Judaism Test

Question 1

Define rabbi

Answer 1

A Jewish scholar or teacher, especially of the law; a person appointed as a Jewish religious leader

Question 2

Define menorah

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Define covenant

Answer 3

A solemn and binding agreement between God and humanity

Question 4

Define bar and bat mitzvah

Answer 4

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”

Question 5

Define Reform Judaism

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Define conservative Judaism

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Define Orthodox Judaism

Answer 7

The Torah is God’s word without question; no alteration allowed; very traditional; only kosher foods; services in Hebrew; gender roles maintained

Question 8

Define holocaust

Answer 8

The systematic cultural genocide of the Jewish people; 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis

Question 9

Define Torah

Answer 9

A book or scroll containing the Laws of Moses (613 commandments) and the entire belief system of the Jewish faith

Question 10

Define prophet

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Define kosher

Answer 11

Fulfilling the requirements of the Jewish dietary laws of Kashruth

Question 12

Define synagogue

Answer 12

A central place of congregational worship

Question 13

Define messiah

Answer 13

Means anointed one; the Jews hope that a great king will come to lead them

Question 14

Define Diaspora

Answer 14

The word used when referring to the Jewish population living outside of Israel

Question 15

What is the Exodus?

Answer 15

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”

Question 16

What is Rosh Hashanah? (10)

Answer 16

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)

Question 17

What is Yom Kippur?

Answer 17

The most solemn religious day of the Jewish year, marked by fasting and prayers of repentence

Question 18

What is Hanukkah? (4)

Answer 18

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

Question 19

How do Jews mark birth?

Answer 19

A child is given a conventional name and a Hebrew name

Jewish boys circumcised eight days after birth

Bar and bat mitzvah

Question 20

How do Jews treat marriage? (7)

Answer 20

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)

Question 21

How do the Jews see divorce?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

How do Jews treat death?

Answer 22

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)

Question 23

What are the 4 causes of the holocaust?

Answer 23

Pre existing prejudice

Economic competition

Scapegoating (placing blame)

Propaganda

Question 24

What is the kosher chart?

Can: meat - 4, bird - 4, fish - 4

Can’t: 1st - 6, bird - 3, fish - 6

Answer 24

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