Judaism Flashcards
(40 cards)
What kind of religion is Judaism? (polytheistic, animistic, monotheistic)
Montheistic
Who is the founder of Judaism? What did God promise him?
Abraham
God promised that if Abraham was faithful, he would be the father of a great nation, possess a land, and become a blessing to all people
What is the “covenant”?
Promise to be faithful to God
Who is Moses? What is his significance to the religion?
Moses is the one selected by God to deliver the Jewish people from slavery.
He was able to free the Jews from slavery, received the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai, and delivered the Jews to their promised land
What is God’s name?
YHWH (Yah-way)
Understanding of how Jews believe God reveals himself through historical events
It presented a unique challenge for many Jewish scholars when the Holocaust came around
Understanding that for most Jews rabbinical interpretations are just as valid as the actual words of the Hebrew Bible (TNK)
Rabbis sought answers to questions about how Jews should practice their faith. The rabbinical commentary becomes important and authoritative as the divine word of the holy scriptures due to their function being studying and interpreting the scripture for Jews.
What is the Exodus? How did this event reflect God’s promise to His people?
The story of Moses being chosen to deliver the slaves from Egypt.
It reflects God’s promise, because it had to be accomplished before his promise was fulfilled. He acted to save his people and miraculously delivered them from slavery from the most powerful nation, revealed his name, and delivered them to their homeland.
When/how did the Jews receive the 10 Commandments?
When the Jews were in the wilderness on Mt. Sinai after the Exodus
God gave them to Moses
What are the 10 Commandments?
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me
- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images (Idols)
- Thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain
- Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy
- Honor thy Father and thy Mother
- Thou shalt not kill
- Thou shalt not commit adultery
- Thou shalt not steal
- Thou shalt not bear false witness
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, wife, or possessions
When did Jerusalem become the capital of Israel? Why?
It became the capital of Israel after David (the first “true” king) fought Goliath and captured it.
He chose that location because it was located on a hill, which made it easily defensible
What are the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel? Why?
The northern part of Israel (the largest part)
They were destroyed by the Assyrians
Why are the Jewish people called “Jewish”?
Because it means “the people of the Kingdom of Judah”
Original temple of Judaism
Solomon’s Temple: Built by Solomon, David’s son. It contained a central room called the Holy of Holies which housed the Ark of Covenant.
Who is Abraham? Why is he important to the Jews?
The founder of Judaism.
He fulfilled God’s promises and was succeeded by his son, grandson, and great grandsons. All Jews descend from Abraham.
Who is David? Why is he important to the Jews?
Regarded as the first “true” king.
He defeated Goliath and captured Jerusalem.
Who is Solomon? Why is he important to the Jews?
David’s son. Built Solomon’s Temple which stored the Ark of Covenant and was the first true Jewish temple.
Who is Ezekiel? Why is he important to the Jews?
Ancient Jewish prophet
He helped the exiled Jews hold onto their identity and claimed that YHYW wasn’t just a local god, but mobile and available to his people everywhere.
Started the formation from polytheism to monotheism
Who is Isiah? Why is he important to the Jews?
Second ancient prophet.
Claimed that YHYW was not just the god of Israelites, but the one true God for all the world.
Completed the path to monotheism.
Who is Ezra? Why is he important to the Jews?
Held onto copies of the scripture of the Jewish people during the diaspora.
How the Jewish people began to form their identity around a central book and how they began the process of canonizing the book as the “word of god”.
What is the Torah? Who “wrote” it?
The sacred book of the Jewish people. The first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
It’s believed to be the word of God as delivered to Moses.
Know that the Hebrew Bible in its entirety is called the TNK (pronounced Tanakh). What are its three parts?
3 sections of it: Torah, Prophets, Writings.
What is the Mishnah?
The oral law that provided explanations or amplifications of the written law.
What is used to seek answers as to what the many laws, passages, and directives in the Torah means since they are not fully explained, are confusing, or seem contradictory.
What is the Talmud?
Combination of the Mishnah and the Gemara.
Storehouse of advice such as: recommending Jews always begin a lecture with a funny story, that there should never be more than 25 students in a classroom, that one should always give a person the benefit of the doubt.
