c. - circa, about; BCE - before common era; CE - of common era
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
A
Agrippa II
(28-92 CE, king from 50 CE) -
the last king of Herodian line. Educated in Rome. When the
Jewish Revolt broke, tried in vain to convince the Jewish people
to stop it. Then joined Romans and took part in
their fight against Jews.
Alexander Yannai
the Hasmonean King of Judea (103-76 BCE). Expanded
his kingdom over the whole coast region from Mount Carmel to
Egyptian border. Then became unpopular, and during years of unrest
and Nabatean attacks losed much of his achievements. Eventually became
popular again, and regained part of territories back, including
Golan and the Eastern bank of Jordan.
Apocrypha:
Jewish books written in the
Hellenistic-Roman period that
came to be included in the Old Greek Jewish scriptures
(and thus in the Eastern Christian biblical canon and in the Latin
Vulgate Roman Catholic canon), but not in the Jewish or Protestant
biblical canons.
Aramaic
a semitic language similar to Hebrew adopted as a common Jewish
tongue first in Babylon in 6th century C.E. and then in the
Land of Israel
in 4th century C.E, flourished till
the Moslem conquest.
Armistice Agreements
The War of Independence ended in July 1949
by armistice (cease of fire) agreements
with Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon
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B
Babylonian exile
in 586 BCE Babylonia conquered the Kingdom of
Judah. Jerusalem and the First Temple were destroyed,
and most of Jews exiled.
Balfour Declaration
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a declaration of 1917 by British Foreign Minister Balfour
supporting for establishment of a "Jewish national home in Palestine"
Bar Kokhba Revolt
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(131-135 CE) the second Jewish revolt against Rome, lead
by the warrior Bar Kokhba and the prominent sage Rabbi Akiva.
The Roman emperor Hadrian promised at first to rebuilt Jerusalem
and the Temple, then changed his mind and decided to establish there
a Roman colony, and this ignited the revolt. After the defeat
of the revolt at Betar Romans leveled Jerusalem and
exiled the population.
British Rule
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(1918-1948) In course of World War I, the Great Britain defeated
Turks and drove them out of the
Land of Israel.
In July 1922, the League of Nations entrusted
Great Britain with the "Mandate for
Palestine"
Bysantine Period (313-636 CE)
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In 313 the Bysantine Empire was established in the eastern part of
the Roman Empire after the emperor Constantine
adopted Christianity. The Land of Israel had become a
predominantly Christian country, and Jews were deprived of most of
the little autonomy they still had.
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C
Crusader Period (1099-1291)
In 1092 the pope Urban II called to Christians to recover
the Holy Land and the Sepulcre of Jesus from Moslems.
Mobs of enthusiastic peasants and feudals called
the Crusaders moved towards
the Land of Israel, destroying Jewish Communities on
their way. In 1099 they seized Jerusalem and massacred
most of its non-Chrisian population.
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D
King David
(c.1004-965 BCE) - established Israel as a major power in
the region, united twelve Israeli tribes in one kingdom and
founded his capital in Jerusalem.
Diaspora
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(Greek, "scattering") used to refer to the Jewish communities living among
outside the Land of Israel.
E
Ein
(Hebrew) - spring, water source.
Essenes
members of ascetic Jewish sects that went to live into a desert
and dedicated themselves to religion.
F
Genizah
(Hebrew, "hiding") - a hiding place or storeroom,
usually connected with a Jewish synagogue,
for worn-out holy books. The most famous is the Cairo Genizah, which contained
books and documents that provide source material for Jewish communities
living under Islamic rule from about the 9th through the 12th centuries.
It was discovered at the end of the 19th century.
Great Revolt, or Jewish War
(66-73 CE) - the massive revolt of Jews against the Roman tyranny,
suported also by Messianic beliefs. Vespasian
suppessed
the revolt in Galilee, and his son Titus captured Jerusalem
and destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE.
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H
Haganah
clandestine Jewish organization for armed self-defense in Palestine
under the British Mandate, that eventually became the nucleus of the
Israel Defense Forces.
Halakha
Any normative Jewish law,
custom, practice, or rite -- or the entire complex of them. Halakha is
law established
or custom ratified by authoritative rabbinic jurists
and teachers.
Hasmonean Revolt
(167-164 BCE) the revolt against the Seleucide Greeks ruling the
Land of Israel. Was prompted by the ban on practicing the Jewish
religion and desecration of the Temple and lead by Matthatias
of the priestly Hasmonean family and later by his five sons,
the most prominent warrior of them Judah the Maccabee. In 164
the rebels liberated Jerusalem and purified the Temple.
Hasmoneans
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the family name of the Maccabean dynasty ruling in Judea in 141-37 CE,
after the success of the Hasmonean Revolt. The name comes from
Matthatias of the priestly Hasmonean family, who was the first leader
of the revolt.
Hellenistic period:
(332-76 BCE) The period of Greek (Seleucid) domination after Alexander
the Great
conquered the Land of Israel. The Jewish theocracy remained for some
time, and then practicing the Judaism was prohibited, causing the
Hasmonean Revolt.
Herod, or Herod the Great
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(73-4 BCE) a vassal king of Judea ( from 37 BCE) appointed
by Romans. A great admirer of Greco-Roman culture, Herod launched a
massive construction program, which included the cities of Caesarea and
Sebaste and the fortresses at Herodium and Masada. He also remodeled the
Temple into one of the most magnificent buildings of its time. Known
also for his unprecedented cruelty; in his obsession of power, he killed
not only most of his political opponents, but also
his wife Mariamne and three of his sons.
I
Josephus, or Josephus Flavius
(c. 37-100 CE) - roman name of Joseph Ben-Matityahu, the Jewish
military leader that was captured by Romans during the Jewish
Revolt, and later became a historian. His works constitute
the best available source for the study of Jewish life of
that period, though he is to some extent considered a traitor of Jewish
people, and his historical works are not always objective.
Joshua Bin-Nun
The successor of Moses that conquered the land of Canaan
and divided the conquered land among the Israelite tribes.
His life and activities are described in the Biblical Book
of Joshua.
K
Land of Israel
the territory of the ancient Israelite kingdom on both sides of
the Jordan River, where the national and religios identity of the
Jewish people was formed. After almost 2000
years of exile of Jews from the Land of Israel, the State of Israel
was formed in a part of the Western area of the Land of Israel.
M
Masoretic
in accordance with the Masorah, a body of traditions regarding the
correct spelling, writing and reading of the Hebrew Bible
Midrash
The "commentary" literature developed in classical Judaism
that attempts to interpret Jewish scriptures in a thorough manner.
Mikva, mikve
A Jewish communal bath for washing away ritual impurity by immersion.
Moslem conquest
Arab (Moslem) tribes conquered the Land of Israel in 636 CE,
soon after establishment of Islam. Jewish settlement
in Jerusalem was resumed; later the Jewish community
diminished under burden of new taxes and limitations.
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N
Nabateans
a semitic people who inhabited Negev and ancient Edom in Transjordan
from 3rd century BCE to 7th century CE. Were nomads at first, then
turned into traders and lead caravans along the Spice Route.
Founded six cities in the Negev. Left no written records, but
mentioned in Greek and Latin sources.
Nahal
(in Hebrew, river) - perennial river or dry riverbed (see Wadi).
O
Ostracon -
(plural: ostraca) - ancient enscribed potsherd
Ottoman Empire Rule
(1517 - 1917) The Land of Israel was conquered by Turkish Ottoman Empire
and divided into four districts. It was attached to the Province
of Damascus and ruled from Istanbul.
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P
Palestine
the name for the Land of Israel, introduced first by Greeks
and Romans, and in general use in the years
of the Jewish exile from the Land of Israel.
Palmah
(abbreviation for hebrew "Plugot Mahatz", strike companies) -
strike force within the Haganah.
Q
Rabbi
(Hebrew, "my master") an authorized
teacher of the classical Jewish tradition
after the fall of the second Temple. The role of the rabbi has
changed considerably throughout the centuries. Traditionally, rabbis serve
as the legal and spiritual guides of their congregations and communities.
The title is conferred after considerable study of traditional Jewish sources.
This conferral and its responsibilities is central to the chain of tradition
in Judaism.
Roman Rule
(67 BCE-313 CE) - the period after the Land of Israel was
conquered by Roman general Pompey. Jews regained some autonomy
at first, but after the Jewish Revolt it was completely lost.
Rosh ha-Shanah
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the Jewish New Year, one of the holiest days of the year.
S
Sephardi
Jews of Spanish and Portuguese origin, descendants of the Jews
expelled from there in 15th century.
Septuagint
Strictly speaking, refers to the ancient Greek translation of the
Hebrew Torah, probably made
during the reign of Ptolemy II, Greek ruler of Egypt around 250 BCE.
Subsequently, Greek translations of other
portions of the Jewish scriptures came to be added to the corpus,
and the term Septuagint was applied to the entire
collection.
Shofar
horn of the ram (or any other ritually clean animal excepting the cow)
sounded for the memorial blowing on Rosh-ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur.
Six Day War
rapid war in June 1967 when Israel reacted to Arab threats
and blockade by defeating the Egyptian, Jordanian and
Egyptian armies. In six days Israel took hold over
the eastern part of Jerusalem, the Western Bank of Jordan,
the Golan Heights and Sinai.
King Solomon
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(c.965-930 BCE) son of King David;
further strengthened
the kingdom; built namy new towns; and erected the
Temple of Jerusalem.
Spanish Exile
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In 1492 the Spanish King Ferdinand ordered by a special edict to
expell all the Jews from his country (except those choosing to
accept Christianity). Approximately 300 000 of Spanish Jews left
the country in 3 months, many going to Portugal (only to be expelled
from there 4 years later), others to North Africa, Turkey, and
some to the Land of Israel.
Spice Route
Ancient route for trade caravans bringing spices from Arabia to
Mediterranean shore, lead mainly by Nabatean traders
Synagogue
(Greek for "gathering"). The central insitution
of Jewish communal worship and study since antiquity,
and by extension, a term used for the place of gathering.
The structure of such buildings has changed, though in all cases the ark
containing the Torah scrolls faces the ancient
Temple site in Jerusalem.
T
Talmud
The Second Temple was the Temple rebuilt by Jews returning from
the Babylon Exile in 517 BCE. It was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.
The site of the ancient Jewish Temple
is now occupied, in part, by the golden-domed "Dome of the Rock"
Mosque.
"teaching" - compendium of discussions of the Mishnah
by generations of scholars and jurists in many academies
over a period of several centuries. The Jerusalem (or
Palestinian) Talmud mainly contains the discussions of
the Palestinian sages. The Babylonial talmud incorporates
the parallel discussion in the Babylon academies.
Temple of Jerusalem
The First Temple of Jerusalem was conceived by King David and
constructed by King Solomon around 950 BCE as a center of a Jewish
religious life on a national scale, replacing local cult centers.
Solomon hoped that the Temple sould unite the people of Israel
conducted by the priestly professionals. The Temple of Solomon
was destroyed by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar around 587/6 BCE.
Titus, Flavius Vespasianus
Roman Emperor (79-81 CE), son of Vespasianus, who accompanied his
father in his operations in Galilee, captured Josephus,
in 70 CE
at the head of the Roman army conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the
Second Temple. Titus allegedly
had decided to preserve the Temple, but after a soldier
threw a burning torch into the court, failed to make his army
exringuish the fire.
U
Vespasian, Titus Flavius
(c. 9-79 CE) - Roman general appointed as a commander of the army with the duty
of crushing the Jewish Revolt. Suppressed the resistance in Galilee,
then proclaimed the Roman Emperor in 69 CE and appointed
his son Titus as a commander.
W
Wadi
dry riverbed that is filled with water for a short time during
the rainy season in winter.
War of Independence
the war which started on May 14, 1948, when Israel
proclaimed its independence, by the invasion of five armies
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X
Yom Kippur
Day of Atonement, the Jewish holiday of to atonement for the sins of
the past year; a complete 25-hour fast.
Z
Zealots
The group of anti-Roman rebels of the 1st century CE.
Their movement started
in 6 CE, but became really active in the period of Jewish Revolt.
Their most basic belief was that all means were justified
to attain political and religious liberty.
Zionism
movement whose goal is the return of the Jewish people to
the Land of Israel; the word comes from the name of Mount Zion
in Jerusalem.
c. - circa, about; BCE - before common era; CE - of common era
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