religion - Judaism test review

• anti - Semitism


  hostility & prejudice towards Jews
• Ark of the Covenant


  the wooden chest that held the tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. The temple in Jerusalem became the home of this.
• chosen people


  the idea that God chose the Jewish people to be the keepers of his covenant on earth. God chooses humanity and humanity chooses God.
• covenant


  as used in the Bible, a solemn and binding agreement between God & humanity
• Diaspora


  a Greek word meaning "sowing of seed" or "dispersal." In the context of Jewish history, this is the word used when referencing the Jewish population living outside of Israel
• Exodus


  the significant event in which Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. It means "going out" or "departure"
• gerut


  the process of conversion to Judaism
• Holocaust / Shoah


  the mass murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis during WW2; means "destruction"
• Holy Ark


  a cabinet-like structure in a synagogue that houses the Torah Scrolls
• Judaica


  the literature, customs, ritual objects, artifacts, etc. which are of particular relevance to Judaism
• kippa / yarmulke


  a small circular cap worn by Jewish men
• kosher


  fulfilling the requirements of the Jewish dictionary laws of Kashrut
• Messiah 


  "anointed one" Jews hope that a great king will come to lead them
• minyan


  the quorum of 10 men (or men + women) over 13 yrs of age required for worship
• mitzvah


  a commandment from God; the act of performing a good deed; most well known of these are the 10 Commandments
• Promised Land


  the area of Canaan that the Hebrews believed was promised to them by God
• prophet


  a person who receives a message from God & delivers it to God's people. The message belongs to God, with this person acting as God's messenger
• rabbi


  a Jewish scholar/teacher, especially of the Law; a person appointed as a Jewish religious leader
• synagogue


  a place for congregational worship that emerged during the exile & became important in the period after the destruction of the temples in 586 BCE & 70CE. These continue to be the central place of worship for Jews today.
• tallis


  a prayer shawl
• Tanakh


  the Jewish Bible, consisting of the Torah (Law of Moses), the Prophets, & the Writings
• Torah


  refers to the Law of Moses & the rest of the Hebrew scriptures and the entire belief system of the Jewish faith. It's more often translated as meaning "law", but a more accurate translation is "teaching" or "instruction"
• Western Wall


  the remaining part of the wall of Herod's temple in Jerusalem where Jews traditionally pray & lament on Fridays
• Zionism


  a movement originally for the re-establishment of a Jewish nation, & now for the development of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel
• Milestones & Life Events

  1. Bris (B'rit Milah) = the circumcision & naming at 8 days old
  2. Bar Mitzvah = the coming of age ritual at 13 years old
  3. Marriage (Kiddushin) = the covenant/contract between a couple & God
  4. Death ritual = Sitting Shiva for 7 days of mourning
• Festivals


  1. Rosh Hashanah / Yom Kippur = New Year; Day of Atonement
  2. Sukkot = Feast of Booths; build shelters remembering the harvest & protection of the Hebrews
  3. Hanukkah = "A Great Miracle Happened There"; oil lasting for 8 nights, not 1; reclaiming Temple
  4. Purim = Feast of Lots; remembers Queen Ester
  5. Pesach (Passover) = the escape from Egypt; Seder is central
  6. Shavuot = Moses receiving the 10 Commandments
• 3 Foods eaten at Festivals & what they represent

  1. Apples in Honey = during Rosh Hashanah, represents a sweet New Year
  2. Potato Pancakes (food fried in oil)= during Hanukkah, represents the oil which lasted for 8 nights
  3. Seder meal = during Pesach/Passover, represents the escape from Egypt
• Branches & Groups - 1 fact per group

  1. Orthodox = believes the Torah was given to Moses
  2. Reform = believes that both the written and spoken Torah are human creations
  3. Conservative = believes that God revealed the Torah to & through people
  4. Reconstructionist = believes in a new prayer book & don't hold Torah given by God
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Star of David - used as the symbol of the Jewish community, found in synagogues

  
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Menorah - used during Hanukah, 7 branches represent 7 days of the week, lighting it represents the burning bush Moses saw

  
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Mezuzah - found on the right of a door frame, reminds them of God's presence

  
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Havdalah candle - used to separate the week from the Sabbath

  
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Kiddush cup - used by pouring wine into it until it pours over, which represents God's love overpouring into us

  
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Ablution cup - used to wash hands with living water (2 handles for 2 hands so you can stay ritually clean)

  
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Seder tray = used to hold the symbols of Passover

  
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Dreidel - used by spinning until it lands on a side (each side has a Hebrew letter, each representing a miracle)

  
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Kippah - used/worn by men to respect God

  
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Tallit - used/worn by men to remind them God protects them

  
• what is this symbol? what is it used for/where do you find it?

  Tefillin - used/tied to arm or somewhere near head to show they're thinking of God

  
• why is the Temple in Jerusalem so sacred in Judaism?

  • it is the holiest site in Jerusalem
  • 1st Temple was built by King Solomon (son of King David) as a center of worship for Jewish faith
  • Orthodox tradition believes that the Temple will be rebuilt a 3rd time by the Messiah