Vocabulary 3.4

The Origins of Judaism

Canaan• The ancient region lying between the Jordan, the

Dead Sea, and the Mediterranean seas. Canaan is the land promised by God to Abraham.

• Today it is important to people of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faith.

Hebrews

• An ancient group of people who lived mostly in the kingdom of Israel and practiced Judaism.

• The term Hebrew is interchangeable with the term Jew / Jewish

Torah

• The first five books of the Hebrew scriptures. The Torah is considered by Hebrews to be the law of God, revealed to the Jews by Moses.

Monotheism

• The belief in only one God.

Yahweh

• Yahweh is the Hebrew name for God as used in the Bible.

Abraham

• Abraham is considered to be the founder of Judaism.

Prophets

• A person who speaks as the interpreter through whom the will of a god is expressed.