Jerusalem: City of Three Faiths, Judaism

Five Pillars of Islam

Are five basic acts in Islam, considered mandatory by believers and are the foundation of Muslim life. - Declaring one God - Prayer - Almsgiving - Fasting during Ramadan - Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

586 BCE

Babylon destroys Jerusalem and the first Temple.

Abraham/Ibrahim

Believed to have lived around the year 2000 BCE, and lived for 175 years years. He is the forefather of Judaism (through the legitimate line of his son, Isaac). -First of Hebrew Patriarchs -Made a covenant with God, and the first covenant of the Jewish people was established. - Muslims: He is important to the Muslims because he is a prophet of the same message from God to Muhammad. Also, he erected the Ka'ba which is the most holy place on Earthly Islam.

Shavuot

The Hebrew word for "weeks" and refers to the Jewish festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, which occurs seven weeks after Passover.

Mishna

The first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions known as the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic literature.

Reformed Jews

Most Liberal form of Judaism. Typically less committed to the commandments.

Mihrab

A semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla; that is, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying.

Hebrew Bible

AKA the Jewish Bible. This is a term used by biblical scholars to refer to the Tanakh (Jewish Canon)

The Patriarchs

Abraham (The most famous), Isaac, and Jacob. These are the line of men God used to establish the nation of Israel.

Conservative Jews

- Moderate section on the spectrum of Jewish beliefs and practices that seeks to avoid the extremes - Modern stream of Ashkenazi Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents of the Jewish reform movement. - Reject both relativism and fundamentalism - Views Jewish law as normative and binding.

Protestant Reformation

- 16th century religious, political, intellectual and cultural upheaval that splintered Catholic Europe, setting in place the structures and beliefs that would define the continent in the modern era. - The schism within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other early protestant reformers, lasting from 1517-1648. - Kicked off by Martin Luther's The Ninety-Five Theses (Pertained to the Pope selling indulgences)

Ramadan

- 9th month of the Islamic calendar - Muslims worldwide recognize this month as the month of fasting - This is regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam.

Ashkenazi Jews

- A Jewish ethnic division that coalesced in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the 1st millennium. They spoke Yiddish. - Established communities throughout Central and Eastern Europe (Primary Region)

Talmud

- A central text of Judaism. - Two Parts. First is the Mishnah which is the written compendium of Rabbinic Judaism's Oral Torah. Second part is the Gemara which is an explanation of the Mishnah and similar writings.

Kaaba or Ka'aba

- A cuboid building at the center of Islam's most sacred mosque in Mecca (Al-Masjid al-Haram) - It is the most sacred site in Islam - One of the five pillars of Islam requires every Muslim who is able to do so to perform the hajj pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. - Supposedly constructed by Abraham (Ibrahim) and known as the House of Allah

Easter

- A festival and holiday celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred three days after his crucifixion by Romans at Calvary. - It is the culmination of the Passion of Christ, preceded by Lent (40 day period of fasting, prayer, and penance)

The Crusades

- A series of military campaigns during the time of Medieval England against the Muslims of the Middle East. - The Christians fought to get Jerusalem back while the Muslims fought to keep Jerusalem. Theses wars were to last nearly 200 years. - Began in 1095 when armies of Christians from Western Europe responded to Pope Urban II's plea to go to war against Muslim forces in the Holy Land. - First Crusade: 1096-1099 - Second Crusade: 1147-1149 - Third Crusade: 1189-1192 - Fourth-Sixth Crusade: 1198-1229

Menorah

- A seven-branched lampstand used in the ancient Tabernacle in the desert and Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of Judaism since ancient times and the emblem of the modern state of Israel - Used in the portable sanctuary in the wilderness by Moses.

Ichthys

- A symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish. - Now known colloquially as the "sign of the fish - "Jesus Fish"

Vatican Council II (1962-1965)

- Addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. - 21st ecumenical council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. - Changes include: Vernacular language in Holy Mass, increased participation of laity, and the priest facing the crowd instead of facing east towards the Lord.

Eucharist

- Also called Holy communion and the Lord's Supper. - A rite considered by most Christian Churches to be a sacrament. - According to some New Testament books, it was instituted by Jesus Christ during his Last Supper where he gave his disciples bread and wine - "Do this in memory of me.." "My body..." and "My blood."

Yom Kippur

- Also known as Day of Atonement - Is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. - Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services

Al-Aqsa

- Also known as the "Farthest Mosque" (The place where Muhammad travelled to in his night journey) - Third holiest site in Islam and is located in the Old City of Jerusalem

Counter-Reformation

- Also known as the Catholic Revival or Catholic Reformation - Period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent (1545-1563) and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War (1648), and was initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation. - Comprehensive effort composed of four major elements: 1. Ecclesiastical or structural reconfiguration 2. Religious Orders 3. Spiritual movements 4. Political Dimensions

Christmas

- Annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ

Ecumenism

- Any interdenominational initiative aimed at greater cooperation among Christian churches; A movement promoting unity among Christian churches or denominations.

Orthodox Jews

- Approach to religious Judaism which adheres to the interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Tanaim and Amoraim and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. - Believe that both the written and oral Torah are of divine origin

Ummah

- Arabic word meaning "nation" or "community" - Commonly used to mean the collective community of Islamic peoples - Nation with common ancestry or geography. - Absolutely refers to the unity of Muslims all over the world

Shi'ite Islam

- Believe that just as a prophet is appointed by God alone, only God has the prerogative to appoint the successor to his prophet. - They believe God chose Ali to be Muhammad's successor, infallible, the first caliph of Islam. - Favored Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law. Ali and his successors are called imams who not only lead the shiites but are considered to be descendants of Muhammad.

Mecca

- Birthplace of Muhammad and the site of Muhammad's first revelation of the Quran. - Regarded as the holiest city in Islam - Pilgrimage here is known as one of the obligatory five pillars in Islam - Non-muslims are prohibited from entering the city.

Jesus

- Central figure of Christianity - Is said by Christians to be the son of God.

Quran

- Central religious text of Islam which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God. - Chapters are called Suras and verses are called Ayahs - Muslims believe this was verbally revealed by God to Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. - Regarded as the most important miracle of Muhammad - Considered to be the only revealed good that has been protected by God from distortion or corruption

Baptism

- Christian sacrament of admission and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also a particular church. - Sometimes also called Christening

Persecution of Christians

- Christians were persecuted in the Roman Empire from the moment that the religion was formed. This forced them to worship in hiding. - Many Christians were killed because of their faith in the first through fourth century. -Constantine was the first Roman ruler to be tolerant of Christians.

Green Color

- Considered to be the traditional color of Islam - The Islamic prophet is said to have worn a green cloak and turban, and his writings are full of references to the color. - A passage from the Quran describes paradise as a place where people "will wear green garments of fine silk."

Kosher Food

- Food that may be consumed according to halakha (Jewish law) - Reasons for food not being kosher include the presence of ingredients derived from nonkosher animals or from kosher animals that were not slaughtered in a ritually proper manner

Prophet Muhammad (570 AD-632 AD)

- From Mecca, unified Arabia into a single religious polity under Islam. - Believed to be sent by God to complete the mission of the previous Messengers (Abraham, Moses, Jesus) - Believed by Muslims to be a messenger and prophet of God - Universally considered by Muslims as the last prophet sent by God to mankind. - Received revelations from God through the Angel Gabriel - Was told that the holy messages he was receiving were the holy Qur'an and message from God to all of humanity

Nicene Creed

- Given its name because of its origins in the first council of nicaea in 325 CE. - Is the profession of the Christian Faith that outlines the Christian beliefs.

Id al-Fitr

- Important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan - day where muslims are not permitted to fast

Hadith

- In Islamic religious use is often translated as "prophetic traditions," meaning the corpus of the reports of the teachings, deeds and sayings of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. - Literature was compiled from oral reports that were in circulation in society around the time of their compilation on after the death of Muhammad.

Minaret

- In Islāmic religious architecture, the tower from which the faithful are called to prayer five times each day - always connected with a mosque and has one or more balconies or open galleries.

Tallit

- Is a Jewish prayer shawl. The tallit is worn over the outer clothes during the morning prayers (Shacharit) and worn during all prayers on Yom Kippur. - Typically made of wool - First worn at the Bar Mitzvah

Sukkot

- Is a biblical Jewish holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (varies from late September to late October). It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals on which the Israelites would make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. - Commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters

Mezuzah

- Is a piece of parchment (often contained in a decorative case) inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah. - These verses comprise the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael" - A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe in Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah

Christian

- Is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and oral teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. - A person who adheres to Christianity

Hijrah

- Is the migration or journey of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in June 622 AD - Warned of a plot to assassinate him, Muhammad secretly escaped out of Mecca with Abu Bakr. - The Muslim year during which this migration occurred was designated the first year of the Islamic Calendar by Umar in 638 - AH: In the year of the Hijra

Circumcision

- Is the surgical removal of the foreskin on a male's penis. - Jewish tradition performed by a Mohel on the 8th day of an infant's life.

Biblical Prophets

- Isaiah (Prophesied to Jews in Judea - Jeremiah (Prophesied to Jews in Judea and captivity) - Ezekiel (Prophesied to Jews captive in Babylon) - Daniel (Prophesied to Jews captive in Babylon and Gentile Kings) - Lamentations - Minor Prophets: Jonah, Micah, Haggai to name a few

Death and Resurrection of Jesus

- Jesus was crucified to his death after being sentenced by pontius pilate - Three days later, Jesus resurrected as the prophets and scriptures had predicted. This resurrection is celebrated by Christians as Easter Sunday.

Sephardic Jews

- Jews from Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East and their descendants, who are culturally different from Jews with origins in other parts of the world. Jews from North Africa and the Middle East are often described separately as Misrachi Jews

Tawhid

- Meaning doctrine of "the oneness" of God - Is the concept of monotheism in Islam. It is the religion's most fundamental concept and holds that God (Allah) is One and Single.

Shariah

- Means the moral code and religious law of Islam.

Sunnite Islam

- Member of one of the two major branches of Islam, the branch consists of the majority of that religion's adherents. - Regard their sect as the mainstream and traditionalist branch of Islam, as distinguished from the minority sect, the Shi'ites - Recognize the first four caliphs as the prophet Muhammad's rightful successors, whereas the Shi'ites believe that Muslim leadership belonged to Muhammad's son-in-law. - Chose Abu Bakr, the Prophet's adviser to become the first successor or caliph to lead Muslim state

Islam

- Monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the Quran, and Islamic holy book considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God, and for the vast majority of adherents. - Also by teachings, normative example and way of life; it also is composed of prophetic traditions of Muhammad, considered by most of them to be the last prophet of God. - An adherent of Islam is called a Muslim

P. Muhammad's night journey and ascension to heaven

- Muhammad travels on the steed Buraq to "The farthest Mosque" where he leads other prophets in prayer. - He then ascends to heaven where he speaks to God, who gives Muhammad instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of prayer. - Referred to as the Israa and Miraj (two parts of a miraculous journey that P. Muhammad took in one night from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascends to heaven) - Muslims celebrate this night by offering optional prayers during this night and in many Muslim countries, by illuminating cities with electric lights and candles.

Sunday

- Observed as a day of worship and rest, holding it as the Lord's day - The day of Christ's resurrection - Day of rest

Jews

- Originate from the historical Israelites of the Ancient Near East. - Ancestry traces back to the Biblical Patriarchs around the 18th century BCE

Eastern Orthodox Church

- Second largest Christian Church in the world (Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, and Russia) - Bishop of Constantinople is the Primus Inter Pares - Claim to be the one true church of Christ - Have a lot in common with the Roman Catholic church - Claim to have fully preserved, without any deviation, the traditions and doctrines of the early Christian Church established by the apostles.

Cross

- Seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus, is the best-known symbol of Christianity. - In general, the main symbol of the Christian religion.

King Solomon

- Son of King David and Bathsheba - 12 years old at the time of his appointment to King. - Ruled for 40 years (The best years in all of Israel's history) - Built the first Holy Temple (957 BCE) - King during the Pinnacle of Jewish history

Shabbat/Sabbath

- The Jewish day of rest that comes on the seventh day. -Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night.

70 AD

- The Siege of Jerusalem - The decisive event of the First Jewish-Roman War. - The Roman Army, led by the future Emperor Titus besieged and conquered the city of Jerusalem - Second Temple was destroyed

Moses

- The first five books of the Hebrew Bible are traditionally ascribed to him. - He received God's calling and led the Jews from Egypt to the Holy Land that God had set aside for them by means of a mass exodus. - Established God's Laws known as the Ten Commandments to form his people into a nation. - He symbolizes the Law

Sunnah

- The way of life prescribed as normative for Muslims on the basis of the teachings and practices of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and interpretations of the Quran. - Denotes the practices of Muhammad that he taught and practically instituted as a teacher of the Shari'ah and the best exemplar

Theodosius

- Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. -The first Roman emperor to make Christianity the official religion of the empire.

Last Supper

- This was the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. - This provides the scriptural basis for the Christian Eucharist or Holy Communion

The Great Schism (1054)

- Title given to the rift that formed in the Church in the 11th century AD. - This separation led to the "Roman Catholic" Church and the "Greek Orthodox" (Eastern Church) - Wanting to create a new Christian Empire, Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople. - Primary Cause, Disputes over Papal authority

Bar Mitzvah

- Translated as "son of the commandment" -Happens at the age of 13 for Jewish boys. This is the time that they are now required to follow the Jewish commandments -It is the first time that they read the Torah aloud in public.

Halakhah/Jewish Law

- Translated as "the path that one walks" -The complete body of rules and practices that Jews are bound to follow, including biblical commandments, commandments instituted by the rabbis, and binding customs

People of the Book

- Used to refer to followers of certain monotheistic faiths which pre-date the advent of Islam. - In particular, it refers to the Christian, Jewish, and Sabian Faiths - Another definition, in the Quran it refers to followers of monotheistic Abrahamic religions that are older than Islam.

Conception and Birth of Jesus

-Mary (mother of Jesus) was visited by an angel who told her she would bear the son of God. - Jesus was born of the virgin Mary in a manger in Bethlehem.

Halal food

Foods that are permissible to eat according to the Islam law.

King David

In his 40 years as ruler (Between 1010 BCE and 970 BCE) he united the people of Israel, led them to victory in battle, and conquered land that paved the way for his son, Solomon.

Ashura

Is on the tenth day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram.

Jihad

Islamic term referring to a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād is a noun meaning "struggle" or "resisting"

Four Gospels and their approximate redaction time

Mark (60's) Matthew (70's and 80's) Luke (70's and 80's) John(90's)

Oriental Orthodox Churches

Oriental Orthodoxy is the faith of those Orthodox Eastern Christian churches which recognize only the first three ecumenical councils—the First Council of Nicaea, the First Council of Constantinople and the First Council of Ephesus.

Edict of Milan

Refers to the February 313 AD agreement to treat Christians benevolently within the Roman Empire. Western Roman Emperor Constantine I, and Licinius, who controlled the Balkans, met in Milan and among other things, agreed to change policies towards Christians.

Muslim

Relates to a person who follows the religion of Islam, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the Quran. Muslims consider the Quran to be the verbatim word of God as revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Abrahamic Religions

Religions originating from the traditions of Iron Age proto-Judaism; the major ones are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. All of these religions share in common the worship of a single God. Most fundamental document in the these faiths is the Torah. Trace their common origin to Abraham.

Trinity

The Holy Trinity is God the Father, God the son, and God the holy spirit. They are co-equal and co-eternal.

Pesah/Passover

The Jewish people celebrate Passover as a commemoration of their liberation over 3,300 years ago by God from slavery in ancient Egypt that was ruled by the Pharaohs, and their freedom as a nation under the leadership of Moses. It commemorates the story of the Exodus in which the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.

New Testament

This is the second part of the Christian bible. It starts with the Gospel which is the life and Teachings of Jesus. It continues with the teachings of first century Christianity such as the letters from Paul to groups of people about the Christian faith.

Most important commandment

Treat others how you want to be treated. (Golden Rule)

Hajj

is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence.

Id al-Adha

is the second of two religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year. It honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his promised son, Ishmael as an act of submission to God's command.