Judaism Flashcards
What are the Jewish sacred texts?
Torah - instructions laws and teachings
Nevi’im - prophets
Ketuvim - writings
What are the two types of Judaism?
Orthodox and reform (progressive)
What is the Torah?
The first five books of the Old Testament. It’s seen as the holiest part of the Tenakh, God gave it to Moses. It contains the mitzvot
What is the ketuvim?
Contains the psalms, the proverbs and philosophy
What is the Nevi’im?
The collection if books, divided into two parts. The former prophets trace history of the Israelites. The latter prophets contain the words of 15 prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. They encourage Jews to obey God
What are the 11 things God is beloved to be?
One, eternal, the creator, omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, omnipresent, law giver, the judge, transcendent, immanent
What is shekinah?
Gods presence in a particular place on Earth.
What stew the covenants?
1st. Abraham- leave his home, he would get children as long as they obey God
2nd. Moses- he freed all the Jews in ancient Egypt
3rd. Moses- he made a promise with God on mount Sinai that the Jews are gods chosen people and they have to follow his rules
How many mitzvot are there?
613
What are the sections of mitzvot?
248 positive
365 negative
The ritual mitzvot - must do/ not do
The moral mitzvot - feelings with other people
What are some moral principles?
Pikusch Nefesh
Earths people at custodians- they have to look after the world
Justice
Tzedakah- Charity
Kindness
Gemitlut hasadim- acts of loving kindnes
What are the Jewish beliefs on the afterlife?
Life after death is called Gan Eden or Gehinom
Physical view of it - banquets and sunshine
Spiritual vie of it - closeness to God
Where do souls go to before Gan Eden?
Gehinom, a place of purification or torment
What is the messiah?
An inspirational leader who will bring an era of perfect peace and prosperity called the Messianic age
What are the four main features in a synagogue?
Aron Hakodesh ( the ark ), Sefer Torah ( the scrolls ), Ner Tamid ( perpetual light ), Bimah or Almemar
What is the Aron Hakodesh?
The ark
The center piece of a synagogue
A cupboard or screen on the wall facing Jerusalem
What is the Sefer Torah?
A parchment scroll kept inside the ark.
Must be hand written by a sofer ( scribe ).
What is the ner tamid?
A light above the ark which never goes out.
It represents the menorah which was always alight in the temple
What is the bimah or Almemar?
A raised platform with a reading desk.
Orthodox have it in the centre where as progressive often have it close to the ark
What are 4 important things about the synagogue?
- No pictures of God
- A menorah
- Orthodox desperate men and women
Progressive have mixed seating - They are also important centres for the Jewish community ( e.g. study groups, meeting places, social clubs )
What are the three daily services?
- Tenakh shows its importance to worship Gog
- Attending synagogue can remind Jews of the importance of their faith
- Orthodox synagogues hold services three times a day ( sacharit, minchah, ma’sriv)
What is the central part of the service?
- Siddur ( prayer book
- Minyan read prayers
- Services led by a rabbi
- The hazzan ( orthodox face the same way, progressive face towards congregation
- Progressive pray in unison, orthodox pray at their own pace
- Orthodox are in Hebrew, reform are in foreign languages
- Reform may have choir, ortho. Don’t
- Jews face Jerusalem during prayers
How is the Torah treated?
- Can only be spoken in Hebrew ( for orthodox)
- Is read each week
- It is carried through the synangogue and congregation is allowed to kneel to, bow or touch the Torah with the tallit
How is prayer important?
- Full concentration is needed
- Central part of Judaism and their relation with god
- Some prayers said 3x a day
- Some prayers are spontaneous( can be made up)
- Men wear kippahs ( cap) as respect
