Vocab #2

Question 1

Judaism’s ancient confession of monotheistic faith. It literally translates as “hear”.

Answer 1

Shema

Question 2

The Greek name for Torah, this literally means “five books”.

Answer 2

Pentateuch

Question 3

He is revered as the first Great Patriarch (or father) of Judaism, and almost sacrificed his son to God.

Answer 3

Abraham

Question 4

He was the great Jewish king who build a massive temple for worship. He was sometimes known as the wisest man ever.

Answer 4

Solomon

Question 5

An agreement established between God and ancient Israelites that designated the Jews as God’s Chosen People, with special rights and responsibilities.

Answer 5

covenant

Question 6

The form of Jewish mysticism that emerged in the 13th century.

Answer 6

Kabbalah

Question 7

The place where the 10 commandments were delivered

Answer 7

Mount Sinai

Question 8

The massive collection of Jewish religious traditions and theology that were originally in oral form; It is sometimes called the oral Torah and literally means “knowledge”.

Answer 8

Talmud

Question 9

Literally means “burning”. When the word is capitalized, it refers to the persecution of Jews by Nazi Germany from 1938-1944. Millions died.

Answer 9

Holocaust

Question 10

The situation of Jews living away from their homeland from classical times on.

Answer 10

Diaspora

Question 11

A building for Jewish worship. It is not a temple. It literally means “assembly” in Greek.

Answer 11

Synagogue

Question 12

Known as the “law giver”, he received the law (10 Commandments) in stone from Yahweh on Mount Sinai.

Answer 12

Moses

Question 13

A part of a city, especially a slum area, that is given to minority groups to isolate them.

Answer 13

ghetto

Question 14

The group responsible for the second diaspora and the second destruction of Solomon’s temple.

Answer 14

Romans

Question 15

Someone who is inspired to speak the will of God. They are chosen by God to speak to the people on his behalf.

Answer 15

prophet

Question 16

Written down in about 200 AD, it is part of the Talmud. This “oral book” actually originated as commentary on Jewish law after the second diaspora during the time of the Romans.

Answer 16

Mishnah

Question 17

The mystical Jewish movement that arose in the 18th century in Eastern Europe. Jews of this persuasion are noted for their longish, curly hair, for wearing a kind of top hat, and for living in seclusion from the rest of society.

Answer 17

Hasidism

Question 18

The Jewish movement that arose as a result of the Holocaust; it emphasizes the return of Jews to Jerusalem and says that Jews should have their own homeland.

Answer 18

Zionism

Question 19

The religious ceremony of a 13 year old Jewish boy who is declared to be a man and is now eligible to take part in public worship.

Answer 19

bar mitzvah

Question 20

The group responsible for the first diaspora and the first destruction of Solomon’s Temple.

Answer 20

Babylonians

Question 21

The military group that arose to resist the Romans’ influence on Israel.

Answer 21

Zealots

Question 22

The elite group of Israelites that were known as the priestly class during the classical period.

Answer 22

Saducees

Question 23

This is the Hebrew name given to the saviour and deliverer of the Jewish nation, and who was prophesied about in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Answer 23

Yeshua

Question 24

Jewish scholars or teachers who study and teach Jewish law; they are appointed as religious leaders.

Answer 24

rabbis

Question 25

Hostility towards Jews and Judaism, which ranges from attitudes of disfavour to active persecution.

Answer 25

anti-semitism

Question 26

The 8-day festival that commemorates (or “to celebrate and remember”) the Exodus of the Jews from bondage in Egypt into the Promised Land of Canaan.

Answer 26

Passover

Question 27

This is a weekly ritual held from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday and is used to “remember” that God rested on the seventh day after making Creation.

Answer 27

Sabbath

Question 28

The Hebrew Scriptures that contain the Torah, the Prophets (Hebrew “neviim”), and the Writings (Hebrew “ketuviim”). It is the “Old” Testament of the Christian Scriptures, although it is anything but “Old” to the Jew—it is part of their daily life.

Answer 28

Tanakh

Question 29

This is Judaism’s most important holy day literally translates as “day of atonement”. It is spent in fasting and prayer for the forgiveness of sins, both individual and collective.

Answer 29

Yom Kippur

Question 30

Literally means “according to ritual” or “proper”; Jewish dietary laws

Answer 30

kosher