Judaism Vocab

Question 1

Judaism’s ancient confession of monotheistic faith. It literally translates as “hear”.

Answer 1

Shema

Question 2

The Greek name for Torah, this literally means “five books”.

Answer 2

Pentateuch

Question 3

He is revered as the first Great Patriarch (or father) of Judaism, and almost sacrificed his son to God.

Answer 3

Abraham

Question 4

He was the great Jewish king who build a massive temple for worship. He was sometimes known as the
wisest man ever.

Answer 4

Solomon

Question 5

An agreement established between God and ancient Israelites that designated the Jews as

Answer 5

covenant

Question 6

People, with special rights and responsibilities.

Answer 6

God’s Chosen

Question 7

The form of Jewish mysticism that emerged in the 13th century.

Answer 7

Kabbalah

Question 8

The place where the 10 commandments were delivered

Answer 8

Mount Sinai

Question 9

The massive collection of Jewish religious traditions and theology that were originally in oral form; It
is sometimes called the oral Torah and literally means “knowledge”.

Answer 9

Talmud

Question 10

This is a weekly ritual held from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday and is used to “remember” that
God rested on the seventh day after making Creation.

Answer 10

Sabbath

Question 11

The Hebrew Scriptures that contain the Torah, the Prophets (Hebrew “neviim”), and the Writings
(Hebrew “ketuviim”). It is the “Old” Testament of the Christian Scriptures, although it is anything but
“Old” to the Jew—it is part of their daily life.

Answer 11

Tanakh

Question 12

This is Judaism’s most important holy day literally translates as “day of atonement”. It is spent in
fasting and prayer for the forgiveness of sins, both individual and collective.

Answer 12

Yom Kippur

Question 13

Literally means “according to ritual” or “proper”; Jewish dietary laws

Answer 13

kosher

Question 14

The Jewish movement that arose as a result of the Holocaust; it emphasizes the return of Jews to
Jerusalem and says that Jews should have their own homeland.

Answer 14

Zionism

Question 15

The religious ceremony of a 13 year old Jewish boy who is declared to be a man and is now eligible to
take part in public worship.

Answer 15

bar mitzvah

Question 16

The group responsible for the first diaspora and the first destruction of Solomon’s Temple.

Answer 16

Babylonians

Question 17

The military group that arose to resist the Romans’ influence on Israel.

Answer 17

Zealots

Question 18

The elite group of Israelites that were known as the priestly class during the classical period.

Answer 18

Sadducees

Question 19

This is the Hebrew name given to the saviour and deliverer of the Jewish nation, and who was
prophesied about in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Answer 19

Yeshua

Question 20

Jewish scholars or teachers who study and teach Jewish law; they are appointed as religious leaders.

Answer 20

rabbis

Question 21

Hostility towards Jews and Judaism, which ranges from attitudes of disfavour to active persecution.

Answer 21

anti-semitism

Question 22

The 8-day festival that commemorates (or “to celebrate and remember”) the Exodus of the Jews from
bondage in Egypt into the Promised Land of Canaan.

Answer 22

Passover

Question 23

Literally means “burning”. When the word is capitalized, it refers to the persecution of Jews by Nazi
Germany from 1938-1944. Millions died.

Answer 23

Holocaust

Question 24

The situation of Jews living away from their homeland from classical times on.

Answer 24

Diaspora

Question 25

A building for Jewish worship. It is not a temple. It literally means “assembly” in Greek.

Answer 25

Synagogue

Question 26

Known as the “law giver”, he received the law (10 Commandments) in stone from Yahweh on Mount
Sinai.

Answer 26

Moses

Question 27

A part of a city, especially a slum area, that is given to minority groups to isolate them.

Answer 27

ghetto

Question 28

The group responsible for the second diaspora and the second destruction of Solomon’s temple.

Answer 28

Romans

Question 29

Someone who is inspired to speak the will of God. They are chosen by God to speak to the people on
his behalf.

Answer 29

prophet

Question 30

Written down in about 200 AD, it is part of the Talmud. This “oral book” actually originated as
commentary on Jewish law after the second diaspora during the time of the Romans.

Answer 30

Mishnah

Question 31

The mystical Jewish movement that arose in the 18th century in Eastern Europe. Jews of this persuasion are noted for their longish, curly hair, for wearing a kind of top hat, and for living in seclusion from the rest of society.

Answer 31

Hasidism