1' According to traditional Jewish law, what identifies someone as a Jew How is this designation of

1
1. According to traditional Jewish law, what
identifies someone as a Jew? How is this
designation of membership in the religion
different from Islam and Christianity?
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1. According to traditional Jewish law, what
identifies someone as a Jew? How is this
designation of membership in the religion
different from Islam and Christianity?

• To be Jewish means to be born of a Jewish mother
  or convert to Judaism. In Islam and Christianity,
  however, a person must make a statement of faith
  to become a member of either.

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2. What does it mean to say that Judaism is
typically not a proselytizing religion?
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2. What does it mean to say that Judaism is
typically not a proselytizing religion?

• Judaism is a religion strictly for Jews. It is
  a religion of a people, and it is only possible
  to become Jewish by birth or by conversion.
  Judaism is the religion for Jews while other
  religions are for other people.

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3. What confusion does distinguishing between
Judaism and Jewishness attempt to address?
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3. What confusion does distinguishing between
Judaism and Jewishness attempt to address?

• It attempts to address the difference between
  the religion and the social and cultural aspects
  of the Jewish people.

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4. Name the two perspectives that Judaism has
toward history. How is the perspective on history
different from the perspective held by Hinduism
and Buddhism?
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4. Name the two perspectives that Judaism has
toward history. How is the perspective on history
different from the perspective held by Hinduism
and Buddhism?

• History is both sacred and dynamic for Judaism
  compared to Hinduism and Buddhism, for which
  history belongs in the realm of illusion and
  appearances.

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5. Why does the word agreement rather than
contract better define covenant as Jews
understand the concept?
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5. Why does the word agreement rather than
contract better define covenant as Jews
understand the concept?

• The word agreement defines covenant better
  because it is less legalistic and more
  relational.

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6. What is the origin of the concept covenant?
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6. What is the origin of the concept covenant?

• The concept originated with the interactions
  among Middle Eastern people where resources were
  scarce. Additionally, covenants laid out the
  terms of agreement between a ruler and subjects
  in a nation.

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7. According to the Bible, who initiates the
covenant between God and the Jewish people?
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7. According to the Bible, who initiates the
covenant between God and the Jewish people?

• God initiates the covenant, and he continues to
  remain faithful to it, even when the Jewish
  people do not.

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8. How is Judaism different from Deism?
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8. How is Judaism different from Deism?

• Judaism believes that God has been active in the
  world since he created it. Deism believes, on the
  other hand, that God created the world and then
  left natural forces and humans to determine its
  course.

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9. What does the term Hebrew say about the
ancestors of the Jewish people?
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9. What does the term Hebrew say about the
ancestors of the Jewish people?

• The word Hebrew means strangers, a term that
  identified the ancestors of the Jewish people as
  people without a homeland.

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10. What does God ask of Abraham as a sign of
the covenant?
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10. What does God ask of Abraham as a sign of
the covenant?

• God asks of Abraham as a sign of the covenant
  that all male children undergo circumcision at
  the age of eight days.

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11. What is the origin and meaning of the word
Israel?
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11. What is the origin and meaning of the word
Israel?

• The origin of the name Israel is derived from
  Jacobs struggle with a strangera messenger from
  Godwhich ends in the stranger asking Jacobs
  name, then renaming him Israel. The descendents
  of Abraham take on the name Israelites, or
  children of Israel.

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12. What is the pivotal story of the Jewish
religion?
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12. What is the pivotal story of the Jewish
religion?

• The Exodus, in which the Jews are liberated from
  slavery, survive a desert journey, and arrive as
  a united people in the promised land.

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13. How do Jews today view the Exodus
experience of liberation?
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13. How do Jews today view the Exodus
experience of liberation?

• Liberation is an ongoing theme in the lives of
  Jews. Alone, people are enslaved, with Gods
  intervention, they are set free.

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14. What is the meaning of Yahweh?
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14. What is the meaning of Yahweh?

• It means I am who am, a dual natured
  understanding of God. God is both a mystery and
  an active presence in the world.

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15. What does it mean to say that Judaism
believes in ethical monotheism?
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15. What does it mean to say that Judaism
believes in ethical monotheism?

• Ethical monotheism means that the belief in the
  one, true God has ethical implications. Belief in
  God cannot be separated from moral acts.

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16. What role did the people known as Judges play
in formation of Israel?
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16. What role did the people known as Judges play
in formation of Israel?

• The Judges led the early nation of Israel before
  Samuel anointed Saul king.

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17. Who were the three kings during the period of
a united Israel?
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17. Who were the three kings during the period of
a united Israel?

• Saul, David, and Solomon.

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18. What is the difference between the temple
and synagogues?
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18. What is the difference between the temple
and synagogues?

• The temple was built as a place where Jews could
  worship God and offer animal sacrifices, it
  became the focal point of their religiona place
  of pilgrimage. Synagogues developed after the
  temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. The Jews
  who survived the Babylonian captivity created
  synagogues to continue their traditions and study
  Scripture. This study of Scripture helped hold
  the Jewish people together.

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19. What does messiah literally mean? What is
the Greek translation of the word?
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19. What does messiah literally mean? What is
the Greek translation of the word?

• Messiah literally means anointed one.
• The Greek translation is christ.

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20. How were the prophets extolled in Scripture
different from official prophets?
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20. How were the prophets extolled in Scripture
different from official prophets?

• Official prophets were often retained by rulers,
  prophets from Scripture were unofficial and
  they frequently challenged the king and the
  people of Israel to keep the covenant.

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21. Name the three parts of the Hebrew Bible.
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21. Name the three parts of the Hebrew Bible.

• The Pentateuch (or the Torah), the books that
  describe the actions of the prophets, and the
  Writings (which included the psalms, proverbs,
  and wisdom literature).

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22. What 70 B.C. event transformed Judaism?
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22. What 70 B.C. event transformed Judaism?

• The Roman army crushed a rebellion in Jerusalem,
  and in the process, destroyed much of the city
  and the temple. Only the Western Wall (the
  Wailing Wall) remains.

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23. What is the relationship between the Talmud
and Torah?
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23. What is the relationship between the Talmud
and Torah?

• The Torah is the Hebrew word for five books,
  or the Pentateuchas it is known in Greek. The
  Torah provides the laws for Jews to live by as
  provided by God. The Talmud, on the other hand,
  provides rules set forth by great rabbis that
  interpret the meaning of many of the laws from
  the Torah so that Jews could remain faithful to
  the Torah in times of change.

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24. Who were the Sephardim and the Ashkenazim?
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24. Who were the Sephardim and the Ashkenazim?

• The Sephardim are Jews who lived in
  Muslim-controlled land, particularly in southern
  Spain. Jews who lived in Christian-controlled
  land, particularly in Germany and Eastern Europe,
  were known as Ashkenazim.

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25. What was the Spanish Inquisition?
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25. What was the Spanish Inquisition?

• The Spanish Inquisition were trials set up to
  punish anyone suspected of undermining or
  rejecting the Christian faith.

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26. What position did Saint Augustine of Hippo
take regarding Jews?
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26. What position did Saint Augustine of Hippo
take regarding Jews?

• Jews should be allowed to exist in the Christian
  world to serve as a living reminder of
  Christianitys roots, but that Jews should always
  be second-class citizens to serve as a reminder
  that Christianity has superceded Judaism.

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27. What principal differences exist among the
four major branches of modern Judaism?
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27. What principal differences exist among the
four major branches of modern Judaism?

• Reform Judaism seeks to adopt Judaism to the
  modern world. Orthodox Jews seek to stay as close
  as possible to traditional ways of dress,
  lifestyle, and worship. Conservative Jews, in the
  19th Century, felt that the reform movement had
  gone too far and want to conserve more of their
  Jewishness. Reconstructionist Jews see Judaism as
  constantly evolving throughout history, and, as
  such, they wish to create a religious
  civilization by building on the past while also
  being open to contemporary developments within
  the Jewish community and the world.

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28. Define Zionism and shoah.
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28. Define Zionism and shoah.

• Zionism was the movement to reestablish a nation
  of Israel on the land where the ancient kingdom
  of Israel had once existed. Shoah is the term
  that Jews use to refer to the murder of their
  people in the Holocaustan event that led to the
  formation of the nation of Israel.

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29. What function does the Sabbath play for Jews?
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29. What function does the Sabbath play for Jews?

• It is a day to meditate and reflect. It is a day
  to stop business, rest, and appreciate God and
  his gifts.

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30. What feasts mark the beginning and end of the
High Holy Days in Judaism? What time of the year
are they celebrated?
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30. What feasts mark the beginning and end of the
High Holy Days in Judaism? What time of the year
are they celebrated?

• Rosh Hashanah begins the High Holy Days, and Yom
  Kippur ends them. They are celebrated beginning
  on the first day of the autumn month of Tishri.

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31. What is the origin of Sukot? What does it
celebrate today? How is it celebrated?
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31. What is the origin of Sukot? What does it
celebrate today? How is it celebrated?

• Sukot originated with the harvest time among
  Jews who discovered it was more practical to stay
  in the fields than return home after the days
  work. Today it celebrates the fragility of life
  and ones dependence upon Godas their ancestors
  did when traveling to the Promised Land. It is
  celebrated by building a hut-like structure
  covered with branches, fruits, and vegetables.

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32. What does Pesach commemorate? How is it
celebrated?
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32. What does Pesach commemorate? How is it
celebrated?

• Pesachor Passovercommemorates the Exodus from
  Egypt. It is celebrated with the seder meal,
  designed to assure that the meaning of the meal
  is not lost by having the youngest child present
  questions about why Pesach night is different
  from all other nights.

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33. What does Chanukah celebrate? Why has it
taken on increased significance recently?
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33. What does Chanukah celebrate? Why has it
taken on increased significance recently?

• Chanukah celebrates the rededication of the
  temple after Greek rulers who controlled Israel
  were driven out. It has increased in significance
  recently because it falls around the time of
  Christmas.

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34. What serves as the initiation rites for
infant boys and girls into Judaism?
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34. What serves as the initiation rites for
infant boys and girls into Judaism?

• For boys, circumcision is the initiation rite.
  For girls, a ceremony for naming formally
  initiates them.

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35. What do Bar and Bat Mitzvah mean? What is the
significance of these ceremonies?
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35. What do Bar and Bat Mitzvah mean? What is the
significance of these ceremonies?

• Bar and Bat Mitzvah mean son or daughter of the
  commandment. When a Jewish boy or girl turns 13,
  he or she is called upon to observe the
  commandments and to be a responsible adult member
  of the Jewish community.

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36. Name two rituals associated with the Jewish
wedding ceremony.
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36. Name two rituals associated with the Jewish
wedding ceremony.

• The couple being wed stands under a chupah
  during the ceremony. The ceremony ends with the
  groom stepping on a glass and everyone saying
  Mazel tov.

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37. What is Shivah?
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37. What is Shivah?

• Shivah is an initial seven-day mourning period
  following the death of a family member or loved
  one that is spent at home with friends during
  which the family and friends recite special
  prayers.

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38. Why is assimilation a concern of Jews in
America?
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38. Why is assimilation a concern of Jews in
America?

• Assimilation refers to a minority group losing
  their identity and becoming part of the dominant
  community. As Judaism and Jewishness are such
  large parts of being a Jew, assimilation would
  destroy large parts of what it means to be a Jew.