Judaism Flashcards
Sacred texts
Torah and Talmud
What does the Torah contain?
Judaism’s main teachings and history; First book of the Bible; Narrative creation of the world; Prophets; Journey to Egypt and promise land; 10 Commandments; Etc.
What does the Talmud contain?
Commentaries and traditions; Detailed studies of legal matters and ritual obligations
Who are the 3 Major Figures?
Abraham (No time), Moses(1300 BCE), and David(1000 BCE)
How early was Judaism compared to all the others?
Earlier than any other religion (1800 BCE)
Who was Abraham?
1st Monotheist - Invented it; Founder of Judaism and possibly Christianity
What did Abraham do that was so significant?
Made a covenant with God in which Abraham and his people will acknowledge only this 1 God and God will see them as his “Chosen people”; They also have to travel to the promise land; In exchange, God will make the Jewish people a great nation and offer protection
Covenant
A sacred agreement - with God
Where is Abraham from?
Mesopotamia - World’s first civilization; Between 2 major rivers - Very easy for trade and crops and water source
Canaan
Promise land from Abraham; Ancient Israel
Who was Moses?
A desert nomad
What did Moses do that was so significant?
Tell the Pharaoh of Egypt to free the Jews; 10 Plagues; Exodus; 10 Commandments
10 Plagues
10 disasters inflicted on the Pharaoh by God to make him free the captured Jews; Locus - Nile turns Red - Frogs - Killing of first borns - etc.
Passover
1 of the Plagues - Killing of the first borns; Moses tells Jews to paint lamb’s blood over their front door so that angel of death passover
Exodus
Migration out of Egypt to the Promised Land; Moses convinces Pharaoh -> Ramses II changes his mind and chases after Jews; Moses parted the red sea; 10 Commandments; Reaching Canaan
10 Commandments
Foundation of Jewish ethics, behaviors, and responsibilities; Moral rules; After Moses parted the red sea; He traveled up to Mt.Sinai and have a conversation with God - He came back down with 10 tablets
Arch of Covenant
Box that keeps the 10 Commandments
Who was David and Goliath?
Young David fought Goliath from Philistine and won with a sling;
Who was David?
Hero king of Jewish people; Model messiah figure
Messiah
Savior
What did David do that was so significant?
Represented ancient Judaism at its heights - Expelled invaders and developed a solid foundation; Built a temple in Jerusalem - Center of Jewish religious center - Symbol of Jewish unity and past
Western Wall / Wailing Wall
What is left of David’s temple after invaders; This was the last time Jews were a single and connected organization where every Jewish person from around the world would gather and worship; Located in Jerusalem
Diaspora
(Take a group of people) Scattering of people (from their homeland)
What are the 2 Jewish diaspora groups?
Ashkenazi (German) + Sephardic (Spanish)
Rabbi
Jewish scholars / priests
What are the principle beliefs?
1 all-powerful God (Monotheism); Covenant -> Chosen people; Prophets; Ethical conducts / responsibilities (10 Commandments); Weekly sabbath
What do Prophets do?
Reveal God’s will - A person in contact with a divine being
Sabbath
Jewish Day of Rest; Happens each week from Friday sunset - Sunday sunset
Rosh Hashanah
New Year
Yom Kippur
Day of Atonement (Reparation for a wrong)
