Judaism Questions 1-36 p. 163
What does it mean to say theta God is providential?
He is directly involved in guiding and caring for creation. This is hard for Jews to consider because what kind of God allows the Holocaust to happen?
In what areas of the world did medieval Jews live under Muslim rule? Under Christian rule?
Medieval Jews lived in Africa, Spain, and the Near East when under the rule of the Muslims and they lived in most of Europe under the rule of the Christians.
What is the literal meaning of "prophet"?
Messenger of god.
What is the Shema?
The Shema, Hebrew for "hear", is Judaism's most basic theological statement that declares the uniqueness of God. It recited at least 2 times per day, in both morning and evening prayers.
What do the rabbis comment on in the Talmud, and how do they support their arguments?
The Talmud is based off of the Mishnah, of which small portions are cited followed by page after page of intricate commentary. To support their arguments, the rabbis cite biblical passages. Contained in the Talmud is a grand scheme of interpretations of God's will.
What is the Pentateuch?
The first five books of the Bible.
What is the kaddish?
The kaddish is a prayer of mourning, which is recited after burial and begins the second stage of mourning.
What are the two centers of Jewish Worship?
home, synagogue
Who is traditionally regarded as the author of the Torah? How many specific laws is the Torah thought to contain?
Moses is traditionally regarded as the author of the Torah. The Torah is thought to contain 613 specific laws , the most famous being the Ten Comandments, Which are set forth in the book of Exodus, chapter 20
What is celebrated on Rosh Hashanah?
On Rosh Hashanah, the festival of the new year that occurs on 2 day in early fall, Jews celebrate God's work of creating the world. They also reflect of the deeds of the past year and on the need for redemption.
When was the Mishnah written, and what does it contain?
The Mishnah was written in about AD 200 and it contains teachings that were formulated and transmitted orally by the rabbis of the preceding four centuries. It became a sacred text not long after it was completed. It is the beginning to rabbinic study of the oral Torah.
Why did the Pharisees emerge after the destruction of the Second Jerusalem Temple in AD 70 with their religious ways intact?
The Pharisees emerged after the destruction of the second Jerusalem Temple in AD 70 with their religious ways intact because the focused on the study of the Torah rather than on the rituals observed at the Temple.
When does the Sabbath occur? What are the two main aspects of its celebration?
The Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and lasts until sunset on Saturday. The Sabbath is both the religious and social high point of the week. It is a day of rest as well as a day of worship and celebration.
What symbols and events highlight the Jewish marriage ceremony?
•Huppah- bridal canopy that the bride and groom stand under and that creates a special, sacred space •Seven blessings are read over a cup of wine •To conclude the ceremony, the groom breaks a wine glass with his foot oCould have originated as a symbol of the destruction of the 2 Temples in Jerusalem oToday it serves as a reminder that marriage will involve difficulties and pain along with joy
What are the bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah?
A bar mitzvah ("son of the commandment") is the point at which a boy takes on the religious responsibilities of an adult. The special service takes place on a boy's 13th birthday and the boy is a participant for the first time and reads from the Torah. A bat mitzvah ("daughter of the commandment") is the point at which a girl takes on the religious responsibilities of an adult. It is celebrated in the same fashion as the boys celebrate their bar mitzvah's. However, Orthodox Jewish girls do not celebrate this tradition. Both are primary Jewish rituals marking the coming of age. At this point in life, an individual becomes responsible for observing the practices of Jewish life.
Rather than describing them as a single "race" of genetically related people, what is the most accurate way to think of the Jews?
As an ethnic group that shares a common history and religion. Usually Jews = both ethnic and religious. However they can be ethnic and convert to another religion or they can be religious but not ethnic.
What are the distinguishing characteristics of Conservative Judaism?
Conservative Judaism •In between Reform and Orthodox oOpen to change/modern ways to come extent oStrict in regards to observance of traditional Jewish practices Worship liturgy is in Hebrew Laws regulating diet and behavior of Sabbath are strictly enforced o1/2 of Jews in US are Conservative Jews
5 books of Bible
Genisis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Duteronomy
Identify the three related meanings of the Torah?
Instruction- referring to the will of God as it is revealed to humankind Law- the revelation of God's will sets forth the Law, which guides proper human conduct Torah- referring to the first 5 books of the Bible, which are traditionally believed to have been revealed directly by God to Moses and are the primary statement of the religious laws of Judaism
How is Orthodox Judaism distinguishable from Reform Judaism?
Orthodox Judaism •Believes that the Torah is the standard of truth and that life inside of society must conform to it •Because the Torah is unchanging, Jewish life should be unchanging (change very little) rather than conform to society •Deeply traditional •Live in separate communities to maintain traditions •1/10 of Jews in US are Orthodox Jews Reform Judaism •Being Jewish is compatible with being involved in society oAs society changes, Jews must adapt •Relaxed in observing details of Jewish practice •Worship liturgy is in English •Rabi functions like a Christian preacher instead of like a traditional scholar and teacher of the Torah •1/3 of Jews in US are Reform Jews
What does the festival Passover commemorate?
Passover, which takes place in early spring for 8 days, commemorates the Exodus of the Jews from bondage in Egypt. It is a time for joyful celebration.
Briefly describe the situation of medieval Jews in Poland?
Poland welcomed the Jews at first, and then in 1648 a Cossack Rebellion resulted in a brutal massacre of about ¼ of its Jewish population.
What is the predominant form of daily worship in Judaism?
Prayer mandatory only for males age 13 and older.
Briefly describe Reform Judaism.
Relaxed in observing the details of Jewish traditional practice. The liturgy is spoken in English and the rabbi functions like a Christina preacher. They adapt to society. 1/3 of Jews in US = this.
What is emphasized on Yom Kippur?
Repentance through confession of sin is emphasized on Yom Kippur.
Define the term covenant in relation to the Jews.
The Covenant is an agreement made many years ago between the ancient Israelites and God; it was first made through Abraham and later through Moses. God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, promising that if the Israelites would keep the covenant by obeying the Torah (the Law), they would be God's "treasured possession" and a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation." It is because of the Covenant that the Jews are seen as the God's Chosen People. The Israelites must live as good, righteous people. Because the Covenant is between God and the people, Judaism greatly emphasizes group identity.
What is the Diaspora?
The Diaspora was the situation of Jews living away from their ancestral homeland (because they were exiled from their homelands and into Babylon because of the Babylonian Exile), a circumstance that has been true for most Jews since the classical period.
When did the Holocaust occur? What does the Hebrew term Shoah mean?
The Holocaust occurred in 1933-1945. Shoah means mass destruction.
What does the Kabbalah teach?
The Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, teaches that God is best known with the heart through love. The mystics acknowledge the ultimate transcendence of God. However, they stress the immanence of God saying that God can be found by looking inward. It was developed primarily in the medieval period with such texts as the Zohar.
According to the Mishnah, what sustains the world?
The Law (Torah), the Temple service/ worship, and deeds of loving kindness.
Why is the Hebrew Bible also known as Tanakh?
The three major parts of the Hebrew Bible are the Torah, the Prophets, and the writings. In Hebrew, these words are Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim, beginning with the letters T, N, and K. Thus, the Bible itself is sometimes referred to as the Tanakh, from T-N-K.
What is the oral Torah? How is it thought to complement the written Torah?
The vast and indigenous wealth of religious teachings of the "oral Torah" complement the Hebrew Bible (Torah). The "oral Torah" is the material taught and transmitted by Judaism's great rabbis of antiquity.
What is believed about the zaddik, the leadership figure in Hasidism?
The zaddik, the center of each Hasidic community, is a holy man who is believed to have an especially close relationship with God, Hasidic Jews are able to become closer with God through the teachings and presence of the zaddik.
What does every synagogue contain?
Torah encased in a box called an ark
Why do observant Jews avoid pronouncing the divine name? How is the name written?
Worshiping their God so deeply and constantly, observant Jews the avoid pronouncing the divine name because they consider it too holy to be spoken by human beings. The name is written YHWH, but pronounced Yahweh (Hebrew had no vowels). However, when they come across the name while reading the Bible, they say "the Lord" instead of the actual name.
What is Zionism?
Zionism was originally referred to as a movement arising in the late 19th century committed to reestablishing a homeland for the Jews. Today, because the modern nation of Israel exists (created in 1948), Zionism refers to the support of Israel.