Chapter 5

Question 1

What is the nature of the Jewish religious calendar (Solar, Lunar, Other)

Answer 1

lunar

Question 2

What is Judaism’s spring festival called? (know the English and Hebrew terms)

Answer 2

Passover (Pesakh)

Question 3

What central and picturesque rite of Passover no longer exists?

Answer 3

eating of Paschal lamb

Question 4

What is the word “seder” a popular name for?

Answer 4

the feast

Question 5

What is a Hagada?

Answer 5

the Exodus tale, with Talmudic embellishment

Question 6

What substance has to be completely removed from homes for Passover?

Answer 6

leaven (yeast)

Question 7

How many days after Passover until the festival of Shavu’ot (i.e. Shavuos)?

Answer 7

50 days (7 weeks)

Question 8

What is Shavu’ot (Shavuos) the Hebrew word for? What’s the connection?

Answer 8

weeks (the counting of 7 weeks)

Question 9

Why did Greeks call this festival Pentecost? How long does it last?

Answer 9

Pentecost is Greek for 50th day. It lasts 1 day in Israel and 2 days outside Israel.

Question 10

What season of the year is the Shavu’ot (Shavuos) festival associated with?

Answer 10

summer

Question 11

In addition to wheat harvest, Shavu’ot is the anniversary of … what?

Answer 11

anniversary of Moses receiving the Law

Question 12

With what season is the festival of Sukkot (Sukos) associated?

Answer 12

fall

Question 13

What does the Law of Moses require for seven days at Sukkot (Sukos)?

Answer 13

all Jews are to live in huts

Question 14

What does the Hebrew word Sukkot mean in English (modern & archaic versions)?

Answer 14

In modern terms, it means hut. In archaic terms, it means tabernacle.

Question 15

In the sukkah (suko) what does there have to be room for?

Answer 15

a table and chairs

Question 16

Of the four species carried at Sukkot, what is an etrog (esrog)? What is it like?

Answer 16

yellow fragrant fruit that looks like a lemon

Question 17

Along with a palm branch, what two other tree branches are bound and carried?

Answer 17

willow and myrtle

Question 18

What kind of branch is a lulav? What action is done with the lulav?

Answer 18

palm branch. Jews wave the branch with a chant.

Question 19

When does Shemini Atzeret (Sh’mini Atzeres) occur?

Answer 19

8 days after the start of Sukos

Question 20

What is another name for Shemini Atzeret, and what does it mean?

Answer 20

the celebration of the law - Simchat Torah

Question 21

But outside the land of Israel, on what day does Simhat Torah (Simkhas Torah) occur?

Answer 21

on the 9th day

Question 22

With what sacred item in their hands do people dance in the synagogue on Simhat Torah?

Answer 22

holy scrolls; children have flags

Question 23

What will teach you more than reading forty books on Judaism?

Answer 23

carrying out in a year the festivals

Question 24

See note at end of chapter – what Hebrew pronunciation did Wouk’s father use?

Answer 24

eastern European