Jewish Beliefs ( Key Words) Flashcards

1
Q

Abraham

A

Known as the father of the Jewish people. God made a covenant with him,
promising him land and descendants.

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2
Q

The Amidah

A

The ‘standing prayer’. Recited as part of public acts of worship in the synagogue.

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3
Q

Aron hakodesh (ark)

A

The holiest part of the synagogue containing the Torah scrolls.

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4
Q

Bar Mitzvah

A

Coming of age ceremony of boys aged 13. Literally “Son of the Commandment”.

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5
Q

Bat Mitzvah

A

Coming of age ceremony for girls aged 12. Literally “Daughter of
Commandment”.

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6
Q

Bimah (reading platform)

A

The reading platform in a synagogue from which the Torah is read.

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7
Q

Brit Milah

A

The religious rite of circumcision, usually performed eight days after a boy’s
birth.

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8
Q

Charity

A

Key moral principle; giving to those in need. Hebrew term ‘tzedakah’ literally
means ‘justice’ but used to refer to charity (because giving to those in need is
part of promoting justice).

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9
Q

The Covenant

A

A binding promise/agreement; God’s agreement to look after his chosen people.

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10
Q

Creator

A

Part of the understanding of the nature of God; the belief that God created the
world from nothing.

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11
Q

Dietary laws

A

The food laws that were given by God, found in the Torah. These rules relate to
what may/may not be eaten, combinations of foods, and the preparation of
food.

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12
Q

Divine presence (Shekhinah)

A

Belief that God is beyond human understanding but his presence may be
experienced/known.

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13
Q

Free will

A

Humans are free to choose to do right or to do wrong, this freedom is a gift from
God but comes with responsibility.

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14
Q

God as one

A

Part of the understanding of the nature of God; belief that there is only one God,
monotheism. Reflected in the 1st Commandment “You shall have no other Gods
before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

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15
Q

Healing the world

A

Key moral principle related to making the world a better place (Hebrew ‘tikkun
olam’).

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16
Q

Judge

A

Part of the understanding of the nature of God; the belief that God is fair. God’s
justice incorporates both forgiveness and mercy.

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17
Q

Judgement

A

Part of beliefs about life after death; a Day of Judgement when God will judge
the living and the dead.

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18
Q

Justice

A

Key moral principle; fairness in the way people are treated.

19
Q

Kosher

A

Food that is ‘clean’ and that meets the requirements of the dietary laws.

20
Q

Law-Giver

A

Part of the understanding of the nature of God; refers to God’s giving of the Law
to Moses on Mount Sinai.

21
Q

Liberal Judaism

A

This is a form of progressive Judaism which seems to combine traditional beliefs
and practices with modern interpretations.

22
Q

Merciful

A

Part of the understanding of the nature of God; God as compassionate.

23
Q

The Messiah

A

Literally ‘the anointed one’. Orthodox Jews believe that the Messiah will be a
human person sent by God to establish justice and peace on the earth. For
Reform Jews, the Messiah is a symbolic figure.

24
Q

Mitzvot

A

Mitzvot (singular is ‘mitzvah’) are the 613 Jewish commandments/rules found in
the Tenakh.

25
Q

Moses

A

The person through whom God set the Israelites free from slavery in Egypt, gave
the Ten Commandments and made a covenant with Israel.

26
Q

Mourning rituals

A

Refers to set practices that are carried out by Jews as a way of grieving for loved
ones who have died.

27
Q

Ner tamid (ever-burning light)

A

A feature of the synagogue; a light that is above and in front of the aron
hakodesh, which burns constantly as a symbol of God’s presence.

28
Q

Orthodox Judaism

A

Jews who believe God gave the complete Torah to Moses and therefore live
according to Jewish laws and traditions.

29
Q

Pesach

A

Festival that celebrates the Jewish Exodus from Egypt, often called Passover.

30
Q

Prayer

A

Communicating with God; listening to and speaking to God.

31
Q

Reform Judaism

A

Jews who believe the Torah was inspired by God and was developed through
their history – therefore laws may be changed or adapted as modern life
changes.

32
Q

Resurrection

A

Being raised from the dead; part of beliefs about life after death that in a future
age the dead will rise and live again.

33
Q

Rosh Hashanah

A

Festival celebrating the Jewish New Year. It is the start of the ten day period of
High Holy Days that culminates in Yom Kippur.

34
Q

Sanctity of human life

A

Belief that human life is a sacred/special because it is a precious gift from God.

35
Q

‘Saving a life’ (Pikuach Nefesh)

A

This principle overrides all other religious laws because saving a human life
should be of upmost importance in any situation.

36
Q

Shabbat

A

The Sabbath/holy day of the week; beginning at sunset on Friday until sunset on
Saturday.

37
Q

Sinai

A

The mountain where Moses received the Law and where the covenant between
God and Israel was made.

38
Q

Synagogue

A

The place of public worship, also used for study and gathering. Literally means
‘coming together’

39
Q

Talmud (oral law)

A

Source of authority; the law believed by Orthodox Jews to have been given to
Moses but was not written down for many centuries, it was then expanded with
rabbinic explanation/commentaries.

40
Q

Torah

A

Holy book/source of authority; the Jewish scriptures. Includes into three parts:
Torah (Law), Nevi’im (prophets) and Ketuvim (writings)

41
Q

The Ten Commandments

A

Source of authority; religious and moral rules that were given by God to Moses
on Mount Sinai.

42
Q

Trefah

A

Forbidden food – literally means ‘torn’. It does not fulfil the Jewish dietary laws/is
not kosher.

43
Q

Yom Kippur

A

The Day of Atonement – a day of repentance and fasting on the tenth day after
Rosh Hashanah. The holiest day of the Jewish year.