Judaism Flashcards
Ba’al
fertility god of the ancient Canaanites
bar mitzvah
ceremony in which a 13 year old boy becomes an adult member of the Jewish community
bat mitzvah
equivalent pf bar mitzvah ceremony for girls in Reform and Conservative Jewish congregations
circumcision
boys’ initiation ritual that occurs on the 8th day after birth and is called brit milah (covenant of circumcision)
Conservative Judaism
movement attempting to adapt Judaism to modern life by using principles of change within the traditional laws; occupies middle ground between Reform and Orthodox Judaism
covenant (berith)
relationship between God and Israel, enacted on Mt. Sinai, based on Israel’s acceptance of God’s Torah
diaspora
the dispersion of Jews away from the Jewish homeland, to live as minorities in other lands
dietary law
Jewish laws pertaining to the proper preparation and eating of food
Essenes
ascetic Jewish movement around the Dead Sea area from the second century - first century B.C.E
Exile
The Jewish captivity in Babylon, especially from the fall of Jerusalem in 589 B.C.E until the first return of Jerusalem in 538 B.C.E
Exodus
deliverance of Israelites from Egypt under Moses’ leadership
Gemara
Comments on the Mishnah, added to the Mishnah to form the Jewish Talmud
ghetto
special Jewish quarter in certain European cities
Halakhah
Jewish legal tradition based on the Talmud
Hanukkah
festival of lights in December, celebrating rededication of the temple in Maccabean times
Hasidim
Popular mystical and devotional Jewish movement beginning in the 17th century in eastern Europe
Hebrews
ancestors of the Israelites
Israel
“he strives with God”, name given to Jacob and thereafter to the covenant people
name of modern Jewish state
Kabbalah
“tradition” especially the medieval mystical Jewish tradition, of which the Zohar is a central text
Karaites
Jewish sect that rejected oral Torah (Talmud), relying on scripture alone
kashrut
ritual fitness, suitable for use according to Jewish law; applies especially to dietary laws, what foods can and cannot be eaten, and how to prepare them.
Maimonides
great medieval Jewish philosopher 1135 - 1204
Marranos
Spanish Jews who were outwardly Christianized but many of whom secretly continued Jewish tradition
Masada
Mountain fortress near the Dead Sea where Jewish Zealots made a last stand against the Romans
Mendelssohn, Moses
Jewish Enlightenment thinker 1729 - 1786
Messiah
end-time king, descended from King David, expected to redeem Ismael
Mishnah
code of Jewish oral law complied ca. 200 c.e. by Judah the Prince
mitzvot
commandments given by God
Moses
leader of Israel in the Exodus from Egypt and the founding of the covenant on Mt. Sinai
Orthodox Judaism
modern movement continuing a strict traditional belief in the binding character of the Torah and Halakhah
Pesach (Passover)
spring festival commemorating deliverance from Egypt
Pharisees
party in ancient Judaism teaching the oral Torah along with the written Torah, resurrection of the body, and application of the law in everyday life
prophets
inspired people who spoke God’s word and advocated reforms in Israel, especially from the 8th - 4th cent. B.C.E; recorded words of individual profits prophets became part of the sacred scripture
Purim
early spring festival remembering events of the Book of Esther
rabbi
“my master” title for teacher of the law; spiritual leader of a congregation
Rabbinic Judaism
designation for Judaism as it developed under the teachers of the oral Torah
Reconstructionist Judaism
modern movement founded by Mordecai Kaplan (1881-1982), emphasizing Judaism as a civilization
Reform Judaism
modern movement attempting to conform tradition to conditions of modern life, allowing changes in the Halakah
Rosh Hashanah
Jewish New Year, first day of Tishri; beginning of High Holy Days
Sabbath
seventh day of the week, sacred day of rest and study for Jews
Sadducees
conservative party of temple priests and sympathizers in ancient Judaism who rejected the oral Torah and the idea of the resurrection
Shavuot
Feast of Weeks, commemorating the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai
Shema
statement proclaiming the unity of God
Sukkot
Feast of Booths, autumn harvest festival
synagogue
Greek term translating Hebrew “House of Assembly”; Jewish place for prayer and study
Talmud
Jewish “oral Torah” comprised of the Mishnah and Gemara; exists in a Palestinian and a Babylonian version
Tanakh
Hebrew scriptures comprised of the Torah (the Pentateuch), Nevi’im (the Prophets), and Khetuvim (The Writings)
Torah
first five books in the Hebrew scriptures; also the whole of scripture; also the whole corpus of revelation, including oral Torah
Yahweh
special covenant name of Israel’s God as it was probably pronounced; written YHWH in the Hebrew scriptures
Yom Kippur
Jewish Day of Atonement on the tenth of Tishri, a solemn day of repentance
Zealots
Jewish religious party in the Roman period that advocated resistance to Roman occupation
Zionism
modern movement to secure a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which led to the formation of the state of Israel
