TEST 2 - RELI 10023

Who was Moses Maimonides (Rambam)?

- greatest Jewish philosopher of the Middle Ages - lived during the 'Golden Age' of Spain in the twelfth century where Jews and Christians lived in peace under Muslim rule -his commentary on Jewish texts that mark him out as one of the most influential and important Jews in history - wrote three major essays on Jewish law, the most famous being 'The Guide for the Perplexed' -laid the foundation for all subsequent Jewish philosophic inquiry known as Chakirah -one of the few Jewish leaders whose teachings also influenced the non Jewish world

Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment)

- intellectual movement among the Jews of Central and Eastern Europe -defined ideological worldview during the 1770s, and its last stage ended around 1881 - sought to preserve the Jews as a separate, unique collective and worked for a cultural and moral renewal - promoted rationalism, liberalism, freedom of thought and enquiry, and is largely perceived as the Jewish variant of the general Enlightenment - collided both with the traditionalist rabbinic elite, which attempted to preserve old Jewish values and norms in their entirety, and with the radical assimilationists who wished to eliminate or minimize the existence of the Jews as a defined collective

bar/bat mitzvah

- iterally means "son of the commandment." "Bar" is "son" in Aramaic, which used to be the vernacular of the Jewish people. "Mitzvah" is "commandment" in both Hebrew and Aramaic. "Bat" is daughter in Hebrew and Aramaic. - the term is more commonly used to refer to the coming of age ceremony itself - At the age of 13 (12 for girls), children become obligated to observe the commandments. The bar mitzvah ceremony formally, publicly marks the assumption of that obligation - Today, it is common practice for the bar mitzvah celebrant to do much more than just say the blessing. It is most common for the celebrant to learn the entire haftarah portion, including its traditional chant, and recite that. In some congregations, the celebrant reads the entire weekly torah portion, or leads part of the service, or leads the congregation in certain important prayers. The celebrant is also generally required to make a speech, which traditionally begins with the phrase "today I am a man." The father traditionally recites a blessing thanking God for removing the burden of being responsible for the son's sins (because now the child is old enough to be held responsible for his own actions). In modern times, the religious service is followed by a reception that is often as elaborate as a wedding reception.

Orthodox Judaism

- large variety of Hasidic sects - Ashkenazi (german), Sephardi ( Spanish), Jewry-->have distinct customs and rooted in local culture - main fault line is ideology - attempts a practical and intellectual synthesis between tradition and general culture - Torah with the any of the lands limits of the halakha -Haredim-->those who tremble, rabbinic tradition is the ultimate repository of all true values and culture - defining orthodox Judaism authenic, Torah-true regard the halakha as binding stress belief in Torah min ha-Shamayim - only recognized form of Judaism in Israel

Tanakh

- most sacred collection of writings for Judaism - written and complied from 1100 to 100 BCE - consists of 24 books - is an acronym for the first Hebrew letter of each of the three traditional subdivisions: Torah ("Teaching", also known as the Five Books of Moses), Nevi'im ("Prophets") and Ketuvim ("Writings")

Shema

- one of only two prayers that are specifically commanded in Torah - oldest fixed daily prayer in Judaism, recited morning and night since ancient times - consists of three biblical passages, two of which specifically say to speak of these things "when you lie down and when you rise up."

Who was Judah ha-Nasi?

- one of the last Palestinian masters of the Jewish law - often called the prince, teacher, saintly teacher - Judah spent some 50 years in Bet Sheʿarim sifting the Oral Law, which he then compiled into six orders dealing with laws related to agriculture, festivals, marriage, civil law, the temple service, and ritual purity. He determined which rabbinic opinions were authoritative, at the same time carefully preserving minority opinions in case laws should be changed in the future and a precedent for these changes be required. On the other hand, he omitted laws that were obsolete or otherwise lacking in authority.

Talmud

- oral law, mishnah and gemera - generic term for the documents that comment and expand upon the Mishnah - first work of rabbinic law, published around the year 200 CE by Rabbi Judah

Covenant with Abraham

- second great covenant of the Tanakh - Abraham is selected by God to be a father of a multitude - God promised to make Abraham the father of a great people and said that Abraham and his descendants must obey God. In return God would guide them and protect them and give them the land of Israel

mezuzah

- small case put on the doorpost of a hope - constant reminder of Gods pretense and mitzvot - The words of the Shema are written on a tiny scroll of parchment, along with the words of a companion passage, Deut. 11:13-21. On the back of the scroll, a name of G-d is written. The scroll is then rolled up and placed in the case, so that the first letter of the Name (the letter Shin) is visible (or, more commonly, the letter Shin is written on the outside of the case)

Shavuot (Shavuos)

- the Festival of Weeks, is the second of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Passover and Sukkot) - commemorates the time when the first fruits were harvested and brought to the Temple, and is known as Hag ha-Bikkurim - celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and is also known as Hag Matan Torateinu - Passover freed us physically from bondage, but the giving of the Torah on Shavu'ot redeemed us spiritually from our bondage to idolatry and immorality - alled the time of the giving of the Torah, rather than the time of the receiving of the Torah - not tied to a particular calendar date, but to a counting from Passover - 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 as early as possible in the morning. - It is customary to eat a dairy meal at least once during Shavu'ot. (Israel as a land of milk and honey)

kashrut (kashrus)

- the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods we can and cannot eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten

Kashrut

- the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods we can and cannot eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten - comes from the Hebrew root Kaf-Shin-Reish, meaning fit, proper or correct

temple

- the place in Jerusalem that was the center of Jewish worship from the time of Solomon to its destruction by the Romans in 70 C.E. - one and only place where sacrifices and certain other religious rituals were performed - Traditional Jews believe that The Temple will be rebuilt when the Mashiach (Messiah) comes. They eagerly await that day and pray for it continually. - Modern Jews reject the idea of rebuilding the Temple and resuming sacrifices. They call their houses of prayer "temples," believing that such houses of worship are the only temples we need

Covenant with Moses

- third great covenant - God giving the Law to Moses at Mount Sinai - articulated in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy - 10 Commandments

halakha

- translated as "Jewish Law," or "the path that one walks" - when properly observed, halakhah increases the spirituality in a person's life, because it turns the most trivial, mundane acts, such as eating and getting dressed, into acts of religious significance

Torah

- written law - these five books are the most sacred - Torah is the fabric sewn from 4 distinctual test identified as J, E, P, D (Jehovah/Yahweh, Elohim, Deuteronomy, priestly context)

Who was Moses?

-Moses' appearance marks a kind of new beginning in the biblical story - When Moses was born, his mother sought to protect him by putting him in a basket to float on the river Nile-> found by the Pharaoh's daughter -> brought him up as her own child (Exodus 2). -Moses fled after killing na Egyptian -Settles in Midian, had a family, became a Shepard -Moses sees the burning bush (Exodus 3:4) - Moses is called the greatest prophet in Israel, for a prophet is someone who speaks and acts on God's behalf. - God then gives the Ten Commandments to Moses at Mount Sinai

What are the characteristics of Ancient Israel?

Anything prior to the exile/siege of Jerusalem Abraham Covenant Egyptian enslavement of Hebrews 1280, Exodus from Egypt, Sinai Torah, Canaan Entry David Covenant Northern Kingdom destroyed Cyrus conquers the Babylonian Empire Abraham: many descendants, Canaan (the promise land), blessing, circumcision/bris Moses: kingdom of priests, Torah, Pesach, Shavuot, Bar mitzvah David: perpetual dynasty; later idea of a messiah

What is the definition and significance of Exodus?

As centuries passed, the descendants of Israel became slaves in Egypt. They suffered greatly under the hand of later Pharaohs. But G-d brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses. God led them on a journey through the wilderness to Mount Sinai. Here, God revealed Himself to the Children of Israel and offered them a great covenant: if the people would hearken to G-d and observe His covenant, then they would be the most beloved of nations, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Ex 19). God revealed the Torah to his people, both the written and oral Torah, and the entire nation responded, "Everything that the Lord has spoken, we will do!" According to Jewish tradition, every Jewish soul that would ever be born was present at that moment, and agreed to be bound to this covenant.

What was the significance of 515 BCE?

Construction of the second temple

What were the characteristics of Second Temple Judaism?

Persian Period Second Temple rebuilt reformation Torah gains recognition Alexander the Great conquers Israel Destruction of Jerusalem and second temple

What is the definition and significance of Diaspora?

The Jewish diaspora (Hebrew: Tfutza, תְּפוּצָה) or exile (Hebrew: Galut, גָּלוּת; Yiddish: Golus) is the dispersion of Israelites, Judahites and later Jews out of their ancestral homeland (the Land of Israel) and their subsequent settlement in other parts of the globe.

What was the significance of 70 CE?

The Siege of Jerusalem in the year 70 CE was the decisive event of the First Jewish-Roman War. The Roman army, led by the future Emperor Titus, with Tiberius Julius Alexander as his second-in-command, besieged and conquered the city of Jerusalem, which had been controlled by Judean rebel factions since 66 CE, following the Jerusalem riots of 66, when the Judean Free Government was formed in Jerusalem.

Rabbi

a teacher of Judaism. The word itself literally translates from Hebrew to "my teacher" or "my master.

What were the characteristics of Rabbinic Judaism?

first Jewish Revolt against Rome Babylonian jews flourish Talmud compiled

What were the characteristics of the Modern Era?

first Jewish synagogue in Britian and North America Reform Judaism Jews gaining civil rights Holocaust

synagogue

he Jewish equivalent of a church, more or less. It is the center of the Jewish religious community: a place of prayer, study and education, social and charitable work, as well as a social center.

bris

he main element of a bris-also called a brit milah-is the removal of the foreskin from an eight-day-old baby boy's penis. But a bris is actually more than just a snip; it is a ceremony that includes various traditions, rituals, and prayers.

tefillin

- "laying tefillin," binding to our arms and foreheads leather pouches containing scrolls of Torah passages - tefillin ->tefilah ->prayer - tefillin are meant to remind us of G-d's mitzvot. We bind them to our head and our arm, committing both our intellect and our physical strength to the fulfillment of the mitzvot - he scrolls in tefillin must be hand-written in a special style of writing

Who was David?

- A succesful king: waves God into people daily life, makes the capital the political and religious heart of the nation - Ark of the Covenant

What is the relationship of ancient Israel to Judaism

- Abrahams covenant: the promised land - the good land, land of milk and honey (Exodus) - Jews have lived there since it original conquest - A substantial portion of Jewish law is tied to the land of Israel, and can only be performed there. Some rabbis have declared that it is a mitzvah (commandment) to take possession of Israel and to live in it (relying on Num. 33:53). The Talmud indicates that the land itself is so holy that merely walking in it can gain you a place in the World to Come. Prayers for a return to Israel and Jerusalem are included in daily prayers as well as many holiday observances and special events. =Living outside of Israel is viewed as an unnatural state for a Jew. The world outside of Israel is often referred to as "galut," which is usually translated as "diaspora" (dispersion), but a more literal translation would be "exile" or "captivity." When we live outside of Israel, we are living in exile from our land. -Jews were exiled from the land of Israel by the Romans in 135 C.E., after they defeated the Jews in a three-year war, and Jews did not have any control over the land again until 1948 C.E.

Hasidism Judaism

- Baal Shem Tov - Hasidism - home of Hasidism was received at its origins as revolutionary, populist movement that threaten to undermine order and tradition - founder of movement was Israel ben Elizer, more often known as Baal Shem Tav: known as itinerant healer, in his thirties revealed himself to his disciples as a profound scholar and mystic, commandments in simplicity and joy - movement carries through Ukraine and Poland - were singing and dancing and drinking in the synagogues and replaced traditional rabid with their own 'rebbes' - adjusted to criticisms by the Mitnagdim - attached as much importance to Kabbala and mystical studies as to Talmud - promoted cabalistic ideas - stressed immanence - stresses personal rather than national aspects of redemption

Conservative

- Founded by German Zacharias Frankel - Soloman Schechter structured the ideology into and effective movement - modify halakha for social and economic circumstances - particularly strong in US

tzedaka

- Hebrew word for the acts that we call "charity" - "tzedakah" is derived from the Hebrew root Tzadei-Dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness - In Judaism, giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act; it is simply an act of justice and righteousness

Passover (Pesach)

- Holiday commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. The holiday also marks the beginning of the harvest season. - ne of the most commonly observed Jewish holidays, even by otherwise non-observant Jews - begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Shavu'ot and Sukkot). - primary observances of Pesach are related to the Exodus from Egypt after generations of slavery

Covenant with David

- Saul appointed the first king - Saul disappoints God - fourth/final great covenant - promise is given that Davids house and kingship will be secure and his throne established forever - 2 Samuel 7:8-16

Who was Moses Mendelssohn?

- a German Jewish philosopher - credit for ideas during the Jewish Enlightenment - destined for a rabbinical career -taught himself German though and literature - eading cultural figure of his time by both Christian and Jewish inhabitants of German-speaking Europe and beyond

Who was Baal Shem Tov?

- a Jewish mystical rabbi considered the founder of Hasidic Judaism. - Baal Shem Tov, meaning "Master of the Good Name" or "one with a good reputation." -"Whoever believes all the miracle stories about the Baal Shem Tov in Shivhei HaBaal Shem Tov is a fool, but whoever denies that he could have done them is an apikoros [a heretic]" - teaching: direct connection with the divine, "dvekut", which is infused in every human activity

messiah (moshiach, christos, messias)

- biblical usage the word "messiah" (mashiach) referred to any person charged with a divine office as king or priest - English word "messiah" is derived from the Latin and Greek messias, related to the Aramaic ajyvm, ultimately with its source back in the Hebrew mashiach, "anointed one." - mashiach was translated into the Greek Septuagint as christos, which also means "anointed." - Hebrew word mashiach as we noted above was thus first applied to the kings of Israel who were installed in their royal office by a ritual act of investiture - Israelite kings were installed in office by anointing, they could all be considered "messiahs," i.e., anointed ones

Reform Judaism

- early 19th century German Reformers sought to regenerate public worship be enhancing its buety and relevance, cutting obsolete material, introducing vernacular prayers, a weekly vernacular sermon, choral and organ music, and new ceremonies such as confirmation - first reform temple in 1810 but then withdrawn - first lasting reform temple was in hamburg in 1818 - authority of the Talmud questioned - progressive Revelation - struggle to resolve issues between traditional and reform - spread rapidly through Germany, Austria, Jungary, France, Denmark, Britian - Jan. 27, 1842, West Londyn Synagogue dedicated to the founders of the reform movement - Reformed Society of Israelites set up in Charleston in 1824 - Thirteen Principles of Faith of Maimonides articles on the comping of the messiah and the resurrection - Hebrew Union College founded in Cincinnati in 1875 - was unsympathetic and hostile toward Zionist movement -liturgy has always been a central concern -20th century, considerable process made towards women - Regina Jonas: first woman Rabbi - especially in US has introduced changes to traditional Jewish law regarding personal status - mixed marriages, same sex marriages in UK - accounts for about 1/3 of US and 1/5 of UK - liberal and reform used interchangeably

What were the dates of Ancient Israel?

1207-587 BCE

What were the dates of the Modern Era

1700s-Present

What dates were Second Temple Judaism?

587 BCE - 70 CE

What were the dates of Rabbinic Judaism?

70-500 CE

Sabbath (Shabbes)

A day of rest and spiritual enrichment

What is the definition and significance of Patriarchs?

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, known as the Patriarchs, are both the physical and spiritual ancestors of Judaism. They founded the religion now known as Judaism, and their descendants are the Jewish people.

What is the definition and significance of Ashkenazi?

Ashkenaz" in Hebrew refers to Germany, and Ashkenazi Jews are those who originated in Eastern Europe. (Sephardic Jews, by contrast, are from the areas around the Mediterranean Sea, including Portugal, Spain, the Middle East and Northern Africa.)

What is the definition and significance of Exile?

Babylonian Exile, also called Babylonian Captivity, the forced detention of Jews in Babylonia following the latter's conquest of the kingdom of Judah in 598/7 and 587/6 BCE. The exile formally ended in 538 BCE, when the Persian conqueror of Babylonia, Cyrus the Great, gave the Jews permission to return to Palestine. Historians agree that several deportations took place (each the result of uprisings in Palestine), that not all Jews were forced to leave their homeland, that returning Jews left Babylonia at various times, and that some Jews chose to remain in Babylonia—thus constituting the first of numerous Jewish communities living permanently in the Diaspora.

What was the significance of 1207 BCE?

Egyptians defeated the Israelites

What is the definition and significance of Sephardi?

In the narrower ethnic definition, a Sephardi Jew is a Jew descended from the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula in the late 15th century, immediately prior to the issuance of the Alhambra Decree of 1492 by order of the Catholic Monarchs in Spain, and the decree of 1496 in Portugal by order of King Manuel I.

What was the significance of 922 BCE?

Israel split with the death of Soloman

What was the significance of 587 BCE?

Nebuchadnezzar II laid siege to Jerusalem, culminating in the destruction of the city and its temple

Who was Soloman?

Solomon is described as undertaking the construction of the temple, with the help of an architect, also named Hiram, and other materials, sent from King Hiram of Tyre. After the completion of the temple, Solomon is described in the biblical narrative as erecting many other buildings of importance in Jerusalem.

What is the definition and significance of United Monarchy?

The United Monarchy is the name given to the Israelite kingdom of Israel and Judah, during the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon, as depicted in the Hebrew Bible. This is traditionally dated between 1050 and 930 BCE. On the succession of Solomon's son, Rehoboam, around 930 BCE, the biblical account reports that the country split into two kingdoms; the Kingdom of Israel (including the cities of Shechem and Samaria) in the north and the Kingdom of Judah (containing Jerusalem) in the south. Modern historians are divided on the historicity of the United Monarchy as described in the Bible. There is little extrabiblical evidence of a United Kingdom of Judah and Israel in the 10th century BCE.

Who was Abraham?

The history of the Jewish people begins in Bronze Age times in the Middle East when God promised a nomad leader called Abram that he would be the father of a great people if he did as God told him. Jews regard Abraham (as he was later called) as the first Patriarch of the Jewish people. Abraham was the first person to teach the idea that there was only one God; before then, people believed in many gods. Ironically, Abraham's father, Terach, had made his living selling idols of various gods. unites three faiths

What is the definition and significance of Divided Monarchy?

The strains that existed in the Jewish kingdom became evident even during the lifetime of King Solomon. The Jewish people, by nature, are very difficult to unite. They are fiercely independent and independent-minded. The unity that existed during the reigns of Kings Saul, David and Solomon was not artificial, but it depended upon the grandeur of the leader's personality. Ordinary leaders are incapable of holding the Jewish people together. Unfortunately, the Sauls, Davids and Solomons of the world are rare. That is why most of the time the Jewish people do not find themselves united. By Solomon's time, the Jewish people had defeated their enemies, built the Temple, developed a burgeoning economy, become the center of the civilized world and achieved peace. They had reached the zenith. The problem with reaching the top is that the only way to go is down. It only took a few years after the death of Solomon (I Kings 11:43) for the Jewish kingdom to divide and become two irrevocably separate kingdoms. The ten northern tribes made their own government and were called Israel with their capital the city of Samaria. The two southern tribes, Judah and Benjamin, remained loyal to the House of David centered in Jerusalem. They became known and the kingdom of Judea (from whence the word "Jew" was eventually derived). This division continued for approximately160 years until the Assyrians defeated the kingdom of Israel, sending it into exile. That left only the kingdom of Judea, which itself existed just another 160 years until the Babylonians conquered them and drove them into exile.

Seder

The text of the Pesach seder is written in a book called the haggadah. The haggadah tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt and explains some of the practices and symbols of the holiday.

What are the issues surrounding the definition of Jew?

The word 'Jew' is an Anglicization, through Greek and Latin, of the Hebrew Yehuda Jew can be defined religiously and ethnically religiously: Judaism is the religion of the Jews is acceptable ethnically: you can be a Jew in terms of ethnicity and not practice Judaism, but how do you know that you are ethnically a Jew Jewish identity is very important in the state of Israel if you just have one parent that is Jewish you are too

siddur

a Jewish prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers.

What was the significance of 539 BCE?

yrus, the Persian emperor, arrived in Babylon, effectively inheriting the vast Babylonian empire including Palestine. Rather than employing the policies of conquest and exile like their Babylonian and Assyrian predecessors, the Persian emperors viewed themselves as liberators and restorers, and encouraged exiled peoples to return to their native lands and rebuild their religious and cultural institutions