The Weakest Link – Jewish Questions
Q: Who was considered the first Jew?
A: Abraham (or Avram)
Q: How many sons did Jacob have?
Q: Which of Jacob’s sons’ names means ‘son of my right hand?”
A: Benjamin (or Benyamin)
Q: How many sons did Adam and Eve bear?
Q: Who was the mother of Ishmael?
Q: What was Abraham’s second wife’s name?
Q: Which Biblical character’s name comes from the word ‘laughter?’
A: Isaac (or Yitzchak).
Q: Which two cities did God destroy in fire and brimstone?
A: Sodom and Gomorrah
Q: What was the matriarch Sarah’s original name?
Q: What food is traditionally dipped in honey on Rosh Hashana?
Q: What traditional Middle Eastern food is made of fried chick peas?
Q: What is the three-cornered cookie eaten on Purim?
Q: What fruits and vegetables usually compromise Israeli Salad?
A: Cucumbers and tomatoes
Q: Frying matzah in egg makes what peisadich breakfast?
A: Matza brei.
Q: What notorious giant did David slay?
Q: With what weapon did David kill Goliath?
Q: Who was Rachel and Leah’s father?
Q: What two Biblical sisters shared a husband?
A: Rachel and Leah
Q: Who was Abraham’s eldest son?
Q: Who is the villain of the Purim story?
Q: In what scroll do we read the story of Purim?
A: Megillat Esther (Or Esther, or megillah Esther).
Q: What is the blanket term for Jews living outside of Israel?
A: Diaspora or Galut
Q: What word, often mistranslated as ‘good deed,’ actually means ‘commandment?’
Q: What is the Hebrew term for a chapter of the Torah?
Q: Who is the only female scholar mentioned in the Talmud?
Q: Who was the only female Judge?
A: Devorah (or Deborah or Debra)
Q: Who invented silent prayer?
A: Hannah (or Chanah)
Q: Who was the first convert?
Q: What were the names of the midwives in the Exodus story?
A: Shifra and Puah
Q: What was Moses’ sisters’ name?
Q: What was Moses’ mother’s name?
Q: During which holiday do Jews traditionally eat Matzah?
A: Passover or Pesach
Q: What is the first parsha of the Torah?
Q: What are the seven days of celebration after a Jewish wedding called?
A: Sheva Brachot
Q: During a Jewish wedding, the groom steps on what?
A: A glass.
Q: Which Jewish holy day translates to Day of Repentance?
A: Yom Kippur
Q: Which holiday is known as the ‘Birthday of the Trees?’
A: Tu B’shvat.
Q: What is the most used kosher wine?
Q: Which Jewish director is responsible for “Spaceballs” and “Blazing Saddles?”
A: Mel Brooks.
Q: Which Jewish comedian “gets no respect?”
A: Rodney Dangerfield.
Q: Which Dodger right-fielder refused to play this season on Yom Kippur?
A: Shawn Green
Q: Which famous Jewish Dodger was voted Baseball Athlete of the Decade for the 1960s?
A: Sandy Koufax
Q: What Pesach song title means “it would have been enough?”
Q: What nonsense phrase follows the lyric “if I were a rich man?”
A: Bidi-bidi-bidi-bidi-bidi-bidi-bidi-bum (or something similar)
Q: Complete this Zionist song title: “Yeryshalaim shel _____”
A: Zahav (or gold)
Q: What commonly used Yiddish word means “to chat?”
A: Kibbitz or schmooze
Q: The Hebrew alphabet is called what?
Q: The two Torahs are the Written Torah and the what?
A: Oral Torah or Mishnah
Q: How many candles are on a fully lit Chanukiah?
Q: What is the name of the candle used to light the other candles on a Menorah?
Q: What is the ceremony that officially ends Shabbat?
Q: What Jewish power hitter played for the Tigers?
A: Hank Greenberg
Q: What Jewish doctor discovered the polio vaccine?
A: Jonas Salk
Q: What Jewish author wrote “Exodus” and “Massada?”
A: Leon Uris
Q: What Jewish musician’s real name is Robert Zimmerman?
A: Bob Dylan
Q: Which Jewish musician wrote the song “Pianoman?”
A: Billy Joel
Q: Which Jewish musician was responsible for the song “I Hate Short People?”
A: Randy Newman
Q: What are the two commonly used names for the Jewish head covering?
A: Yarmulke and kippah
Q: Who was the hero of the Chaunkah story?
A: Judah Macabee
Q: What popular Hebrew girl’s name means “lily?”
Q: What term used to describe a person’s move to Israel means literally “going up?”
Q: Saying Birkat Hamazon is also known as what?
A: Benching or saying grace
Q: What hissing animal tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit?
A: A serpent or snake
Q: During what Jewish month does Passover occur?
Q: From which Biblical book do the lyrics for the song “Turn Turn Turn” come?
Q: Name the four main denominations of American Jewry.
A: Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and Reconstructionist.
Q: Shalach Manot is a custom associated with which holiday?
Q: How many years did the Jews spend wandering in the desert with Moses?
Q: In 1492, the Jews were expelled from what country?
Q: Jewish of Spanish descent are called what?
Q: Which country has the largest Jewish population in the world?
A: United States
Q: How many cups of wine are traditionally drunk on Passover?
Q: For which holiday do Jews build a booth out of palm fronds?
Q: Which two characters from the TV Show “Friends” are Jewish?
A: Monica and Ross Geller
Q: Which doctor on the TV show “ER” is half-Jewish?
A: Dr. Mark Greene
Q: Complete this lyric from the popular song by Adam Sandler: “Put on your yarmulke, it’s time for…”
Q: Which Jewish comedian’s catchphrase is “Who are these people?”
A: Jerry Seinfeld
Q: Which Jewish actor played a rabbi in “Keeping the Faith?”
A: Ben Stiller
Q: Which Jewish actor created the voices for Looney Tunes?
A: Mel Blanc
Q: Which Jewish actor played a psychiatrist to a mobster in “Analyze This."
A: Billy Crystal
Q: What Jewish singing duo wrote “The 59th Street Bridge Song?”
A: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
Q: What Jewish actor provided the voice for Iago in “Aladdin?”
A: Gilbert Gottfreid
Q: What Jewish actor created the character Pee Wee Herman?
A: Paul Ruebens.
Q: Which Jewish actor played Latke on the sitcom “Taxi?”
A: Andy Kaufman
Q: What Jewish actress played roles in “The Opposite of Sex” and “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion?”
A: Lisa Kudrow
Q: This Jewish actor provides the voice for the cartoon “The Critic.”
A: Jon Lovitz.
Q: Which Jewish singer popularized the song “The Rose?”
A: Bette Midler
Q: This Jewish actor starred in “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids.”
A: Rick Moranis.
Q: This Jewish actor’s character’s catchphrase was “That is highly illogical.”
A: Leonard Nimoy
Q: This Jewish actor repeatedly said “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
A: Mandy Patinkin
Q: Which Jewish actress stars in HBO’S “Sex and the City?”
A: Sarah Jessica Parker
Q: This Israeli actress’ most remembered role was in Star Wars, Episode One.
A: Natalie Portman.
Q: Which Jewish actress was featured in two Aerosmith videos?
A: Alicia Silverstone.
Q: Which Jewish director’s films include “A Clockwork Orange” and “Eyes Wide Shut?”
A: Stanley Kubrick.
Q: Which half-Jewish actress played Princess Leia?
A: Carrie Fisher
Q: Which member of the Rat Pack converted to Judaism?
A: Sammy Davis, Jr.
Q: Which LA Kings hockey player is Jewish?
A: Mathieu Schneider
Q: Which famous Jewish director was responsible for “E.T.” and “Jurassic Park?”
A: Steven Speilberg
Q: This Jewish author gave us “The Chosen” and “My Name is Asher Lev.”
A: Chaim Potok
Q: This Jewish singer and actress starred in “Funny Girl.”
A: Barbra Streisand