Religion IV: Chapter 2: Judaism

Dead Sea Scrolls

Between 1947 and 1956 thousand fragments of biblical and early Jewish documents were discovered in eleven caves near the site Khirbet Qumran on the shores of the Dead Sea. These important texts have revolutionized our understanding of the way the Bible was transmitted and have illuminated the general cultural and religious background of ancient Palestine, out of which Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity arouse.

Pesach

Celebrating the Hebrews freedom from Egyptian slavery when the angel of death "passed over" the houses of the Hebrews that were marked with blood from a lamb.

Sukkot begins five days after Yom Kippur and lasts for how many days?

Eight days

Pesach retells the story of the ______________.

Exodus

Halakhic

From Hebrew meaning "way," Jewish law that covers all aspects of the life of an individual and of the community.

Hasidism

From the Hebrew meaning "pious," a movement within Judaism founded in eighteenth-century Poland where pious devotion God is as important as study of Torah.

Kosher

From the Hebrew word kaser, meaning "proper." Commonly, it refers to food permitted by Jewish dietary laws. Jews observe kosher laws to remind themselves that they are to be a holy and separate people.

Zionism

From the name Zion (the historic land of Israel), it is the movement with origins in the nineteenth that sought to restore a Jewish homeland in Palestine in response to anti-semitism.

What are the books of the Torah?

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

Idolotry

Giving worship to something or someone other than the one, true God.

Synagogue

Greek word meaning "Place of assembly" outside of one's homeland

Rabbi

Hebrew for "My Master" or "My Teacher." A rabbi became known as someone who authorized to teach and judge in matters of Jewish law.

Shoah

Hebrew for "calamity," it refers to the mass murder of Jews by the Nazis during World War II.

What is the purpose of the Talmund?

Inspires and guides jews in their religious life.

Shabbat

Jewish Sabbath

Hanukkah celebrates one of the great military victories in what?

Jewish history

Synagogue's are sacred to who?

Jews

Why are the Laws to the Temple or criminal proceedings no longer observed?

Laws pertaining to the Temple or to criminal proceedings can no longer be observed because both the Temple and the ancient style of government no longer exist.

Mezuzah

Meaning "doorpost," a small parchment containing Jewish scripture, usually the Sh'ama, that placed in a case on or near the right doorframe at the home of an observant Jew.

Yom Kippur

Means "Day of Atonement"

Sukkot

Means "booths"

Judaism dates back to who?

Moses

Name some examples of Hebrew writings.

Psalm, Proverb, Job, Ruth, Esther, and Chronicles

Who are the religious leaders of Judaism?

Rabbis

Jewish calendar begins when?

Rosh Hashanah

Monotheistic

Subscribing the doctrine or belief that there is only one God.

Three major elements of the marriage ritual include what?

The Chuppah, the blessings, and the breaking of the glass

Hellenization

The adoption of Greek ways and speech as happened in the case of Jews living in the Diaspora.

Bimah

The elevated platform in a Jewish synagogue where the person reading aloud from the Torah stands during the service.

Holy of Holies

The sanctuary inside the tabernacle in the Temple of Jerusalem where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.

Midrash

The type of biblical interpretation fund in rabbinic literature, especially the Talmunds. Midrash assumes that the scriptures provide answers for every situation and every question life.

Sukkot is a festival during the what?

Tishri Cycle

The central source for how to live is the what?

Torah

Three divisions of the Hebrew Bible include what?

Torah, Prophets, Writings

A synagogue was a House of Prayer (where Jews address God), a House of Study (where Jews study the Torah), and a House of Assembly (where Jews meet socially). True/False?

True

At birth, circumcision takes place eight days after birth. True/False?

True

Pesach is known as passover. True/False?

True

Shabbat is celebrated from sunset Friday until sunset Saturday. True/False?

True

The Greek influence caused the Hebrew scriptures to be translated. True/False?

True

The very land of Israel-more than its political entity-along with its holy city Jerusalem remain significant to the spiritual life of Jews worldwide. True/False?

True

There are 613 commandments. True/False?

True

For Jews, funerals take place as soon as possible, often within how many hours?

Twenty-four hours

Talmund

Two collections of Jewish religious literature that are commentaries on the Mishnah, the Hebrew code of laws that emerged about 200 CE.

The chuppah is the what?

Wedding canopy

Torah

Word meaning "law" or "instruction"

What is the difference between a religious Jew vs. an ethnic Jew?

A religious Jew practices Judaism. An ethnic Jew may or may not practice Judaism.

Havdalash

A religious ceremony ends the shabbat over Kosher wine or Kosher grape juice.

Ark

A repository traditionally in or against the wall of the synagogue for the scrolls of the Torah.

The Torah is kept in the _____________.

Ark

Covenant

A binding and solemn agreement between human beings or between God, and his people, holding each particular course of action

Menorah

A candelabra with seven or nine lights that is used Jewish worship

Mitzvot

A commandment of the Jewish law

Yom Kippur is known as the what?

"Days of awe"

Hanukkah is he what?

"Festival of Lights"

Coming of Age

A Jewish child becomes a mature individual, responsible for keeping the Torah.