Key vocabulary mezuzah A small box attached to doorposts Unit 1: History and belief in Jewish homes, containing the Shema Ark a cupboard where Torah scrolls are Midrash Jewish writings that include rabbis’ stored interpretations of and further information about the Torah, Jewish law and moral Ark of the Covenant The box that housed the issues two tablets of stone on which the original Ten Commandments were written Mishnah The early teachings of rabbis, which were passed on orally Babylonian exile The period from 597 to 538 bce when Jews were forced to live mitzvot Jewish laws (there are 613 in total); outside Jerusalem under Babylonian rule the singular is mitzvah bimah The platform from where Torah scrolls monotheist Someone who believes in just are read one God circumcision The removal of a baby boy’s ner tamid The light in front of, or above, the foreskin at the age of eight days in Ark Judaism Orthodox Jews Jews who believe in congregation People who attend a religious maintaining the traditional beliefs and service practices of Judaism and the laws given by God Conservative Jews Jews who preserve Jewish rituals and traditions but are more Pharaoh An Egyptian king flexible in interpreting Jewish laws than pilgrimage A journey taken to a place of Orthodox Jews religious importance covenant An agreement between God and polytheist Someone who believes in more people than one god Gemara Part of the Talmund, a commentary Promised Land An area of land in the Middle on the Mishnah East given to Jews by God Hasidic Jews A group within Orthodox prophet A messenger of God Judaism who follow a strict religious rabbi The leader of a synagogue lifestyle and have a distinctive appearance Reform Jews and Liberal Jews Jews who believe that Judaism can change or High Priest Historically, the highest rank of modernise over time Jewish leader sacrificial A place where animals were idols Statues that are worshipped killed as offerings to God kashrut Jewish food laws secular Non-religious kippah A head covering worn during prayer The most important prayer in Judaism kosher Food that is acceptable for Jews to siddur A Jewish prayer book eat; the word literally means ‘fit’ synagogue The Jewish place of worship menorah A seven-branched candlestick and a symbol of divine light in the world tallit A symbolic shawl worn during prayer Messiah Anointed one Talmud A collection of teachings from rabbis giving more information about the Torah
Key vocabulary Unit 1: History and belief Ark a cupboard where Torah scrolls are stored Ark of the Covenant The box that housed the two tablets of stone on which the original Ten Commandments were written Babylonian exile The period from 597 to 538 bce when Jews were forced to live outside Jerusalem under Babylonian rule bimah The platform from where Torah scrolls are read circumcision The removal of a baby boy’s foreskin at the age of eight days in Judaism congregation People who attend a religious service Conservative Jews Jews who preserve Jewish rituals and traditions but are more flexible in interpreting Jewish laws than Orthodox Jews covenant An agreement between God and people Gemara Part of the Talmund, a commentary on the Mishnah Hasidic Jews A group within Orthodox Judaism who follow a strict religious lifestyle and have a distinctive appearance High Priest Historically, the highest rank of Jewish leader idols Statues that are worshipped kashrut Jewish food laws kippah A head covering worn during prayer kosher Food that is acceptable for Jews to eat; the word literally means ‘fit’ menorah A seven-branched candlestick and a symbol of divine light in the world Messiah Anointed one mezuzah A small box attached to doorposts in Jewish homes, containing the Shema Midrash Jewish writings that include rabbis’ interpretations of and further information about the Torah, Jewish law and moral issues Mishnah The early teachings of rabbis, which were passed on orally mitzvot Jewish laws (there are 613 in total); the singular is mitzvah monotheist Someone who believes in just one God ner tamid The light in front of, or above, the Ark Orthodox Jews Jews who believe in maintaining the traditional beliefs and practices of Judaism and the laws given by God Pharaoh An Egyptian king pilgrimage A journey taken to a place of religious importance polytheist Someone who believes in more than one god Promised Land An area of land in the Middle East given to Jews by God prophet A messenger of God rabbi The leader of a synagogue Reform Jews and Liberal Jews Jews who believe that Judaism can change or modernise over time sacrificial A place where animals were killed as offerings to God secular Non-religious The most important prayer in Judaism siddur A Jewish prayer book synagogue The Jewish place of worship tallit A symbolic shawl worn during prayer Talmud A collection of teachings from rabbis giving more information about the Torah
Collins_KS3_Knowing_Religion_Judaism_Teacher_Guide.docx