Keywords

Question 1

Talmud

Answer 1

Rabbinic literature commenting on the sacred texts. They come in two forms, the oral (Mishnah) and spoken (Gemara).

Question 2

Covenant

Answer 2

A promise. Within Judaism, this refers to two covenants with God, the Abrahamic and Mosaic.

Question 3

Shema

Answer 3

A prayer declaring the Jewish belief in monotheism. It is sung every day and is often placed on a mezuzah.

Question 4

Omnipotent

Answer 4

Meaning God is all-powerful. Christians and Jews believe that God’s creation of the world in Genesis demonstrates this power.

Question 5

Omniscient

Answer 5

Meaning God is all-knowing. Christians and Jews believe that God’s ability to create the world from nothing demonstrates this knowledge.

Question 6

Omnipresent

Answer 6

Meaning God is everywhere. Christians and Jews believe that God can be worshipped anywhere because is he everywhere.

Question 7

Omnibenevolent

Answer 7

Meaning God is all-loving. Christians believe that God’s omnibenevolence is witnessed by his sending of Jesus to save us.

Question 8

Monotheism

Answer 8

The belief in one God. The Ten Commandments instruct Jews and Christians to hold no other God before Him.

Question 9

Shabbat

Answer 9

The Jewish sabbath taking place on a Friday evening. During this day they rest because God rested on the seventh day of creation.

Question 10

Kashrut

Answer 10

Jewish food laws. This refers to the three categories of kosher (allowed) treifa (not allowed) and parve (neutral) foods.

Question 11

Kosher

Answer 11

Foods that Jews can eat. These are animals which ‘chew the cud’, i.e. cows or goats.

Question 12

Treifa

Answer 12

Foods that Jews cannot eat. These include animals such as prawns, pigs, or certain birds like eagles.

Question 13

Parve

Answer 13

Neutral foods. Jews can always eat these foods, which include fruit and vegetables.

Question 14

Conscience

Answer 14

This is one’s sense of right and wrong. For example, euthanasia opposes Catholic’s conscience because of their belief in the sanctity of life.

Question 15

Free-Will

Answer 15

The God-given ability to choose our actions. For example, when Eve ate the apple she did it because she chose to.

Question 16

Soul

Answer 16

The non-physical part of our body. Jews and Christians believe that God ‘breathed life’ into us during creation and gave us a soul.

Question 17

Global Citizenship

Answer 17

Being a contributing member of a global society. This could include giving charity to those in need.

Question 18

Abortion

Answer 18

The stopping of a pregnancy before the foetus’ birth. Catholics do not agree with abortion on grounds of their belief in the sanctity of life.

Question 19

Euthanasia

Answer 19

Greek for ‘good death.’ The act of aided suicide to prevent suffering within this life.

Question 20

Mezuzah

Answer 20

A stone tablet placed on the doorpost of a Jewish house. It contains the Shema, a key Jewish prayer.

Question 21

Bar Mitzvah

Answer 21

A Jewish coming-of-age ceremony. It is during this time that a Jewish boy becomes a man according to Jewish law.

Question 22

The Abrahamic Covenant

Answer 22

The first Jewish covenant. In return for faith in God, Abraham was rewarded with as many ancestors as there were sons in the sky.

Question 23

Relative Poverty

Answer 23

When someone is poor by comparison to the rest of society. This might mean having the bare minimum of the essentials, such as food and water.

Question 24

Stewardship

Answer 24

The God-given instruction to look after the planet. Some Christians think we should use our wealth for this purpose.

Question 25

Discrimination

Answer 25

To treat someone unfairly because of a specific characteristic. This could include racism, homophobia. or misogyny.