Judaism Test Flashcards
Define rabbi
A Jewish scholar or teacher, especially of the law; a person appointed as a Jewish religious leader
Define menorah
A candelabrum w/ seven branches, used at home and in the synagogue on the Sabbath and holidays
A special menorah is used on Hanukah with nine branches to represent the oil that should have only lasted for one day but burned for eight
Define covenant
A solemn and binding agreement between God and humanity
Define bar and bat mitzvah
Bar: the religious initiation ceremony of a Jewish boy who has reached the age of 13; term means “son of the commandment”
Bat: the religious initiation ceremony of a Jewish girl who has reached the age of 12; term means “daughter of the commandment”
Define Reform Judaism
A less traditional and more relaxed version of Judaism; allows different interpretation of Torah; women and men were not separated; female rabbis allowed; demonstrates the evolving nature of the faith
Define conservative Judaism
Middle of orthodox and reform; recognizes human elements while respecting tradition aspects; allows alterations to meet new realities but not as drastic and sudden as reform
Define Orthodox Judaism
The Torah is God’s word without question; no alteration allowed; very traditional; only kosher foods; services in Hebrew; gender roles maintained
Define holocaust
The systematic cultural genocide of the Jewish people; 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis
Define Torah
A book or scroll containing the Laws of Moses (613 commandments) and the entire belief system of the Jewish faith
Define prophet
A person who receives a message from God and delivers that message to God’s people; the message belongs to God with the prophet acting as gods messenger
Define kosher
Fulfilling the requirements of the Jewish dietary laws of Kashruth
Define synagogue
A central place of congregational worship
Define messiah
Means anointed one; the Jews hope that a great king will come to lead them
Define Diaspora
The word used when referring to the Jewish population living outside of Israel
What is the Exodus?
The significant event in which Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land; word itself means “going out” or “departure”
What is Rosh Hashanah? (10)
The festival celebrating the Jewish New Year
A time of reflection and to take stock of your soul; God watches you more closely; repentance, realigning and returning; 2 days long of food, prayer and rituals; new fruits to taste for 1st time in New Year; Shana Tova- Have a good year; connecting through prayer; toss away bread crumbs representing throwing away old mistakes; justice(giving back)
What is Yom Kippur?
The most solemn religious day of the Jewish year, marked by fasting and prayers of repentence
What is Hanukkah? (4)
The eight day Festival of Lights commemorating the rededication of the temple; Chanukah - dedication; Maccabee revolt; time to ask “what do I want to rededicate myself to”; lighting menorah, spinning dradles, eating latkes
How do Jews mark birth?
A child is given a conventional name and a Hebrew name
Jewish boys circumcised eight days after birth
Bar and bat mitzvah
How do Jews treat marriage? (7)
Preferred to marry within the faith
Take place in synagogue and conducted by rabbi; stand under canopy/chuppah aka a symbol of home they will share; flowers, blessed glass of wine; contract signed; glass crushed by groom after ceremony (wild experience bad and good and must face together)
How do the Jews see divorce?
Discouraged but allowed; husband gives wife a certificate of divorce called a get; no get, no divorce in eyes of religion even if legally separated
How do Jews treat death?
Funerals asap (24 hours); very simple service; not cremation (destroys what god has made); shiva (seven day period of mourning following the funeral. Shiva candle lit; small meal; no leaving house)
What are the 4 causes of the holocaust?
Pre existing prejudice
Economic competition
Scapegoating (placing blame)
Propaganda
What is the kosher chart?
Can: meat - 4, bird - 4, fish - 4
Can’t: 1st - 6, bird - 3, fish - 6
Can eat: ritually slaughtered beef, sheep, goats and deer
Chicken, turkey, quail, geese
Salmon, tuna, carp, herring, cod
Wine or grape juice made under Jewish supervision
Soft cheese and kosher hard cheese
Can’t eat: pork, camel, rabbit, rodents, reptiles, and any animal died of natural causes
Eagle, hawk, vulture
Crab, lobster, octopus, clam, swordfish, sturgeon
Meat with dairy
Any other wine and grape juice
Most hard cheese
