Judaism test Flashcards
What are the two types of history when talking about the story of Judaism?
- Biblical times
- Modern times (this is still a long ago)
What is the origins of Judaism?
They trace the origins back 4000 years ago with Abraham and Sarah
What is Abraham called?
The father of Judaism
What were the two kingdoms that divided what we now know as Israel?
- The kingdom of Israel
- The kingdom of Judah (today’s Jews and Judaism is linked to the people living in this kingdom)
Who were the 3 covenants made with during biblical time?
-Noah
-Abraham
-Moses
What two religious movements survived the Roman empire (66ce) when they seized Jerusalem?
- Christianity
- Rabbinic Judaism
Describe the 3 constant themes in Modern Jewish history
- they have a history of persecution and suffering throughout the ages
- it is unique because the Jews were always mobile and global for 3500 years
- they didn’t have a homeland so they were reliant on other nations and therefore vulnerable
What is analogy to also describe Jewish history?
- Roller coaster
- ups and downs
- controlled by others
What are 3 constant themes in Modern Jewish history?
- They were the minority for more than 2000 years (no homeland)
- unique beliefs and practices made them visible and vulnerable
- not just a history of persecution and suffering but also periods of peaceful coexisting and success
what is anti - semitism viewed as?
a barometer for an unhealthy society
How did Jewish communities survive in history?
they were pushed out of declining communities and welcomed into thriving ones. For example, they were blamed for the 1347 black plague and kicked out of England, but because of this many of them survived
What was life like for Jews in Western Europe?
- they experienced a cycle of rise and decline
-continuously taken in then kicked out and scapegoated - they wanted to blend in with the community so they worked hard to assimilate (blend in )
What was life like for Jews in Eastern Europe?
- they did not experience any acceptance. there was lack of hope everywhere
- they were blamed for extreme poverty
- a great desire for Jewish nationalism - especially a Jewish nation. we see the creation of Zionism
- anti-semitism and poverty are both widespread in eastern Europe
What are the key differences between eastern and western Jews?
western Jews saw Judaism as a religion (they tried to blend in) where eastern Jews saw it as an identity - religiously and culturally so the couldn’t physically blend in
When was the state of Israel created?
1948
What are God’s covenants?
they were with Noah, King David, Abraham, and Moses
Who was involved in King David’s covenant and what is his symbol?
Individuals involved: God, King David and King David’s descendants
Symbol: The temple or throne
Who was involved in Noah’s covenant and what is his symbol?
Individuals involved: God and Noah
Symbol: the rainbow
Who was involved in Abraham ‘s covenant and what is his symbol?
Individuals involved: God and all of Abraham’s descendants
Symbol: circumcision - the physical and spiritual sign of their deep belief in God
Who was involved in Moses’ Covenant and what was his symbol?
Individuals involved: Moses and God and through Moses, all the Israelites and all their descendants
Symbol: 10 commandments / tablets of stone
According to Jewish traditions what was Abraham born as
Abram
What is their sacred stories?
- their history
- the covenants
- patriarchs and their family trees
What is their Sacred Scripture
- Jewish Scripture
- the torah
- the breakdown (of Scripture)
What are their Sacred times
-Rosh Hashanah
- Yom Kippur
- Sukkot
- Purim
- Pesach
What are their Sacred spaces
- the synagogue
- the home
- Israel
What are the 3 parts of the Tanakh
- The Torah (teachings)
- The Neviim (prophets)
- The Ketuvium (writings)
What is the Torah and what is it made up of?
Torah - 5 first books of Scripture
Made up of: Genesis (bereshith), Exodus (shemot), Leviticus (Va Yikra), Deuteronomy (Devarim) and numbers (bemidbar)
What is the heart of Jewish Faith
The Torah
What is the Neviim?
Most of these books where written after 586BCE when they were exiled from their homeland. These books remind people to be faithful to covenant with God and to practice Justice and to be mindful of widows and orphans
What is the Ketuvim?
These where also written during exile and are known as the “ wisdom books”. They contain sayings and proverb of wise people to reveal ways of Jewish life
What is the Talmud?
It is the 2nd most important sacred text behind the Tanakh. It is an Enormous source of Jewish religious and civil laws. It is written record of oral teachings and laws. It is about 5 million words ( the bible is about 800 000 words)
What is the Mishnah?
it is in the middle of the page and is surrounded by interpretations and advice on how to follow it
What are the main purposes of a synagogue?
A house of study: they are taught the Torah and preparations for bar/bat mitzvahs happen here
A house of worship: Jew gather together outside of Jerusalem to worship as a community or congregation
What is important to know about Jews and the Synagogue
Half of them don’t belong to a specific one. The other half belong to synagogues that range from liberal to very strict in their practices
What is the most Important part of a Synagogue?
The ark where the Torah scrolls are kept. Usually located in the east so the congregation faces Jerusalem.