Unit 3: Judaism

Purim

A joyous festival in early spring that recalls the Jews' being saved from destruction, as told in the Book of Esther.

Messianic Judaism

A rather recent religion that blends Jewish rites and rituals with the Christian belief that Jesus is the Messiah.

Yarmulke

A skullcap worn by Jews. Also called a kippah.

Adam and Eve

According to the Torah, they were first man and woman

Canaan

An ancient name for the land of Israel. This was the land that Yahweh promised the Hebrew people.

Anti-Semitism

Hatred or prejudice towards members of the Jewish faith.

Kaddish

Jewish prayer for the dead

Maccabees

Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, leaders of the Jewish revolt against Antiochus IV.

Usury Laws

Laws that impose an upper limit on the interest rate that lenders can charge and were used to attack the Jewish community during the Middle Ages

New Covenant

Promise from Yahweh to protect the Hebrews as long as they continued to follow Yahweh's commandments (notably the then new 10 Commandments). This was a reaffirmation of the Hebrew's faith.

Wagner-Rogers Bill

Proposed during holocaust to congress in place of immigration laws to allow 20,000 Jews to immigrate into U.S. to escape concentration camps— Bill Failed to pass through congress

Shivah

Seven days of mourning following burial

Passover

A Jewish festival celebrating the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt.

Synagogue

A Jewish house of worship.

Rabbi

A Jewish religious leader. Similar to a priest (in Christianity).

Talmud

A collection of authoritative Jewish writings that comment and interpret biblical laws. Started as an oral tradition by was later written down to preserve it.

Star of David

Universal symbol of Judaism.

Brit Milah (Bris)

The Jewish ceremony of male circumcision normally performed on the eighth day of life. meant to seal the Old Covenant.

Yom Kippur

The Jewish day of atonement. Jews fast and reflect on their sins committed the previous year.

Shabbat (Sabbath)

The Jewish day of rest; begins at sundown Friday and ends at sundown Saturday.

Messianic Period

The belief in Judaism that G-d shall return to Earth and either create a perfect world or save his true followers.

Monotheism

The belief in one god. As it relates to Judaism, this belief in one god put them at odds with other groups of people in the area who were polytheistic.

Rosh Hashanah

The start of the Jewish New Year. It is marked by the blowing of the shofar, and begins the ten days of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur.

Kosher

The term used for food allowed under Jewish dietary laws.

Siddurim

The traditional Jewish daily prayer book. It contains certain prayers for rituals/customs and it varies depending on the sect of Judaism.

Ark of the Covenant

The vessel that the Hebrews put the 10 Commandments in.

Abraham

Father of the Hebrew people & the founder of Judaism.

Bresheit

First book in the Torah that explains the origins of the universe and the role of G-d and man.

Hanukkah

An eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem.

Olam Ha-Ba

An expression that translates to "the world to come". Is thought to allude to an afterlife or time after death.

Messiah

An individual that will come to Earth and bring about its salvation

Bat Mitzvah

An initiation ceremony marking the 12th birthday of a Jewish girl and signifying the beginning of religious responsibility.

Bar Mitzvah

An initiation ceremony marking the 13th birthday of a Jewish boy and signifying the beginning of religious responsibility.

Pogrom

An organized massacre of a particular ethnic group, in particular that of Jews in Russia or eastern Europe.

Conservative Judaism

Branch that seeks to maintain a bulk of traditional Jewish laws and practices but not all. In the middle of the Jewish religious spectrum.

Menorah

Eight-branched candlestick that is important to the festival (holiday) Hanukkah.

Reform Judaism

Modern Judaism with fewer rules and more room for individuality. The least strict branch of the major branches.

Bresheit

Part of the Torah that tells the story of creation and the formation of mankind.

Torah

Part of the sacred writings of the Jewish faith. Considered to be a history of the Jewish people and their list of rules/commandments.

Diaspora

The dispersion of the Jews outside Israel

Exodus

The event where Moses led the Hebrew people out of Egypt and slavery.

Moses

The individual who led the Hebrews from slavery/Egypt in an event known as the Exodus. Received the 10 Commandments from Yahweh.

Solomon

The king responsible for beautifying Jerusalem, establishing a trade network, building a temple in Jerusalem, building a palace in the capital, & raising taxes to pay for the building projects. Upon his death the kingdom split into Judah & Israel.

David

The king responsible for establishing Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish kingdom.

10 Commandments

The laws given by Yahweh to Moses on top of Mt. Sinai. These laws became the basis for the civil & religious laws of Judaism.

Orthodox Judaism

The most traditional branch of Judaism. This branch attempts to follow all the laws set forth by the Torah. Also known as Hasidic Judaism.

Yahweh/Adonai

The name of the Jewish god. Their god is considered all-powerful.

Garden of Eden

The place God created for Adam and Eve. This is a metaphor for the "perfect place with God."

Mt. Sinai

The place where Moses received the 10 Commandments.

Covenant

The promise that Yahweh made via Abraham. This promise ensured Yahweh's protection over the Hebrew people & the promised land of Canaan in exchange for the Hebrews obeying Yahweh.