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

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?

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

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

6. 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.

7. 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?

8. 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.

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

10. 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.

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

12. 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.

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

14. 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.

15. 8. How is Judaism different from Deism?

16. 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.

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

18. 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.

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

20. 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.

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

22. 11. What is the origin and meaning of the word “Israel”? —The origin of the name “Israel” is derived from Jacob’s struggle with a stranger—a messenger from God—which ends in the stranger asking Jacob’s name, then renaming him “Israel.” The descendents of Abraham take on the name “Israelites,” or “children of Israel.”

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

24. 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.

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

26. 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 God’s intervention, they are set free.

27. 14. What is the meaning of Yahweh?

28. 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.

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

30. 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.

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

32. 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.

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

34. 17. Who were the three kings during the period of a united Israel? —Saul, David, and Solomon.

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

36. 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 religion—a 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.

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

38. 19. What does “messiah” literally mean? What is the Greek translation of the word? —“Messiah” literally means “anointed one.” The Greek translation is “christ.”

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

40. 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.

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

42. 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).

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

44. 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.

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

46. 23. What is the relationship between the Talmud and Torah? —The Torah is the Hebrew word for “five books,” or the Pentateuch—as 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.

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

48. 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.

49. 25. What was the Spanish Inquisition?

50. 25. What was the Spanish Inquisition? —The Spanish Inquisition were trials set up to punish anyone suspected of undermining or rejecting the Christian faith.