Judaism

Question 1

Describe origins

Answer 1

• Hebrew bible describes God’s relationship with humanity
• Begins with patriarch, Abraham
• 2000 BCE, Abraham received vision from God, told to leave home of Mesopotamian City and go to Haran
• Received revelation of one God, monotheistic
• 2 ideas received: Jews are God’s chosen people, idea of Promise Land
• Abraham’s son (Issac) and grandson (Jacob) kept covenant with God
• Covenant= key of Jewish faith, God is the creator and governor

Question 2

Describe Moses’s role

Answer 2

• Moses meant to give Ten Commandments and God keeps covenant
• Moses born of Hebrew slaves, raised by Pharaoh’s daughter
• Killed an Egyptian, fled to Midian, went to Jethro
• Encountered God through burning bush
• Moses asked who he was, told “I will be who I will be” (I am who I am)
• Plagues on Egyptians till Hebrews finally allowed out of Egypt across Red Sea
• God appeared at Mount Sinai to give Ten Commandments, renewal of covenant

Question 3

Exodus meaning?

Answer 3

Departure

Question 4

Describe a holy place for Jews

Answer 4

Western Wall
- Temple inside, spiritual centre of the world for Jews
- Permanent reminder of God’s presence, Jews will not be destroyed
- Symbolizes heroism

Question 5

Beliefs?

Answer 5

• Oneness of God, and His compassion for creation (covenant)
• God is the Creator
• God governs with just and honour
• Humanity has an obligation to worship God

Question 6

Five fundamental concepts?

Answer 6

• There is a God
• Only one God
• God created the world, won’t last forever
• Only one universe
• God cares for the world and all its creatures

Question 7

Holy place of worship?

Answer 7

Synagogue
- Place of gather, prayer, and study/learning

Question 8

Sacred writings?

Answer 8

Torah, Talmund, Tanakh

Question 9

Describe the Torah?

Answer 9

Describes the development of God’s relationship with the chosen people (5 books of the Old Testament) “law”

Question 10

Describe the Talmud?

Answer 10

Teachings and commentary on the Torah, second most important (basis of Jewish law)
- Mishnah: Edited records of oral Torah, early rabbinic teachings on living life
- Gemara: Rabbinical analysis and commentary on Mishnah

Question 11

Describe the Tanakh?

Answer 11

Hebrew bible, Old Testament
-Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim
- Nevi’im: Prophets (former and latter prophets)
- Ketuvim: Writings (ex. 1/2 Chronicles, Pslams)

Question 12

What is Shabbat? (Sabbath)

Answer 12

Based on the creation story in Genesis, a time to put aside work, shopping, housework, and homework
- For important things: prayer, family, and friends

Friday evening- Saturday evening

Question 13

Star of David symbol?

Answer 13

• Shape of King David’s shield
• Symbol of the will to survive, and Jewish pride

Question 14

Menorah symbol?

Answer 14

• Ancient source of light
• One branch for every day of creation, and one for Sabbath

Question 15

Explain Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Answer 15

Jewish New Year
- Ten day period of repentance, ends with Yom Kippur
- Request forgiveness from God and others for mistakes and transgressions
- Sounded of the Shofar, horn (call people together

Question 16

Explain Hanukkah

Answer 16

Festival of Lights
- Eight days, celebrates the Maccabean revolt (rekindled sacred lamp with only enough oil to last one day, but it burned for 8)
- Candle lit for each day
- Ninth branch= shamus, servant
- Families gather light each candle every night, recite special blessing

Question 17

Describe lead to the branches in Judaism

Answer 17

• Jews gaining civil liberties during 18th century in Western Europe
• During Enlightenment, Jews thought to join European life more fully
• Some thought they should assimilate

Question 18

Orthodox Judaism?

Answer 18

• Torah= from Heaven
• Written/spoken Torah combined= evolving communication of God’s will
• Torah= source of truth, revealed by God, from generation to generation
• Most strict, upholds tradition (ancestors closer to God because of tradition)

Practices:
- Bigger festivals
- Very spiritual
- Dresses like their ancestors
- Daily worship
- Kosher
- Extensive study of Torah
- Separation of men and women in synagogues

Question 19

Reform Judaism?

Answer 19

• Both written/spoken Torah were human creations
• God allows for successive generations have different appreciation of the truth of the Torah
• Alters Jewish beliefs to conform with modern society

Question 20

Conservative Judaism?

Answer 20

• Middle ground between Orthodox and Reform
• Recognizes human elements in revelation (God revealed Torah to both people and through the people)
• Wants to alter old style Orthodox to meet new realizes of North American life (New York, after World War 2

Question 21

Reconstructionist Judaism?

Answer 21

• Youngest, but fastest growing
• Aims to reconstruct Judaism by making Jewish traditions more meaningful for todays world (blends tradition with change)
• Judaism is work in progress, not finished

Question 22

Zionist Judaism?

Answer 22

Political, goes against Judaism
- Wants the Promised Land back (Israel)
- Protect Jewish people through force

Question 23

What is Shiva?

Answer 23

Seven day mourning period for the dead immediately after funeral

Question 24

What is kosher?

Answer 24

Separation of meat and dairy goods, slaughter and removal of blood from meat

Question 25

What is Bar/Bat Mitzvah?

Answer 25

Coming of age ceremony, girl= 12, boys= 13
- Obey all laws, and 613 commandments

Question 26

Milestones?

Answer 26

Shabbat, birth ceremony, bar/bat mitzvah, death, funeral/mourning