| Ashkenazim
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Jews who lived in or came from central Europe.
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| bar mitzva
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'Son of the commandment'; the coming-of-age ceremony that marks the time when a young person is considered a legal adult within the Jewish community.
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| biblical Judaism
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Judaism before the destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E.).
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| Canaan
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An ancient name for the land of Isreal.
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| Conservative Judaism
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A branch of Judaism that attempts to blend the best of old and new Judaism.
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| covenant
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A contract; the contract between the Hebrews and their God, Yahweh.
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| diaspora
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The dispersion of Jews beyond Israel, particularly to Persia Egypt and the Mediterranean region.
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| Essenes
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A semimonastic Jewish reclusive group that flourished from about 150 B.C.E. to 68 C.E.
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| Hanukkah
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An early-winter festival recalling the rededication of the Second Temple, celebrated with the lighting of the candles for eight days.
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| Holocaust
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The destruction of European Judaism by the Naziz; also known as Shoah (Hebrew: 'extermination').
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| Kabbalah
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'Received,' 'handed down'; the whole body of Jewish mystical literature.
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| Kethuvim
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'Writings'; the third section of the Hebrew scriptures, consisting primarily of poetry, proverbs, and literary works.
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| Kosher
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'Ritually correct'; said particularly about food consumption and food preparation.
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| menorah
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A candelabrum usually containing seven-and occasionally nine-branches used for religious celebrations.
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| Messiah
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A savior figure to be sent by God, awaited by the Jews.
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| midrash
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'Search'; rabbinical commentary on the scriptures and oral law.
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| Nevi'im
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'Prophets'; the second section of the Hebrew scriptures, made up of historical and prophetic books.
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| Orthodox
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The most traditional branch of Judaism.
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| Passover
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A joyful spring festival that recalls the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt and freedom from oppression.
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| Pharisees
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A faction during the Second-Temple period that emphasized the observation of biblicalrules.
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| prophet
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A person inspired by God to speak for him.
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| Purim
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Joyous festival in early spring that recalls the Jews' being saved from destruction, as told in the book of Esther.
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| rabbi
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A religious teacher; a Jewish minister.
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| rabbinical Judaism
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The Judaism that developed after the destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E.).
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| Reconstructionism
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A modern liberal branch of the Judaism that emphasizes the cultural aspects of Judaism.
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| Reform
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A modernizing movement and a liberal branch of Judaism.
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| Rosh Hashanah
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'Beginning of the year'; the celebration of the Jewish New Year, occurring on the seventh lunar month.
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| Sabbath
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'Rest'; the seventh day of the week (Saturday), a day of prayer and rest from work.
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| Sadducees
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A priestly faction, influential during the Second-Temple period.
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| Seder
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'Order'; a special ritual meal at Passover, recalling the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt.
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| Sephardim
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Jews of Spain, Morocco and, the Mediterranean region.
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| sukkot
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'Booths'; a festival in the late autumn that recalls the Jews' period of wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt.
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| talit
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A prayer shawl worn by devout males.
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| Talmud
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An encyclopedic commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures.
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| Tanakh
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The complete Hebrew scriptures, made up of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings.
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| tefillin
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Phylacteries; two small boxes containing biblical passages that are worn by Orthodox males on the heads and left arm at morning prayer during the week.
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| theophany
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A revelation or appearance of a God.
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| Torah
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'Teaching,' 'instruction'; the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures; also the additional instructions of God, believed by many to have been transmitted orally from Moses through a succession of teachers and rabbis.
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| Western Wall
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The foundation stones of the western wall of the last temple of Jerusalem, today a place of prayer.
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| yarmulke
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The skullcap worn by devout males.
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| Yom Kippur
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Day of Atonement.
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| Zealots
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An anti-Roman, nationalistic Jewish faction, active during the Roman period of control over Israel.
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| Zionism
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The movement that has encouraged the creation and support of the nation of Israel.
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2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education