What did the Hebrews become in the forty years it took to return to Canaan from Egypt?

In the forty years it took to return to Canaan from Egypt the Hebrews became a covenantal community, owing their allegiance to one God only.

According to the rabbi Hillel, what is the summation of the Torah?

According to Hillel, the summation of the Torah is that whatever is hateful to you, you are not to do to your neighbour.

Who was Moses Maimonides and what did he argue for?

Moses Maimonides was a medieval Jewish philosopher who argued that there was no contradiction between the philosophy of Aristotle and the Jewish religion.

Name and briefly differentiate the four types of Judaism that are present in the Modern Period.

The four types of Judaism present in the Modern Period are Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist. Orthodox Jews interpret Torah in the most literal manner. Conservative Jews modify Jewish traditions in a limited manner. Reform Jews advocate full integration into the culture where one lives. Reconstructionist Jews advocate Judaism as a culture rather than a religion.

What do Jews believe about God?

Jews believe God exists, God is one, God is creator, and God is good.

What do Christians understand the Torah to be?

Christians understand the Torah to be the first five books of the Bible-Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

What does it mean to say that Jews are God's Chosen People?

To say Jews are God's Chosen People means that they are holy or separate.

What does the word "synagogue" mean?

The word "synagogue" means "place of assembly" outside one's homeland.

What takes place in a synagogue?

The synagogue is a place for prayer, for studying Torah, and for socializing.

What makes a home kosher?

A home is made kosher by getting rid of all that is not "proper."

How is the Jewish calendar different from the civil calendar?

The Jewish calendar is different from a civil calendar in that a Jewish calendar runs on a lunar cycle while a civil calendar runs on a solar cycle.

Cite the similarities between Rosh Hashanah and Pesach.

Rosh Hashanah and Pesach are similar in that they are both memorials of creation. Rosh Hashanah memorializes the creation o f the world while Pesach memorializes the creation of the Jews as a people.

What are the "days of awe" and what is their significance?

The "days of awe" are Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the Jewish New Year while Yom Kippur is the "Day of Atonement." Rosh Hashanah is the first day of a ten-day penitential period while Yom Kippur is the last day of that period. During these "days of awe" Jews turn back to the proper way of living.

Explain what takes place on Shabbat.

On Shabbat Jews attend synagogue service, study Torah, and engage in a ritual dinner . The Sabbath dinner table includes a tablecloth, two candles, wine, and a loaf of bread called challah. Sabbath begins eighteen minutes before sunset Friday evening with the lighting of the Sabbath candles. A prayer of blessing over the candles is generally recited by the woman of the house. There is a blessing over the wine and bread. After these blessings, the meal begins. The Sabbath candles are not extinguished, but are allowed to burn themselves out. Sabbath ends at sunset Saturday. A brief ceremony called Havdalah concludes this sacred time. A braided candle is lit and held in the hand so one can see its reflection of light on the fingertips. Again, wine accompanies this closing ceremony as a symbol of thanksgiving and joy. A box of aromatic spices is lit, carrying the aroma of the Sabbath into the week.

How is a Jewish home made sacred?

A traditional Jewish home attaches a mezuzah on at least one doorpost of a house. In some Jewish homes one wall is designated the mizrakh, or eastern wall. This wall is sometimes marked with a special picture or embroidery, showing the direction one must face for prayer. A kosher home is one that has special dishes for eating and cooking that separate meat from dairy products. Since a traditional Jewish table is not only a place for building familial relationships but also a place for ritual, food must be kosher or "proper." Pork and shellfish are forbidden. Other meats must be slaughtered in a kosher manner. The combination of meat and dairy products is forbidden. On Shabbat, a "Sabbath-like" atmosphere prevails in the home. The house most be especially clean, and a Shabbat cloth must be on the table along with the Shabbat candlesticks.

What are the two meanings of the term "Israel" to Jews?

To Jews, the term "Israel" refers to both a land and a people.

What is the Diaspora?

The Diaspora refers to those Jews exiled or "dispersed" from the Jewish homeland of Israel.

What is the Talmud?

The Talmud is the rabbinic commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures.

What are major characteristics of Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Judaism?

Orthodox Jews interpret Torah in the most literal manner. Conservative Jews modify Jewish traditions in a limited manner. Reform Jews advocate full integration into the culture where one lives. Reconstructionist Jews advocate Judaism as a culture rather than a religion.

Briefly describe the significance of the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, including each of those holy days.

Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the Jewish New Year while Yom Kippur is the "Day of Atonement." Rosh Hashanah is the first day of a ten-day penitential period while Yom Kippur is the last day o f that period. During these "days of awe" Jews turn back to the proper way of living.

How do Jews mark major times in the life cycle: birth, coming of age, marriage, and death?

For birth, boys are circumcised and girls have a naming ceremony. For coming of age, there is the bar mitzvah for boys and the bat mitzvah for girls. The three major elements of the marriage ritual include the hupah, the blessings, and the breaking of the glass. For Jews, funerals take place as soon as possible, often within twenty-four hours of the death. At the burial, blessings are made, prayers are said, and psalms are read aloud.