J definitions Flashcards
define Synagogue
a Jewish place of worship, means “assembly” in Greek
define Aron Ha Kodesh and its use
-a cupboard in front of the meeting hall, in a wall that faces towards Jerusalem
-the doors are covered by a curtain (parochet)
-2 plaques with the Decalogue, decorated with the first 2 words of each commandment, above the Ark
-keeps Sefer Torah
-During service, parochet are puled back, doors opened, and the Sefer Torah scrolls are carried to the Bimah to be read.
define Sefer Torah
-Torah scrolls
-Handwritten in Hebrew
-Made of Natural materials
-treated with respect and dressed when not in use
define parochet
curtains that cover the Ark
define Rimonim and its importance
-“pomegranates”
-pomegranates were believed to have 613 seed - each for a commandment in the Torah
define Menorah and Hanukkiah and its use
-7 branch lampstand what burns all the time in the temple - Menorah
-some have it, but most don’t - they believe it was originally designed for the temple only
-they have 9 branch lampstand - Hanukkiah- lit during the festival of Hannkkah
define Ner Tamid and its use
-“eternal light”
-lamp that always burns in front of Synagogue
-usually over the doors of the Ark
-represents the Menorah which was permanently lit in the Temple to symbolise the presence of God
define Star of David and its use
-most common Jewish symbols
-called Shield of David - believed to be on the shield of King David
-inside of Synagogue to for decoration / outside to show that its a Jewish place of worship
define Bimah and its use
-reading desk where the Sefer Torah is read
-on a raised platform and in the middle of Synagogue so everyone can hear Torah being read
define Yad and its use
-“hand” - tip is shaped like a pointing hand
-Pointer stick used when the Torah is read so ink is not damaged by greasy and sweaty hands
define Amud / Lectern and its use
-small reading desk to place the Rabbi or Hazzan’s notes on
define Women/s Gallery & its use
-Orthodox Jews will separate men and women during services - so thy concentrate on God and not each other
-Women usually sit upstairs in a Gallery / Balcony or a special section downstairs
-the special section has a barrier called Mechitzah
define Mechitzah
barrier in the special section of the Women’s Gallery
define Rabbi
-“teacher”
-Person who teaches the Torah to the congregation
-will often run mid-week classes at the Synagogue and spend a lot of time giving back to the community
define Hazzan
- “cantor / singer”
-Person who leads the prayers and hymns in a Synagogue
define Minyan
-a group of minimum of 10 adult jews who perform prayers
-O - men
-R - men and women
define Shacharit and its importance
-First prayer of the day
-remembers when sacrifices in the Temple were made
-Time when Abraham chose to pray, he wanted to start his day with God
-Helps follow the commandment throughout the day
define Minchah and its importance
-afternoon prayer
-remembers when sacrifices in the Temple were made
-interrupts your day which reminds you how important God is
define Maariv and its importance
-evening prayer
-God is the last thing on their minds before going to sleep
define Tallit and why Jew use it
-a prayer shawl that has tzit tzit at each conner
-reminds Jews to obey God’s words
define Tefillin
2 leather boxes containing the Shema which are worn on the head and upper arm
define kappah
cap worn by Jewish men
define mezuzah
a small ornate box placed on the doorstep of Jewish households and contains verses from the torah
define Mikvah
-women bathe in the Mikvah after childbirth or menstruating - touching blood is impure in Judaism, Jews don’t want to be impure and unclean when worshipping
-Men bathe in the Mikvah before their wedding
-A ceremony is held there when someone converts to Judaism
define Shema
-declaration of faith said at the start of most prayers to remind Jews to only worship god
-most said prayer
-Deuteronomy 6:4-9
-reminder that Jew only pray to God (monotheistic belief)
-used at start of prayers
-3 main periods (Shacharit, MInchah, Maariv)
define Amidah
-a part of Synagogue services which contains 19 blessings & means standing prayer
-standing prayer
-19 blessings: 3 to praise God and ask for mercy, middle 13 for help, last 3 for thanking and praying for peace.
-on weekdays
-Middle 13 is not done during Shabbat because God rests that day.
-can be personal prayers or Hazzan will leave on behalf of congregation
define Kaddish
-a part of Synagogue services
means doxology
-hymn of praise to God
-end of main section on Shabbat
-in Aramaic
-closing prayer
define Aleinu
-a part of Synagogue services
means upon us
-focus on duty to praise God and hope that he will be worshipped by all
-closing prayer
define Tenakh
written law which contains the Torah, Nevi’ im & Ketuvim
define Torah
-5 books of Moses which form the basis of Jewish law
-includes Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Exodus
define Nevi’ im
-8 prophetic books that continue to trace Jewish history and expand the laws on the Torah
-2 parts:
-former prophets: Joshua, Judge, Samuel 1 & 2, Kings 1 & 2
-Latter prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, book containing 1 prophetic texts
-Prophetic texts- eg, Hosea, Amos, Micah
define Ketuvim
-11 books that contain poetry, stories, advise and historical accounts
-contains: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Daniel, The five scrolls
-The five scrolls, Songs of Songs, Ruth, Esther, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes
define Talmud
-the Oral Law contains teachings on how to interpret Torah and how to apply it which were passed down from generations
-main parts from Palestine and Babylonia 1200 & 500 CE
define Mishnah
-doc containing text from the Oral Law from late 4th century to early 5th century CE
-has 6 sections
define Seder
name of each of the 6 sections in the Mishnah
define Gemare
-discussions on the Mishnah written down after 500 CE
define Shekinah
Divine presence of God on earth
define Tabernacle
portable temple with the Shekinah that Jews carried around
define promised land
land of Canaan God promised to Abraham and his descendents
define covenant
solemn promise/ agreement btw 2 people/ groups that requires commitment from both sides
define Mount Sinai
where Moses received the 10 commandments
define Decalogue
-first 10 commandments which is the foundations of all mitzvots
define Shabbat
Jewish day of rest which symbolises God’s rest on the 7th day
define Shabbat blessing and what is it done over
Kiddush is done over wine
define Kabbalat Shabbat mean
Welcoming of Shabbat
define vestments
robes
define Rosh Hashanah
-Jewish new year, a day of repentance and means “head of the year”
-time to reflect on last year and make amends with people & God
define Teshuvah
-time for repentance during Rosh Hashanah
Define Tashlich
-ritual where pebbles/ bread are thrown in rivers and symbolizes casting off their sins
define Yom Kippur
-a Jewish festival to ask God for forgiveness & means “Day of Atonement”
-Holiest day
define Pesach
-Hebrew for the feast of “Passover” & is 8 day long
-celebrated annually
define Bedikat Chametz
-tradition where hidden bread is found by children & burnt on Pesach
-burning bread = no leaven bread
define Sedar Meal
-first meal Jews have on Pesach
-the Haggadah is read
-drink 4 cups of wine = 4 languages of redemption in Exodus 6: 6-7
-slipt 10 droplets of wine = 10 plagues
-eat food according to Exodus Story
-contains hymns, readings & prayerc
define Haggadah
prayer book including the Exodus Story read during the Sedar meal
define Sukkot
The feast of tabernacles & means tents
define Shavuot
Festival of weeks, originally a wheat harvest festival but
now more focused on the delivery of the Torah to Israel.
define sukkah
shelter made during sukkot
define Hoshana
-7th day of Sukkot & means “Great Supplication”
-involves special Synagogue services
define mingagim
-customs on Shavuot:
-eat dairy
-read Book of Ruth
-decorated home & Synagogue with greenery
-study torah all night
define Simchat Torah
-festival a day after Sukkot & means “rejoicing the Torah”
define Yad vashem
-official Holocaust remembrance center
define Ha-Kotel Ha-Ma’aravi (wailing wall)
-Western Wall
-place of prayer & pilgrimage in Jerusalem
-only wall of Temple Mount left
define rites of passage
ceremonies after a child is born
define Brit Milah
name of the ceremony which circumcision takes place to fulfil the command of circumcision of Abraham and his desendents
define mohel
professional person who does the circumcision on brit milah
define of Zeved Habat
means gift of the daughter
define Bar Mitzvah
rite of passage for boys which means “Son of the Commandments”
define Bat Mitzvah
rite of passage for girls which means “Daughter of the Commandments”
define Bat Chayill
rite of passage of girls that do not do the Bat Mitzvah and it means “Woman of Valour”
define Brit Milah
-naming ceremony where circumcision takes place to fulfil the commandment of circumcision of Abraham & his descendents
define Kashrut
Dietary laws that restrict what and how Jewish people eat
define Kosher
clean or acceptable
Define Treyfah
unclean or forbidden
what does a Jewish butcher need and what does it do
-hechsher (certificate)
-so people know he kills correctly
define marriage
-legal joining of 2 people
-in religious terms- uniting of man and woman. They are elevated to a higher spiritual level before God during the wedding
define chuppah
-cloth canopy suspended from 4 poles that symbolises their home
-means they are officially married
define the marriage contract (ketubah)
-signed in front of witnesses, read out and given to bride
-signed by 2 witnesses
-in Aramic
-states husband is not allowed to stop wife if she wants a divorce
Orthodox:
-covers husbands duties to his wife (legal rights)
reform:
-describes mutual hopes for the marriage (spiritual)
define kiddushin
-betrothal ceremony and first part of wedding
-means “holy/ santified”
define Nisuin
-the marriage itself
-finalises the marriage
define Havrash kadishah
group of people that prepare the body for funeral and work at a funeral parlor
define Keri’ ah
-ritual of tearing mourner’s clothes
-is a mitzvot
-represents sadness
-follow example of Jacob in Genesis 37: 34
define Se’ udat Harra’ ah
-first meal brought by family, friends or neighbors at home after funeral
define the Anuit
-first period of mourning
-24 hours till burial
-dead is comforted by the living till burial
-family is excused form following most mitzvots
-family do not cut hair, wash clothes and celebrate festivals
define the Shiv’ ah
-second period of mourning
-1 week long
-for bereaved parents, children, siblings and spouses
-do not work and stay at home to have prayer services 3 times a day eg. Kiddish- praise God and ask for peace
-mirrors are covered so they do not focus on their apperance
-cant cut hair, shave, wear make up
define the Sheloshim
-third period of mourning
-30 days after death
-life resumes but cant cut hair, shave, listen to music and go to parties
-Men say Kiddish in synagogue
define the Avelut
-final period of mourning
-11 months
-don’t party
-children continue to say Kaddish for parents
define Yahrzit
fasting on the anniversary of a dead parent to remember them
define Yizkdor
memorial prayer recited by mourners in synagogue at certain festivals
define Shatnez
-mixing of wool and linen
define Sanctity of life
-God breathe life into humans
-life is sacred and holy as it is given by God and so only God can take it away
define Pikuach Nefesh
-obligation that Jews have to save a life even if they have to break the Jewish Laws
define tzedaka
-Hebrew word for charity, means justice
define Pushkes
-tzedaka boxes kept in Jewish homes for the family to accumulate money over time to donate
define Lishkat chashin
-chamber in temple for people to donate to the needy
define Gemuilt Hasadim
-means bestowing kindness & written as gemuilt hesed in the Torah
define BIkkur Holim & importance on gemuilt hasade
-a mitzvot about being there for the sick to tend to their spiritual needs
-relieves isolation & anguish
-traditional texts show how to do this in moderation
define Nichum Avelim & importance on gemuilt hasade
-a mitzvot about comforting mourners & seeing the burial of the deceased
-mourners needs should be immediately provided for & help express their grief
define Hakhnasatt Orchim & importance on gemuilt hasade
-providing hospitality to people travelling through their houses
-Rabbinic writings have laws & ethics on how to be a good host or guest
define Tikkun Olam & importance on gemuilt hasade
-idea that the world is broken & needs to be reparied to function as intended
-societal changes
