Judaism Flashcards
What are the Principle Beliefs of Judaism
- The belief in the One God, who is the creator and ruler of the Universe (Monotheism)
- Moral Law prescribed by God (Sacred texts)
- The Covenant (with Abraham)
Origins of Judaism
Abraham:
-Started with Abraham, the founding father. He made the first covenant with God, and was promised to have as many descendants as stars in the sky.
-Abraham became a Patriarch for Judaism followed by his son Isaac and grandson Jacob.
-Abraham experienced a dilemma of sacrificing his son to God, Isaac agreed to it. God bailed out and told him stop and instead presented them with a lamb to sacrifice.
-Jacob was sitting near some river and encountered some dude. The dude wrestled with Jacob from day to night. Jacob demanded a blessing from the dude after winning and the dude revealed himself to be an angel. The angel gave him the name “Israel” meaning “the one who wrestled with God” or “the Champion of God”.
Jacob’s 12 sons became the 12 tribes of Israel.
Moses:
-God’s 10 plagues across Egypt are a demonstration of his power and only rightful power over life and death.
The last plague saw the angel of death killing every first born Egyptian son. This is now celebrated as the Passover. The Israelites cursed to roam the desert for 40 years also demonstrates this.
-On Mt. Sinai, Moses receives the 10 commandments (Decalogue) and returns to see the Israelites worshipping a golden cow. Moses then smashes the tablets in rage.
He goes back up and receives the 613 mitzvot and the Israelites agree to strictly adhere to them.
Variants of Judaism
-Conservatives: (A variant of traditional Jews which falls between Orthodox Judaism and Reform Judaism, since they embrace modern culture and needs but still follow traditional practices.)
-Believe the Torah is an interpretation of God’s words, written by people rather than God.
-Believe that men and women can sit with each other, and even that females can become rabbis
-Conservative Judaism will have some less critical prayers at the synagogue spoken in English, but the majority of prayers still in Hebrew
-Conservative Judaism also permits congregants to drive to and from synagogue on the Sabbath if necessary, and interprets the halacha about using electricity on the Sabbath differently from the Orthodox.
-Orthodox: (Means ‘of right opinion, Orthodox adherents strictly follow ancient rabbi teachings.)
-Believe that the words of the Torah were dictated to Moses by God.
-Believes that women and men can’t be seated together in the synagogue services
-Orthodox Judaism is distinguished by its maintenance of the traditional forms of worship in the Hebrew language
-The operation of electrical devices on the Jewish Sabbath is categorically prohibited by Orthodox Jewish authorities. Orthodox and other traditionally observant Jews therefore do not use lights or electrical appliances on the Sabbath; however there is no prohibition on using a light that was turned on before the Sabbath began.
-Progressive: (A variant of Judaism called Reform Judaism which aims to make Judaism more suitable for a modern society through relaxing some of the stricter practices of Orthodox Judaism.)
Covenant
Since God gave Moses the laws and made a covenant with him, adherence to the mitzvot is an integral part of upholding the covenant.
Circumcision is a physical colophon for the covenant and adherence to the mitzvot is a sign of virtue through behaviour (also was God’s first commandment to Abraham)
Prophets
Challenged the apathy of the Jewish people
What is the Tanakh?
Torah (“Teaching”), Nevi’im (“Prophets”), and Ketuvim (“Writings”)
what are the Mitzvot?
Rules that Jewish adherents must strictly follow. In total, there are 613 Mitzot. God originally gave Moses 10 commandments on the stone tablets at Mount Sinai.
248 Positive Mitzvot, or “Mitzvot aseh”
365 Negative Mitzvot, or “ Mitzvot ta’aseh”
What is Wisdom?
wisdom (Khokhmah or Chokma), and being able to Apply it. Found in the book of Proverbs.
The reason Chokma is considered applied wisdom is because Exodus 31, tradesmen are the ones described to have it.
Tikkun Olam
‘to repair the world under the sovereignty of God.’
Good deeds + acting responsibly towards one another + charity = Tikkun Olam.
Tzedakah
Tzedakah means that charity and almsgiving is an obligation rather than a choice.
Shabbat
-From Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall
-Jews enter a state of rest; Commemorates and respects God’s creation of the Earth - God rested on the seventh day, so do adherents
-Kiddush - blessing over wine and food - state that God created the world in 6 days & rested on 7th
-Hallah - knotted bread, represents manna
Sources of Ethics
Talmud and the Mitzvot act as a guide and the Jewish people have a duty to follow them to possess holy qualities.
Key Terms
God (G-d)/Yahweh (YHWH):
Circumcision: A ritual where eight days after a boy is born, his foreskin is cut off. It physically represents Abraham’s covenant with God. It is still practised today.
Commandment (Mitzvot):
Rules that Jewish adherents must strictly follow. In total, there are 613 Mitzot. God originally gave Moses 10 commandments on the stone tablets at Mount Sinai.
Passover (Pesach):
A holiday that Jewish adherents celebrate, it commemorates the Exodus (when Moses led the Hebrews out of slavery from Egypt).
Tanakh:
A sacred text from Judaism that has three sections -> God’s law, prophets and writings.
Torah:
It means ‘teachings’, it contains the law of God that was revealed to Moses which was recorded in the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures.
Nevi’im:
It is books of prophets, stories and teachings.
Ketuvim:
It is an assortment of unconnected books which share the overarching theme of the connection between God and His people, it contains poetry, historical stories and political debates.
Kosher:
Strict dietary requirements for Jews, the term translates to ‘fit’ or ‘proper’ and it contains the types of foods and the way they are allowed to be prepared for adherents to consume.
Prophet:
A messenger of God, they reveal his messages to society.
Proverbs:
Short statements of wisdom literature that are found in the Tanakh which offer advice on how to live a moral life.
Synagogue:
A place where Jewish people congregate, learn about and worship God, it means ‘house of assembly’ and can be translated as ‘school’.
Sabbath/Shabbat:
A 25 hour period that begins at sunset on Friday night and ends at sunset on Saturday night every week, it is a holy day of obligation for adherents.
Monotheism:
The belief of the existence of only one God, Jews believe that God is the source of everything.
Moral law:
The law that God gave to the Jewish adherents to follow, it was given in the form of the Mitzvot, there are
613 in total.
Omnipresent:
Means God is always present, highlights the fact that God is concerned with human concerns.
Omnipotent:
Means God is always powerful, highlights that God is the supreme power and can do anything and everything.
Omniscient:
Means God is all knowing of past, present and future.
Orthodox:
Means ‘of right opinion, Orthodox adherents strictly follow ancient rabbi teachings.
Conservative:
A variant of traditional Jews which falls between Orthodox Judaism and Reform Judaism, since they embrace modern culture and needs but still follow traditional practices.
Progressive:
A variant of Judaism called Reform Judaism which aims to make Judaism more suitable for a modern society through relaxing some of the stricter practices of Orthodox Judaism.
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