Religious Figures and Sacred Texts 1 Flashcards
When and where (ish) was Abraham born?
- Mesopotamia
- 1800BCE
What was the nature of Abraham’s initial theology, upbringing and father’s work?
- polytheistic
- nomadic
- idol seller
What was Abraham the first to teach and how is this challenged?
- monotheism
- an anachronistic understanding
What does Abraham mean?
Father of many
What was Abraham changed from?
Abram
What did God promise in the Abrahamic covenant? (3)
- Descendants as many as the stars
- A land for his people
- An Abrahamic community with the protection of God
Why was Abram chosen by God?
He was considered blameless
What kind of covenant is the Abrahamic covenant?
Unconditional
Why is the Abrahamic covenant unconditional?
Only one party is required to do something
What is the sign of the Abrahamic covenant?
Circumcision
What is Brit Milah?
Circumcision
What is significant about Brit Milah?
It was the first commandment significant to only the Jewish people
When and who carries out circumcision?
- 8 days old
- a mohel
What does the father recite at the ceremony of circumcision?
A blessing thanking God for bringing the child into the covenant of Abraham
How did God test Abraham’s faith and obedience?
Commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, whom he promised his descendants would come through
What does the sacrifice of Isaac display? (3)
- The epitome of faith and trust in God Jewish people should aim for
- The unique relationship between God and Abraham
- The unconditional nature of the covenant (as Isaac did not have to be killed)
How is Moses considered in the 13 Principles of Faith?
The highest ranking of all the prophets
What did Rameses II rule when the Israelites were enslaved?
All male, new-born Israelite babies should be killed
What does Moses mean?
To extract
What did God ask in the miracle of the burning bush?
To lead the Israelites out of slavery and deliver them to the promised lands
How was Moses brought up?
As a royal prince in the Pharaoh’s court
What is a theophany?
The manifestation of God to humans
What is the Exodus?
The departure of the Israelites from slavery
What were the Israelites tested on in the wilderness of Sinai?
Their dependence on God’s mercy
What are the terms of the Mosaic covenant?
- God promises to be God of the Israelites
- The Israelites must obey a set of divine laws
What type of covenant is the Mosaic covenant? (2)
- Conditional
- Suzerainty
What are the 2 forms of conditional covenant and where do they originate?
- Parity and suzerainty
- Hittite archives
What is a parity covenant?
One in which both equal parties bind themselves to each other with reciprocal obligations
What is a suzerainty covenant?
One that is unilateral, one party exerts control over the other while allowing it some authority
How was the Mosaic covenant sealed?
- altar was built surrounded by 12 pillars
- covenant was ratified by blood sacrifice
What did the 12 pillars represent?
12 tribes
How did the Israelite people disobey God when Moses went back up Mount Sinai?
They built a calf made of gold and worshipped it in Pagan fashion
How did Moses react to the people’s idolatry?
He smashed the stone tablets, demonstrating the broken covenant
Why was the Mosaic covenant re-established after Moses broke the tablets?
Moses interceded and received assurance of God’s love and forgiveness
What was different about the renewed commandments?
Laws against idolatry appeared first
What is the name for the renewed commandments?
Ritual decalogue
What is the significance of the 613 mitzvot?
They developed into a distinct lifestyle and ethical ideals which maintain the relationship with God
What is the significance of the Mosaic covenant to Jewish faith? (4)
- Originated in response to God’s deliverance of the Israelites
- Showed the grace of God
- Demanded total trust in God
- Demands absolute moral obedience
What Rabbinic tradition emphasises the eternal relevance of the Torah?
The idea that the Torah was one of the 7 things created before the world existed, representing God’s plan
What did Rabbi Eliezer ben Yose claim about the Torah?
It existed for 947 generations before the creation of the world
How do arguments of the pre-existence of the Torah undermine other teachings?
Contradicts the idea of creation ‘ex nihilo’
How is the pre-existence of the Torah reconciled with ex nihilo creation?
The Torah pre-existed only in the mind of God
Why is Torah study important? (2)
- Teaches how to fulfil mitzvot
- Insight into spiritual significance of mitzvot
What is a Yeshiva?
Institution focussing on study of traditional religious text, only attended by boys
What is a Seminary?
Theological college for girls
What is the role of the Oral Torah?
Explains in greater detail how to adhere to the Commandments
What is the Mishnah?
Legal rulings, discussions and lessons of early rabbis
What are the 6 sections of the Mishnah?
- Seeds
- Holidays
- Women
- Damages
- Holy things
- Purity
What is the Talmud?
The Mishnah and Gemara
What is the Gemara?
Dialogues between rabbis
What is the Midrash?
Ancient commentary reading between the lines of the Torah
What is a Sefer Torah?
Parchment scroll containing the 5 books of Moses
What is the 613th mitzvot?
It is obligatory for every Jew to write a Torah scroll
What is a Sofer?
Sefer scribe
What is the Aron Kodesh?
Holy Ark/Cabinet in the synagogue in which the Torah scrolls are kept
What are the Parshiot?
Sections of the Torah read in the synagogue
What is a Chumash?
Printed version of the Torah that most Jews own
Where can a Sefer Torah only be read?
In the synagogue
How often are portions of the Torah read?
3 times per week
Where is the Aron Kodesh placed and what does it represent?
- in the wall of the synagogue facing Jerusalem
- the golden box containing the 10 Commandments
What is a Bimah?
Raised reading desk in the synagogue
What is a Mantle?
Decorated cover which protects the Torah
What is a Yad?
A pointer protecting the sanctity of the Torah from human touch
What happens when a Torah scroll is damaged?
It is placed in a protective container and buried in a Jewish cemetery
What are 3 Orthodox beliefs about the Torah?
- It is the unquestioned authority of God
- Allows contact with the will and mind of God and patriarchs
- They will be judged based on their adherence to the mitzvot
What are 3 Reform beliefs about the Torah?
- It was written by divinely inspired Jews
- It is an instructional and inspiring source
- It can be situationally developed
What is Progressive Revelation?
The idea that practices which no longer serve any helpful purpose can be rejected
What did the Pittsburgh Platform call for in regard to the Torah?
A rejection of laws that have a ritual rather than moral basis
What does ‘Torah’ mean?
Instruction or teaching
What are the 5 Books of Moses?
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
When was the Torah revealed?
During the 40 days Moses spent on Sinai
What does Genesis contain?
Creation and settlement of Hebrews in Egypt
What does Exodus contain?
Stories of Moses
What does Leviticus contain?
Instructions about practices
What does Numbers contain?
Importance of holiness, faithfulness and trust
What does Deuteronomy contain?
Speeches made by Moses
The Torah is the main authority:
- Word of God
- Sacred treatment
- Mosaic covenant
The Torah is not the main authority:
- Oral Torah
- Rabbi
- Divinely inspired humans
The Torah has become an icon:
- Aron Kodesh
- Iconic representation of God
- Touched and paraded
The Torah has not become an icon:
- Prohibits icons
- Treatment shows respect
- Progressive revelation
Covenants are universal:
- Refers to whole of humanity
- God is universal
- Commandments universal
Covenants are not universal:
- Descendants of Abraham
- Jewish people as unique
- Brit Milah
Covenants are a privilege:
- Rely on God’s help
- Commandments as guides
- God’s chosen people
Covenants are a responsibility:
- Secular society
- Outdated burden
- Pressure to fulfil
Covenants are methods of control:
- Historical context
- Binding mitzvot
- God’s authority is necessary
Covenants are not methods of control:
- Discipline
- Identity without complete adherence
- Communication
Covenants are of legal value:
- Established society
- Protect holiness
- Dictate lifestyle
Covenants are not of legal value:
- suppresses spirituality
- guide
- outdated
‘the M when G came D on E and S to all J, P and F, G them his R for L’
Revelation - Tigay (the moment when..)
‘the moment when God came down on Earth and spoke to all Jews, present and future, giving them his rules for life’
Exodus 12:14 (for G to C […] it is a LO)
‘for generations to come […] it is a lasting ordinance’
Deuteronomy 6:7
‘and you shall teach it to your children’
Genesis 12 (I will M you into a GN, and I will BY; I will make your NG)
‘I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great’
Genesis 17:14 (any UM, who has not been C in the F, will be CO from his P; he has B my C)
‘any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant’
Abrahamic covenant - Anderson (the C was B upon the DO, not upon HP)
‘the covenant was based upon the deity’s oath, not upon human performance’
Exodus 3:12 (when you have B the P out of E, you will WG on this M)
‘when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain’
‘YI the R and Y was F to T it, with the R that I would NL be the POG’
Suzerain - Anderson
‘Yahweh initiated the relationship and, […] Yahweh was free to terminate it, with the result that Israel would no longer be the “people of God”’
Exodus 34:27-28 (and he W on the T the W of the C - the 10 C)
‘and he wrote on the tablet the words of the covenant - the 10 Commandments’
