Terms Flashcards
Judah
One of the twelve sons of Jacob (A.K.A. Israel) from the tribe of Judah
Israel
The name given to Jacob after he wrestled with God the name means “wrestle” and “God”. ALSO, the name of the northern kingdom of Israelites.
Divided Kingdom
The nation of Israel divided up into two kingdoms. Israel and Judah. Israel got 10 tribes and Judah got two tribes. Judah got Jerusalem.
Jerusalem
The capital of the ancient nation of Judah. This was the mount where the fortress of the city was built.
Zion
The hill of Jerusalem on which the city of David was built. Refers to the power of God.
Messiah
The promised deliverer for the Jewish nation prophesied in the Hebrew Bible
Covenant
A promise made by God to his people
Yahweh
A form of the name of God used in the Bible
Transcendent
Referring to God being above his people and all things
Immanent
Referring to God being among his people and all things
Shema
Deuteronomy 6:4, the main message of the Jewish beliefs
Sin
The Jewish term meaning disobedience to others and the law
Monotheism
The belief that there is only one God
Tent of Meeting
The sacred tent where God went and talked to his people (Moses)
Tabernacle
The less permanent place where God dwelt
Temple
A building Jews and the Israelites went to worship God
Court of the Gentiles
The place where Gentiles (non-Jews) could go to worship
Most Holy Place
The place in the temple where God dwelt
Holy Place
It was the outer chamber of the temple. The priests could enter once a year
Ark of the Covenant
The chest contained the Ten Commandments on stone tablets, Aaron’s staff, and a pot of manna. You were only allowed to carry it on posts so you would never touch it
The Second Temple
An important Jewish temple, that stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
Herod’s Temple
The place where Gentiles could go to worship, built by Herod
Ark of Holiness
The place where the scrolls are kept in Jewish synagogues
Segregation
The action of setting certain people apart from others (Gods chosen people)
Masada
A fortified city outside of Jerusalem that was the last to fall
Western/Wailing Wall
The last standing wall of the temple in Jerusalem where Jews went to assemble for prayer or wail about the destruction
Pharisees
They were the strict keepers of the law. They followed the laws of the Old Testament
Sadducees
They were the more conservative group, that hates the Pharisees, and ditch believe in the spiritual realm
Essenes
They considered themselves to be a separate people. They didn’t follow a specific religion, but many different ones
Zealots
They were a group that was determined to protect their religion from the Romans.
Oral Traditions
The act of passing along history through story telling
Orthodox Jews (including Hasidism)
They are very traditional with the codes of the Jewish law
Conservative Jews
Jews that hold tradition in manner and style very important
Reformed Jews
They believe that an individual’s personal autonomy (personal control) overrides traditional Jewish law and custom
Reconstructionist
They hold their heritage and their traditions firm, they are also looking ahead and finding contemporary ways to evolve civilization
Partriarchs
Founding fathers of the Israelite nation
Matriarchs
Founding mothers of the Israelite nation
Abraham
The founding father of the Israelite nation. He was given the covenant to be a father of a great nation
Sarah
The wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. She was the mother of a great nation
Canaan
The promised land
Isaac
Son of Abraham
Rebekah
The wife of Isaac, mother of Jacob and Esau
Jacob
The deceiver, second born son of Isaac. He stole the birthright from hits brother Esau
Leah
One of Jacob’s two wives, the mother of many of Jacobs sons (Judah)
Rachel
The more desirable wife of Jacob, the mother of Benjamin and Joseph
Joseph
The favourite son of Jacob (Israel), sold by brothers into slavery in Egypt. He ends up saving Egypt and other nations from famine
Jew
A line of people descending from the tribe of Judah.
Exile
The Israelites were exiled from Palestine, and exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar
Moses
Hewbrew man who was adopted by an Egyptian princess, raised by a prince and ultimately saves his nation (the Jews) from slavery
10 Commandments/Decalogue
The 10 laws given through Moses to the people by God saying how to live
Exodus
The events leading to the Israelites freedom from slavery to Egypt
Saul
The first king the Israelites of the tribe of Benjamin
David
The second king of Israel, sinned by committing adultery with Bethsheeba
Solomon
David’s second son, being promised King of Israel after David, he sinned after building temples for all of his many many wives, and worshipping their God’s
Nebuchadnezzar
The Babylonian King who banished the Israelites to Babylon during the exile
Babylon
Between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It was a significant city in Mesopotamia
Persians (Cyrus and Darius)
The nation conquered the Babylonians with King Cyrus ultimately allowing the Israelites to return to their home, Darius was another King of the Persians
Esther
The woman who helped save her nation (Jews) from death at the hands of Haman
Mordecai
Esther’s cousin (father like figure) who was very important, helping Esther obtain audience with the King and ultimately saving the Jews
Greeks
The Jews and the Greeks resented each other
Maccabees
Followers of Judas Maccabaeus
Roman Empire
The Romans banned any kind of religion. The Jews had to hide in houses for church, and call their synagogues colleges so they wouldn’t get caught
Jesus
The messiah, son of God promised to save everyone
Herod
A Roman King of Judah
Pontus Pilate
The man who led Jesus’ trial and ultimately allowed the people to take him to be crucified
Ram am
A towering figure. He wrote the 13 Principles of Faith
Adolf Hitler
A German politician, he was the leader of the Nazi party during the Second World War
Holocaust
The destruction on a grand scale of the Jewish descent
Kristallnacht
The night of the broken glass. On this night November 9, 1938, almost 200 synagogues were destroyed, and almost 8,000 Jewish shops were sacked and looted. Tens of thousands of Jews were removed and taken to concentration camps
6,000,000
This many Jews were killed during WW2
Anti-Semitism
The prejudice against Jews
Aushwitz, Poland
A concentration camp during the second work war
Star of David
A six pointed shape with two interlacing triangles. It is used as a Jewish and Israeli symbol
Tanach
The five Books of Moses
Torah
The first five books of Hebrew Scriptures (the Pentateuch)
Prophets
Moses, Abraham, Samuel etc. We’re prophets of the Jewish faith
Writings
The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) is there most known religious writings
Talmud
The body of Jewish ceremonial law
Mishnah
A collection of material showing the oral tradition of Jewish law and forming the first part of the Talmud
Menorah
A sacred candelabrum with seven branches used in the Temple of Jerusalem
Scrolls
The Torah scrolls (The first five books of the Hebrew Scripture “Pentateuch”.)
Synagogue
The building where Jews come to worship
Shalom
Used as a form of meeting or parting. Meaning “Peace”
Rabbi
A Jewish scholar of teacher who teaches Jewish law
Yeshiva
An Orthodox Jewish college or seminary
Phylacteries
A small leather box containing Hebrew texts worn by Jewish men at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law
Yarmulke
A skull cap worn in public by Jewish men
Kipah
Another term for yarmulke (A skull cap worn in public by Jewish men)
Refilling
A term for the Jewish phylacteries (A small leather box containing Hebrew texts worn by Jewish men at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law)
Tzit Tzit
Tassels or fringes worn on traditional ceremonial clothing by Jewish ales to remind them of the commandments of Deuteronomy
Mezzuzah
A parchment inscribed with religious texts that is attached in a case to the doorstep of a Jewish house as a sign of faith
Prayer Shawl
A fringes garment traditionally worn by Jews
Passover
The major Jewish festival that signifies the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery
Haggadah
The text recited on the first two nights of the Jewish Passover
Seder
A Jewish ritual service for the first night or first two nights of Passover
Motza
Unleavened bread eaten at the Passover
Shofar
A Rams horn trumpet by the ancient Jew in religious ceremonies and as a battle signal. Now it is used during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
The holiest day on the Jewish calendar
Day of Atonement
Known as Yom Kippur (the holiest day on the Jewish calendar)
Succoth (Festival of Booths)
Commemorates the Israelites 40 years in the desert
Rosh Hoshannah
The Jewish New Years
Shavuot
Marks the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. The 10 commandments are read in synagogues
Purim
A festival held to remember the defeat of Hanan’s plot to kill all the Jews. It was recorded in Esther
Hannukah (Festival of Lights)
A festival lasting eight days, remembering the red education of the Temple in 165 B.C by the Maccabees
Bat Mitzvah
The religious ceremony when a girl has reached the age of 12
Bar Mitzvah
The religious ceremony when a boy has reached the age of 13
Shiva
Follows immediately after the burial of a loved one, and last for 7 days
Circumcision
On the eight day of a baby boy’s life, his foreskin is removed as an act that shows spiritual and moral perfection requires human effort
Kosher
A law talking about what foods they are allowed to eat together, and what foods they are not allowed to eat together (they are not allowed to eat milk and meat together)
