayer boxes bound to the head and arm during prayer

Question 18

Mezuza

Answer 18

The word means “doorpost” – a small container with a scripture passage inside

Question 19

Kippa

Answer 19

Yarmulke – Jewish “skull cap” worn by males for prayer and sacred occasions

Question 20

Shofar

Answer 20

Hebrew term for the ram’s horn blown on Rosh Hashannah and holy occasions

Question 21

Menorah

Answer 21

The “lamp” with multiple arms (like the 7-armed temple menorah)

Question 22

Rosh Hashannah

Answer 22

The Jewish New Year, beginning day of the month of Fall holidays

Question 23

Yom Kippur

Answer 23

The biblical Day of Atonement, a solemn day of fasting in Judaism

Question 24

High Holy Days

Answer 24

Rosh Hashannah, followed by Yom Kippur ten days later

Question 25

Sukkot

Answer 25

The weeklong Feast of Tabernacles (or booths) each fall

Question 26

Shemini Atzeret

Answer 26

The "eighth" additional holiday right after the seven days of Sukkot

Question 27

Simhat Torah

Answer 27

The "joyful day of Torah" at the end of the Sukkot week each Fall

Question 28

Pessakh

Answer 28

The Biblical spring festival of Passover

Question 29

Seder

Answer 29

The ritual feast of passover -- the term Seder means "order"

Question 30

Shavuot

Answer 30

The biblical Feast of Weeks, early summer festival 50 days after Pessah

Question 31

Tisha Be-Av

Answer 31

The "Ninth of Av" -- summer day of mourning destruction of the temple

Question 32

Hanukah

Answer 32

The term means "dedication" -- refers to the winter "feast of Dedication"

Question 33

Hanukiah

Answer 33

The specific term for the nine-armed Hanukah menorah

Question 34

Dreidel

Answer 34

A small, four-sided top which children play with at Hanukah

Question 35

Purim (Lots)

Answer 35

The early Spring celebration involving the reading of the story of Esther

Question 36

Kabalah

Answer 36

The term for mystical (even magical) Jewish traditions of the middle ages

Question 37

Synagogue

Answer 37

The Jewish meeting house or house of worship

Question 38

1000 BCE

Answer 38

David unites Israelite tribes and becomes king at Jerusalem

Question 39

950 BCE

Answer 39

Solomon builds First Temple at Jerusalem

Question 40

922 BCE

Answer 40

Israelites divide into two kingdoms: Judah (south) and Israel (north)

Question 41

732 BCE

Answer 41

First Assyrian deportation of Israel (northern kingdom)

Question 42

721 BCE

Answer 42

Second Assyrian deportation of Israel (reduced northern kingdom)

Question 43

701 BCE

Answer 43

Assyrian deportation of Judah, but Jerusalem spared

Question 44

586 BCE

Answer 44

Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and First Temple; Jews taken captive to Babylon

Question 45

537 BCE

Answer 45

Persian Empire (Cyrus) allows Jews to return to Judah

Question 46

520 BCE

Answer 46

Second Temple (Zerubbabel) built on the site of the earlier temple

Question 47

430 BCE

Answer 47

End of the Hebrew Bible record, with Malachi

Question 48

332 BCE

Answer 48

Alexander the Great conquers Near East -- Hellenistic influence

Question 49

164 BCE

Answer 49

Jewish independence from Syrian-Greek rule -- Hanukah (temple rededication)

Question 50

63 BCE

Answer 50

Romans conquer the land of Israel (eventually install Herod the Great)

Question 51

20 BCE

Answer 51

Second temple dismantled and newly rebuilt -- Temple of Herod

Question 52

10 BCE

Answer 52

Ministry of Hillel and Shammai (the two leading Pharisee schools of thought)

Question 53

4 BCE

Answer 53

Death of Herod the Great, birth of Jesus

Question 54

30 CE

Answer 54

Ministry of Gamliel I (and Jesus and Peter)

Question 55

70 CE

Answer 55

End of First Jewish Revolt, destruction of Jerusalem and Temple of Herod

Question 56

135 CE

Answer 56

End of the Second Jewish Revolt (Bar Kokhba) -- Jews banned from Judea

Question 57

200 CE

Answer 57

Yehudah HaNasi -- Mishnah collected and written (Sepphoris, Galilee)

Question 58

500 CE

Answer 58

Talmud assembled -- Gemara collected and written in Tiberias and Babylon