Judaism Flashcards

Question

What is Reform Judaism?

Answer 1

It is the least strict out of all the Judaism branches. It attracted Jews who had mixed more frequently with the rest of the population. They wanted to enjoy freedom like everyone else, participate in intellectual life and work with non-Jews.

Answer 2

~They begin to interpret scripture with more modern methods ~They become less concerned with traditional purity laws, kosher laws, and the desire to return to the homeland ~use a combination of Hebrew and English for religious services ~Men and women sit together in the synagogue ~Women are ordained as rabbis ~Many, but not all, believe if one parent is Jewish the children are Jewish ~Individualism is encouraged, each person must decide what beliefs and practices are key to his or her personal life ~They often accept secular moral values (the values of society in general) but live by traditional values as well ~They stress tikkun olam--repairing the world through social action

Answer 3

It is in between the Orthodox and Reform Judaism. It arose as a reaction to Reform Judaism, meaning it was the last branch to be established.

Answer 4

~it follows many, but not all, of the 613 commandments of the Torah, and old traditions such as the order of prayers, the use of Hebrew, and some dietary laws ~It is open to modern historical methods of study, but considers Reform Judaism too loose in its interpretation of the scripture ~the needs of the community and its Jewish identity always comes before the individuals wants and needs ~Active participation in synagogue is very important ~Like Reform Jews, conservatives ~Men and women sit together in the synagogue ~Women are sometimes ordained as rabbis ~It is the largest branch of the Judaism in Canada

Answer 5

~it is the Jewish New Year, but it falls in late September/ Early October ~It begins a ten-day period of repentance, ending with the festival of Yom Kippur (Days of Awe) ~The two days Rosh Hashanah and the eight days that follow concentrate on an assessment of conducts and behaviour in the previous years ~Jews request forgiveness from God and from other human beings ~on Saturday evening, before Rosh Hashanah, a forgiveness service is held at the synagogue ~An important ritual at this service is the sounding of the Shofar, which is a ram's horn ~Also known as the day of atonement, Yom Kippur is the most solemn religious day of the Jewish year, marked by a 25 hours fast and prayer of repentance ~Regular activities are avoided on this day, as repentance is so important ~Signs of comfort and luxury are not allowed ~No food or drink is allowed to demonstrate that this day is better spent on prayer

Answer 6

~Festival of the dedication or the festival of lights ~Eight-day period, usually falls in December, celebrates the events of Macccabean Revolt ~In Jerusalem, a small army reclaimed the temple, then the ceremonies were dedicating the temple to place over eight days ~When people try to rekindle the sacred lamp in the temple, there was only enough oil to last one day ~According to legend however, the oil continued to burn in the temple for eight days ~As part of the celebration, the candle is lit for each of the eight days in a special candle or labrum or menorah ~menorahs have 9 branches each branch is for one of the 8 nights of Hanukkah and the 9th candle, known as the shammus (servant), which is often placed in the center and used to light the other candles ~Families gather to light the candles and recite special blessings every night

Answer 7

~The feast of Passover is held in April over 7 or 8 days ~Important holiday because it commemorates the freeing of the Hebrews from slavery--the exodus ~This holiday, more then any other, celebrates the Jewish peoples identity as a people of God ~During the entire week of pesach, Jews do not eat anything chametz, or leavened, in order to commemorate the haste in which the Hebrews had to flee from their oppressor ~On the eve of this festival, a ceremonial search for chametz takes place ~This is the last chance to find anything that might have been missed in preparations ~Adults often hide chametz somewhere in the home then the children search for it. A blessing is said when it's found ~Another custom is for all first born Jewish males to fast on the first day of the festival ~This helps them to remember the first born Egyptian males who were killed, so Hebrews could be freed ~The seder, a ritual service and ceremonial dinner is held at home, on the first night of Pesach ~Events of exodus are told, reenacted and explained ~It describes the rituals, symbols, objects, and food that are used during seder ~Have a seder meal on the first day (resembles what Moses would have ate in the desert)

Answer 8

A person who is trained according to Jewish law that preforms the circumcision

Answer 9

~Takes place eight days after birth ~Babies are given a conventional name and a traditional Hebrew name, which is sometimes in remembrance to deceased relatives. It signifies the importance of Jewish faith ~The formal name is usually only used in religious rituals, such as reading the Torah ~Jewish boys are circumcised 8 days after birth ~The circumcision is performed by a mohel ~If a mohel is not present, then a trained rabbi or doctor may preform the surgery ~A boy is usually given his name during the circumcision ceremony ~Girls are given their names in the synagogue on a Sabbath shortly after their birth (Simchat Bat)

Answer 10

Circumcision: Brit Milah | Naming of a baby: Bris

Answer 11

It is a coming of age ceremony that a girl celebrates at age 12. She is a "daughter of the commandments"

Answer 12

It is a coming of age ceremony that a girl celebrates at age 13. He is a "son of the commandments"

Answer 13

~it is discouraged or permitted | ~one is not free to remarry unless a Get is issued (even if they are civilly divorced)

Answer 14

~Jews are not required to marry within the faith but difficulties arise when it occurs when they are interfaith marriages ~Weddings often take place in the synagogue and are conducted by a rabbi ~The Bride and Groom stand under a chuppa (canopy) which symbolizes the home they will share ~the groom crushes glass under his for to remind the couple of the good and bad experiences they will have, as well as the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem

Answer 15

~occurs within 24 hours of death. Cremation is not allowed. It is considered a destruction of God's creation ~the family is protected from common problems and responsibilities, and prohibited from leaving the house in order to have their seven days of morning period ~A shiva candle is lit to symbolize the soul of the deceased. Mirrors are covered and clothes are ripped to avoid vanity

Answer 16

The seven day morning period

Answer 17

Plural of "Mitzvah", the religious or moral path that Jews must follow

Answer 18

A trained professional that performs the circumcision ceremony

Answer 19

A patriarch of Judaism ~Abraham and his wife Sarah traveled to the Promised Land (Canaan, Palestine) ~ the birth of their only son, Isaac, continued the covenant between God and Abraham ~Isaac fathered Jacob (later Israel) who in turn fathered 12 sons, his favourite being Joseph ~the brothers sold Joseph to slavery in Egypt where he later became a political leader

Answer 20

Led Israelites out of Egypt to free them from slavery in about 1920 BCE (exodus) ~God formed the covenant of Sinai with the people and they later settled in the Promised Land in 1220 BCE

Answer 21

An agreement of mutual faithfulness, like a contract or alliance between two parties "I will be your God and you shall be my people"; the agreement binds the parties together with mutual privileges and obligations

Answer 22

Hebrew Bible containing the Torah, the Prophets, and the writings (which begins with T, N, and K in Hebrew)

Answer 23

It was written by Moses and contains the first 5 books of the bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) and 613 laws (including the Decalogue) ~Torah in Greek is "Pentateuch", and in English it is "The Law". The Oral Torah is the Halakhah ~All synagogues have one hand-written scroll which is kept in the ark

Answer 24

It is the ten commandments

Answer 25

It is the compilation of written interpretations of the Halakhah by rabbis after the second defeat of the Jews but the Romans in 135 CE

Answer 26

It means "teachings" or "instructions". Most Jews were literate because they were home schooled

Answer 27

1. the Mishnah: completed around 200 CE, blends the oral and written Torah into simplified modern terms 2. The Gemara: completed around 400-500 CE, consolidation/ interpretation of laws continued in Babylon

Answer 28

Means "one who speaks for"; second division of the Torah contains prophetic books. Challenges people to be faithful to the covenant

Answer 29

It contains the rest of the Hebrew Bible including Psalm, wisdom literature and historical books

Answer 30

a place of worship, center for prayers, study and communal fellowship (especially to Orthodox). Some Reform and Conservative Jews call it "Temple"

Answer 31

The sacred chest containing the Ten Commandments. It is usually on the eastern wall so the congregation faces Jerusalem when they face the ark

Answer 32

~Means fit or proper ~Dietary laws are call Kashrut which state blood cannot be eaten and meat must not be cooked, combine, stored, or eaten with dairy ~Maintained mainly be Orthodox and sometimes by Conservative Jews ~Pork and Shellfish are prohibited

Answer 33

the systematic killing of over six million Jews before and during World War II. It is from the Hebrew word for "catastrophe", "calamity"; it refers to Nazi Germany's deliberate attempt to exterminate the Jewish race (between 1933 and 1945)

Answer 34

~16-20 million people (about 6 million were Jews) were killed in concentration and labour camps by German Nazis and their allies ~Adolf Hitler was elected chancellor of Germany in 1933. He considered Jews to be an "inferior race". the cause of Germany's loss in WWI and the cause of the poor economy during the Great Depression (he declared them enemies of the state) ~Jews had trouble leaving during the Depression because the countries limited their immigrant intake ~Jews were imprisoned, starved, forced to do heavy manual labour, medically experimented on, tortured and killed ~The Jewish population in Europe when from 9.5 million to 1.6 million in only 12 years

Answer 35

The hatred of Jews

Answer 36

6-pointed star that gained popularity in the last 200 years. It's named after King David who supposedly had this star on his shield. It appears on the flag of Isreal

Answer 37

Shabbat in Hebew. Occurs at sunset on Friday and lasts until sunset on Saturday. observant Jews avoid work. ex. driving, using electricity, cooking

Answer 38

9-branch candelabras representing each of the 8 nights of Hanukkah (the ninth being for shamus or servant)

Answer 39

It is the small black leather box containing the scrolls inscribed with verses from the Torah. It is worn during morning prayers

Answer 40

may be placed on front door or every door, tilted slightly to the right. Symbol is in accordance to Deuteronomy 6:9 and contains the first to paragraphs of the Shema

Answer 41

small, round cap clipped to the hair. Orthodox allows only men to wear them and they are worn all day. Conservatives allow women to wear one. It can be worn while eating, praying or studying. Reform Jews are not obligated to wear one. It signifies that all humans are beneath God

Answer 42

The ram's horn which is blown into the month before Rosh Hashanah. The purpose of the sound is to remind people of their responsibility to repent

Answer 43

The scattering of Jews outside of Israel in both ancient and modern times

Answer 44

A movement that began in the 19th century for the purpose of creating a Jewish state in what is now modern Israel; today 'Zionism' refers to strong support for the State of Israel.

Answer 45

~Persecution of Jews in Europe compelled them to their Promised Land ~Zionists emigrated to Palestine--Arabs objected them--fighting ensued ~Britain submitted an issue to UN and voted to divide Palestine into Arab and Jewish states ~Palestinians felt betrayed--Britain promised them independence in 1915 ~may 14,1948--Jews proclaimed independence of Israel. Neighbouring nations attacked the day after ~8 months later, Israel won and controlled its land and half of Palestine forcing the Arabs to become refugees

Answer 46

The Jewish Creed

Answer 47

A poor section of a city inhabited by Jews when discriminated against

Answer 48

the Hebrew word for peace, a greeting

Answer 49

The belief in one God

Answer 50

the first king of Isreal

Answer 51

Israel’s second king, who defeated the enemies of his people & united all the tribes into one kingdom.

Answer 52

built the temple that David had offered to build for God containing the Ark of the Covenant

Answer 53

a member of ancient Jewish sect distinguished by strict observance of the traditional & written law.

Answer 54

Jewish New Year, Days of Awe * 10 day period of repentance ending with Yom Kippur * Jews request forgiveness from God & from others on the previous Saturday at a forgiveness service * The Shofar is sounded ritually

Answer 55

or “Day of Atonement” * The most solemn religious day of the year * Jews fast for 25 hours & pray for repentance. Regular activities, comfort, luxury, food & drink are not allowed as the day is better spent on praying.

Answer 56

occurs in March/February commemorating Queen Esther’s part in ensuring the survival of the Jewish people

Answer 57

the ritual of sanctification said before the Sabbath & holidays

Answer 58

Or the Wailing Wall. the Temple was destroyed by Romans in 70 CE, only the Western Wall remains. Prayers are put between the rocks.

Answer 59

* One text, the Zohar is described as a journey into the self of each individual * According to Kabbalah, God’s true nature is indescribable except by saying what he’s not * God’s true essence is known as Ein Sof which means “without end” because God has no boundaries in time or space

Answer 60

* The founder was Israel ben Eliezer aka Ba’al Shem Tov. He taught that communion with God happened through prayer, good deeds, humility, & especially joy. * Hasidic communities are led by charismatic leaders (rebbes) to whom followers come for guidance & sustenance * Most Canadian communities are in Montreal & Toronto * Easily recognized by dress; most men have dark suits & black hats & many have long uncut sideburns. Women dress modestly with covered hair. * Their communities keep to themselves & maintain strict observance of Jewish laws

Answer 61

The son of Abraham and Sarah, he continued the covenant that began with God and Abraham

Answer 62

The covenant with Israel's ancestors (the bond that connects God with Israel and Israel with God) is the head of Jewish belief today

Answer 63

a four cornered garment that is worn during the morning prayers, the important part of a tallit is the tzitzit (or the fringes) tied onto each other . Some Jews wear small four cornered undershirt called a tallit katan so they can fulfill the commandment of wearing the tzitzit all day. The fringes represent the 613 laws of the Torah

Answer 64

A word meaning "father". Abraham, Issac (Abraham's son) and Jacob-Israel (Isaac's son)

Answer 65

A person appointed as a Jewish religious leader; also a scholar or teacher (especially one who studies or teaches Jewish law)

Answer 66

"repairing the world through action"---Charity