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| Religions claiming descent from the biblical patriarch Abraham, specifically Judaism, Christianity, and Islam |
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| Narrative (as opposed to legal) traditions found in Rabbinic literature |
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| (ca. 17-137 CE) Early Rabbi and one of the highest Tannaitic legal authorities, who supported and was martyred during the Bar Kokhba Rebellion |
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| (Aramaic, "speakers") The generations of Rabbis after the Tannaim (3rd-5th centuries), responsible for the composition and compilation of the traditions in the Gemara |
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| Prohibition against depicting divinities |
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| Period extending from earliest recorded history until the European Middle Ages, especially with respect to Mediterranean and Near Eastern cultures, ca. 3000BCE - 800CE |
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| Genre of literature that flourished during the Hellenistic period, characterized by its use of divine revelation, portrayal of a cosmos caught up in battle between the forces of good and evil, and belief that evil would be wiped out in a near-future eschatological age |
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| Law based on absolute commands ("Thou shalt...!") |
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| Golden box where the Ten Commandments and important ritual items were stored; served as a "throne" for God |
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| Originally a linguistic term for the Indo-European language family; later misused by the Nazi regime and others as the name of the purportedly superior race to which Germans belonged |
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| Jewish cultural division, originally from Germany, but also referring to Jews whose ancestors came from Central or Eastern Europe, including the majority of the Jews in the US |
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| (Israel ben Eliezar or Besht, 1698-1760) Founder of the Hasidic movement, a charismatic healer and teacher from rural Poland, and the subject of numerous legends regarding his miracles; emphasized the joy of devotion to God in all aspects of life, not just study |
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| Policy of complete obliteration of enemies, observed during conquest of Canaan |
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| Coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys of 13 and (except in Orthodox Judaism) girls of 12 (Hebrew, "Son/daughter of the Commandment") |
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| (132-136 CE) Last great Jewish uprising against Roman rule, led by Simon bar Kokba, believed by some to be the Messiah; resulted in massive loss of Jewish life and disruption of Jewish culture in Palestine |
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| (or Babylonian Talmud) Longer, more comprehensive version of the Gemara, compiled in Mesopotamia around 500 CE, which contains additional layers of discussion and is considered more authoritative than the Yerushalmi |
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| Ritual circumcision performed on Jewish boys on the 8th day of life (Hebrew, "Covenant of Circumcision") |
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| (Hebrew, "House of Justice") Local institutions of rabbinic authority, serving as courthouses, meeting places, and seats of legal discourse |
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| False accusation that Jews use the blood of Christians in religious rituals, often used in the Middle Ages (and even later) to incite violence against Jews |
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| Law based on specific circumstances ("If...then...") |
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| Moderate branch of Judaism that seeks a compromise between tradition and progress, accepting the authority of halakhic traditions, but recognizing that halakha has always evolved, and that some moral imperatives are more important than tradition |
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| Spanish and Portuguese Jews who converted to Christianity rather than face expulsion in 1492; often suspected of continuing Jewish practices in secret |
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| Myth explaining the origins of the universe |
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| The external practices of a religion, such as rituals, sacrifices, and prayers, along with the associated buildings and other objects |
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| Form of writing, inscribed on clay tablets, used by Sumerians and Babylonians |
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| The Ten Commandments (Greek, "ten words") |
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| Pseudonymous author of Isaiah 40-55, writing during the late Exilic period, who is notable for being the earliest source of unambiguous, absolute monotheism in the Hebrew Bible |
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| The books of Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, so named because their theology and perspective is similar to that of the Book of Deuteronomy |
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| (Hebrew, "cleaving" or "adherence") Jewish principle, found in Qabbalah and Hassidism, of remaining conscious of God's constant and universal presence in all aspects of life |
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| Religions originating from India, specifically Hinduism and religions developed from it, e.g., Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism |
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| (Greek, "dispersion") Collective term for the Jewish communities living outside if Palestine |
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| Declaration, quoted in Ezra 1:1-4, in which the Persian King Cyrus states that he was chosen by God to return the Jewish people to their land and restore the Temple of Jerusalem |
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| Field of inquiry concerned with the end of the world and the fate of those who have died |
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| Explanation of the origin of something, as in an origin myth |
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| A description of past events presented as if it were a prediction of these events written before the fact, usually through pseudepigraphy (q.v.), as in the case of Deutero-Isaiah and Daniel 8-12 |
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| (Aramaic, "learning") Commentary and expansion on the Mishnah, providing later scholar's debates about the legal principles underlying the Mishnah's rulings, along with many other rabbinic traditions |
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| (Hebrew, “exile”) Term used for the exiles returning from Babylon in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah |
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| Term used in various ancient sources for a class of nomadic people in the Ancient Near East; possibly related to the Hebrews |
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| The responsibilities and practice of Jewish law, generally (adj., halakhic) |
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| (also called "Ultra-Orthodox") Most conservative wing of Orthodox Judaism, with the strictest interpretation of halakha, and which rejects most accommodations of modern, secular society |
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| A Jewish movement emerging in the 18th century, rooted in Qabbalistic mysticism, but with a focus on experiencing the joy of God's presence in everyday activities, rather than through intensive academic study of the Torah. |
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| German Jewish intellectual movement in the 18th and 19th centuries corresponding to the broader European Enlightenment |
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| Worship of one god while accepting the existence of many gods |
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| (Hebrew, "piety" or "loving kindness") A central concept of Jewish thought and ethics, referring both the compassionate love between humans and the compassionate love God feels for humanity |
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| (first century BCE) Early Jewish scholar whose teachings and opinions figure prominently in the Talmud |
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| (first century CE) Early Rabbinic leader responsible for founding the Rabbinic community at Yavneh |
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| (or Judah the Prince/Patriarch) 2nd-century CE rabbinic authority, traditionally credited as the editor of the Mishnah |
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| Charismatic military and religious leaders "raised up" by God during crises |
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| Jewish sect emerging from Baghdad during the early Middle Ages that rejected the authority of the Oral Torah and the Talmud, and accepted only traditions and holidays rooted in the Hebrew Bible |
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| (Heb.) make a covenant (literally, "cut a covenant") |
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| Jewish dietary laws (adj., kosher) |
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| Territory of the ten northern tribes that split off from Judah after the death of Solomon; also called Ephraim, Samaria, and the Northern Kingdom |
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| Territory of the Tribe of Judah, including Jerusalem, that remained under the rule of the Davidic Dynasty after Solomon's death; also called the Southern Kingdom |
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| A skull-cap worn as a sign of piety by many Jews (especially men) while in prayer, and by some more traditionally Jews whenever in public |
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| (German, "Night of Broken Glass") November 9, 1938 - A Series of attacks on Jewish businesses and synagogues in Germany, coordinated by the Nazi government but disguised as mob violence |
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| Geographic region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (in modern Iraq), location of the ancient Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian civilzations |
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| "Annointed one," originally used in reference to the king, but later developed into the idea of a future leader (either human or angelic) who would redeem the Jews and restore them to the Holy Land. |
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| (Hebrew, "what is studied") Rabbinic form of biblical interpretation, characterized in part by its use of biblical quotations out of context as keys to interpreting other passages |
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| A ritual bath traditionally used by Jews to restore ritual purity, today primarily used for converts and by some Orthodox women after menstruation |
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| (Hebrew, "Repetition of the Law") An authoritative compilation of Jewish law, compiled by Maimonides in the late 12th century, and intended to summarize Halakha in a systematic and organized manner |
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| Belief only one god is worthy of worship while accepting the existence of many gods |
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| (Moshe ben Maimon or Rambam, 1135-1204) Prolific Jewish philosopher who worked to reconcile Judaism with Greek rational philosophy; author of the Mishneh Torah |
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| A religious cult, particularly in the Greco-Roman world, where participation is limited to the initiated, and whose teachings and practices are kept secret |
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| Practices or techniques intended to provide an individual with a direct experience of the divine |
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| Geographical region roughly equivalent to the modern Middle East, including Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), Iran, Asia Minor (modern Turkey), Syria, the Levant (modern Lebanon, Israel, and Palestinian territories), Arabia, and Egypt. |
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| A group of (usually) seven laws that the Talmud states were given to Noah after the flood, and thus binding to all of humanity: prohibition of murder, theft, idolatry, blasphemy, sexual transgressions, and eating flesh from living animals, along with a requirement to create legal courts |
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| Most conservative, traditional branch of Judaism, which interprets halakha strictly and avoids changing practice to conform to secular society |
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| All the deities of a particular religion or culture (from Greek, "all gods") |
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| In the Ancient Near East, a treaty between equals (two kings, two nations, etc.) based on mutual interest and cooperation |
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| (or Payos) Long, often curled side-locks worn by some highly-observant Jews , based on a biblical verse forbidding "rounding off" of the edges of the hair |
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| The first five books of the Hebrew Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deurteronomy |
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| Branch of Judaism during the Second Temple Period characterized by its interest in piety and interpretation of the Torah through oral traditions; probably the predecessors of the Rabbis of the Talmud |
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| Unofficial (but often government-sanctioned) mob attacks on Jewish communities in Russia and Eastern Europe during the 19th and early 20th centuries. |
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| Religious officiant who performs sacrifices or similar rituals |
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| Genesis chapters 1-11, a largely mythic depiction of creation and early humanity |
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| prophet (navi, pl. nevi'im) |
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| Figures who communicated God's will directly to the people |
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| Protocols of the Elders of Zion |
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| Fraudulent anti-Semitic propaganda piece claiming to detail a Jewish conspiracy to control the world |
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| The practice of falsely writing under the name of a respected figure of the past, usually as a means of bolstering the authority of a work; a common literary technique during the Second Temple period |
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| (Hebrew, "tradition" or "transmission") A Medieval Jewish mystical tradition that believed the Torah contained another level of secret knowledge that would allow practitioners to overcome their separation from God |
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| (Hebrew, "my teacher" or "my master") Title given to Jewish religious scholars after the fall of the Second Temple; "The Rabbis" used collectively usually refers to the early rabbis whose teachings are preserved in the Talmud. |
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| (Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzak, late 11th century) Medieval French Jewish scholar known for his classic commentary on the Talmud |
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| Yiddish term for the leader of a Hasidic community, more affectionate than the Hebrew "Rabbi. |
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| The reconquest of Spain and Portugal from Muslim rulers by Christians, ending in 1492 and leading to the expulsion of both Muslims and Jews from Spain |
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| The process of combining and editing several sources into a single document, as in the case of the Pentateuch |
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| Most liberal branch of Judaism, which views halakha as a matter of personal choice and often rejects aspects of traditional practice that conflict with modern society |
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| The first day of the Jewish Calendar |
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| (882-942) Medieval Egyptian Jewish scholar known for his arguments against the Karaites |
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| Branch of Judaism during the Second Temple Period characterized by their association with the Temple priesthood, their rejection of traditions not found in scripture, and their more Hellenized attitude. |
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| Jewish cultural division, originally from Spain and Portugal, but now also referring more broadly to Jews whose ancestors lived along the Mediterranean and Middle East |
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| The Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, started in third-century BCE Egypt, named for the seventy scholars purported to have translated it (sometimes abbreviated LXX) |
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| One of the oldest Jewish prayers, beginning "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One." |
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| A type of small, agrarian Jewish village typical of Eastern European Jewish life from the 17th to early 20th centuries |
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| Scholarly discipline of discerning the influence of multiple sources in a single document, as in the case of the Documentary Hypothesis (q.v.) |
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| In the Ancient Near East, a treaty between a powerful lord (the suzerain) and a less powerful subject (the vassal), in which the suzerain agreed to protect the vassal in exchange for the vassal's tribute and obedience; resembles the formula of the Ten Commandments |
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| A type of ritual intended to bring about a result by symbolically imitating the desired outcome |
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| A Jewish house of prayer and worship |
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| The tent where the Ark of the Covenant was kept (Hebrew: mishkan, "dwelling place," from shakan, "to dwell") |
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| (Hebrew, "learning") The Mishnah and Gemara together (or sometimes just the Gemara) |
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| The Hebrew Bible; abbreviation of Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings) |
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| (Hebrew, "Repeaters") The first generations of Rabbis (1st-3rd centuries CE) responsible for compiling the Mishnah |
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| Traditional religions of East Asia, such as Daoism in China, Shinto in Japan, and Mugyo in Korea, along with New Religious Movements based on these traditions |
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| The four-character name of God in the Hebrew Bible. (From Greek, "four letter word") |
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| Names that invoke a deity, such as Israel ("struggles with God") or Daniel ("My judge is God") |
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| 1. The first five books of the Hebrew Bible 2. The Hebrew Bible as a whole, the Tanakh 3. Jewish law as a whole, including scripture (the Written Torah), and authoritative traditions (the Oral Torah) 4. The fundamental order of the universe (Heb., "law" or "instruction") |
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| (Aramaic, "supplement" or "appendix") Another body of texts compiled by the Tannaim, similar in structure and content to the Mishnah (q.v.), but longer with a more diverse collection of rulings |
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| (Hebrew, "righteous person") Term used for the leader of a Hasidic community |
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| (or Jamnia) Town in Western Judaea where the first Rabbinic met after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE |
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| (Greek, "Justice of God") The problem of reconciling the existence of evil with belief in an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good God. |
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| (or Jerusalem/Palestinian Talmud) Earlier, shorter version of the Gemara, compiled in northern Palestine around 400 CE |
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| Language, closely related to German but written with the Hebrew alphabet, spoken by Ashkenazi Jews |
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| "Day of Atonement," one of the most sacred Jewish holidays, at which Jews atone for their sins |
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| Sumerian and Babylonian temple structure resembling a staggered pyramid |
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| A movement favoring the creation of a Jewish homeland, usually in Palestine |
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