What's covered
Key facts
Kosher Food and Jewish Dietary Laws
A hechsher is the symbol on food packaging certifying it as kosher.
Mitzvot — The 613 Commandments
Of the 613 mitzvot, 365 are negative ("do not") and 248 are positive ("do").
Tikkun Olam — Repairing the World
The hope of repairing the world appears in the Aleinu, the prayer that closes daily Jewish services (written around the 3rd century CE).
Tzedakah — Charity and Justice
Anonymous giving is highly valued because it protects the dignity of the receiver.
Kosher Food and Jewish Dietary Laws
Beef is kosher only if the animal is correctly slaughtered (by shechita).
Mitzvot — The 613 Commandments
Aseret HaDibrot is the Hebrew name for the Ten Commandments.
Tikkun Olam — Repairing the World
Volunteering at a food bank is an example of tikkun olam in action.
Tzedakah — Charity and Justice
The highest level of tzedakah is helping someone become self-sufficient (a job, loan, partnership) so they no longer need charity.
Kosher Food and Jewish Dietary Laws
Kosher rules come from the Torah, mainly in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
Mitzvot — The 613 Commandments
At bar/bat mitzvah a young Jew becomes responsible for keeping the mitzvot.
Sample questions
A taste of the 36 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
What does 'kosher' mean?
- •Blessed by a rabbi only
- •Cooked at the Temple
- ✓Fit to eat under Jewish law
- •Forbidden under Jewish law
What kinds of mitzvot are there?
- •Major and minor commandments
- ✓Positive and negative ones
- •Priestly and community duties
- •Written and oral commandments
What does 'tikkun olam' mean?
- •Honouring the Sabbath
- •Loving the Torah
- ✓Repairing the world
- •Saving a life
What does tzedakah mean?
- ✓Charity or righteous giving
- •Fasting or spiritual discipline
- •Prayer or daily devotion
- •Repentance or seeking forgiveness
Is pork kosher?
- ✓No — forbidden
- •Only on Shabbat
- •Yes — if blessed by a rabbi
- •Yes — if prepared correctly
Which is a positive mitzvah?
- •Do not lie ever
- •Do not murder others
- •Do not steal again
- ✓Honour your parents always
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