Judaism Test Review Sheet

Know All Homework, Vocabulary & Notes Plus…

#’s of Jews in the world 14 million
Race/Ethnicity/Cultural Group Judaism is not a race or ethnicity. It is a religion and it is a cultural
heritage that can be passed down.
Documentary Hypothesis is a theory that says the Torah was written by different authors. It’s 4
components are J (Yahwist), E (Elohist), D (Deuteronomy), and P
(Priestly) authors.
Torah is the first 5 books of the Bible.
God’s names Yahweh, YHWH, Elohim, Adonai, haShem
Hebrew Scriptures, Tanakh is the corpus of the Hebrew Scriptures. TNK is an acronym for Torah
(law), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).
Creation Stories, Patriarchs The difference between Genesis 1 and 2 is that in 1, it focuses on when
God creates heaven and earth in 7 days and in 2, it focuses on when God
creates Adam and Eve. Next there is the flood myth of Noah and the Arc.
The patriarchs are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Abraham is the father of the patriarchs.
Moses led the migration from Mesopotamia/Egypt to Canaan. He freed his people
from Egypt (the Exodus).
Jacob is the son of Isaac.He has 4 wives, 12 sons and 1 daughter.
David was one of the greatest kings of Israel.
Solomon was the son of David, and king of Israel. He builds the Temple in
Jerusalem.
Cyrus is the emperor praised for his freeing of the Jews in Babylon.
Assyrians invaded Northern Israel in 722 BCE.
Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 587 BCE.
Romans - - - ??
History of the Temple in Jerusalem The Temple was destroyed many times. It was never finally rebuilt.
Pharisees See chart.
Maccabean Revolt was an intra-Jewish civil war in 166 BCE. It was started by a group of
resistance fighters. The Maccabees disagreed witht eh Hellenized Jews and
Roman authority. They’re victory is celebrated through Hannukah.
Zealots See chart.
Essenes See chart.
Sadducees See chart.
Babylonian Exile was in 587 BCE. The people elaborated a hope for a restoration of the
Davidic kingship as a sign of God’s loyalty to his covenant people.
Rabbinic Judaism is when the Pharisaic traditions were refurbished for a new national
purpose. After the Temple was destroyed, Rabbis began to lead the Jewish
heritage. They were the chief custodians instead of the priests.
Maimonides , also known as Rambam, lived between 1135 and 1204 CE and was from
Cordoba, Spain. His major philosophical treatsie was called The Guide for
the Perplexed. His greatest achievement is his effort to resolve the tensions
between faith and knowledge. Maimonides believed that the more rational
we are, the more moral we can be. He thinks there is a harmonious
relationship between relgion and science.
Rabbi A rabbi is a teacher and legal specialist. They are the chief custodians for
Judaism. Rabbi means “great one,” “leader,” “master,” and “teacher.”
Synagogue is a place of assembly, study, and prayer.
Tzaddik is the religious leader of the Hasidic Jews.
Circumcision is the removal of the male’s foreskin on the 8th day of life. It is the most
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characteristic ritual of Judaism.

Talmud is the next layer of interpretation after the Mishnah. It comments on the
Mishnah.
Diaspora is the dispersal of the Jews from Israel.
Bat mitzvah, Bar mitzvah A Bar mitzvah is when a teenager reads a selection from 1 of the 5 books
of Moses and Prophets and the Bible.
Seder is the ritual Passover dinner.
Zohar is the principle text of the Kabbalah. It describes the feminie aspect of God
as a blue light.
Pentateuch is the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
Mishnah attempts to explain the heritage of the law. It was composed in 200 CE. It
summarized the application of the traditional law as the Pharasaic-rabbinic
movement interpreted it.
Kaddish is the prayer recited by children, usually sons, for the dead. It is recited
daily for a year. The prayer itself praises God and His miracles.
Kabbalah is Jewish Mysticism. It literally means “received tradition.” It is a teaching
that grew from Mysticisim. Its central aspects incuted an interest in the
human figer of God, heavenly ascents, magical spells and motifs, and
apocalyptic/revelatory writings.
Hasidism is under Jewish Mysticism founded by Bali Sheem. It is from 18th century
Poland.
Zionism is the belief that Israel has a right to exist as a democratic Jewish state. It
was founded by Theodore Herzl.
Midrash is the Bible interpretation by rabbis. It means “interpretation” or
“commentary.”
Tallith is the prayer shawl used during prayer. It is usually blue and white with
fringes.
Mezuzoth is the lipstick sized scroll on the door frame that contains the Shema and
similar passages.
Shofar is a ram’s horn used to “wake up the congregation from moral slumber” to
remind them to consider their deeds the past year.
Haggadah is a narrative or story. It is the Passover liturgy that tells Jes to looks on
himself on having experienced the deliverance of the Exodus.
Huppah is the marriage canopy held over a couple while they marry.
Sitting Shiva It is the hours for receiving visitors to the house 7 days after the burial of
the dead.
Rosh Hashanah (New Year) each year begins with new moon at Fall equinox.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is the most solemn day of the year. Jews consider
their deeds of the past year. It is the Final Judgement.
Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabean Jews’ victory over their oppressors and the
purification and rededication of the Temple. It is celebrated by and 8 day
lighting of the menorah.
Israel (statehood) was proclaimed as an independent state in May 1948.

Be able to:
● Write out the Shema, explain what it means and know the verse where it is found in scripture
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the LORD alone.” - Deuteronomy 6:4
The Shema is the bold statement of monotheism made by the Jews.
● Name and describe in detail all Jewish holidays
Rosh Hashanah see above↑
Yom Kippur see above ↑
Hannukah see above ↑
Purim is a minor festival in March that recalls the deliverance of the Jews in Persia from destruction at the
hands of Hamon. It is like Halloween and Mardi Graas.
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Passover is a spring holiday that commemorates the Exodus. Jews have seder dinner and they listen to the
Haggadah.
● Name and define the three prominent forms of Judaism in North America and explain the
differences between them (with concrete examples)
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● Draw the “circle of interpretation” of the Torah and define and explain each of the rings.

● Explain the difference between Zionism, Hasidism, Kabbalah and Orthodox Judaism
- - - ??
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