Explain the meaning of Judaism and related terms.

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Explain the meaning of Judaism and related terms. Judaism is the historic religion of the Jewish people. This name comes from the ancient tribe of Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Before 500 B.C.E., the ancestors of the Jews went by other names. The first was Hebrews, the name of the people during patriarchal times through the Exodus. When they settled

in Palestine after the Exodus, they became known as Israelites, a name derived from the ancient patriarch Israel (Jacob). The modern nation of Israel, founded in 1948, uses the same name as that of ancient Israel, but the people of modern Israel are called Israelis, not Israelites.

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Summarize how the main periods of Judaism’s history have shaped its present. Its main periods are from the creation of the world to Abraham, the father of the Jewish people (ca. 2000 B.C.E.); the emergence of ancient Israel from Egypt, entry into the land of Canaan, and tribal confederacy (ca. 1200–950 B.C.E.); the First Temple Period of the united and then divided kingdoms, which ended in destruction of the north and exile of the south (950–586 B.C.E.); the Second

Temple Period, which saw foreign rule and the rise of Jewish movements (539 B.C.E.–70 C.E.); the next period, which saw two failed revolts against Roman rule and the rise of the Pharisee/ rabbi movement (66–ca. 650 C.E.); period of Islamic and Christian rule (ca. 650–1800 C.E.); period of emancipation and growing diversity in Europe (1800–1932); the Holocaust and its aftermath, when millions of Jews were killed in Europe and modern Israel was founded (1932–present).

Hebrews [HEE-brewz] Name of the ancestors of the Jews during patriarchal times through the Exodus (p. 224)

Israelis [ihz-RAIL-eez] Name of people who live in the modern nation of Israel (p. 225)

Israelites [IHZ-ray-ehl-ights] Name for ancestors of the Jews during the period of the Judges and during the First Temple Period (p. 224)

Judaism [JOO-dee-ihz-um] Historic religion of the Jewish people (p. 224)

menorah [men-OHR-uh] Large candela- brum; today a symbol of Judaism (p. 225)

Star of David Six-pointed star that is the most common symbol of Judaism today (p. 225)

anti-Semitism [SEHM-ih-tihz-um] Prejudice and discrimination against the Jewish people (p. 230)

Ark of the Covenant Sacred box in the tabernacle and then the Temple (p. 227)

Ashkenazi [ash-kuh-NAHZ-ee] Jews living in, or originating from, Western, Central, and Eastern Europe (p. 231)

Babylonian Talmud [TALL-mood] Jewish law code, a compilation of the “oral Torah” (p. 231)

circumcision Ritual of the covenant, removing the foreskin of the penis (p. 226)

Conservative Movement founded by Zecharias Frankel, claiming the middle ground between Reform and Orthodox (p. 234)

covenant [CUH-veh-nent] Agreement in which God promised to be with Abraham and his many descendants and Abraham promised to follow God (p. 226)

Diaspora [dee-ASS-pohr-uh] Dispersion of Jews outside the ancient territory of Israel (p. 228)

emancipation Jewish freedom from Christian and state control in Europe after 1800 (p. 233)

Essenes [ESS-eenz] Separatist ultra- Torah-observant movement, probably founded the Qumran settlement (p. 229)

First Temple Period Era of Israelite history from ca. 950 B.C.E. until the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. (p. 227)

ghetto Neighborhood to which Jews were restricted (p. 232)

Hanukkah [HAHN-uh-kuh] Winter festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 164 B.C.E. (p. 229)

Hasidism [HASS-uh-dizm] Jewish mystical movement that stresses joyful emotion (p. 232)

Holocaust [HAUL-oh-cost] Nazi genocide of Jews and other groups in World War II (p. 236)

Kabbalah [KAHB-uh-luh] System of Jewish mysticism emphasizing a personal and emotional experience of God (p. 231)

Maccabean Revolt [mak-uh-BEE-uhn] Rebellion against Hellenistic rulers, led by Judas Maccabeus and his sons (p. 229)

Masorti [mah-SOHR-tee] “Traditionalist,” name of Conservative movement in Europe and Israel (p. 234)

Orthodox Modern movement founded by Samson Raphael Hirsch; most conserva- tive of Jewish branches (p. 234)

patriarchs [PAY-tree-arks] Hebrew founding fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (p. 226)

Pharisees [FAIR-uh-seez] Lay movement of Torah teachers who developed the oral traditions of the Torah (p. 228)

prophets Those who spoke for God to ancient Israel to call them to greater obedience (p. 227)

rabbis [RAB-ighs] Teachers of the law and successors of the Pharisees who eventually gained authority over Judaism (p. 230)

Reform Movement founded by Abraham Geiger; most liberal of Jewish branches (p. 233)

Second Temple Period Era of Jewish history from ca. 539 B.C.E. to 70 C.E. (p. 228)

Sephardic [seh-FAR-dik] Jews in medieval and modern times living in, or originating from, the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain (p. 231)

Shoah [SHOW-uh] “Destruction,” Hebrew term for the Holocaust (p. 236)

synagogue [SIN-uh-gawg] Gathering of local Jews in a congregation for worship and community life (p. 230)

Torah [TOHR-uh] Teaching conveyed by Moses in the first five books of the Bible (p. 226)

Zionism [ZY-on-izm] Modern organiza- tion promoting large Jewish immigration into Palestine and establishing a Jewish state there (p. 234)

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Summarize Jewish worship, the Sabbath and major festivals, and life-cycle rituals. Because Judaism is a religion of practice, it has a full set of rituals for synagogue worship, home practices, and community-based religious festivals. Synagogue worship is held almost every day, with special services on the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of mandatory

rest and worship. Judaism has several main festivals (Passover, celebrating deliverance from ancient Egypt; Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement; and Rosh Hashanah, New Year’s Day) and lesser festivals. Major life-cycle rituals include circumcision, which makes the male a member of the Jewish people; the bar/bat mitzvah marking and celebrating adulthood; weddings; and funerals.

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10-6 Outline the main features of Judaism around the world today, especially in Israel and North America. In 2010, the world Jewish population was about 13.5 million. About 42 percent of all Jews reside in Israel, and about 42 percent reside in North America. The rest live in Europe and are scattered

widely in smaller communities in South America, Asia, and Africa. Jews everywhere tend to practice their faith within the three main branches: Orthodox, the most traditional form of Judaism; Conservative, in reality a moderate form called Masorti in Israel and Europe; and Reform, the liberal branch.

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Outline the essential teachings of Judaism in your own words. Judaism as a whole has no official statement of its teachings. Persons are Jewish whether they adhere to a complete system of traditional Jewish beliefs, hold simple beliefs that give meaning to a few rituals such as the Passover meal, or do not believe in any traditional Jewish teachings. This diversity in Jewish belief arises in part because actions, not beliefs, are the most

important aspect of Judaism. Despite this lack of emphasis on teaching, the Jewish Bible and Talmud teach a great deal about God (ethical monotheism), humanity (made in one family in the image of God), and the meaning of life (to keep the world as God’s creation). Jewish history has seen significant theological inquiry into religious concepts—in philosophy, religious practices, and mystical practices.

Describe the main features of Jewish ethics. The moral life of all branches of Judaism today rests on biblical founda- tions. God created the world as a good place, to reflect God’s own glory and goodness in all the aspects of human life. God not only searches and redeems people who wander away, but God also commands humans to follow his way. For the rabbis of antiquity and the Middle Ages, and for Orthodox and most

Conservatives today, the moral code of the Bible gives laws that demand obedience. Jewish morality rests on the foundation of ethical monotheism. Not only is God the one and only God, but God is also perfectly right and righteous. The Torah given by God enables people to know what God’s will is. Evil is not built into the structure of the universe but is the product of human choices. Humans are free moral agents created in the image of God.

henotheism Belief in one God while accepting that other gods may exist (p. 238)

resurrection Raising of the bodies of the dead to eternal life (p. 240)

Shema [sheh-MAH, or shmah] Statement of faith from Deuteronomy 6 that begins “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is One” (p. 238)

Tanak [TAH-nahk] Name for the Hebrew Bible, from the first letters of Torah, Nevi’im, and Kethuvim (p. 237)

halakhah [hah-luh-KAH] “Walk of life,” the way of moral obedience to God (p. 243)

ark Place in the synagogue where the Torah scrolls are kept (p. 244)

bar mitzvah [bahr MITZ-vuh] “Son of the commandment,” the assumption of responsibility before God for keeping the Torah (p. 247)

bat (bas) mitzvah [baht (bahs) MITZ- vuh] “Daughter of the commandment,” the assumption of responsibility before God for keeping the Torah (p. 247)

kosher [KOH-sher] Jewish law dealing with what foods can be eaten, and how those foods must be prepared and consumed (p. 246)

minyan [MIHN-yahn] Minimum number of men necessary to have a service (usually ten) (p. 244)

mohel [MOI-uhl, rhymes with oil] Jewish man who officiates at a circumcision (p. 247)

Passover Celebration of the escape of the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery (p. 246)

Rosh Hashanah [rohsh ha-SHAH-nah] Jewish New Year, in September or October, a ten-day period of repentance and self- examination (p. 246)

Sabbath Seventh day of the week, from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday, to be kept holy (p. 245)

seder [SAY-duhr] Special Passover meal with various foods (p. 246)

shiva [SHIHV-uh] Period of mourning that lasts seven days, beginning on the day of burial (p. 249)

Yom Kippur [yohm kip-PUHR] Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the year (p. 246)

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