| Western Wall | The foundation stones of the western wall of the last temple of Jerusalem, today a place of prayer.  Listen (35.0K)
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| biblical Judaism | Judaism before the destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E.). Listen (39.0K)
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| rabbinical Judaism | The Judaism that developed after the destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E.). Listen (38.0K)
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| Reform | A movement beginning in the nineteenth century that questioned and modernized Judiasm; a liberal branch of Judiasm. Listen (40.0K)
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| rabbi | A religious teacher; a Jewish minister. Listen (32.0K)
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| midrash | 'Search'; rabbinical commentary on the scriptures and oral law. Listen (35.0K)
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| Torah | 'Teaching,' 'instruction'; the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures; also the additional instructions of God, believed by many to have been transmitted orally from Moses through a succession of teachers and rabbis. Listen (38.0K)
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| Nevi'im | 'Prophets'; the second section of the Hebrew scriptures, made up of historical and prophetic books. Listen (42.0K)
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| Ketuvim | 'Writings'; the third section of the Hebrew scriptures, consisting primarily of poetry, proverbs, and literary works. Listen (27.0K)
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| Tanakh | The complete Hebrew scriptures, made up of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. Listen (39.0K)
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| Canaan | An ancient name for the land of Isreal. Listen (37.0K)
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| covenant | A contract; the contract between the Hebrews and their God, Yahweh. Listen (39.0K)
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| theophany | A revelation or appearance of a God. Listen (51.0K)
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| Passover | A joyful spring festival that recalls the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt and freedom from oppression. Listen (42.0K)
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| prophet | A person inspired by God to speak for him. Listen (26.0K)
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| Sabbath | 'Rest'; the seventh day of the week (Saturday), a day of prayer and rest from work. Listen (39.0K)
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| Hanukkah | An early-winter festival recalling the rededication of the Second Temple, celebrated with the lighting of the candles for eight days. Listen (44.0K)
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| Sadducees | A priestly faction, influential during the Second-Temple period. Listen (43.0K)
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| Pharisees | A faction during the Second-Temple period that emphasized the observation of biblical rules. Listen (43.0K)
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| Zealots | An anti-Roman, nationalistic Jewish faction, active during the Roman period of control over Israel. Listen (43.0K)
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| Essenes | A semimonastic Jewish reclusive group that flourished from about 150 B.C.E. to 68 C.E. Listen (47.0K)
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| Messiah | A savior figure to be sent by God, awaited by the Jews. Listen (25.0K)
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| diaspora | The dispersion of Jews beyond Israel, particularly to Persia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean region. Listen (43.0K)
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| Talmud | An encyclopedic commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures. Listen (43.0K)
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| Kabbalah | 'Received,' 'handed down'; the whole body of Jewish mystical literature. Listen (44.0K)
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| Holocaust | The destruction of European Judaism by the Nazis; also known as Shoah (Hebrew: 'extermination'). Listen (26.0K)
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| Zionism | The movement that has encouraged the creation and support of the nation of Israel. Listen (42.0K)
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| Rosh Hashanah | 'Beginning of the year'; the celebration of the Jewish New Year, occurring on the seventh lunar month. Listen (42.0K)
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| Yom Kippur | Day of Atonement, the most sacred day of the Jewish year. Listen (32.0K)
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| sukkot | 'Booths'; a festival in the late autumn that recalls the Jews' period of wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt. Listen (26.0K)
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| menorah | A candelabrum usually containing seven--and occasionally nine--branches used for religious celebrations. Listen (41.0K)
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| Purim | Joyous festival in early spring that recalls the Jews' being saved from destruction, as told in the book of Esther. Listen (41.0K)
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| Seder | 'Order'; a special ritual meal at Passover, recalling the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt. Listen (45.0K)
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| Kosher | 'Ritually correct'; said particularly about food consumption and food preparation. Listen (16.0K)
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| tefillin | Phylacteries; two small boxes containing biblical passages that are worn by Orthodox males on the heads and left arm at morning prayer during the week. Listen (38.0K)
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| talit | A prayer shawl worn by devout males. Listen (18.0K)
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| yarmulke | The skullcap worn by devout males. v
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| bar mitzvah | 'Son of the commandment'; the coming-of-age ceremony that marks the time when a young man is considered a legal adult within the Jewish community. Listen (41.0K)
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| Sephardim | Jews of Spain, Morocco, and the Mediterranean region. Listen (45.0K)
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| Ashkenazim | Jews who lived in or came from central Europe. Listen (45.0K)
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| Orthodox | The most traditional branch of Judaism. Listen (26.0K)
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| Conservative Judaism | A branch of Judaism that attempts to blend the best of old and new Judaism. Listen (37.0K)
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| Reconstructionism | A modern liberal branch of Judaism that emphasizes the cultural aspects of Judaism. Listen (48.0K)
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| bat mitzvah | "Daughter of the commandment"; the coming-of-age ceremony that marks the time when a young woman is considered a legal adult within the Jewish community.
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