Judaism 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

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

Bimah

A

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

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6
Q

Brit Milah

A

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

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7
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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8
Q

Covenant

A

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

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9
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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10
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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11
Q

Divine presence (shekhinah)

A

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

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12
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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13
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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14
Q

Healing the world

A

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

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15
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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16
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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17
Q

Justice

A

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

18
Q

Kosher

A

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

19
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.

20
Q

Liberal Judaism

A

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

21
Q

Merciful

A

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

22
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.

23
Q

Mitzvot

A

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

24
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.

25
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.

26
Q

Ner tamid

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.

27
Q

Orthodox Judaism

A

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

28
Q

Pesach

A

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

29
Q

Prayer

A

Communicating with God; listening to and speaking to God.

30
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.

31
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.

32
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.

33
Q

Sanctity of human life

A

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

34
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.

35
Q

Shabbat

A

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

36
Q

Sinai

A

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

37
Q

Synagogue

A

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

38
Q

Talmud

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.

39
Q

Tenakh (written law)

A

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

40
Q

Ten Commandments

A

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

41
Q

Trefah

A

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

42
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.