Judaism

mitzvot

Literally translated, the Hebrew word mitzvoth means "commandments," and it refers to the 613 commandments that the biblical God imparted to the Israelites in the Torah (i.e., the first five books of the Hebrew Bible).

Torah

Literally, the word Torah means "teaching," and in its most restrictive sense it refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Less restrictively, it signifies the totality of God's revelations to the Jewish people, which includes not only the remaining books of the Hebrew Bible but also the writings contained in the Talmud.

covenant

A biblical concept that describes the relationship between God and the Jews in contractual terms, often thought of as an eternal bond between the Creator and the descendants of the ancient Israelites.

Tanakh

An acronym standing for the entire Hebrew Bible: Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible); Neviim (or "Prophets," which includes works of both prophecy and history); and Khetuvim (or "Writings," a miscellaneous gathering of works in poetry and prose). Taken together, the twenty-four books that make up this collection constitute the core "scriptures" of Judaism.

halacha

An authoritative formulation of traditional Jewish law.

Pesach

An early spring harvest festival that celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt, Pesach (better known as "Passover" in English) is celebrated for seven days in Israel and eight days in the Diaspora. The first two nights are celebrated within a family setting.

eschatological

Any belief in an "End-Time" of divine judgment and world destruction

tefillin

Taken from the word for "prayer," the term Tefillin refers to two small boxes to which leather straps are attached. Traditionally, Jewish males from the age of 13 wear tefillin during weekday morning prayers. Inside each of these boxes is a miniature parchment containing biblical verses. One box is placed on the forehead and the other is placed on the left arm, signifying that the individual's mind and will are devoted to God.

Religious Objects/Symbols

Tefillin - Sometimes called phylacteries, tefillin are two small boxes which contain scriptural passages are used in prayer. At weekday morning prayer, one case is tied to the arm, with the scrolls at the biceps and leather straps extending down the arm to the hand. If you are a right-handed the tefillin is worn on the left arm; for left-handed persons, the tefillin is worn on the right arm. The another case is tied to the head, with the case on the forehead and the straps hanging down over the shoulders. Appropriate blessings are recited during this process. The tefillin are removed at the conclusion of the morning services. The use of tefillin are to ensure that God's law remains in the mind and heart of the person praying. The wearing of teffilin by women is often disputed.The Mishna records: "Women, slaves and minors are exempt from the recitation of Shema and from tefillin, but are obligated for the Amida Prayer, mezuza, and Grace after meals" (Berakhot 3:3). Yet the Talmud also reveals "Mikhal the daughter of King Saul used to wear tefillin, and the sages did not protest" (Eruvin 96a). To foster egalitarian acceptance of this mitzva (commandment), a teffilin Barbie reading the Torah has become a favorite amongst young Jewish women. Tallit/Tzitzit - The Torah instructs Jews to wear tzitzit (fringes) at the corners of garments as a reminder of their religious obligations to God (Num. 15:37-41). Complex procedures, filled with religious and numerological significance, are used in tying the knots of the tzitzit. The commandment to wear tzitzit only applies to four-cornered garments. To fulfill with this duty, adult men wear a four-cornered shawl called a tallit during morning prayer, along with the tefillin. The tallit may be made of any material, but must not be made of a combination of wool and linen, because that combination is forbidden on any clothing (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:11). Most tallit shawls are white with dark stripes along the shorter ends and commonly decorated with an artistic motif. Wearing it on the head and body signifies humility during prayer. Yarmulke - The most commonly known and recognized piece of Jewish garb is actually the one with the least religious significance. The word yarmulke (usually pronounced yammica) is Yiddish. This skullcap worn by Jewish men to represent their reverence for God. Mezuzah - The Mezuzah signifies the sanctity and blessing of the Jewish home. Actually it is a small container holding words from the Holy Torah, inscribed in the same manner and script as a Torah. The mezuzah is not, as some suppose, a good-luck charm, nor does it have any connection with the lamb's blood placed on the doorposts in Egypt. Rather, it is a constant reminder of God's presence This is placed by entrances to the home and is touched reverently when the home is entered. The Mezuzah is affixed in the following manner: On the right doorpost as one enters. In a slanted position with top pointed to inside of room. In the upper third of doorpost height (shoulder high). On outer 3.2 inches of doorpost width. Chai - This symbol, commonly seen on necklaces, other jewelry and ornaments, represents the Hebrew word Chai (which means living), and incorporates two Hebrew letters Chet and Yod attached to each other. Some say it refers to the Living God. Judaism is a religion very focused on life, and so the word chai has great significance. The typical Jewish toast is l'chayim (to life). Gifts to charity are routinely given in multiples of 18, which is the numeric value of the word Chai. Magen David - The Magen David (or the shield of David, more commonly known as the Star of David) is the symbol most commonly associated with Judaism today, but it is actually a relatively new Jewish symbol. It is supposed to represent the shape of King David's shield (or perhaps the emblem on it), but there is no support for that claim in any early rabbinic literature. Many scholars have attributed deep theological significance to the symbol. For example, some note that the top triangle strives upward, toward God, while the lower triangle strives downward, toward the real world. Others note that the intertwining makes the triangles inseparable, like the Jewish people. Some say that the three sides represent the three types of Jews: Kohanim (the descendants of Aaron, the older brother of Moses), Levites (the descendants of Levi) and Israel (the descendants of Jacob). Other claim that there are actually 12 sides (3 exterior and 3 interior on each triangle), representing the 12 tribes. The Magen David is a universally recognized symbol of Jewry and it appears on the flag of the modern state of Israel.

Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish New Year, it is celebrated for two days in the fall (on the first day of the month of Tishri) and accompanied by the blowing of a ram's horn (a shofar, in Hebrew). It signals the beginning of the "ten days of repentance" that culminates with Yom Kippur.

Festivals & Religious Holy Days

The Sabbath - Representing the day after God completed creation and is said to have rested, the Sabbath (or Shabbat, as it is called in Hebrew) is the Jewish holy day of rest, commanded many times in the Torah. Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. Primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment, work is prohibited on the Sabbath. This not only includes closing shops but may also include not driving, cooking, or even using a phone. Shabbat begins at sunset Friday (all Jewish holy celebrations begin at sunset) and ends Saturday at nightfall, shortly after sunset. The beginning of Shabbat is marked by the lighting of two candles representing the two commandments: zachor (to remember) and shamor (to observe). During the Sabbath, many families will drink wine and partake of meals (pre-cooked) to represent the joyous occasion. On Saturday, Shabbat services at the synagogue begin in the morning and continue until about noon. The synagogue is the common name for the Jewish place of worship, yet Orthodox Jews often use the Yiddish word "shul" (pronounced shool) to refer to their synagogue, and in the U.S. synagogues are sometimes called "temples". In Orthodox synagogues men and women sit separately, and everyone (except young girls) has their head covered. In a Reform synagogue men and women can sit together. Synagogue services can be led by a rabbi, a cantor or a member of the congregation. Traditional Jewish worship requires a minyan (a quorum of ten adult males) to take place. Inside the synagogue is the Ark, where the Torah scrolls are kept when not in use, the Bimah (a Hebrew word that means a raised place, pronounced beemaar), which used for readings, and an Eternal Light (called Ner Tamid) hanging above the Ark, which is always burning, as a symbol of God's presence. At the proper moment in the service the Ark is ceremonially opened, and the Torah scroll is carried in procession to the reading desk, unrolled to the reading chosen for the day and laid on the reading desk. Everyone is to stand whenever the doors of the ark are open. Rosh Hashanah - Is the Jewish New Year festival. Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri (the seventh month of the Jewish year) and is a religious holiday when work is prohibited. This celebration involves fulfilling of obligations and debts. During the observance of Rosh Hashanah, a shofar (ram's horn) is blown each day. One popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, symbolic of a wish for a sweet new year. Another popular practice of the holiday is Tashlikh (or casting off). For this practice Jews walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day Rosh Hashanah and empty their pockets into the river, symbolically casting off sins. This practice is not discussed in the Torah, but is a long-standing custom. Yom Kippur - The most sacred day of the year, occurs 10 days after the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. Meaning "day of atonement," Yom Kippur is a day set aside for making amends and demonstrating repentance. Prayer and fasting (both food and water for 25 hours) are well-known practices on this day. The Talmud also specifies additional restrictions that are less well-known: washing and bathing, anointing one's body (with cosmetics, deodorants, etc.), wearing leather shoes (Orthodox Jews routinely wear canvas sneakers under their dress clothes on this holy day), and engaging in sexual relations are all prohibited on Yom Kippur. Any Talmudic restrictions however, can be lifted where a threat to life or health is involved. In fact, children under the age of nine and women in childbirth (from the time labor begins until three days after birth) are not permitted to fast, even if they want to. It is customary for Jews to wear white on the holiday, which symbolizes purity and calls to mind the promise that sins shall be made as white as snow. The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called the "Days of Awe" and this entire period (Tishri 1-10) are known as the High Holy Days of Judaism. Sukkot - Also known as The Feast of Tabernacles, this celebration of the harvest begins on Tishri 15th, five days after Yom Kippur. During Sukkot (which means "booths"), a simple temporary outdoor hut is built and decorated as a home for seven days. Building or even living in such a structure is a way of remembering that their real home is in God. The commandment to "dwell" in a sukkah can be fulfilled by simply eating all of one's meals there; however, if the weather, climate, and one's health permit, one should live in the sukkah as much as possible, including sleeping in it. A sukkah must have at least three walls covered with a material that will not blow away in the wind. The roof of the sukkah, made of material referred to as sekhakh (literally, covering), must be something that grew from the ground and was cut off, such as tree branches, corn stalks, bamboo reeds, sticks, or two-by-fours. Sekhakh must be placed sparsely enough that rain can get in, and preferably sparsely enough that the stars can be seen and affixed last to the hut. No work is permitted on the first and second days of Sukkot. Hanukkah - Also known as the festival of lights, Hanukkah is an eight-day festival beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev (around the same time as the Christian holiday of Christmas). On each night for eight nights a candle is lit on a nine-branched menorah. On the last night, all are lit. According to tradition as recorded in the Talmud, at the time of the rededication of the second temple (165 B.C.E), there was very little oil left that had not been defiled by the Greeks. Oil was needed for the menorah (candelabrum) in the Temple, which was supposed to burn throughout the night every night. There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight-day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle. It is important to note that Hanukkah not a very important religious holiday. The holiday's religious significance is far less than that of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavu'ot. It is roughly equivalent to Purim in significance. During Hanukkah children usually receive small gifts each evening. Another tradition of the holiday is playing dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top. Most people play for matchsticks, pennies, M&M's or chocolate coins. A dreidel is marked with four Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimmel, Heh and Shin. Although there are many versions of this game, on one variation a person spins the dreidel. If the top lands on Nun, nothing happens; if it lands on Gimmel (or as kids often say, "gimme!"), you get the whole pot; on Heh, you get half of the pot; and on Shin, you put one token in the pot. If the pot is empty, everybody puts a token in. The game is played until one person has everything. Then the spoils are redivided, because nobody likes a poor winner. Purim - Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination as told in the Torah's book of Esther. At Purim Jews read the story of Esther in the synagogue. The synagogue is crowded with men, women, and children. Some wear their Sabbath clothes, but many (especially children) enjoy dressing up in colorful costumes and masks depicting characters found in the Book of Esther, including King Xerxes, Vashti, Queen Esther, Mordecai and Haman. During Purim many dress in costumes to mock the seriousness of life. When the story is read from the scroll, congregations will stomp their feet, blow horns, use noisemakers (called graggers) and cymbals, whenever Haman's, the villain who plotted to destroy the Jews, name is read. Passover - Also called Pesach, this weeklong festival is, in modern times, a reminder of the Jewish exodus from Egypt. The story of Passover is told in the Book of Exodus. The Children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for 210 years. God promised he would release them from slavery, but Pharaoh had refused their release and so God visited ten plagues on Egypt to demonstrate his power. The first nine plagues were: the plague of blood, the plague of frogs, the plague of lice, the plague of flies, the plague of livestock, the plague of boils, the plague of hail, the plague of locusts, and the plague of darkness. These plagues only affected the Egyptians, yet Pharaoh was unmoved. The Passover commemorates the tenth plague, the plague on the firstborn, where the Angel of Death passed over the homes of Jewish children signified by the painted lamb's blood above their doors. Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. A symbolic meal, known as the Seder, occurs during the first two nights of Passover. During Passover Jews eat an unleavened bread, called matzah, to symbolize that the freed Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. Yom Hashoah - A relatively new memorial celebrated on the 27th of Nisan, this festival was established to remember the Holocaust (known as Shoah) and the Jews who perished. Yom Hashoah also marks the anniversary of the heroic Warsaw Ghetto uprising of 1943. Jews around the world hold memorials and vigils, often lighting six candles in honor of the six million Holocaust victims. Shavu'ot - A summer festival occurring fifty days after Passover, this festival marks the time that the Jews received God's laws at Mount Sinai. God is said to have provided these commandments to Moses. Work is not permitted during Shavu'ot. It is customary to stay up the entire first night of Shavu'ot and study Torah, then pray in the morning. This Jewish tradition also includes that a dairy meal is eaten at least once during Shavu'ot. Tisha B'Av - A day of fasting that occurs nine weeks after Shavuot. This day of mourning is meant to commemorate the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people, including the destruction of the two temples.

election

The belief that the biblical God "chose" the people of Israel to be His "kingdom of priests" and a "holy nation." This biblical concept is logically connected to the idea of the Covenant, and it entails the belief that the Jews' relationship with God obliges them to conform to His laws and fulfill His purposes in the world.

transcendence

The divine attribute of being above and beyond anything human beings can know or imagine.

omniscience

The divine attribute of total and eternal knowledge.

omnipotence

The divine attribute of total and eternal power.

Exodus

The escape (or departure) of Israelite slaves from Egypt as described in the Hebrew Bible (c. 1250 B.C.E.)

Holocaust

The genocidal destruction of approximately 6 million European Jews by the government of Nazi Germany during World War II. This mass slaughter is referred to in Hebrew as the Shoah.

Moses

The legendary leader and prophet who led the Israelite slaves out of Egypt. Moses serves as a mediator between the people of Israel and God in the Torah, and is later viewed as Israel's greatest prophet. It is to Moses that God imparts the Ten Commandments and the teachings that later became the Torah.

Siddur

The prayer book that is used on weekdays and on the Sabbath.

YHWH

These four consonants constitute the most sacred of names associated with the biblical God. The exact pronunciation of this name, according to ancient Jewish tradition, was known only to the High Priest, but after the destruction of the Second Temple the precise vocalization of these letters was lost—only to be recovered in the days of the Messiah.

The Reform Movement embraced the idea that Judaism is a. An unchanging religious culture b. An evolving religious culture c. An offshoot of Islam d. An alternate form of Christianity

b. An evolving religious culture

Which of the following is not a major Jewish festival? a. Pesach b. Hanukkah c. Yom Kippur d. Shavuot

b. Hanukkah

The earliest nonbiblical reference to "Israel" can be found in the a. Book of the Dead b. Merneptah stone c. Moabite stone d. Doomsday Book

b. Merneptah stone.

The term "Oral Torah" is associated with which group? a. Essenes b. Pharisees c. Sadducees d. Karaites

b. Pharisees.

A mikveh is a. a ceremonial cup b. a ritual pool c. a good deed d. a forbidden food

b. a ritual pool

The "bible" of medieval Jewish mystics was a. the Mishnah b. the Zohar c. the Guide for the Perplexed d. the Book of Beliefs and Opinions

b. the Zohar.

The Karaites are remembered for their opposition to a. eating with non-Jews b. the concept of the Oral Torah c. the Temple Priesthood d. praying three times a day

b. the concept of the Oral Torah

Shavuot is a celebration of a. the Exodus from Egypt b. the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai c. victory over Haman d. the fall harvest

b. the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai.

The name "Baal Shem Tov" means a. "Peace be unto you" b. "A great miracle occurred here" c. "Master of the Good Name" d. "My name is Baal"

c. "Master of the Good Name".

The word "canon" refers to a. an artillery piece b. an arrangement of flowers c. a collection of sacred writings d. a type of animal sacrifice

c. a collection of sacred writings.

The word mashiach literally means a. king b. chosen one c. anointed one d. the last one

c. anointed one

Masada was a a. city in southern Israel b. an island in the Mediterranean Sea c. mountain fortress near the Dead Sea d. King David's royal palace

c. mountain fortress near the Dead Sea.

The biblical "Patriarchs" are a. Abraham b. Isaac c. Jacob d. All of the above

d. All of the above.

Ashkenazim are Jews who lived in a. Asia b. North Africa c. The Middle East d. Europe

d. Europe.

The Maccabean rebellion is celebrated on a. The ninth of Av b. Rosh Hashanah c. Purim d. Hanukkah

d. Hanukkah.

The Sephirot are a. essential attributes of God b. emanations of God's creative force c. ten in number d. all of the above

d. all of the above.

On Sukkot it is customary to build a a. bonfire b. altar c. pyramid d. temporary hut

d. temporary hut.

Sacred Texts

ewish sacred texts specify the mutual obligations created by relationships, yet the various movements within Judaism disagree about the nature of these obligations. Orthodox Jews, for example, hold that the scriptures reveal absolute, unchanging laws from God (613 commandments that bind all Jews), while Conservative Jews believe that the laws of God change and evolve over time and Reform/Reconstructionist Jews view the scriptural law as guidelines that you can choose whether or not to follow. We will reserve the intricacies of variations in scriptural beliefs for our discussion of the branches of Judaism; for now, let us briefly examine the basic sacred writings of the Jewish religious tradition. Torah/Tanakh - The term "Torah" has multiple meanings within Judaism. In its narrowest sense, Torah designates the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In its broadest meaning, Torah means "teaching" and refers to the entire Jewish Bible, which was handed down through Moses and the prophets. The more inclusive notion of Torah or Tanakh includes the Five Books of Moses (the Torah or Pentateuch), the Books of the Prophets, (Neviim), and The Books of Writings, (Ketuvim). The books of the Torah align closely to what Christian's call the Old Testament. The text of each book is more or less the same in Jewish translations as what you see in Christian bibles, although there are some occasional, slight differences in the numbering of verses and there are a few significant differences in the translations. The Torah scriptures used in Jewish religious services are written on parchment scrolls and kept in a cabinet in the synagogue called an "ark" (as in Ark of the Covenant). Touching the parchment on these scrolls is forbidden--some say because they are too holy, while others believe that since the parchment is made from animal skins touching it is a source of ritual defilement, still others hold that because your fingers contain acids that will damage the parchment over time, the scrolls should not be touched. Instead, rabbis follow the text with a pointer, called a "yad" (which means "hand" in Hebrew). The yad pointer is usually shaped like a hand with a pointing index finger. The Torah scrolls are kept covered with fabric, and often ornamented with silver crowns on the handles of the scrolls. Talmud - Picking up where the Tanakh left off, the Talmud explains what the Torah scriptures mean and interprets how to apply the laws to Jewish practices. The Mishnah, or the six major parts of the Talmud include the following: Zera'im (dealing with agricultural laws), Mo'ed (discussing Sabbath and festival practices), Nashim (dealing with marriage, divorce, and contract laws), Nezikin (discussing tort law and conduct in other financial transactions), Kodashim (dealing with sacrifices, temple practices, and other holy objects), and Toharot (discussing laws of ritual purity). Kabbalah - Meaning "received" or "handed down," this large body of mystical literature speculates on the nature of divinity, the creation, the origin and fate of the soul, and the role of human beings. This text includes meditative, devotional, mystical and magical practices which were generally taught only to a select few and for this reason Kabbalah is regarded as an esoteric offshoot of Judaism. Traditionally, rabbis discouraged teaching this material to anyone under the age of forty, because it is too likely to be misinterpreted by anyone without sufficient grounding in the basics. Some aspects of Kabbalah have been studied and used by non-Jews for several hundred years. Other Writings - In addition to the Torah, Talmud, and Kabbalah, two other writings are prevalent within the Jewish religious tradition: the midrashim and responsa. The midrashim are basically stories expanding on incidents in the Torah to derive principles of conduct, Jewish law, or to teach moral lessons. For example, there is a midrash about why Moses wasn't a good speaker (he put coals in his mouth as a child basically as a way of proving that he wasn't greedy), and another one about Abram discovering monotheism and rejecting his father's idolatry (Basically, Abram smashes up all his father's idols except the big one, then blames the mess on the big one, as a way of showing his father that the idols don't really have any power). The vast body of responsa answers specific questions regarding Jewish law. The responsa practice began in the middle ages, when local rabbis were faced with difficult issues of Jewish law, often wrote to the most respected rabbis in the world to get answers to these questions. The local rabbi would present the situation, often including detailed references to the Talmudic passages he had reviewed, his own interpretations of these authorities, and then provide a reasoned argument in favor of his answer. Over time, these responsa were collected into printed volumes. This tradition continues to the present day, and there are several rabbis in this century who have developed responsa on issues relating to modern technologies. For example, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who died in the 1980s, wrote responsa on such diverse topics as the permissibility of cosmetic surgery and artificial insemination. There are literally thousands of volumes of responsa.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

A rite of passage for adolescents in Judaism, the Bar Mitzvah (for boys age 13) and the Bat Mitzvah (for girls age 12-13) signal their coming of age and the beginning of adult religious responsibility.

mikveh

A ritual bath in which married Jewish women immerse themselves each month, after the end of their menstrual cycle and before resuming sexual relations with their husbands.

Maimonides

A 12th-century philosopher and rabbinic scholar whose codification of Jewish beliefs and religious practices set the standard for both in subsequent centuries.

Luria, Isaac

A 16th-century mystic who settled in Safed (Israel) and gathered around him a community of disciples. Lurianic mysticism seeks to explain the mystery surrounding both the creation of the world and its redemption from sin.

Diaspora

A Greek word in origin, it refers to those Jewish communities that live outside of the historical land of Israel.

Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760)

A charismatic faith healer, mystic, and teacher (whose given name was Israel ben Eliezer) who is generally regarded as the founder of the Hasidic movement.

ethical monotheism

A core concept of Judaism: it is the belief that the world was created and governed by only one transcendent Being, whose ethical attributes provide an ideal model for human behavior.

Sukkot

A fall harvest festival that is associated with huts (in Hebrew, sukkot) in which the ancient Israelites sought shelter during the Exodus. It is celebrated for seven days in Israel (eight days in the Diaspora). During that time Jews take their meals, and if possible sleep, in huts that are partly open to the sky.

Zohar

A kabbalistic midrash based on the biblical Book of Genesis (c. 1280 C.E.).

Shavuot

A later spring harvest festival that is celebrated for two days, and is associated with the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Along with Pesach and Sukkot it was one of the "pilgrimage" festivals in ancient times.

Zionism

A modern political philosophy that asserts a belief in Jewish national identity and in the necessity of resuming national life within the historic Land of Israel.

Talmud

A multivolume work of commentary on the laws of the Torah and on the teachings of the entire Hebrew Bible, composed in two stages: the Mishnah (edited in approximately 200 C.E.) and the Gemara (edited, in its Babylonian version, around 500 C.E.). Traditionally, Jews refer to the Talmud as the "Oral Torah," and regard it as an extension of sacred scripture.

Hasidism

A popular movement within 18th-century Eastern European Judaism, Hasidism stressed the need for spiritual restoration and deepened individual piety. In the course of the 19th and 20th centuries the Hasidic movement spawned a number of distinctive communities that have physically separated themselves from the rest of the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds, and who are often recognized by their attire and their devotion to a dynasty of hereditary spiritual leaders.

Messiah

A possibly supernatural figure who will judge and transform the world.

tallit

A prayer shawl that is worn during morning prayers (traditionally by men). The fringes of this shawl represent, symbolically, the 613 mitzvot found in the Torah.

synagogue

Jewish house of worship. The focal point of every synagogue is the Ark, a large cabinet where scrolls of the Torah are stored.

Beliefs

Judaism has no dogma, no formal set of beliefs that one must hold to be a Jew. In Judaism, actions are far more important than beliefs, although there is certainly a place for belief within Judaism. The closest that anyone has ever come to creating a widely-accepted list of Jewish beliefs is Rambam's (Medieval Jewish scholar also known as Maimonides) thirteen principles of faith, which he thought were the minimum requirements of Jewish belief. These principles of faith, embraced by Orthodox Judaism, are: God exists. God is one (monotheistic) and unique. God is incorporeal. God is eternal. Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other. The words of the prophets are true. Moses's prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets. The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses. There will be no other Torah. God is omniscient, knowing all the thoughts and deeds of men. God will reward the good and punish the wicked. The Messiah, a savior sent from God, will come someday. The dead will be resurrected. Although these principles are very basic and general, some of the more liberal branches of Judaism have disputed the necessity of believing all of these tenets. Central to all movements of Judaism however, is the dominant focus on relationships: the relationship between God and mankind, between God and the Jewish nation, between the Jewish nation and the land of Israel, and between human beings.

Practices

Kosher - which means ritually correct, is a standard for Jewish dietary practice. Kashrut is the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods can and cannot eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten. There is no such thing as "kosher-style" food. Kosher is not a style of cooking. Chinese food can be kosher if it is prepared in accordance with Jewish law. Food that is not kosher is commonly referred to as treyf. Of prime concern is purity. Adherence to, and the details of dietary practices depend upon the branch of Judaism. About 25% to 30% of Jews in America keep kosher to one extent or another. However, some general rules consist of: All blood must be drained from meat. Pork and shellfish are not to be eaten. Meat and dairy products are not to be consumed together at the same meal. Utensils that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food. Brit Milah - Is a circumcision ritual performed on the eighth day of a male child's life, during the daytime. Circumcisions are performed on Shabbat, even though they involve the drawing of blood which is ordinarily forbidden on the Sabbath. Circumcision involves surgically removing the foreskin of the penis. The circumcision is performed by a mohel, which is a pious, observant Jew educated in the relevant Jewish law and in surgical techniques. Circumcision performed by a regular physician does not qualify as a valid brit milah, regardless of whether a rabbi says a blessing over it, because the removal of the foreskin is itself a religious ritual that must be performed by someone religiously qualified. Bar Mitzvah - literally means "son of the commandment." Under Jewish Law, children are not obligated to observe the commandments, although they are encouraged to do so as much as possible in order to learn the obligations they will have as adults. At the age of 13 children become obligated to observe the commandments. The Bar Mitzvah is a coming-of-age ceremony that formally marks the assumption of that obligation, along with the corresponding right to take part in leading religious services. In some sects, girls between the ages of 12 and 18 have a comparable ceremony known as a Bat Mitzvah.

Kabbalah

One of the dominant forms of Jewish mysticism, kabbalistic texts begin to appear in Europe during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Mystics belonging to this tradition focus on the emanative powers of God—referred to in Hebrew as Sephirot—and on their role within the Godhead as well as within the human personality.

Branches of Judaism

Orthodox - Often called Traditional Judaism. Orthodox Jews are reluctant to give up any traditional practice or belief. Some specific practices of Orthodox Jews include letting hair and beards go uncut, very strict limitations on activities during the Sabbath, wearing a black hat and black coat, and strict divisions between the roles and status between men and women. Orthodox Jews believe that God gave Moses the whole Torah at Mount Sinai, which includes both the written Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and the Oral Torah, the Talmud oral tradition interpreting and explaining the written Torah. They also believe that the Torah contains 613 mitzvot (or commandments--Click link for a list of the mitzvot) which are binding upon Jews but not upon non-Jews. About 7% of Jews in America identify themselves as Orthodox Reform - A form a Judaism that evolved in Germany from a desire to integrate with the mainstream culture of Europe. Some of the changes instituted in Reform Judaism are: the integration of the sexes during services, dropping the use of the Tallit and Tefillin, and the general equality of men and women (including Bat Mitzvah's for girls). Reform Judaism does not believe that the Torah was written by God but rather accepts the critical theory of Biblical authorship: that the Bible was written by separate sources and redacted together. Reform Jews do not believe in observance of the 613 commandments, but they retain much of the values and ethics of Judaism, along with some of the practices and the culture. The original, basic tenets of American Reform Judaism were set down in the Pittsburgh Platform. According to the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey, roughly 42% of the Jews in America identify themselves as Reform. Conservative - This form of Judaism evolved primarily in European and American society. Conservative Judaism grew out of the tension between Orthodoxy and Reform. Conservative Judaism maintains that the truths found in Jewish scriptures and other Jewish writings came from God, but since these texts were transmitted by humans they contain a human component. Conservative Jews accept some limited changes to the Orthodox tradition. Among these changes are the use of Hebrew in services, the interspersing of men and women within the synagogue, and the ordination of women as rabbis. Some Conservative traditions practice a confirmation ceremony, which either supplements or replaces the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ritual. Approximately 38% of the Jews in America identify themselves as Conservative. Reconstructionist - The newest and smallest branch of Judaism which promotes a secular version of Jewish life. Individuals are free to uphold or reject elements of traditional Judaism. Judaism is viewed as a civilization or culture that constantly evolves and shapes literature, art, music, and food. From this, you might assume that Reconstructionism is to the left of Reform; yet Reconstructionism lays a much greater stress on Jewish observance than Reform Judaism. Reconstructionists observe the halakhah (Jewish lifestyle, the path that one walks) because they choose to, not because it is a binding Law from God; they see these practices as a valuable cultural remnant. Only about 1% of the Jews in America identify themselves as Reconstructionist and there are less than 100 Reconstructionist synagogues world-wide. Though Judaism is a minority religion everywhere but Israel and Jews make up a very small number of the world's population, they have had a great influence in the world. Judaism's focus on achievement in this world has helped produce some of the world's most influential doctors, academics, scientists, writers, lawyers and entertainers. This is represented in the comments of Moses Maimonides who said: What is man's singular function here on earth? It is, simply, to contemplate abstract intellectual matters and to discover truth... And the highest intellectual contemplation that man can develop is the knowledge of God and his unity. (from The Guide of the Perplexed)

Yom Kippur

Referred to as the "Day of Atonement," it is the most solemn of all of the fast days in the Jewish religious calendar.

Dead Sea Scrolls

Religious literature hidden in caves near the shores of the Dead Sea (c. 2nd- 1st centuries C.E.)

Seder

a ritualized meal, observed on the first two nights of Pesach, that recalls the Exodus from Egypt.

A Seder is a a. ceremonial meal b. ritual bath c. prayerbook d. visit to someone's home

a. ceremonial meal.

A tsaddik is a a. holy man and spiritual guide b. prayer leader c. wealthy man d. famous scholar

a. holy man and spiritual guide.

The word Shoah literally means a. whirlwind b. genocide c. catastrophe d. the end of the world

a. whirlwind