Understanding judaism Flashcards
What is the role that God gave the Jews
As the recipients of God’s covenant, they are tasks with being ‘a light to the nations’ (ISIAH)
What does mitzvot mean?
Commandments. There are 613. Some are positive (do) and negative (avoid)
Where did the Jews make their national covenant with God?
Mount Sinai
What do the Jews believe would happen if they failed to keep their commandments?
God would punish them with the loss of their national homeland and sanctuary, and exile them.
Jews retain hope that through repentance it can be restored.
When did the Star of David enter into popular Jewish symbolism?
In the late medieval period (12th to 14th century)
What is the dominant narrative today regarding the Jewish development into a monotheistic religion?
Although the biblical narrative portrays a pure monotheistic outlook from the start, it is widely held now that early aspects of Judaism were polytheistic. Monotheism develops around the time of the Babylonian exile.
What is henotheism?
One god is worshipped as supreme while acknowledging the existence of other deities.
What happened to the kingdom is Israel after the death of Solomon?
It split into two: Judah in the south and Israel in the north.
What were the two main trends in Judaism following Alexander the Great?
Hellenists and pietists. Hellenists accommodated the open and tolerant Hellenistic system, while Pietists saw this as inimical to Judaism. This led to the pietist Maccabee revolt and restoration of the temple.
When was the Jewish temple razed by the Romans?
70CE.
What characterised Pharisaic Judaism?
A belief in the written Torah, and the oral Torah, handed down orally from Moses.
Believed in an after life.
Emphasised Jewish learning.
What are the three main geographical groups of Jews?
Sephardic - Spain
Ashkenazim - Germany / Poland (later Eastern Europe)
Mizrahim (Middle East)
What are the three main branches of Judaism today?
Reform
Conservative
Orthodox
