Multiple-Choice Questions
1. The biblical “Patriarchs” are
a. Abraham
b. Isaac
c. Jacob
d. All of the above
2. Solomon’s Temple was built in
a. Jerusalem
b. Damascus
c. Athens
d. Rome
3. The word “canon” refers to
a. An artillery piece
b. An arrangement of flowers
c. A collection of sacred writings
d. A type of animal sacrifice
4. Masada was a
a. City in southern Israel
b. Roman general
c. Mountain fortress
d. King David’s royal palace
5. The word halachah can be defined as
a. An authoritative form of ritual behavior
b. A type of pastry
c. A form of male attire
d. A special way of praying
6. Ashkenazim are Jews who lived in
a. Asia
b. North Africa
c. The Middle East
d. Europe
7. The author of the 13 articles of Jewish belief was
a. Saadia ben Joseph
b. Hillel
c. Maimonides
d. Moses Mendelssohn
8. The “bible” of medieval Jewish mystics was
a. The Mishnah
b. The Zohar
c. The Guide for the Perplexed
d. The Book of Beliefs and Opinions
9. The name “Baal Shem Tov” means
a. “Peace be unto you”
b. “A great miracle occurred here”
c. “Master of the Good Name”
d. “My name is Baal”
10. The Reform Movement embraced the idea that Judaism is
a. An unchanging religious culture
b. An evolving religious culture
c. An offshoot of Islam
d. A substitute for Christianity
11. Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan is associated with which movement in modern Judaism?
a. The Conservative Movement
b. Reconstructionism
c. Orthodoxy
d. Reform
12. The word Shoah literally means
a. Whirlwind
b. Genocide
c. Catastrophe
d. The end of the world
13. A mikveh is
a. A ceremonial cup
b. A ritual pool
c. A good deed
d. A forbidden food
14. The word maschiach literally means
a. King
b. Chosen one
c. Anointed one
d. The last one
15. Which of the following is not a major Jewish festival?
a. Pesach
b. Hanukkah
c. Yom Kippur
d. Shavuot
16. On Sukkot it is customary to build a
a. Bonfire
b. Altar
c. Pyramid
d. Temporary hut
17. A Seder is a
a. Ceremonial meal
b. Ritual bath
c. Prayerbook
d. Visit to someone’s home
18. The Haggadah tells the story of
a. The creation of the world
b. The building of the Temple
c. The Exodus from Egypt
d. The destruction of the Temple
19. Shavuot is a celebration of
a. The Exodus from Egypt
b. The giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai
c. Victory over Haman
d. The fall harvest
20. The Maccabean rebellion is celebrated on
a. The ninth of Av
b. Rosh Hashanah
c. Purim
d. Hanukkah
21. On Erev Shabbat it is customary to eat
a. Gefilte fish
b. Challah
c. Matzah
d. Apples and honey
22. In a Jewish wedding, the bride and groom stand under
a. A tree
b. An arch
c. A canopy
d. A bridge
23. The initial period of mourning (shivah) for a deceased relative lasts
a. 30 days
b. A year
c. 60 days
d. 7 days
24. The traditional prayer quorum (minyan) in Judaism is
a. 10 men
b. 20 men or women
c. 30 men, women or children
d. 10 women
25. Which of the following foods is not kosher?
a. Chicken
b. Pork
c. Carp
d. Jello
26. Traditionally, Jews pray
a. Once a day
b. Five times a day
c. Once every other day
d. Three times a day
27. A tallit is a
a. Prayer shawl
b. Row of prayer beads
c. Amulet
d. Good-luck charm
28. One of the most important prayers that declares the unity of God is
a. The Kaddish
b. The Kiddush
c. The Shema
d. Psalm 62
True/False Questions
1. The prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt was Moses.
2. Jews commonly refer to their Scriptures as the “Old Testament.”
3. The Septuagint is a translation of the Hebrew Bible into Latin.
4. The term “eschatological” refers to a belief in an End-Time.
5. Hillel taught a version of the “Golden Rule.”
6. Jews commonly believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ.
7. Sephardim are Jews who once lived in Spain and Portugal.
8. The Zohar is a part of the Babylonian Talmud.
9. The founder of the Hasidic movement was known as the Baal Shem Tov.
10. Mordecai Kaplan was the founder of the Reconstructionist movement.
11. Theodor Herzl was opposed to the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.
12. Judaism teaches a belief in many gods.
13. The word Torah literally means “teaching.”
14. It is impossible to convert to Judaism.
15. Yom Kippur is the only holy day in the Jewish calendar.
16. Shabbat is celebrated only on Saturday morning.
17. Jews are traditionally free to eat anything they like.