Judaism Glossary #1

Question 1

Aliyah

Answer 1

“going up”. immigrating to Israel

Question 2

anti-semitism

Answer 2

hostility and prejudice towards jews

Question 3

ark of the covenant

Answer 3

wooden chest that help the tablets inscribed with the ten commandments (temple in Jerusalem = home of the ark)

Question 4

bor/bat mitzvah

Answer 4

celebration for Jewish boy (13) and girl (12-13). means “son/daughter of the commandments”

Question 5

chosen people

Answer 5

the idea that god chose Jewish people to be the keepers of his covenant on earth

Question 6

circumcision

Answer 6

cutting off the foreskin of the penis

Question 7

covenant

Answer 7

used in the bible, a solemn and binding agreement between god and humanity

Question 8

crimes against humanity

Answer 8

murder, theft, etc. (exactly as the term states)

Question 9

disapora

Answer 9

Greek word meaning “sowing of soul” or “dispersal”. Jewish history context: word referring to jews who lived outside of Israel

Question 10

exodus

Answer 10

“departure”. the significant event of Moses leading Israelites out of bondage in Egypt

Question 11

genocide

Answer 11

mass extermination of a group for religious/racial reasons

Question 12

ghetto

Answer 12

where minorities are living (jews in a vehicle 1516)

Question 13

gerut

Answer 13

process of converting to Judaism

Question 14

haggadah

Answer 14

book used to explain the events of exodus

Question 15

hanukkah

Answer 15

8-day festival of lights, commemorating the rededication of the temple

Question 16

Hellenization

Answer 16

the process of adopting greek culture and language

Question 17

holocaust

Answer 17

mass murder of jews during WWII

Question 18

holy ark

Answer 18

cabinet-like structure in a synagogue that houses the torah scrolls