Judaism Flashcards
What does “Shema” mean?
Hear
What is the most often said prayer in Judaism?
The Shema
Where is the Shema taken from?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
How often is the Shema said?
twice daily
What are two characteristics to define Judaism?
1) Abrahamic faith
2) monotheistic
What is the difference between being ethnically and religiously Jewish?
ethnically Jewish = born Jewish (Judaism is passed down matrilineally)
religiously Jewish = not necessarily born into, but you practice the faith
Was Judaism always a monotheistic religion?
early Judaism was possibly henotheistic –> belief/recognition that other people have other gods, but this group has one god who is recognized as the singular god
What are the meanings of Abraham’s name?
“Father is exalted,” “Father of many nations,” “First patriarch”; father of the Jewish nation
When do historians place Abraham?
somewhere in the era of 2000 o 1600 BCE
In the Jewish faith, who discovered God?
Abraham
Who was Abraham?
an Aramean shepherd and herdsman from the Fertile Crescent (lived in the city of Ur)
Who is Abraham’s wife?
Sarah
What were Abraham and Sarah originally called in Genesis?
Abram and Sarai (names are changed after they enter the covenant)
What covenant did Abraham and his descendants form with God?
El Shaddai
What does El Shaddai mean?
“God of the mountain”
Who were Abraham’s sons?
Isaac (with Sarah) and Ishmael (with Hagar)
What does Ishmael mean?
“God hears” (because God hears Ishmael’s cries in the desert after he and Hagar are cast off; God provides them with a well)
When Sarah wants Hagar and Ismael banished, what does God tell Abraham?
to listen to Sarah
Where does the name Isaac come from?
comes from the word “laugh” because Sarah laughed with disbelief when she found out she was pregnant
What does Isaac become?
the next Jewish Patriarch
What does Ishmael become?
the next Muslim Patriarch
Who is Jacob?
son of Isaac and Rebekah; after he wrestles with an angel his name is changed to Israel which means “to struggle/triumph with God”
Who is Joseph?
son of Jacob and Rachel; he is the favorite son and receives a multi-colored coat; interprets dreams for the Pharaoh and is saved after being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers
What is a covenant?
a binding agreement between God and his chosen people; a covenant is repeatedly renewed
What is the difference between a covenant and a contract?
unlike a contract, a covenant has no date of expiration
What is the covenant with Abraham?
If Abraham is faithful to God, God promises to make Abraham a father and promises him the land of Canaan (Israel); God tells Abraham that he will be the father of a great and numerous nation
How is God recounted in the book of Genesis?
One God, El, El Shaddai
What was the role of animal sacrifice in ancient Judaism?
animal sacrifices were conducted as acts of worship, often sealed covenants
What is animism?
different elements of nature have spirits within them (animate vs inanimate objects)
What was the role of animism in ancient Judaism?
possible animistic practices; importance of certain trees, rocks, etc. when humans interact with God
What are the three names for God in the Hebrew Bible?
1) El/Elohim
2) Yahweh
3) Adonai
What is El/Elohim and how is it used?
“God/gods”; general name
El Shaddai = God of the mountains
El Elyon = God most high
El Olam = God everlasting
What is Yahweh and how is it used?
YHWH; not spoken out loud; personal name revealed on Mt. Sinai to Moses
What is Adonai and how is it used?
“Lord/sir”; honorific name used as replacement/protective name for God
What does Exodus mean?
“going out”
How many sons did Jacob have?
12
What did Jacob’s sons become?
leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel
What did Joseph become?
a viceroy of Egypt
What happened during the famine in Canaan?
the pharaoh of Egypt invited Jacob and his sons, and their families, to settle in Egypt; after the death of Joseph, a new Egyptian pharaoh enslaved the Israelites
When did Moses arise?
during the time of enslavement in Egypt
Briefly recount Moses’ life story.
- born to Hebrew slaves, sent down the river
- rescued and raised by the pharaoh’s daughter in the pharaoh’s (Ramses II) court
- as an adult Moses kills an Egyptian who is harassing a Hebrew and he is cast out
- he lives in the desert until God appears to him in a burning bush
- God calls Moses to become the leader of his chosen people and to free them from the enslavement of the pharaoh
How does God assist Moses?
provides the 10 plagues of Egypt to convince the pharaoh to let the Hebrew people go; the pharaoh finally lets them go, but as they flee Egypt he changes his mind and chases after them (the parting of the Red/Reed Sea); the Hebrews escape the Egyptians with the help of God and reach Mt. Sinai where God’s covenant with his people is renewed
What happens to Moses on Mt. Sinai?
- God would give his chosen people a promised land if they fulfilled obligations
- the Ten Commandments
- Religion of the law, obedience to the laws of God
What is the Ark of the Covenant?
a wooden chest containing the stone tablets bearing the Ten Commandments; priests carried the Ark in their possessions; it was said to first be housed in the Tabernacle and then eventually housed in the Temple
Where did the freed Hebrew slaves go after receiving the Ten Commandments?
back to Canaan
How long did it take to get back to Canaan?
40 years
How did the Israelites settle in Canaan?
organized into tribal life based on the 12 descendants of the children of Israel
Was Moses allowed in the promised land?
No because he questioned God; he dies at age 120
Who was King David?
- king of Israelites
- won the battle for Jerusalem and established it as the center of religion and government for his people
- brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem - wanted to build a great temple; God did not want him to
- David was prosperous, but had a son named Solomon who seceded him
Who was David’s son?
Solomon
Who built the 1st Temple?
Solomon
Describe the 1st Temple.
- magnificent, adorned
- more formal worship
- animal sacrifice
- ark held inside
How was the 1st Temple financed?
forced labor and heavy taxes
What is a prophet?
a person inspired to speak in God’s name; in Hebrew history, prophets in groups gave way to the messages of individual prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel
What did prophets contribute?
spoke the word of God to the people; led to laws on individual rights and social responsibilities
What caused Israel to split?
taxes imposed by Solomon
Where were the 10 lost tribes from?
the Northern Kingdom
Who defeated the Northern kingdom?
Assyrians
Who defeated the Southern kingdom?
Babylonians (exile begins)
Where was defeat first, the north or south?
north
Who was Ezekiel?
prophet; proclaimed that God was available in Babylon, just like in Jerusalem (this was after the Hebrews were exiled to Babylonia)
Who was Isaiah?
prophet; proclaims that God is the one true God and God of the world (not just the Jews)
Who was Ezra?
prophet; called the man of the book; God spoke through the book rather than prophets
Who was Herod and what happened under his rule?
puppet king put in place by the Romans; builds the 2nd Temple which is even more magnificent than the first, but it was ultimately destroyed by the Romans (along with much of Jerusalem) and was never rebuilt; Jews were scattered again
What does diaspora mean?
spreading out
What did the Roman destruction of Israel cause?
caused the Hebrews to create a “mobile” religion because they were spread all around
What does synagogue mean?
“assembly”
What is the requirement to form a minyan?
- scripture (Torah)
- 10 adult (13 years or older) Jewish males
What is a minyan?
quorum
What does rabbi mean?
“my master”/”my teacher”
What is hermeneutics?
interpretation of scripture/the process of interpreting
What is theodicy?
a justification, in the presence of evil, of God’s goodness, justice, and knowledge; attempts to answer the question “how can an all-good, all-powerful, all-knowing God allow evil?”
When/why did hermeneutics develop?
rabbis ran into the problems of interpreting the scriptures literally because the world of the first rabbis was greatly different than the world of the patriarchs; developed hermeneutics to interpret scripture for the modern world that they lived in
What are examples of Jewish separateness?
- the Sabbath
- kosher laws
- circumcision
- Messiah
What is the Tanakh?
Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) –> Torah (first 5 books of Moses), Prophets, Writings
What is the Mishnah?
the oral law –> interpretation of scripture and continuation of prescribed laws
What is the Zohar?
used in Kabbalah; “Book of Splendor/Light” (a more esoteric text)
What does Zohar mean?
splendor
What is Kabbalah?
mystical form of Judaism; involves the concern for angels, demons, magical incantations, charms, witches, ghouls, interpretation of dreams, the date of the coming Messiah, numerology, and the name of God
What is the goal of Kabbalah?
mystical union with God
What is reform Judaism?
inspired by David Einhorn and Isaac Mayer Wise in the United States; Torah is binding in its moral teachings rather than diet, ceremonial purity, and dress
What is conservative Judaism?
Torah and Talmud must be followed, worship services in Hebrew, members encouraged to observe Kosher law
What is orthodox Judaism?
retains as much as possible for the Torah and Talmud, other forms not seen as fully legitimate
What is Hasidism?
a form of orthodoxy; “pious ones” those of the modern world devoted to the Torah and pure lives; Judaism in the most ancient form possible, the world is hallowed
What is Zionism?
movement in the late 19th century to establish a Jewish homeland
What is the general Jewish idea about life after death?
Judaism emphasizes a good life on earth more than the joys of heaven
What is sheol?
the afterworld; however, it is inconclusive and not a satisfying answer
What does Judaism say about bodily resurrection?
there are bodily resurrection references in the Psalms to heaven and hell (often attributed to Zoroastrian influence)
How is life after death incorporated in worship services?
worship services lack descriptions of life beyond death; life itself is most valued, even hallowed
What does Judaism say about life after death?
there is life with God in the age to come, and the joy of fellowship with God is more important than anything else
