Download Teacher guidance Explanation of terms: Unit 10 - Judaism

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Explanation of terms
GCSE Religious Studies SpeciÞcation A Unit 10 Judaism
Useful terms (teachers might wish to include these in the delivery of the unit)
Term
DeÞnition
Aron hakodesh
The Ark – part of the synagogue containing Torah scrolls.
Bat Chayil
Celebration of a girl coming of age at 12, in Orthodox Synagogues. Literally “Daughter
of Valour”.
Bar Mitzvah
Celebration of a boy coming of age at 13. Literally “Son of the Commandment”.
Bat Mitzvah
Celebration of a girl coming of age at 12, in reform synagogues. Literally “Daughter of
Commandment”.
Bet Din
Religious Court, made up of rabbis.
bimah
A platform in a synagogue from which the Torah is read.
Brit Milah
Circumcision; the removal of the foreskin for religious reasons.
Chazzan (Cantor)
A person who leads or chants prayers in the synagogue.
The Covenant
God’s agreement to look after the Jews as his chosen people, subject to Israel’s
obedience.
discrimination
To act against someone on the basis of sex, race, religion, etc. Discrimination is usually
seen as wrong.
divorce
Legal ending of a marriage.
equality
That people should be given the same rights and opportunities regardless of sex,
religion, race, etc.
Gemara
A commentary on the Mishnah which is part of the Talmud.
Halakhah
The code of conduct for Jewish life.
Holocaust
The murder of six million Jews (and others) during World War II.
Israel
1. The ancient name for the Jewish people.
2. The modern Jewish country in the Middle East.
3. Literally means “One who struggles with God”.
justice
Bringing about what is right, fair, according to the law or making up for a wrong that has
been committed.
Ketuvim
The third section of the Tenakh – the writings.
kippah
A skull cap.
kosher (kasher)
Foods which meet the Jewish laws.
marriage
A legal union between a man and a woman.
Menorah
A seven-branched candlestick.
Messianic Age
When God’s Anointed One will come and lead the Jews.
mezuzah
A scroll, containing the Shema.
minyan
A quorum of ten men required for a service.
Mishnah
The Þrst written version of the oral tradition; the authoritative document was put
together in 200 C.E.
ner tamid
A light kept burning in the synagogue – continual light.
Nevi’im
The second section of the Tenakh – the prophets.
Orthodox Jews
Jews who believe God gave the complete Torah to Moses and therefore live according
to Jewish laws and traditions.
persecution
Oppression or maltreatment of people because of their beliefs, race, religion.
Pesach (Passover)
Festival in remembrance of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. Celebrated in spring.
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
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Teacher Resource Bank
Explanation of terms
GCSE Religious Studies SpeciÞcation A Unit 10 Judaism
Useful terms (teachers might wish to include these in the delivery of the unit)
Term
DeÞnition
pilgrimage
A journey by a Christian to a holy site, eg Lourdes. Pilgrimage is itself an act of worship
and devotion.
prejudice
Unfairly judging someone before the facts are known. Holding biased opinions about an
individual or group.
rabbi
A religious leader and teacher.
redeemer
One who redeems and saves from the consequences of sin. Often used to describe
God.
Reform Jews
Jews who believe the Torah was inspired by God and was developed through their
history – therefore laws may be changed or adapted as modern life changes.
responsa
The correspondence of Rabbis concerning religious decisions.
Rosh Hashanah
The Jewish New Year.
sanctiÞer
Makes holy.
Shabbat (Shabbos)
Holy day of the week; day of spiritual renewal beginning at Sunset on Friday and
continuing to nightfall on Saturday.
Shema
Jewish prayer afÞrming belief in the one God, found in the Torah.
Star of David
This symbol is known as the Magen David, literally ‘Shield of David’, and the star has
six points which symbolise that God rules over the universe and protects us from all six
directions: North, South, East, West, up and down.
synagogue
Building for Jewish public prayer, study and gathering.
tallit
A prayer shawl.
Talmud
Commentary by the rabbis on the Torah – Mishnah and Gemara together in one
collection.
teÞllin
Small leather boxes containing extracts from the Torah, strapped to believers’ arms and
foreheads for morning prayers.
Tenakh (Tanakh)
The 24 books of the Jewish Bible. Jewish scriptures – Torah (Law), Nevi’im (writings)
and Ketuvim (prophets).
Torah
1. The Þve books of Moses and Þrst section of the Tenakh – the law.
2. The whole of Jewish teaching.
trefah
Forbidden food – means ‘torn’.
Western Wall
The only part of the ancient Temple of Herod remaining – Jews come to pray there – a
place of pilgrimage.
Yad Vashem
A memorial to the Holocaust victims in Jerusalem – means ‘a memorial and a name’.
Yeshiva
A college where the Torah and Talmud are studied.
Yom Kippur
The Day of Atonement – a day of fasting on the tenth day after Rosh Hashanah.
Chametz (Leaven)
Leavened foods, prohibited during the festival of Pesach (Passover).
Days of Repentance
The time when Jews say sorry for what they have done or failed to do.
Haggadah
Text read during the Passover seder recounting the story of the Exodus.
Hashem
A name used by many Jews in ordinary conversation to refer to God.
Kaddish
An important and central prayer in the Jewish prayer service.
Kol Nidre
The opening prayer on the eve of Yom Kippur.
Matzah
The unleavened bread eaten at Passover (Pesach).
mitzvot
Jewish rules or commandments.
46924/SpecA/10
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
Teacher Resource Bank
Explanation of terms
GCSE Religious Studies SpeciÞcation A Unit 10 Judaism
Useful terms (teachers might wish to include these in the delivery of the unit)
Term
DeÞnition
omnibenevolent
The characteristic of God that he loves everyone (all-loving).
omnipotence
The characteristic of God that he is all-powerful.
omniscient
The characteristic of God that he knows everything (all-knowing).
quorum
A number set down as the minimum amount needed before something can be done.
seder
The ceremonial dinner on the Þrst night (or both nights) of Passover (Pesach).
shofar
A ram’s horn, which is blown like a trumpet particularly during Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur.
Tashlich
Performed on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). The previous
year’s sins are symbolically “cast off” by throwing pieces of bread, or a similar food
item, into ßowing water, eg a river.
Ten Commandments
A list of religious and moral rules that were given by God to Moses.
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
46924/SpecA/10
Teacher Resource Bank
Explanation of terms
GCSE Religious Studies SpeciÞcation A Unit 10 Judaism
Notes:
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