RLS Final Exam UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. State the names of the three chief "denominations" of U.S. Judaism. (For two of these
denominations, two names have been used. In these two cases, you must state both names.) -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Orthodox or traditional
Reform or Liberal
Conservative
2. State the meaning of the Hebrew word from which "Torah" is derived, name the first five
books of the Jewish Holy Scriptures, and explain where these names come from, and/or what
they mean. (You are not responsible for the Hebrew names included in a footnote in the text.)
- CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Torah= teaching in Hebrew
Five books:
• Genesis: the origin
• Exodus: the way out
• Leviticus: named after Levi a son of the 12 Jewish tribes
• Laws concerning temple service and particularly significant to the Levi tribes
• Numbers: begins with census of the Jewish people
• Deuteronomy: second book of law, reinforcement of the other 4 Torah books
3. Explain why the parts of the Bible are called "books" and state what the three groups of
books are into which the Jewish Holy Scriptures are divided as well as the number of books
contained in the Jewish Bible. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- They are called books because
different authors composed different parts as individual units. They were written on long
scrolls of paper, 24 books divided in 3: the Torah, The Prophets and Writings
4. State what language and what words "orthodox" is derived from, what these words mean,
and what the literal meaning of "Orthodox Judaism" is. Further, state what Orthodox Jews
believe with respect to the origin of Orthodox Judaism, and state and briefly explain the
general description of Orthodox Jewish practice that has been given in class. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- • The word orthodox comes from the Greek language meaning the right
belief
• Orthodox Jews= the right believing Jews
• Claims to go back to the original Jewish practice
,5. State the number of laws contained in the Torah, explain why it is impossible for any
individual human to observe all of them, as well as what the reason is for which even
contemporary Orthodox Jews observe fewer than 300 Torah laws. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- • 613 laws in Torah
• Men don't need to obey the rules applied to women and vis. versa
6. State the conditions that a land animal must meet to be "kosher" for an Orthodox Jew, and
the conditions that a sea animal must fulfill to be "kosher," and give an example of a kosher
land animal, a non-kosher land animal, a kosher sea animal, and a non-kosher sea animal. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • Land: must have split hooves and chew cud
o Kosher: cow
o Non- Kosher: dog
• Water: must have both fins and scales
o Kosher: Trout/ Bass
o Non- Kosher: Shrimp
7. State what it is that all non-kosher birds have in common, and mention at least three types
of kosher birds. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • Kosher: Chicken, Turkey, Duck or Quail
• Non- Kosher; birds of prey, scavengers
8. Besides prescriptions concerning kosher and non-kosher animals, two other dietary
prescriptions important for Orthodox Judaism have been explained in class. State what these
other prescriptions are, and briefly explain them. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • No blood is
to be consumed even meat that are kosher need to be prepared in a special way
• No mixing of meat and dairy
• 2 sets of cooking utensils so they do not mix
9. Explain the justification Orthodox Jews would give in support of the seemingly arbitrary
laws contained in the Torah. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • The seemingly arbitrary laws are
justified by the orthodox Jews by "these rules are 'sign posts' keeping on reminding us of god,
helping to learn love"
10. State and briefly explain the items characteristic of Orthodox Jewish Sabbath observance,
which have been mentioned in class, including, but not limited to, the items concerning the
, synagogue. Further, state a word Orthodox Jews use at times instead of "synagogue," as well
as a designation for Jewish houses of worship that Orthodox Jews never use although many
non-Orthodox Jews use it. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • During Sabbath:
o Jews are not allowed to work, travel or conduct business
o No fires are to be lit.
• At the Synagogue:
o Men and women sit differently during service
o Hebrew must be spoken
• Synagogue= Shul or temple
11. Explain the "where life is at stake" consideration an Orthodox Jew applies to the laws
contained in the Torah, and identify three types of laws which the "where life is at stake"
consideration does not override. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • When human life is at stake
life usually prevails
• 3 types of laws that apply:
o Murder: the intentional taking of innocent human life
o Prohibition of idolatry
o Prohibition of adultery
12. State what language and what word the English expression "creed" is derived from (be
sure also to give the literal translation of the word of origin), and what a creed is. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • Creed is Latin meaning credo= I believe
• Creed is a concise and official statement of the main point of particular faith
13. State who Moses Maimonides was, the year in which he was born, the year in which he
died, and indicate what his significance is with respect to the beliefs of Orthodox Judaism. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • He was born in Spain in AD 1135, he died in 1204
• He wrote many books such as the 13 articles of Jewish Faith
14. Explain what the four religious beliefs are that your humble instructor has designated as
characteristic of Orthodox Judaism. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • Afterlife and resurrection
• Hope for ritualistic animal sacrifices
• Hope for the messiah
Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. State the names of the three chief "denominations" of U.S. Judaism. (For two of these
denominations, two names have been used. In these two cases, you must state both names.) -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Orthodox or traditional
Reform or Liberal
Conservative
2. State the meaning of the Hebrew word from which "Torah" is derived, name the first five
books of the Jewish Holy Scriptures, and explain where these names come from, and/or what
they mean. (You are not responsible for the Hebrew names included in a footnote in the text.)
- CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Torah= teaching in Hebrew
Five books:
• Genesis: the origin
• Exodus: the way out
• Leviticus: named after Levi a son of the 12 Jewish tribes
• Laws concerning temple service and particularly significant to the Levi tribes
• Numbers: begins with census of the Jewish people
• Deuteronomy: second book of law, reinforcement of the other 4 Torah books
3. Explain why the parts of the Bible are called "books" and state what the three groups of
books are into which the Jewish Holy Scriptures are divided as well as the number of books
contained in the Jewish Bible. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- They are called books because
different authors composed different parts as individual units. They were written on long
scrolls of paper, 24 books divided in 3: the Torah, The Prophets and Writings
4. State what language and what words "orthodox" is derived from, what these words mean,
and what the literal meaning of "Orthodox Judaism" is. Further, state what Orthodox Jews
believe with respect to the origin of Orthodox Judaism, and state and briefly explain the
general description of Orthodox Jewish practice that has been given in class. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- • The word orthodox comes from the Greek language meaning the right
belief
• Orthodox Jews= the right believing Jews
• Claims to go back to the original Jewish practice
,5. State the number of laws contained in the Torah, explain why it is impossible for any
individual human to observe all of them, as well as what the reason is for which even
contemporary Orthodox Jews observe fewer than 300 Torah laws. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- • 613 laws in Torah
• Men don't need to obey the rules applied to women and vis. versa
6. State the conditions that a land animal must meet to be "kosher" for an Orthodox Jew, and
the conditions that a sea animal must fulfill to be "kosher," and give an example of a kosher
land animal, a non-kosher land animal, a kosher sea animal, and a non-kosher sea animal. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • Land: must have split hooves and chew cud
o Kosher: cow
o Non- Kosher: dog
• Water: must have both fins and scales
o Kosher: Trout/ Bass
o Non- Kosher: Shrimp
7. State what it is that all non-kosher birds have in common, and mention at least three types
of kosher birds. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • Kosher: Chicken, Turkey, Duck or Quail
• Non- Kosher; birds of prey, scavengers
8. Besides prescriptions concerning kosher and non-kosher animals, two other dietary
prescriptions important for Orthodox Judaism have been explained in class. State what these
other prescriptions are, and briefly explain them. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • No blood is
to be consumed even meat that are kosher need to be prepared in a special way
• No mixing of meat and dairy
• 2 sets of cooking utensils so they do not mix
9. Explain the justification Orthodox Jews would give in support of the seemingly arbitrary
laws contained in the Torah. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • The seemingly arbitrary laws are
justified by the orthodox Jews by "these rules are 'sign posts' keeping on reminding us of god,
helping to learn love"
10. State and briefly explain the items characteristic of Orthodox Jewish Sabbath observance,
which have been mentioned in class, including, but not limited to, the items concerning the
, synagogue. Further, state a word Orthodox Jews use at times instead of "synagogue," as well
as a designation for Jewish houses of worship that Orthodox Jews never use although many
non-Orthodox Jews use it. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • During Sabbath:
o Jews are not allowed to work, travel or conduct business
o No fires are to be lit.
• At the Synagogue:
o Men and women sit differently during service
o Hebrew must be spoken
• Synagogue= Shul or temple
11. Explain the "where life is at stake" consideration an Orthodox Jew applies to the laws
contained in the Torah, and identify three types of laws which the "where life is at stake"
consideration does not override. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • When human life is at stake
life usually prevails
• 3 types of laws that apply:
o Murder: the intentional taking of innocent human life
o Prohibition of idolatry
o Prohibition of adultery
12. State what language and what word the English expression "creed" is derived from (be
sure also to give the literal translation of the word of origin), and what a creed is. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • Creed is Latin meaning credo= I believe
• Creed is a concise and official statement of the main point of particular faith
13. State who Moses Maimonides was, the year in which he was born, the year in which he
died, and indicate what his significance is with respect to the beliefs of Orthodox Judaism. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • He was born in Spain in AD 1135, he died in 1204
• He wrote many books such as the 13 articles of Jewish Faith
14. Explain what the four religious beliefs are that your humble instructor has designated as
characteristic of Orthodox Judaism. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- • Afterlife and resurrection
• Hope for ritualistic animal sacrifices
• Hope for the messiah
