Judaism

Messiah

A divinely anointed leader, that some believers God will bring to return the Israelites to their land and to bring evil times to an end and establish reign of peace.

Prophets of Judaism

Abraham and Moses. Prophets speak on Gods behalf, relating their messages through words or symbolic actions.

5th Commandment

Honor your father and mother

Haredi Judaism ( Orthodox )

Branch of Judaism that insists that Jews should focus on Jewish culture, therefore often establishes separate communities. Adheres strictly to ethical and ritual Halakhah. Educates children in religious schools only. Favoring detachment from non-Jewish culture, to focus on the Torah. DENOMINATION

Gemara

Commentary on the Mishnah. Together the MIshnah and Gemara are known as the Talmud. Comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah.

Mitzvah/Mitzvot

Guides for imitating Gods holiness. Humans are created in Gods image. Jews are called to be holy like God. 3 sources of Mitzvot, God ( Torah ), Rabbis ( Talmud ), tradition. In Judaism, a divine commandment or sacred deed in fulfillment of a commandment. Rabbinic Literature identifies 613 Mitzvot in the Torah both positive and negative mandates on how to pray, prepare sacrifices, eat, conduct business, give to the poor, celebrate holidays etc.

Tanakh

Hebrew Bible

Rabbi

Historically a Jewish teacher; at present, the ordained spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation. Founders of Rabbinic Judaism, which has defined the major forms of Jewish practice over the last 2 thousand years.

Synagogue

Houses of study and worship. Pharisees came here to teach. People came here to read the Torah and worship communally, praying simply and directly to God. Minyan had to be present for a community worship.

Mishnah

Judah the prince, wrote down a short version of the oral law, that became known as the Mishnah. The Mishnahs legal principles for social order are based on logical analysis of how and why, things are. Summation of legal teachings of the oral tradition of the Torah.

Reform Judaism

Modern Judaism with fewer rules and more room for individuality. Claims that faith must evolve with modern thought, not to be a fixed set of Mandate rules. Adheres to ethical Halakhah, but allow individuals to choose among ritual Halakhah. Affirms secular education for children. DENOMINATION

4th Commandment

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Talmud

The collection of Jewish rabbinic discussion pertaining to law, ethics, and tradition consisting of the Mishnah and the Gemara. There are 2 versions of the Talmud, Jerusalem and Babylonians

Midrash

The literature of delving into the Jewish Torah. The rabbis set themselves the task of thoroughly interpreting the Hebrew scriptures and this was their process of study. It yielded 2 types of interpretation ( legal decisions ), halakhah and Haggadah. Developed by rabbis

Exodus (Judaism)

When the Jews were led out of Egypt by Moses after being held in slavery. the founding myth of the Israelites. Pg, 150-151

7th Commandment

You shall not commit adultery

10th Commandment

You shall not covet

3rd Commandment

You shall not misuse Gods name

6th Commandment

You shall not murder

8th Commandment

You shall not steal

Reconstructionist Judaism

advocates Judaism as a culture, not only a religion. Sees Jews as evolving religious civilization, not a chosen people. Adheres to ethical and ritual Halakhah to preserve Jewish identity and to manifest sacred in daily life, Focuses more on attaining social justice than on working toward the afterlife. Founder is Mordecai Menahem Kaplan. DENOMINATION

Sefirot

creation of the universe and underline all of human existence. Sefirot mediate gods relationship with humanity.

Haggadah

non-legal teachings. Sociological and historical knowledge., theological arguments, ritual traditions, sermons and mystical teachings. ( Folklore, history, theology, ritual and mysticism ). The non-legal part of the Talmud and Midrash

Kabbalah

the ancient Jewish tradition of mystical interpretation of the Bible. Kabbalah (texts) claims to reveal the Bible's deepest (mystical) meaning. Esoteric teachings from the Middle Ages.

Torah

the first five books of the Hebrew Bible—the most sacred writings in the Jewish tradition. pg 168. The whole body of Jewish teaching and law. Section in the Tanakh. Refers to the 5 books of Moses. On the next level, it means the entire Hebrew Bible and the Talmud, the written and the oral law. COMPONENT OF TANAKH

Zohar

the most important text of Kabbalah; part of the Oral Torah. Moses de Leon published the Zohar, a text of esoteric Mideast and practices ( major text ). The Zohar diagrams gods nature through ten interdependent attributes ( tree of life ) or sefirot.

1st Commandment

you shall have no other gods

2nd Commandment

you shall not make an idol of yourself

Sabbath Day

7th day of creation; day of worship

9th Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

Halakhah

" proper conduct " Concerns legal teachings on proper behavior; how to apply the law in daily life. Parts of the Talmud dealing with laws

Ketuvim

"Writings"; the third section of the Hebrew scriptures, consisting primarily of poetry, proverbs, and literary works. COMPONENT OF TANAKH

Nev'im

"prophets". The Former Prophets consists of the narrative books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings; while the Latter Prophets include the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and The Twelve minor prophets. COMPONENT OF TANAKH

Conservative Judaism

(Mosorti) Response to reform ( viewed as too modern ), allows for gradual change in law and practice. Adheres to ethical and ritual Halakhah. Allows for literary and historical study of Jewish texts, seen as having divine and human origins. Jews who keep some of the requirements of the Mosaic Law but allow for adaptation of other requirements to fit modern . DENOMINATION