Scripture Trivia

1. The Torah is, without doubt, the single most important text in Judaism. What, precisely, is the Torah?

From Quiz People of the Book

Answer: The first five books of the Tanach (Old Testament).

The Torah is also referred to as the Five Books of Moses or the Pentateuch, and contains the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Torah scrolls are handwritten on parchment, placed in beautifully decorated covers and kept in the Holy Ark in the synagogue. But to limit the definition of the word "Torah" to the physical scroll would not do justice to the concept of Torah. When a Jew refers to "Torah", he refers to the covenant between the Almighty and the Jewish people, and the system of moral and spiritual laws outlined in the Torah.

From Quiz Basic Talmud

Answer: A tractate of the Talmud.

A tractate can be thought of as a single 'book' of the Talmud, however, in many cases, a single published volume of the Talmud may have several tractates published in it.

From Quiz Basic Talmud

Answer: Two sides of a page (folio).

A daf is considered a single sheet of paper, i.e. two sides of a page. It is also called 'blatt' in Yiddish. It is subdivided into side a and b (or Aleph and Bais in Hebrew).

From Quiz Basic Talmud

Answer: Rava

The machlokesim between Abbaye and Rava are the most numerous in the Talmud.

From Quiz Basic Talmud

Answer: A dispute.

From Quiz People of the Book

Answer: A prayer book.

"Siddur" comes from the word meaning "Order", since prayers are said in a given order. There are many kind of siddurs available - Sephardic and Ashkenazic, - Orthodox, Conservative or Reform. Some siddurim (plural of "siddur") contain prayers for the weekdays and Sabbath, while others contain prayers for the holidays. Prayer books for the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are usually called "machzorim" ("machzor" in the singular). Some siddurim are like a miniature Jewish handbook, and contain, in addition to the standard prayers, the wedding and circumcision service and blessings for all types of occasions.

From Quiz Basic Talmud

Answer: Bais

Bais is the second letter in the Hebrew alphabet.

From Quiz Basic Talmud

Answer: Berachos

From Quiz Basic Talmud

Answer: 6

This is why the Talmud is sometimes called 'Shas' which is an acronym for 'Shisa Sedarim' or the six orders (major sections) which the Mishna and Talmud are divided into.

From Quiz People of the Book

Answer: A compilation of Jewish law in abbreviated form.

Rabbi Joseph Caro of Safed, wrote the "Shulchan Aruch" or "Set Table" in the seventeen century. It is a comprehensive guide to Jewish law. Rabbi Caro's intention was to provide accessible answers to day-to-day questions for people who did not have the time or means to consult a rabbi or delve into Talmud. The "Shulchan Arch" is used to this very day. Interestingly, Rabbi Caro also wrote a Kabbalistic text called "Beit Yosef", in addition to the ultra-practical "Shulchan Aruch". Player "Arpeggionist" has added some interesting information. Rabbi Caro collaborated with Rabbi Moshe Isserlis in the writing of the "Shulchan Aruch", a remarkable example of cooperation between an Ashkenazic and a Sephardic rabbi.

From Quiz Basic Talmud

Answer: Rashi

Rashi is one of the most famous commentators on both the Talmud and the Bible (especially the Pentateuch) and his commentary is indispensible to understanding the Talmud. He lived in the 11th century.

From Quiz People of the Book

Answer: The Haggadah.

The "Haggadah" (telling) relates the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Parts of it come directly from the Torah, and others from the Mishnah. It contains songs and prayers, as well as instructions for the person leading the Passover feast, or Seder. Haggadas have been printed in many forms. Some are works of art, and can be found in museum and libraries throughout the world. In modern times, kosher food manufacturers and other Jewish organizations have taken to printing Haggadas and distributing them to customers before the holiday. Some of you may have fond memories of Haggadas distributed by Maxwell House Coffee or Manischewitz Foods. Since the Haggadah is used during a meal, it often becomes soiled by wine or food.

From Quiz Basic Talmud

Answer: Bavli and Yerushalmi (Babylonian and Jerusalem)

The more famous and more studied one is the Bavli.

From Quiz People of the Book

Answer: The Wars of the Jews.

"The War of the Jews" is Josephus Flavius' account of the Jewish revolt against Roman role in the year 63-66 C.E. Josephus, a Jew of priestly descent, is one of history's more controversial figures. Mysteriously, he was one of two soldiers to escape the mass suicide of Jewish partisans in Yodvat. Following the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, Josephus went to Rome and received a pension from the Roman government. Though scorned by both Jews and Christians throughout the ages as a traitor, his writings provide a rare look into this turbulent period. His book includes a detailed account of the siege of Masada, where Jewish fighters and their families had found refuge in one of King Herod's palaces near the Dead Sea. Faced with certain defeat by the massed Roman legion beneath them, they committed suicide. Josephus' writings were translated into English in 1732, according to the Wikipedia, and found their place alongside the family Bible in many English homes during the nineteenth century.

From Quiz Basic Talmud

Answer: Bava Basra

Bava Basra has 176 dafim making it the longest tractate. Also, the longest Torah portion (parsha) in the Torah is Naso, which has 176 verses (pesukim).

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