Torah Flashcards
Torah
Instruction. The law. In its simplest form it refers to the five books of Moshe but it also is commonly applied to the whole of Jewish religion
Tanach
Torah, neviim, ketuvim
Compiled by the men of the great assembly, completed 450BCE
Masorah
Tradition. In a very broad sense it refers to the entire chain of Jewish tradition, but in reference to the masoretic text the word mesorah has a very specific meaning: the diacritic markings of the text of the bible which note textual details, usually about the precise spelling of words.
Mishna
Learning (repetition)
The oral law, representing the interpretations of the Torah and the accumulation of legal traditions, was written down by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi (Judah the Prince) in around 200CE
Midrash
Study. Also, it refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings of the Torah.
Gemara
Completion.
The detailed recording of the discussion of the rabbis on the mishna.
Talmud
Gemara + Mishna
Contains laws, narratives, history, fables, allegories, mediations, prayers, ethics, moral sayings, philosophical and religious discussions.
There are 63 books of the Talmud arranged in 6 main sections or orders.
There are two versions, the Babylonian Talmud and the less authoritative Jerusalem Talmud.
A mnemonic for the six sections is Zeman Nakat.
Zera’im
Mnemonic- Zeman Nakat
First section of talmud.
Agricultural laws and divine worship.
Moed
Mnemonic- Zeman Nakat
Second section of the Talmud.
Shabbat and festivals.
Nashim
Mnemonic- Zeman Nakat
Third section of the Talmud
Laws pertaining to women
N’Zikin
Mnemonic- Zeman Nakat
Fourth section of Talmud.
Civil and criminal law
Kedushin
Mnemonic- Zeman Nakat
Fifth section of Talmud.
Laws relating to sacrifices.
Taharot
Mnemonic- Zeman Nakat
Sixth section of Talmud
Laws relating to cleanliness and purification
HaMapah
“The Tablecloth”
Name given to the inline commentary on the Shulchan Aruch.
Written by Rabbi Israel Esserles (1520-1572) known as the Rama, authoritative for Ashkenazi Jews.
Ha’lacha L’Moshe M’Sinai
“The law translated to Moshe from Sinai” Any extremely ancient law or custom, whose origin while not fully understood, is believed to stem from the days of antiquity.
Asseret Hadibrot
The ten (words) commandments.
Taryag (Taryag mitzvot)
A group of letters whose numerical value is 613. An abbreviation for the 613 commandments in the Torah. 248 positive 365 negative.
Siyum
Conclusion. The custom of completing a talmudic tractate with a discourse, followed by a sued mitzvah.
Seudah mitzvah
The meal (or refreshments) that follow a mitzvah, for example, the meal following a brit milah or siyum.
Anshey Knesset HaGdolah
The men of the great assembly.
An assembly of some 120 scholars who did not all live at the same time, founded by Ezra about 450BCE. They were largely responsible for the arrangement of the canon. They also set out the siddur.
Pirkei Avot
Ethics of the fathers. Moral advice of the sages. The six chapters are found in the Mincha service for Shabbat.
Kabbalah
Reception.
Two main meanings are:
- Jewish Mystical Teachings
- The diploma issued to those having passed their examination as Shochtim.
Shochet
Ritual Slaughterer
Rabbi
Teacher. The title given to a Jewish Male who has passed his rabbinical ordination.
Smicha
The title or rabbinical ordination.
D’Oraita
A law that comes directly from the Torah (either explicitly or implicitly). Distinguished from D’Rabbanan, laws instituted by the Rabbis.
D’Rabbanan
Laws that originate from the sages.
Shulchan aruch
Literally “The prepared table”. The name given to the famous codification of law by Rabbi Joseph Karo (16th century)
