Torah study is the study of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism’s religious texts. According to Rabbinic Judaism, the study is ideally done for the purpose of the mitzvah (“commandment”) of Torah study itself. What is the study of Judaism? […]
Elohim, singular Eloah, (Hebrew: God), the God of Israel in the Old Testament. Why is God called Elohim? Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים, romanized: ʾĚlōhīm: [(ʔ)eloˈ(h)im]) is a Hebrew word meaning “gods”. Although the word is plural in form, in the Hebrew Bible it usually refers to a single deity, particularly (but […]
A yeshiva (/jəˈʃiːvə/; Hebrew: ישיבה, lit. ‘sitting’; pl. ישיבות, yeshivot or yeshivos) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are studied in parallel. What is a yeshiva used for? A yeshiva is […]
in Jewish use. : a young unmarried man : youth specifically : a student in a Talmudic academy. What is a yeshiva Bochur? noun. Chiefly in Jewish usage A student of Talmudic and rabbinical writings at a yeshiva. What does Kveller mean? Kvell comes from Yiddish kveln, meaning “to be […]
List of English Words of Yiddish Origin bagel – bread roll in the shape of a ring. bubkes – nothing; least amount. chutzpah – imprudent; shameless. futz – idle; waste time. glitch – malfunction. huck – bother; nag. klutz – uncoordinated; clumsy person. lox – salmon that is smoked. What […]
The tractate focuses primarily on the categories and types of activities prohibited on the Sabbath according to interpretations of many verses in the Torah, notably Exodus 20:9–10 and Deut. 5:13–14.Shabbat (Talmud) Tractate of the Talmud Number of Mishnahs: 138 Chapters: 24 Babylonian Talmud pages: 157 Jerusalem Talmud pages: 92 How […]
Many Jews today wear tzitzit on undershirts or on prayer shawls, but often the tassels do not have a blue thread. What is the meaning of tzitzit? Definition of tzitzit : the fringes or tassels worn on traditional or ceremonial garments by Jewish males as reminders of the commandments of […]
The tallit, or Jewish prayer shawl, is customarily made in a white fabric with black stripes and one blue string, Wertheimer says. This blue fringe comes from the blue snail dye that is mentioned throughout the Torah. The color blue is also mentioned extensively throughout other religious texts, according to […]
Some of Jesus’ most important financial backers were women, historians say. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both men of stature and wealth, chipped in to help fund Jesus’ ministry. How did Nicodemus help Jesus? Finally, Nicodemus appears after the Crucifixion of Jesus to provide the customary embalming spices, and assists […]
The Rabbis first emerged in Palestine after two revolts against Rome (66–73 or 74 CE and 132–135 CE) whose consequences included the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE. Although the centuries under consideration are commonly referred to as the “rabbinic period,” the label is misleading. When was rabbi […]
The present Sephardi Chief Rabbi is Yitzhak Yosef, and the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi is David Lau, both of whom began their terms in 2013. The Rabbinate has jurisdiction over many aspects of Jewish life in Israel. Who was the very first rabbi? Mishnaic period (ca. Yohanan ben Zakkai (1st century […]
However, Aramaic remains a spoken, literary, and liturgical language for local Christians and also some Jews. Aramaic also continues to be spoken by the Assyrians of Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and northwest Iran, with diaspora communities in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and southern Russia. Does anyone currently speak Aramaic? Arabic […]
The gospel of John elaborates by hints a closer connection, showing that Jesus chose his own first disciples from among John’s disciples (John 1:25). Seeing Jesus’ early ministry in light of time spent learning from John provides insights into some key moments in the gospels. Was John the Baptist Jesus […]
Rabbi. Whatever his motives, Judas led soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he identified Jesus by kissing him and calling him “Rabbi.” (Mark 14:44-46) According to the Gospel of Matthew, Judas immediately regretted his actions and returned the 30 pieces of silver to church authorities, saying “I have sinned […]
The title “Rabbi” occurs (in Greek transliteration ῥαββί rabbi) in the books of Matthew, Mark, and John in the New Testament, where it is used in reference to “Scribes and Pharisees” as well as to Jesus. When was the word rabbi first used? By 100 ce the term rabbi was […]