Judaism Terms

Question 1

Bar mitzvah

Bat Mitzvah

Answer 1

Jewish coming of age

Question 2

Covenant

Answer 2

An agreement established between God and the ancient Israelites first Abraham then Moses

Designates Jews as chosen people of God with special responsibilities

Question 3

Diaspora

Answer 3

Jews living away from their ancestral homeland

Been true for Jews since the Classical period

Question 4

Hasidism

Answer 4

A form of Judaism that arose in Eastern Europe in the 18th century that emphasizes mysticism, a personal relationship with God, a close knit leadership, and the leadership of the zaddik, a charismatic holy man

Question 5

Holocaust

Answer 5

Persecution of Jews by German Nazis from 1933- 1945 resulting in the death of 6 million

Referred to by Jews as Shoah
(“Mass destruction”)

Question 6

Kabbalah

Answer 6

Jewish mysticism: teaches that God can be best known through through the heart

Developed mainly in the medieval period with such texts like Zohar

Question 7

Mishnah

Answer 7

Contains collected teachings of the rabbis of the last 4 centuries

Along with the Talmud, is the most important texts of the Torah

Question 8

Passover

Answer 8

8 day celebration in early spring that commemorates the Jewish Exodus from Egypt

Question 9

Rabbi

Answer 9

Teacher of the Torah and leader of Jewish worship

Question 10

Rosh Hashanah

Answer 10

Festival in early fall commemorating the new year

Question 11

Sabbath

Answer 11

From sunset of Friday to the sunset of Saturday set aside for rest and religious celebration as decreed by one of the Ten Commandments

Question 12

Shema

Answer 12

Judaism’s basic statement of monotheism: “hear oh Israel! The lord is our God, the lord aloneness”

Question 13

Talmud

Answer 13

Vast depository of the oral Torah with rabbi comments in each chapter

Two versions: Palestinian & Babylonian

Question 14

Tanakh

Answer 14

A common way of referring to the Hebrew bible derived from the three of the Hebrew names of its three sections

Torah (T), Prophets (N), writings (K)

Question 15

Torah

Answer 15

Th revelation of god’s will to the people
Or
The divine law as especially contained in the first five books of the bible; often called the Torah

Question 16

Yom Kippur

Answer 16

Day of atonement fasting and prayer for forgiveness of sins

Question 17

Zionism

Answer 17

Movement in the 19th century that sought to re-establish a Jewish homeland; since 1948 the general support of the state of Israel

Question 18

Anti semitism

Answer 18

Hostility towards Jews

Ranging from disapproval to outright persecution

Question 19

YHWH

Answer 19

Abbreviation for God used in writing because his name is to holy to write or speak

Question 20

Torah, prophets and writings

Answer 20

What makes up the Torah

Question 21

Abraham

Answer 21

God made a agreement of the covenant first through him

Question 22

Moses

Answer 22

The second one to agree with God and the covenant after Abraham

Question 23

Covenant

Answer 23

An agreement between God and the Jewish people

Question 24

10 commandments

Answer 24

What God revealed to Moses on mt. Sinai

Question 25

Pharisees

Answer 25

Political party relatively unaffected by the destruction of the second Jewish temple because of their focus more on the Torah

Question 26

Synagogue

Answer 26

Jewish place of worship

Question 27

Reform Judaism

Answer 27

Being Jewish and involved in modern society are compatible

Question 28

Orthodox Judaism

Answer 28

Torah is the standard of truth and all life in society should conform to it

Question 29

Conservative Judaism

Answer 29

Cross between reform and Orthodox Judaism. Somewhat open to change and modern ways but strict regarding traditional Jewish practices