Vocabulary+Support

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** Judaism **

 * Abraham** - Jews, Christians, and Muslims regard Abraham as an important prophet, who first taught people to worship one God.


 * Bar/Bat Mitzvah** - the religious initiation ceremony of a Jewish boy (Bar Mitzvah) or girl (Bat Mitzvah) who has reached the age of 13 and is regarded as ready to participate in public worship.


 * Conservative Judaism** - a branch of Judaism whose followers believe that Jewish laws should be upheld, but allow for some modifications as long as they are inline with the development of Jewish laws over the centuries.


 * diaspora** - the dispersion of any people from their original homeland. In our study of the origins of Judaism, many Jews scattered to different lands after foreign rulers conquered their land. Jews scattered to other places in the Middle East, but also settled in what is now Spain, France, Germany, India, China, and countries in Africa.


 * Hanukkah** - The Festival of Lights, celebrated by Jews over eight nights in December. On each night, a candle is lit in a special holder called a menorah.


 * Kosher** - Describes food that is permissible to eat under Jewish dietary laws. In general, kosher means that food should be clean. Meat and milk dishes may not be eaten together or prepared using the same utensils or dishes. Jews also may not eat pork, shellfish, or animals that have not been ritually slaughtered. Jews have different practices regarding these rules.


 * Orthodox Judaism** - a major branch within Judaism that teaches strict adherence to Jewish law and its traditional observances. //Orthodox// means “correct in teaching.” In Orthodox synagogues, men and women worship separately and services are held in Hebrew.


 * Passover** - This holiday celebrates Jewish freedom and retells the story of Moses leading the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land.


 * Reform Judaism** - a reform movement beginning in the 19th century for Jewish law and rituals to change with the times. This resulted in changes in worship and customs, and grew rapidly in size and strength. It continues to flourish in Europe and the US today. In Reform synagogues, everyone sits together and both Hebrew and the local language are used for services and prayers.


 * Rosh Hashanah** - The Jewish New Year, it begins a 10-day period of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur. In 2008, it begins at sundown on Monday September 29 and ends at nightfall on Wednesday October 1.


 * Shabbat** - the Jewish holy day that lasts from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.


 * Synagogue** - The Jewish place of worship where one can pray, listen to readings from the Torah, study, socialize, and celebrate with other Jews.


 * Talmud -** A collection of writings that record the Jewish oral tradition to help interpret the Torah.


 * Ten Commandments** - the divine rules of conduct given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, according to Exod. 20:1–17.


 * Torah** - the first five books of the Hebrew Bible; also the scroll of parchment on which the first five books of the Hebrew Scripture is written; and used in a synagogue during services.


 * Yom Kippur** - The Day of Atonement, which Jews spend fasting, praying and asking for God's forgiveness for wrongdoings.


 * Zionism** - a movement that began in the late 1800s for the establishment of a Jewish state.