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Judaism
Chapter 8 Study Guide
58
Religious Studies
Undergraduate 2
10/26/2011

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Term
Though a religion of "law" Judaism as a whole is nevertheless diverse. What are two foundational reasons for this diversity?
Definition
no single founder and no central leader or group making theological decisions
Term
What Christians call the "Old Testament" Jews refer to as what?
Definition
Tanakh
Term
"Torah" specificially refers to what part? What are the other sections?
Definition
5 books of Moses. Writings and Prophets
Term
When does God call Abraham?
Definition
BCE c.1900-1700
Term
When does Moses lead the Hebrew slaves from Egypt?
Definition
c. 1300-1200
Term
When is the Babylonian exile/destruction of the first temple?
Definition
586
Term
When is the second temple destroyed, and by whom?
Definition
CE 70, Romans
Term
WHen is the modern state of Israel founded?
Definition
1948
Term
Certain stories from the Bible were commonly read, but which ones?
Definition
Genesis 1 and 2:1-4
Term
Recurring theme in the Jewish experience, what is it?
Definition
Exile, they were exiled from their spiritual home and continued to seek to return to it
Term
What is the key term that describes the relationship of the Jewish people to God? What does the term mean in terms of how the relationship is understood?
Definition
Covenant, contract that they are both accountable and give and take with other
Term
What procedure does Abraham undergo, as a physical sign of the covenant with God?
Definition
example of obedience to God's commands and they must undergo circumcision, it's an initiation rite for men
Term
What does the word "Israel" actually mean in hebrew?
Definition
"the one who struggled with God"
Term
The "Exodus" refers to waht basic event and what key Jewish leader as described in the bible?
Definition
Moses was chosen by God to defy the Pharaoh to lead people out of bondage out of Egypt
Term
What letters are typically used to render God's name, and how should one pronounce it?
Definition
too sacred to pronounce it, YHWH or YHVH
Term
What was the "Ark of the Covenant"? Where does it end up?
Definition
portable tabernacle with a holy ark to keep the stone tablets on which God inscribed the 10 commandments on it, Jerusalem
Term
Who is Israel's greatest king?
Definition
David, the second king of Israel
Term
Who is a "Gentile"?
Definition
non-Jewish people
Term
What does the word "diaspora" mean?
Definition
living beyond their traditional homeland
Term
4 kind of Jews
Definition
Sadducees: preist and wealthy business people
Pharisees: liberal citizens, study the Torah
Essences: males dressed in all white, avoid luxury, ritual purity
Zealots: anit-Roman militias
Term
Which group was connected to the "Dead Sea Scrolls"?
Definition
Essenes
Term
What is "apocalyptic" literature?
Definition
sees the world in stark terms of good and evil. God's victory over evil and urges people to live righteous lives
Term
What is "rabbi"? What are the basic functions of a rabbi? Is a rabbi a kind of priest?
Definition
inheritors of the Pharisee, they are founders of rabbinic Judaism. they are teachers, religious decision makers, and creators of liturgical prayer. And it is not a type of priest anymore
Term
What is the root meaning of "synagogue"?
Definition
"meeting places"read the Torah and worship communally, song, and readings
Term
What is "minyan" and how many men are required for one?
Definition
quorum of ten adult males and must be present for community worship
Term
Women's role and limitations in the Jewish religion.
Definition
excluded from formal Torah study, keep strict dietary laws, prepare for Sabbath day, teach children the 10 commandments
Term
What is the process of studying Hebrew scriptures called?
Definition
Midrash. 2 interpretations (halakhah-proper conduct)
(haggadah-sermons non legal teachings)
Term
What is "Talmud"?
Definition
vast compendium of law. Jerusalem Talmud-spiritual practice Babylonian Talmud-encyclopedia of the Torah
Term
What is the Hebrew term for "God's presence in the world"? This presence is characterized as which gender?
Definition
Shekhinah-femminine noun that often represents the nurturing aspect of God. (radiant, winged presence)
Term
How did Jewish communities fare in the Middle Ages in countries with Islamic rule?
Definition
treated relatively well pay a substantial head tax if they run autonomously. "People of the Book"
Term
What motivated so much Christian anti-Semitism against Jews in the middle ages?
Definition
because Jesus was a Jew his people never accepted Christian claims that he was Messiah
Term
Did the Crusades lessen or increase anti-Jewish hostility?
Definition
increased
Term
What happened to the Jews in 1492 in Spain?
Definition
forced to leave because they were blamed for the plague, they were either killed or forced out of of countries
Term
In the 1500s the Christians forced the Jews to live in what?
Definition
ghettos-special Jewish living quarters-walled in and locked at night to separate the Jews from mixing with the Christians
Term
What is the word for the esoteric, mystical Jewish traditions?
Definition
Kabbalah
Term
What does the term tikkun olam mean?
Definition
repairing the world-relationship between God and humans as a covenantal one
Term
What is the main distinguishing feature of Hasidism?
Definition
ecstatic piety- feel the spirit, joy, mysticism, connecting to the Divine
Term
Within Hasidism, who is a tzaddick?
Definition
enlightened saint and teacher-Rebbe when ordained a Haisdic spiritual guide
Term
What is the difference between Orthodox and Reform Judaism?
Definition
traditional vs. new movement
separate from non-Jews
Term
Roughly how many Jews were systematically exterminated by the Nazis during the Holocaust?
Definition
six million European Jews
Term
What is basic vision of "Zionism"?
Definition
Jewish movement dedicated to the establishment of a politically viable internationally recognized Jewish
Term
Did (do) all Jews support Zionism? If not, why not?
Definition
not all Jews did, the reforms did not, orthodox did because reforms felt God had punished state them for unfaithfulness
Term
God's nature
Definition
monotheism-one creator "cause of all existent things"
Term
The "essential commandment" for humans
Definition
to love God
Term
The value of human life?
Definition
celebrate the body, common descendants of the first man and woman
Term
The role of law?
Definition
can be faithful to the divine and will fulfill the purposes of creation
Term
What is a mikva?
Definition
special deep bath structure by women symbolizing their altered state
Term
What are t'fillin?
Definition
men, phylacteries, small leather boxes containing biblical versess about the covenant with God-on the forehead and upper arm
Term
When does the Sabbath begin and end for Jews?
Definition
sunset friday night-sunday saturday night
Term
What is "challah"?
Definition
special braided bread-symbol of the double portions of manna in dessert
Term
What is a shofar, and what Holy Day is it associated with?
Definition
rams horn that produces an eery, unearthly blast-to know that you are standing before God. Happens 30 days prior to Rosh Hashanah
Term
What is Rosh Hashanah?
Definition
New Year's Day spiritual renewal in remembrance of the original creation
Term
What is Yom Kippur?
Definition
completes the High Holy Days-Day of atonement and cleansing
Term
What is Sukkot?
Definition
Fall Harvest Festival-outdoor bath ritual act to gain a deeper experience
Term
What historical event does Hanukkah commemorate?
Definition
celebration of the victory of the Maccabean rebellion against the non-Jew practice on Jews
Term
What even more ancient, and foundational, event does Passover (Pesach) commemorate?
Definition
celebrates the liberation from bondage in Egypt and springtime advent of new life
Term
What is a "Seder"?
Definition
unleavened bread (matzah) remember urgency of the departure, bitter herbs-slavery
Term
What are two reforms of Judaism pursued by Jewish feminists?
Definition
-liturgical issues-changing language to gender neutral, gender inclusive terms
-same sex weddings-expand their perspective to consider global problems-threats and violence and ecological disasters
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