CHAPTER 11 judaism
The name "Baal Shem Tov" means
"Master of the Good Name"
Tu B'shevat
"New years day of trees" -15th day of month of shevat (january-febuary) -plant trees
Hanukkah
"festival of lights" -An eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC -candle burned 8 days signifying gods returned presence in temple -took back temple in rebellion, it had been turned into a temple dedicated to greek gods
dietary code
"god wishes them to remain holy" -only animals properly slaughtered may be eaten (no animals killed by other animals, or if they died of natural causes) -only quadrupeds can be eaten- have split hooves and chew cud (cows, goats) once slaughtered blood must be drained -no fish that doesn't have both fins and scales -no insects -no meat dish at same time as milk dish -some people have two fridges and ovens
Reconstructionism
-a respectful but liberal view of halacha -viewed religious practices as "folkways" and facets of judaism as a civilization -intense interest in jewish "peoplehood" and enthusiastic support of cultural and political zionism -rejection of all gender separation -ordained women rabbi's and first movement to support the bat mitzvah -retention of many traditional Hebrew prayers combined with an interest in innovative expressions of faith in english -generally sceptic view of any belief in a personal god, combined with a intense belief in the creative potential of human beings.
shema
-big deal -consists of biblical verses that declare unity of god -first prayer you learn as a kid -last prayer you recite before death
death an mourning
-bury the dead w/in 24 hours unless sabbath/festival intervenes -placed in simple pine box -body is bathed and wrapped in a shroud -during funeral mourners rip clothes while reciting prayers -immediate family enters week long mourning known as shivah interrupted only by sabbath -once shivah is over you return to daily responsibilities but aren't allowed to attend celebrations for 30 days -visit grave once per year -light candles in home on anniversary of death
Sukkot (major festival)
A fall harvest festival that is associated with the huts (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. -5 days after Yom Kippur -symbols (palm frond, the citron, and leaves of willow tree and myrtle. -one of 3 festivals that recall the exodus narrative
purim
A joyous festival in early spring that recalls the Jews' being saved from destruction, as told in the Book of Esther -like Hanukkah but not historical -fast on the 13th of Ader -read book of esther -stomp/shouting at hamans name read outloud -drinking to excess -sending gifts to friends, poor -eating triangle shaped cookies
Zohar
A kabbalistic midrash based on the biblical Book of Genesis (c. 1280 c.e.).
Shavuot (major festival)
A later spring harvest festival that is celebrated for two days on the 6th & 7th of the month of Sivan (May-June) 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. -decorated synagogue w/flowers & serve meatless honey based meals (the torah should be sweet on the lips) -public reading of book of ruth, tell story of young moabite widow who's welcomed to Israelite society= ideal convert to Judaism -stay up entire first night to study torah
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 and the Gemara. Traditionally, Jews refer to the Talmud as the "Oral Torah" and regard it as an extension of sacred scripture. -made during the formative/rabbinic age (creation of synagogue and talmud were the 2 biggest things informative age)
Hasidism
A popular movement within eighteenth century Eastern European Judaism, Hasidism stressed the need for spiritual restoration and deepened individual piety. In the course of the nineteenth and twentieth 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.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
A rite of passage for adolescents in Judaism, the Bar Mitzvah (for males age 13) and the Bat Mitzvah (for females ages 12-13) signal their coming of age and the beginning of adult religious responsibilities.
mikveh
A ritual bath in which married Jewish women immerse themselves each month, after the end of their menstrual cycle and before resuming sexual relation with their husbands.
Seder
A ritualized meal, observed on the first two nights of Pesach, that recalls the Exodus from Egypt.
Luria, Isaac
A sixteenth-century mystic who settled in Safed 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.
Maimonides
A twelfth-century philosopher and rabbinic scholar whose codification of Jewish beliefs and religious practices set the standard for both in subsequent centuries.
The biblical "Patriarchs" are
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
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.
The Maccabean rebellion is celebrated on
Hanukkah
Which of the following is not a major Jewish festival?
Hanukkah
Yom Hashoah
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Destruction of the Second Temple
In 70 CE after a Jewish revolt, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple
synagogue
Jewish houses of worship. The focal point of every synagogue is the Ark, a large cabinet where scrolls of the Torah are stored.
mitzvot
Literally translated, the Hebrew word mitzvot means "commandments," and it refers to the 613 commandments that the biblical God imparted to the Israelites in the Torah (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.
Which of the following foods is not kosher
Lobster, pork
Yom Kippur (major festival)
Referred to as the "Day of Atonement," it is the most solemn of all of the fast days in the Jewish religious calendar. -most important fasting day -ask forgiveness of all sins people are likely to commit against one another -married couples abstain from sex -men wear white and don't shave or bathe -those who are ill, under 13, or nursing are exempt from fasting
Dead Sea Scrolls
Religious literature hidden in caves near the shores of the Dead Sea.
who was the first woman to be ordained a rabbi
Sally Jane priesand in 1972
Reform judaism
-liberal view of halacha, generally regarding sabbath and dietary laws as optional -initially opposed zionism but support increased during the 20th century -"progressive judaism" committed to an evolutionary view of jewish belief ad religious practice. -first to ordain women as rabbis and eager adoption of bat mitzvah -no gender separation -initial opposition to Hebrew prayers changed in the course of 20th century to greater enthusiasm -skeptical view of any literal belief in divine revelation, afterlife, resurrection of the dead -figurative view of immortality of the soul and messianic redemption.
The sabbath
-mandate in 10 commandments -reasoning in book of exodus (god rested after creation) or -Deuteronomy (Exodus from Egypt, liberation from slavery) - No matter the interpretation the lesson is tat god separated sacred time from ordinary time and so should we -begins @ dusk on Friday and ends sundown on Saturday. -evening synagogue service, then prayer before sabbath meal recited over wine & 2 loaves of bread (challah) shaped like braids. -sabbath morning synagogue service
Marriage rituals
-marriage under canopy (chuppah) -rabbi would recite 7 blessings, praising god, and sanctifying the union -drink from same wine glass -groom present bride w/marriage contract -groom would crush wine glass w/shoe
conservative judaism
-serious commitment to observance of halacha, combined with a significant degree of adaptation to changing circumstances of modern life -rejection of gender separation -mixed seating; ordination of women rabbi's -enthusiastic support of zionism and israel -"positive-historical" judaism -belief in divine inspiration of scriptures and acceptance of historical process in the formation of halacha -retention of hebrew as the language of prayer and preservation of most traditional prayer routines coupled with innovative practices (bat mitzvah) generally, nonliteral belief in afterlife, immortality of the soul, and resurrection of the dead
Orthodox judaism
-strict observance of halacha allowing for limited adaptation to change conditions of life (sabbath, family purity, and dietary laws) -gender separation in the synagogue -no rabbinic ordination of women -mixed feelings about Israel -strong opposition toward secular zionism -"torah true" -believes in divine revelation at sinai and in rabbinic interpretations of torah -retained Hebrew as language of prayer and strict adherence to traditional prayer routines -belief in the after life and immortality of the soul -resurrection of the dead -messianic redemption of Israel and the world
State of Israel established by UN
1948
Destruction of the First Temple by Babylonians
587 BCE
"the 8th day of assembly"
@the conclusion of Sukkot theres an 8th day of prayer and celebration -outside of Israel it is split into 2 days -the second being Simchat Torah "joy of the torah" -in Israel they are combined into a single day where the "gift" of the torah is celebrated.
Diaspora
A Greek word in origin, it refers to those Jewish communities that live outside of the historical land of Israel. jewish communities could be found in Israel, Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean.
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.
Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760)
A charismatic faith-healer, mystic, and teacher who is generally regarded as the founder of the Hasidic movement. -teacher in poland -given names is Israel Ben Eliczer -"Master of the good name" -not a scholar -fame came from fait healings/exorcisms -taught one didn't need to be a scholar to worship god -grew even more through russia and eastern europe after death
ethical monotheism
A core concept of Judaism: it is the belief that the world was created and is governed by only one transcendent Being, whose ethical attributes provide an ideal model for human behavior.
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.
What does the word Torah literally mean, and how many other meanings can be derived from it?
Torah literally means "teaching," and there are two other meanings that can be derived from it. In a strict sense, Torah refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. In a less strict sense, it signifies the totality of God's revelations to the Jewish people.
The "bible" of medieval Jewish mystics was the
Zohar
A mikveh is
a ritual pool
The 8th day of assembly
at the conclusion of sukkot theres an 8th day of prayer and celebration -outside of Israel the 8th day is divided into 2 days -the second day being = simchat Torah (joy of the torah)
A Seder is a
ceremonial meal
The word "canon" refers to a(n)
collection of sacred writings.
Tisha B'Av
day of mourning to commemorate tragedies affecting the people Israel -9th day of month of Av, after Yom Kippur -remembers destruction of the 1st and second temple -fast sunrise- sunset -gathering in synagogue to read book of laminations and sing reflect loss of Jerusalem and jewish nationhood
The Sephirot are
essential attributes of God, emanations of God's creative force, and ten in number
The Reform Movement embraced the idea that Judaism is an
evolving religious culture
A tsaddik is a
holy man and spiritual guide
Masada was a(n)
mountain fortress near the Dead Sea
Epoch
refers to segments of jewish history marked by key events
On Sukkot it is customary to build a
temporary hut
The word "Shoah" literally means
whirlwind
What does the term Shoah mean, and how is it different from the word "Holocaust"?
Shoah literally means "whirlwind," and is a metaphor used to capture the "insane rage of anti-Semitic hatred that was loosed on Europe's Jews during World War II." The biggest difference between Shoah and the word Holocaust is the connotation that is associated with the word Holocaust. Most Jews prefer the term Shoah because it "avoids the connotation of a divinely commanded sacrifice, which is exactly what the biblical term "holocaust" (or "burnt offering") brings to mind."
Hillel taught a version of the "Golden Rule."
TRUE
Jews commonly refer to their Scriptures as "TaNaKh."
TRUE
Shabbetai Tzevi thought he was the Messiah.
TRUE
The Haggadah is read on Passover.
TRUE
The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead.
TRUE
The founder of the Hasidic movement was known as the Baal Shem Tov.
TRUE
The word Torah literally means "teaching."
TRUE
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 thirteen wear tefillin during weekday morning prayers. Inside each of these boxes is a miniature parchment containing biblical verses; one box is placed on the left arm, signifying that the individual's mind and will devoted to God.
Rosh Hashanah (major festival)
The Jewish New Year, it is celebrated for two days in the fall (on the first day of the month of Tishrai: September-october) and accompanied by the blowing of a ram's horn (a shofar). It signals the beginning of the "ten days of repentance" that culminate with Yom Kippur. -Hazikaron- day of remembrance -Dish of apples and honey served to signify that the new year will be full of sweet fruitfulness -during 10 days between rosh hashana and yom kippur god writes names of those who will live another year in "book of life"
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 and not as an assertion of moral or religious superiority.
Jews commonly believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ.
FALSE
Judaism teaches a belief in many gods.
FALSE
On Yom Kippur, children under thirteen are expected to fast.
FALSE
The Jews of Arabia generally accepted Muhammad as a prophet.
FALSE
The Septuagint is a translation of the Hebrew Bible into Latin.
FALSE
The Zealots were pro-Roman revolutionaries.
FALSE
The prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt was Abraham.
FALSE
The term Haskalah refers to any authoritative religious behavior.
FALSE
Pesach (major festival)
An early spring harvest festival that celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt, Pesach is celebrated for seven days in Israel and eight days in the Diaspora during the month of Nisan (March-April). The first two nights are celebrated within a family setting. -used to travel to temple but after destruction celebrating shifted to synagogues and homes -boils dishes or has pesach designated dishes -wine, chopped nuts, and apples- represents the mortar used by Israelite slaves to build -roasted lamb shank bone= sacrifice of lambs by Israelites before departure of Egypt. -4 cups of wine= 4 many blessings -5th cup of wine is for Elijah (prophet) hoping one day messiah will appear and bring peace to the world
The word "mashiach" literally means
Anointed one
eschatological
Any belief in an "End-Time" of divine judgement and world destruction.
Ashkenazim are Jews who lived in
Europe
It is impossible to convert to Judaism.
FALSE
What are Maimonides's thirteen Principles of Faith?
Maimonides's thirteen Principles of Faith are: God the Creator exists, God is uniquely "one", God is incorporeal, God is eternal, God alone is worthy of worship and obedience, the teachings of the biblical prophets are true, Moses is the chief of all prophets, the Torah comes directly from god (through Moses), both the Written and the Oral Torah represent the authentic word of God and nothing can be added or taken away from either, God is omniscient, God rewards the good and punishes the wicked, the Messiah will undoubtedly come (though no exact date can be known for his coming), and the resurrection of the dead will occur in the World-to-Come.
The earliest nonbiblical reference to "Israel" can be found in the
Merneptah stone. "israel is laid in waste, its seed is no more"
What are mitzvot, and where can they be found?
Mitzvot, which literally means "commandments," refers to the 613 commandments that the biblical God imparted on the Israelites. They can be found in the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
Who was Mordecai Kaplan, and to which movement in modern Judaism is he connected?
Mordecai Kaplan was a Rabbi who lived from 1881-1983. A new school of thought, known today as Reconstructionism, was centered around Kaplan's teachings. Reconstructionism is one of the most important offshoot of Conservative Judaism and first emerged in America in the 1930s.
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.
The term "Oral Torah" is associated with which group?
Pharisees
transcendence
The divine attribute of being above and beyond anything human beings can know or imagine.
Immanence
The divine attribute of in-dwelling, or God being present to human consciousness.
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 six million European Jews by the government of Nazi Germany during World War II. This mass slaughter is referred to in Hebrew as the Shoah.
Shavuot is a celebration of
The giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai
Moses
The legendary leader and prophet who leads 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.
