Key Words (till J4)

Question 1

Shabbat

Answer 1

the day of rest in Judaism and a symbol of God’s day of rest on the 7th day after the account in Genesis 1

Question 2

Mezuzah

Answer 2

a small, often ornate box on the doorpost of a Jewish home containing scrolls with verses from the Torah reminding Jews to be faithful and obedient to God

Question 3

Torah

Answer 3

the Law, also known as Sefer Torah

Question 4

Bar Mitzvah

Answer 4

means ‘Son of the commandments’ and is a rite of passage for boys when they become ‘adults’ in Jewish law

Question 5

Simchat Torah

Answer 5

a festival that follows Sukkot and is mostly translated to mean ‘rejoicing the Torah’

Question 6

Covenant

Answer 6

a solemn promise or agreement made between two people/groups. A covenant requires commitments from both sides

Question 7

Tallit

Answer 7

a prayer shawl, it has a Tzitzit in the corner, it represents the mitzvot and reminds Jews that they are obeying God’s word

Question 8

Minyan

Answer 8

a minimum of 10 adult Jews (men in Orthodox but men or women in Reform) who perform some of the prayers that take place in the Synagogue

Question 9

Synagogue

Answer 9

Jewish place of worship, the word has Greek origins, it means assembly or place of assembly

Question 10

Brit Milah

Answer 10

the name of the ceremony in which circumcision takes place fulfilling the covenant of circumcision commanded of Abraham and his descendants

Question 11

Rosh Hashanah

Answer 11

The ‘Head of the year’, Jewish new year and festival of repentance

Question 12

Amidah

Answer 12

A part of the Synagogue service where the worshippers will say private prayers from the Siddur. On weekday services, these prayers include; praises of God, petitions and prayers of thanksgiving. If it is Shabbat or a festival, there will be no petitions, they are replaced by prayers known as ‘sanctification of the day’

Question 13

Tefillin

Answer 13

a pair of leather boxes containing the Shema that remind Jews that their mind should be concentrating fully on God when they pray

Question 14

Shema

Answer 14

a declaration of faith affirming the monotheistic belief of Judaism with words coming from Deuteronomy 6:4 that is used at the start of all Jewish prayers

Question 15

Bat Chayill

Answer 15

means ‘woman of valour’ and is an Orthodox tradition for girls who don’t do Bat Mitzvah and is a community ceremony which symbolises the girl becoming subject to Jewish law

Question 16

Yad Vashem

Answer 16

the official Holocaust remembrance center or memorial

Question 17

Sukkot

Answer 17

the feast of tabernacles, Sukkot means tents or shelter

Question 18

Tenakh

Answer 18

sometimes referred to as the Hebrew bible containing three key sections; Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim

Question 19

Beit Midrash

Answer 19

means ‘house of learning’ and reflects how the Synagogue is a place of learning

Question 20

Shekinah

Answer 20

means the divine presence; is the presence of God on Earth. This was the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple