Judaism Flashcards
Shabbat
The Jewish Sabbath, from Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown
Kiddush
Ceremonial family blessing and meal Friday night to welcome the Sabbath
Challah
The special braided bread baked specially for the Sabbath meal
Havdalah
A family ceremony on Saturday night marking the end of the Sabbath
Kashrut
The term which describes the Jewish “kosher” dietary laws
Kosher
The term describing food as “fit” or “proper” in Judaism
Treif
The word means “torn” and describes un-kosher food
Pareve
This word describes foods which are considered “neutral”
Brit Mila (or Bris)
Covenant biblical circumcision for Jewish males
Bar Mitzvah
A ceremony where 13 year old Jewish boys become “sons of the commandment”
Bat Mitzvah
A similar ceremony (in Reform Judaism) for girls who have turned 12 years old
Halakah
The term means “walk” or “way” – describes the body of Jewish law and practice
Shema
The most sacred prayer in Judaism; repetition in Hebrew of Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Talit (or Talis)
The Jewish “prayer shawl” with colored bands and fringes
Talit Katan
“Small Talis” – A linen undershirt with fringes worn by some Orthodox men
Tzitzit
The biblical Hebrew term for “fringe” – the fringes on the Talit prayer shawl
Tefilin
Phylacteries – Small leather prayer boxes bound to the head and arm during prayer
Mezuza
The word means “doorpost” – a small container with a scripture passage inside
Kippa
Yarmulke – Jewish “skull cap” worn by males for prayer and sacred occasions
Shofar
Hebrew term for the ram’s horn blown on Rosh Hashannah and holy occasions
Menorah
The “lamp” with multiple arms (like the 7-armed temple menorah)
Rosh Hashannah
The Jewish New Year, beginning day of the month of Fall holidays
Yom Kippur
The biblical Day of Atonement, a solemn day of fasting in Judaism
High Holy Days
Rosh Hashannah, followed by Yom Kippur ten days later
Sukkot
The weeklong Feast of Tabernacles (or booths) each fall
Shemini Atzeret
The “eighth” additional holiday right after the seven days of Sukkot
Simhat Torah
The “joyful day of Torah” at the end of the Sukkot week each Fall
Pessakh
The Biblical spring festival of Passover
Seder
The ritual feast of passover – the term Seder means “order”
Shavuot
The biblical Feast of Weeks, early summer festival 50 days after Pessah
Tisha Be-Av
The “Ninth of Av” – summer day of mourning destruction of the temple
Hanukah
The term means “dedication” – refers to the winter “feast of Dedication”
Hanukiah
The specific term for the nine-armed Hanukah menorah
Dreidel
A small, four-sided top which children play with at Hanukah
Purim (Lots)
The early Spring celebration involving the reading of the story of Esther
Kabalah
The term for mystical (even magical) Jewish traditions of the middle ages
Synagogue
The Jewish meeting house or house of worship
1000 BCE
David unites Israelite tribes and becomes king at Jerusalem
950 BCE
Solomon builds First Temple at Jerusalem
922 BCE
Israelites divide into two kingdoms: Judah (south) and Israel (north)
732 BCE
First Assyrian deportation of Israel (northern kingdom)
721 BCE
Second Assyrian deportation of Israel (reduced northern kingdom)
701 BCE
Assyrian deportation of Judah, but Jerusalem spared
586 BCE
Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and First Temple; Jews taken captive to Babylon
537 BCE
Persian Empire (Cyrus) allows Jews to return to Judah
520 BCE
Second Temple (Zerubbabel) built on the site of the earlier temple
430 BCE
End of the Hebrew Bible record, with Malachi
332 BCE
Alexander the Great conquers Near East – Hellenistic influence
164 BCE
Jewish independence from Syrian-Greek rule – Hanukah (temple rededication)
63 BCE
Romans conquer the land of Israel (eventually install Herod the Great)
20 BCE
Second temple dismantled and newly rebuilt – Temple of Herod
10 BCE
Ministry of Hillel and Shammai (the two leading Pharisee schools of thought)
4 BCE
Death of Herod the Great, birth of Jesus
30 CE
Ministry of Gamliel I (and Jesus and Peter)
70 CE
End of First Jewish Revolt, destruction of Jerusalem and Temple of Herod
135 CE
End of the Second Jewish Revolt (Bar Kokhba) – Jews banned from Judea
200 CE
Yehudah HaNasi – Mishnah collected and written (Sepphoris, Galilee)
500 CE
Talmud assembled – Gemara collected and written in Tiberias and Babylon
