Judaism Flashcards
(96 cards)
1
Q
Traditional founders of Judaism
A
Abraham and Moses
2
Q
Rabbinic Judaism begins when
A
1st or second century CE
3
Q
Ancient religion of Hebrews began when
A
500s-400s BCE
4
Q
Judaism is considered what kind of religion
A
monotheistic
5
Q
what kind of calendar did Jews follow
A
lunar year with seven months added over 19 years
6
Q
Primary text
A
Tanak, Prophets, and Writings
7
Q
What is in the Tanakh
A
Torah, Prophets, and WRitings
8
Q
Primary Festivals
A
Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Pesach, Shavuot
9
Q
Main Modern Subgroups
A
reform, conservative, orthodox, reconstructionist
10
Q
Judaism is the mother tradition of which religions
A
Christianity and islam
11
Q
The nickname of the Hasmoneans, a priestly family who led the revolt against the Seleucid Greeks and liberated Palestine for a few decades before the Roman conquest of the East
A
Maccabees
12
Q
Often identified with an apocalyptic sect not content with life under the Maccabees. They formed an isolated ascetic, scribal and priestly community near the Dead Sea Scrolls were part of the library
A
Essenes
13
Q
A nonpriestly group whose concern about religious purity and the study of Torah and oral traditions gave them popular influence in the society. Their traditions influence rabbinic Judaism
A
Pharisees
14
Q
The religious elite who controlled the Jerusalem temple and its economy. They rejected the oral Torah and some of the newer ideas in Judaism
A
Sadducees
15
Q
A group in central Palestine, with obscure Jewish ancestry. They used a version of the Pentateuch and expected a prophet-like messianic figure
A
Samaritans
16
Q
A collection of diverse discontents and apocalyptic militants who led the revolt against Rome
A
Zealots
17
Q
The father of the Hebrews, who with his son Isaac, his grandson Jacob’s twelve sons are counted as the patriarchs
A
Abraham
18
Q
Law-giver who presented the Torah and covenant to Israel and founded the nation.
A
Moses
19
Q
The idealized king, whose dynasty is featured as one of the key elements in the restoration of Israel
A
David
20
Q
A Spanish Jewish philosopher and commentator on the Talmud; formulated thirteen principles of Judaism
A
Maimonides
21
Q
French rabbinic commentator on the Bible and the Talmud
A
Rashi
22
Q
German philosopher; leader of the Jewish Enlightenment
A
Moses Medelssohn
23
Q
German rabbi; founder of the Reform movement
A
Abraham Geiger
24
Q
German rabbi; leader of the Neo-Orthodox movement, which challenged Reform innovations.
A
Samson R, Hirsch
25
German rabbi; founder of the positivist historical school, which influenced Conservative Judaism in North America
Zacharias Frankel
26
Austrian journalist; founder of World Zionist Organization; sought to create a Jewish state
Theodor Herzl
27
American rabbi and founder of Reconstructionist Judaism
Mordecai Kaplan
28
A group of Babylonian Jews formed in the 700s who rejected the authority of the Talmud and the rabbinic tradition, They emphasized a more literal approach to Hebrew scripture
Karaite
29
A general term for a Jewish mystic who sought the hidden meaning behind the external realities and the coded meaning of texts. Did much to revitalize Judaism from the 1200s, at a time when European expulsion of Jews was beginning
Kabbalist
30
Jews of German background, including most eastern European Jews. Yiddish was their language, and Christianity the dominant culture under which they took their shape
Ashkenazi
31
Jews largely of Spanish background who migrated to the Ottoman Empire, Italy, and the Netherlands when they were deported from Spain. Ladino was their language, and Islam the dominant culture under which they took their shape
Sephardic
32
A mystical movement founded by Baal Shem Tov (1700-1760) in Poland; particularly important to eastern European Jews. It emphasized devotion and joy of the common Jew over the learning of the rabbis as a means of harmony with God
Hasidic
33
Founded in 1800s; emphasizes an ethical monotheism rather than ritual, law, and messianic expectations. Such change allowed Jews to identify more easily with Western Enlightenment society. This group views Judaism as always needing a reforming spirit in order to be authentic
Reform
34
Founded in 1800s as reaction to Reform Judaism's radical discarding of tradition; reflects diverse positions between the Reform and Orthodox. Judaism is to be reformed, using historical scholarship as the tool to distinguish the nonbinding elements in Jewish practice from the essential ones
Conservative or Masorti
35
Maintains traditional practices and beliefs, making it the group most loyal to rabbinic Judaism. Jewish legislation of the Torah and Talmud is eternal and divinely given and thus not subject to change. Various groups, from liberalizing to rigorously traditional, make up Jewish orthodoxy
Orthodox
36
Founded on the principle of Judaism as an evolving religious culture, subject to change. Views Judaism as a human construct, as Reform Judaism does
Reconstructionist
37
Founded by Theodor Herzl; primarily a secular and political movement, whose goal was to establish a Jewish homeland. After the nation of Israel was established, Zionism focused on aiding Jewish immigrants to Israel
Zionist
38
the Tetragrammation; often seen with vowels. It is the personal name of the Hebrew god, which was revealed to Moses. The word Jehovah is an artificial Christian construct based on these consonants, with J used instead of Y. The omission of the vowels is intended to protect against pronouncing the name of God. Jews often write the English word God without a vowel.
YHWH
39
This word is often pronounced wherever the letters YHWH occur in the Bible
Adonai
40
A generic name for god in Semitic languages; often used for God in the Hebrew scriptures. Its abbreviated form "El" was often used in compounds (e.g., El-Shaddai, "God Almighty")
Elohim
41
The name given to the unknowable and limitless God of kabbalistic speculation
Ein Sof
42
Another common circumlocution for the name of God
Ha-Shem
43
Mystical and speculative forms of Judaism which held a sharp dualism between the spiritual and the physical worlds
Gnosticism
44
ten beings called sefirot separate from the unlimited and unknown God
Kabbalism
45
Jewish scholars have drawn up to list of primary articles of faith
Creed (13 principles)
46
The first, called Solomon's temple, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE; the second temple, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE; the second temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE
Temple
47
A community center in which numerous activities take place, the most important of which is the weekly Sabbath service
Synagogue
48
The hill on which the temple was situated; considered the center of the cosmos, God's holy hill. The Islamic Dome of the Rock shrine stands there now.
Zion
49
The mountain in the Sinai Desert where, according to tradition, Moses received the Ten Commandments and Yahweh made a covenant with the Israelites
Mount Sinai
50
A term used for the areas outside Palestine in which Jews resided. Until modern times, this often meant a resident alien status for Jews
Diaspora
51
Land and independence were especially cherished by people whose beginnings were those of nomadic strangers. Jews called Israel the "promised land." In 1948, Israel became an independent Jewish nation, a homeland for the first time in almost two thousand years.
Israel
52
The western wall of the Second Temple complex. With the temple destroyed, Jews throughout the centuries came to this location to pray fro the restoration of Israel.
Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
53
If material in the Torah has the material has the character of law
Halakah
54
if the law is not halakah it is called
aggadah
55
principal prayer in the Jewish liturgy, going back two thousand years. made of 19 blessings the current twelfth having been added to the original eighteen sometime in the early period
eighteen benedictions, Amidah, Tephillah, Shemoneh Esrei
56
The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the primary source for Torah; also called Pentateuch
Torah
57
An acronym for the three parts of the Hebrew Bible: Torah + Neviim + Ketuvim; commonly called the Hebrew Bible or simply the Bible
Tanakh
58
The primary collection of oral Torah, complementing the written Torah of the Tanakh; compiled about 200 CE from older traditions
Mishnah
59
The Mishnah combined with commentary composes the Talmud. Two versions were compiled: one in Palestine, called the Jerusalem Talmud; the other in Babylon. Medieval commentaries are incorporated into present texts of the Talmud. Those by Rashi and Maimonides are particularly influential.
Talmud
60
Collections of written replies form rabbis to questions about the Torah, after the completion of the Talmud. There are over one thousand volumes of _____
Responsa
61
Originally a Sephardic work from the 1500s; it was annotated in the same century with Ashkenazi alternative practices. It is the most used guidebook for Torah observance among observant jews
Shulchan Aruch
62
Jewish New Year, in September or October; begins a ten-day solemn period of repentance and self-examination, which ends on Yom Kippur. Called the High Holy Days or days of Awe.
Rosh Hashanah
63
The holiest day of the Jewish calendar (Day of Atonement) , marked by fasting, prayer, and repentance
Yom Kippur
64
A seven-day harvest festival, linked to the wandering of the Hebrew exiles in the desert after their escape from Egypt
Sukkot
65
Commonly known as Passover. Celebrates the exodus, the escape of the ancient Hebrews from Egyptian slavery; a special meal (the seder) with various foods, including unleavened bread (matzah), is the highlight
Pesach
66
Also called the "Feast of LIghts." Celebrates the purification and rededication of the temple after the Jewish victory over Syrian Greek (Seleucid) overlords. A central feature is a miraculous eight-day supply of holy oil used for light in the temple. A special nine-branch candlestick is used
Hanukkah
67
Recalls the Queen Esther story, in which Persian Jews were saved when the drawing of lots exposed a plot to kill them. Constumes and boisterous plays are featured
Purim
68
Commonly known as Pentecost, celebrated fifty days after Passover; commemorates the giving of Torah
Shavuot
69
Seventh day of the week, designated for rest and pious reflection; connected to both the creation of the world and the giving of Torah
Sabbath
70
the most common symbol of modern Judaism, featured on the flag of Israel; gained popularity as a symbol for Judaism after Zionism adopted it in 1897
Star of David
71
A seven-branched candlestick, found in the temple; represents the seven days of creation. It has been the most recognizable symbol of Judaism from ancient times. A special nine-branched menorah is used for Hanukkah
Menorah
72
The four consonants in the Hebrew word "Yahweh," the personal name of the Jewish God.
Tetragrammaton/tetragram
73
A skull cap worn by Jewish men. Orthodox Jews cover their heads in all public places, Conservatives Jews when at prayer
Yarmulke/Kippah
74
Jewish dietary laws. Many symbols indicate kosher foods, depending on which of various Jewish agencies supervised the procedure
Kashruth
75
Prayer shawl, with a fringe on each of the four corners
Tallit
76
Small leather boxes containing portions of Torah, bound to the forehead and arm during prayer
Tefillin/Phylactery
77
Portions of Torah in a small container attached to the doorposts of a Jewish home
Mezuzah
78
As a sign of the covenant, Jewish baby boys have the foreskin of the penis removed in a ceremony when they are eight days old.
Circumcision
79
the ceremony that declares a Jewish boy of age thirteen to be a full member of the community. The event is celebrated in the synagogue, with the boy reading from Torah
Bar Mitzvah
80
A ceremony for girls, parallel to the bar mitzvah for boys found in all forms of Judaism except orthodoxy
Bat Mitzvah
81
A seven day period of mourning after the death of a close relative
Sitting Shivah
82
A highly ritualized meal, in which Jews recall the exodus of the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery. Specific foods are used to illustrate aspects of the story
Passover Seder
83
Leader of music and prayer in synagogue service. The duties vary from congregation to congregation. The office was established in the Middle Ages, when more complex music became the fashion
Cantor
84
A priest. A few roles continue for the cohen, thought the temple where priests were to function has not existed for thwo thousand years
Cohen
85
Political head of the Jewish community in Babylonia until the thirteenth century
Exilarch
86
Originally used as a title of respect for the head of Babylonian academies of Torah study; now widely used for a rabbi expert in Torah
gaon
87
An office during the temple period. The chief priest was to be a descendent of Aaron, the first high priest.
High Priest
88
A person trained in the procedure of circumcision
Mohel
89
An assistant to the priest, with various temple duties. After the destruction of the temple, Levites lost a role in Judaism, although their identity as Levites has been maintained
Levite
90
One who is viewed as speaking for God. Te Israelites had both official and unofficial prophets, some who supported the temple and palace and others who challenged it. One section of the Hebrew Bible incorporates the messages of some of these prophets.
Prophet
91
A teacher of Torah, and spiritual adviser and leader in the synagogue; primary Jewish leaders after the destruction of the temple
Rabbi
92
In Judaism, the view that only those born to a Jewish mother are considered Jewish by birth.
Matrilineal
93
The attempt by Nazi Germany to exterminate the Jews; also referred to as ha-Shoah (the calamity)
Holocaust
94
This word, or an abbreviation P, appears on kosher labeling for products that may be eaten with either meat or dairy dishes
Parve
95
The academy for study of Torah leading to ordination as a rabbi.
Yeshiva
96
An English form of the German word for judisch (Jewish). Yiddish is a dialect of
Yiddish
