Chapter 8: Judaism

Rosh Hashanah

"Beginning of the year"; the celebration of the Jewish New Year, occurring on the seventh lunar month.

The semimonastic Jewish community during the Roman period that referred to themselves as the "sons of light" were the A) Pharisees. B) Sadducees. C) Zealots. D) Essenes.

D) Essenes.

The first King of Israel was A) Daniel. B) Moses. C) David. D) Saul.

D) Saul.

The Jewish Day of Atonement is A) Ashenazim. B) Hanukkah. C) Passover. D) Yom Kippur.

D) Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement, the most sacred day of the Jewish year.

Messiah

A savior figure to be sent by God, awaited by the Jews.

Essenes

A semimonastic Jewish reclusive group that flourished from about 150 B.C.E. to 68 C.E.

The sacred core of the Hebrew Bible is sometimes called the A) Pentateuch. B) Talmud. C) Writings. D) Prophets.

A) Pentateuch.

Who conquered the southern kingdom? A) the Babylonians B) the Persians C) the Greeks D) the Egyptians

A) the Babylonians

Chapter Objectives

After reading this chapter, you will be able to do the following: • Discuss developments in the four general periods of Jewish history. • Describe the three parts of the Hebrew Bible. • Retell some of the major stories in the Hebrew scriptures. • Describe Jewish religious practices. • Explain the characteristics of the major divisions within Judaism. • Discuss the history of persecution that culminated in the Holocaust. • Discuss challenges Judaism faces in the modern world.

Canaan

An ancient name for the land of Israel.

Zealots

An anti-Roman, nationalistic Jewish faction, active during the Roman period of control over Israel.

Hanukkah

An early-winter festival recalling the rededication of the Second Temple, celebrated with the lighting of the candles for eight days.

Talmud

An encyclopedic commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures.

The Hebrews trace themselves to an ancestor named A) Adam. B) Abraham. C) Abel. D) Noah.

B) Abraham.

A contract between the Hebrews and their God was called a A) mitzvah. B) covenant. C) yarmulke. D) commandment.

B) covenant.

Mystical speculation sometimes prompted by persecution was the A) Tanakh. B) Midrash. C) Kabbalah. D) Talmud.

C) Kabbalah.

The anti-Roman nationalistic Jewish faction that was active during the Roman period of control over Israel was the A) Pharisees. B) Sadducees. C) Zealots. D) Essenes.

C) Zealots.

God first appeared to Moses in A) the form of an Egyptian slave. B) a cloud on Mt. Sinai. C) a burning bush. D) the Red Sea.

C) a burning bush.

Someone inspired by God to speak for him was called a A) priest. B) rabbi. C) prophet. D) king.

C) prophet.

Who conquered the northern kingdom? A) the Babylonians B) the Persians C) the Assyrians D) the Romans

C) the Assyrians

tefillin

Phylacteries; two small boxes containing biblical passages that are worn by Orthodox males on the heads and left arm at morning prayer during the week.

An Ashkenazim is a prayer shawl worn by devout males.

True

Bar mitzvah means "son of the commandment"; it is the coming-of-age ceremony that marks the time when a young man is considered a legal adult within the Jewish community.

True

Conservative Judaism is a branch of Judaism that attempts to blend the best of old and new Judaism.

True

Essenes refers to a semimonastic Jewish community that flourished from about 150 B.C.E. to 68 C.E.

True

Hanukkah is an early-winter festival recalling the rededication of the Second Temple, celebrated with the lighting of the candles for eight days.

True

Holocaust refers to the destruction of European Judaism by the Nazis; also known as Shoah (Hebrew: "extermination").

True

Kabbalah means "received," or "handed down"; it refers to the whole body of Jewish mystical literature.

True

Ketuvim refers to the "Writings"; it is the third section of the Hebrew Scriptures, consisting primarily of poetry, proverbs, and literary works.

True

Kosher means "ritually correct"; it is said particularly about food consumption and food preparation.

True

Messiah is a savior figure to be sent by God, awaited by the Jews.

True

Midrash means "search"; it is rabbinical commentary on the scriptures and oral law.

True

Orthodox is the most traditional branch of Judaism.

True

Passover is a joyful spring festival that recalls the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt and freedom from oppression.

True

Pharisees refers to a faction during the Second Temple period that emphasized the observation of biblical rules.

True

Seder means "order"; it is a special ritual meal at Passover, recalling the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt.

True

Sukkot means "booths"; it is a festival in the late autumn that recalls the Jews' period of wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt.

True

Tanakh refers to the complete Hebrew Scriptures, made up of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings.

True

The Western Wall is the foundation stones of the western wall of the last temple of Jerusalem, today a place of prayer.

True

Theophany is a revelation or appearance of God.

True

Yarmulke is a contract; it is the contract between the Hebrews and their God, Yahweh.

True

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement.

True

sukkot

"Booths"; a festival in the late autumn that recalls the Jews' period of wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt.

bat mitzvah

"Daughter of the commandment" (Aramaic); the coming-of-age ceremony that marks the time when a young woman is considered a legal adult within the Jewish community.

Seder

"Order"; a special ritual meal at Passover, recalling the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt.

Nevi'im

"Prophets"; the second section of the Hebrew Scriptures, made up of historical and prophetic books.

Kabbalah

"Received," "handed down"; the whole body of Jewish mystical literature.

Sabbath

"Rest"; the seventh day of the week (Saturday), a day of prayer and rest from work.

kosher

"Ritually correct"; said particularly about food consumption and food preparation.

midrash

"Search"; rabbinical commentary on the scriptures and oral law.

bar mitzvah

"Son of the commandment" (Aramaic); the coming-of-age ceremony that marks the time when a young man is considered a legal adult within the Jewish community.

Torah

"Teaching," "instruction"; the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures; also the additional instructions of God, believed by many to have been transmitted orally from Moses through a succession of teachers and rabbis.

Ketuvim

"Writings"; the third section of the Hebrew Scriptures, consisting primarily of poetry, proverbs, and literary works.

rabbi

A religious teacher; a Jewish minister.

theophany

A revelation or appearance of God.

Conservative Judaism

A branch of Judaism that attempts to blend the best of old and new Judaism.

menorah

A candelabrum usually containing seven—and occasionally nine—branches used for religious celebrations.

covenant

A contract; the contract between the Hebrews and their God, Yahweh.

Pharisees

A faction during the Second-Temple period that emphasized the observation of biblical rules.

Passover

A joyful spring festival that recalls the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt and freedom from oppression.

Reconstructionism

A modern liberal branch of Judaism that emphasizes the cultural aspects of Judaism.

Reform

A movement beginning in the nineteenth century that questioned and modernized Judaism; a liberal branch of Judaism.

prophet

A person inspired by God to speak for him.

talit

A prayer shawl worn by devout males.

Sadducees

A priestly faction, influential during the Second-Temple period.

A talit is a person inspired by God to speak for him.

False

A tefillin is a candelabrum usually containing seven—and occasionally nine—branches used for religious celebrations.

False

Ashkenazim refers to Jews of Spain, Morocco, and the Mediterranean region.

False

Biblical Judaism describes the Judaism that developed after the destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E.).

False

Canaan is a joyous festival in early spring that recalls the Jews being saved from destruction, as told in the book of Esther.

False

Diaspora means "teaching," or "instruction"; it is the name given to the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, also the additional instructions of God, believed by many to have been transmitted orally from Moses through a succession of teachers and rabbis.

False

Essenes refers to a modern liberal branch of Judaism that emphasizes the cultural aspects of Judaism.

False

Kabbalah means "beginning of the year"; it is the celebration of the Jewish New Year, occurring on the seventh lunar month.

False

Ketuvim refers to the "Prophets"; it is the second section of the Hebrew Scriptures, made up of historical and prophetic books.

False

Midrash means "rest"; it is the seventh day of the week (Saturday), a day of prayer and rest from work.

False

Purim is the movement that has encouraged the creation and support of the nation of Israel.

False

Sadducees refers to an anti-Roman, nationalistic Jewish faction, active during the Roman period of control over Israel.

False

Sephardim are phylacteries; two small boxes containing biblical passages that are worn by Orthodox males on the heads and left arm at morning prayer during the week.

False

Sephardim refers to Jews who lived in or came from central Europe.

False

Sukkot is an ancient name for the land of Israel.

False

Tanakh is a modernizing movement and a liberal branch of Judaism.

False

The Talmud is the dispersion of Jews beyond Israel, particularly to Persia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean region.

False

The diaspora is an encyclopedic commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures.

False

Sephardim

Jews of Spain, Morocco, and the Mediterranean region.

Ashkenazim

Jews who lived in or came from central Europe.

Purim

Joyous festival in early spring that recalls the Jews' being saved from destruction, as told in the book of Esther.

biblical Judaism

Judaism before the destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E.).

rabbinical Judaism

The Judaism that developed after the destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E.).

Tanakh

The complete Hebrew Scriptures, made up of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings.

Holocaust

The destruction of European Judaism by the Nazis; also known as Shoah (Hebrew: "extermination").

diaspora

The dispersion of Jews beyond Israel, particularly to Persia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean region.

Western Wall

The foundation stones of the western wall of the last temple of Jerusalem, today a place of prayer.

Chapter Summary

The history of the Jews can be divided into four periods of time that began with a homeless people called the Hebrews or Israelites. They eventually found a homeland in Israel marked with the milestones of establishing a kingly dynasty, a capital in Jerusalem, and a temple. A second period began in the sixth century B.C.E. when the kingdom of Judah and its first temple were destroyed and the people were forced into a fifty-year exile in Babylon. This event led to the emergence of the synagogue and prompted putting religious law and history in written form to guarantee its survival. After the exile, the work of the priests took on great significance. Influences from the surrounding cultures also began to enter into Jewish life and knowledge of Hebrew declined. With foreign domination came Zoroastrian ideas and later the appeal of Hellenistic culture. Tensions between accommodation and rejection of external influences led to the rise of religious factions after 165 B.C.E. These included the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Zealots, and the Essenes, who possibly assembled the Dead Sea Scrolls. This period also saw the growth of the Diaspora, Jewish communities outside the land of Israel. The next period was initiated in the Common Era when the second temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. This ended the power of the priesthood, whose sacrificial rituals were no longer possible, and forced the religion to move toward a greater focus on scripture. The Hebrew canon was finalized and commentaries were written. Classical or rabbinic Judaism and traditional Jewish life were established, as was mystical Kabbalah. Great communities in the Diaspora both flourished and endured persecution, mainly at the hands of European Christians. The final period, called the Reform, began in about 1800 as a response to the European Enlightenment. It was an impetus to question and modernize traditional Judaism, and it helped produce the diverse branches within Judaism today, which hold differing views on Jewish identity and practice. Centuries of persecution and dislocation reached a climax with the Holocaust under the reign of Adolf Hitler. One-third of all Jews were killed. Out of the ashes, the Nation of Israel was born. Judaism is often associated with its most important book. The Hebrew Bible contains a variety of material that essentially records interactions and responses between the people and a God who is portrayed in complex ways, perhaps reflecting different ancient traditions that were ultimately combined. The scriptures are divided into three parts. First is the Torah, the sacred core of five books containing stories of the Creation, Adam and Eve, a Great Flood, the Hebrew patriarchs and matriarchs, and Moses, the great liberator and lawgiver. It includes laws about religious ritual and daily conduct, including the Ten Commandments. The second part is called the Prophets, after those people who spoke in God's name to the Jewish people. The third part is called the Writings, which include a variety of material, such as short stories, proverbs, poetry, and reflections on life. Judaism centers on a way of life that recognizes the presence of God and the sanctification of human life. Beyond embracing the Ten Commandments, the most obvious examples are keeping the Sabbath, observing holy days and festivals, and following dietary practices. The mythic power of its great stories and the clarity of its ethical codes have shaped Western civilization. Judaism is known for its strong moral orientation and a this-worldly focus that has led to major contributions in multiple fields.

Orthodox

The most traditional branch of Judaism.

Zionism

The movement that has encouraged the creation and support of the nation of Israel.

yarmulke

The skullcap worn by devout males.

"Biblical Judaism" describes Judaism before the destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E.).

True

A rabbi is a religious teacher; it is the term for a Jewish minister.

True

A yarmulke is the skullcap worn by devout males.

True