Deck 3 Flashcards
Da’at Torah
“Knowledge of the Torah”; a concept emphasizing the authority and guidance of Torah scholars in Jewish life, viewed differently across Jewish denominations.
Gadol HaDor
“Great one of the generation”; refers to the most respected rabbinic authority of the current era, a concept more emphasized in Orthodox Judaism but acknowledged differently in Conservative and Reform contexts.
Shiv’im Panim laTorah
“Seventy faces of the Torah”; the idea that the Torah can be interpreted in many legitimate ways, supporting the diversity of interpretation in Conservative and Reform Judaism.
Halakhic Responsa in Conservative Judaism
Scholarly answers to modern questions of Jewish law, demonstrating the dynamic interpretation of Halacha in Conservative Judaism.
Kol Isha
The prohibition of hearing a woman’s singing voice, interpreted variably across denominations. Reform and many Conservative communities embrace gender equality in liturgical roles.
Tzedakah vs. Gemilut Chasadim
Tzedakah refers to mandatory acts of charity, while Gemilut Chasadim encompasses voluntary acts of kindness; both are central to Jewish ethics across all denominations.
Havurah
A small, informal Jewish community group, often lay-led, emphasizing participatory worship, study, and communal activities, embraced by Reform and some Conservative Jews.
Simchat Bat/Brit Bat
Ceremony to welcome a baby girl into the Jewish community, marking the more egalitarian approach to gender in life-cycle events within Conservative and Reform Judaism.
Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim
Israeli Independence Day and Jerusalem Day; celebrated with special prayers and readings in Conservative and Reform congregations to express solidarity with Israel.
Rabbinic Ordination for Women
Acknowledged within Conservative Judaism since the 1980s and Reform Judaism since the 1970s, reflecting gender equality in religious leadership.
P’shat and Drash
Levels of Torah interpretation; P’shat is the simple or direct meaning, while Drash includes homiletical or allegorical interpretations, both valued across Jewish traditions.
Sh’lichut Tzibbur
The role of leading the congregation in prayer, open to qualified individuals regardless of gender in many Conservative and Reform communities.
Pikuach Nefesh Docheh Shabbat
The principle that saving a life overrides Sabbath prohibitions, universally accepted across Jewish denominations but interpreted with varying strictness.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot
The custom of all-night study on the eve of Shavuot, embraced by Conservative and Reform communities with inclusive and diverse learning sessions.
Eruv Tavshilin
A ritual allowing the preparation of food on a festival for Shabbat; its observance and teaching vary across communities, reflecting differing approaches to Halacha.
