judaism 1 introduction)

8/6/2019 Judaism 1 Introduction)

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W hile Judaism has seldom, if ever, beenW hile Judaism has seldom, if ever, been

monolithicmonolithic in practice, it has always beenin practice, it has always beenmonotheisticmonotheistic inin theologytheology . It differs from. It differs frommany religions in that central authority ismany religions in that central authority isnot vested in a person or group, but innot vested in a person or group, but insacred texts andsacred texts and traditionstraditions . Throughout the. Throughout theages, Judaism has clung to a number of ages, Judaism has clung to a number of religious principlesreligious principles , the most important of , the most important of

which is the belief in a single,which is the belief in a single, omniscientomniscient ,,omnipotentomnipotent ,, benevolentbenevolent ,, transcendenttranscendent GodGod ,,whowho created the universecreated the universe and continues toand continues togovern it.govern it.


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According to traditional Jewish belief, the According to traditional Jewish belief, the

God who created the world established aGod who created the world established acovenantcovenant with the Jewish people, andwith the Jewish people, andrevealed his laws andrevealed his laws and commandmentscommandments totoMoses onMoses on Mount SinaiMount Sinai in the form of thein the form of theTorahTorah . The traditional practice of Judaism. The traditional practice of Judaismrevolves aroundrevolves around studystudy and theand theobservance of God's laws andobservance of God's laws and

commandments as written in the Torahcommandments as written in the Torahand expounded in theand expounded in the TalmudTalmud ..


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W ith an estimated 14 million adherents inW ith an estimated 14 million adherents in

2006,2006, [1][2][1][2] Judaism is the world'sJudaism is the world's eleventheleventh- -largestlargest organized religion.organized religion.JudaismJudaism is a religion. It originated inis a religion. It originated in

the Middle East about 4,000 years ago. Itthe Middle East about 4,000 years ago. Itis monotheistic, that is, based on a belief inis monotheistic, that is, based on a belief inone God. There are multipleone God. There are multipledenominationsdenominations or types of Judaism.or types of Judaism.Judaism, history is very important andJudaism, history is very important andbelieve that God is in their history as abelieve that God is in their history as apeople and as nation.people and as nation.


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JudaismJudaismFounded:Founded: 1313 thth Century BCECentury BCE

Founder:Founder: MosesMoses, who emancipated the, who emancipated theJews from slavery in Egypt and later Jews from slavery in Egypt and later established a covenant between his peopleestablished a covenant between his peopleand Yahweh on Mount Sinaiand Yahweh on Mount SinaiTraditionally, it is held thatTraditionally, it is held that Abraham Abraham andand

his descendants established Judaism beforehis descendants established Judaism beforeMoses, however theMoses, however the 10 Commandments10 Commandments are arenow considered by many to be thenow considered by many to be thefoundation upon which Judaism rests.foundation upon which Judaism rests.

RootsRoots: : dating back approximately 4000dating back approximately 4000years= origins of Judaism, Islam andyears= origins of Judaism, Islam andChristianityChristianity

Place:Place: Palestine (sometimes calledPalestine (sometimes calledCanaan; now IsraelCanaan; now Israel

Sacred BooksSacred Books : Old Testament (which: Old Testament (whichconsists of the Five Books of Law, theconsists of the Five Books of Law, thehistorical books, the Prophets and other historical books, the Prophets and other writings). The most sacred are the Fivewritings). The most sacred are the FiveBooks of the Law= called the TORAHBooks of the Law= called the TORAH

Symbols:Symbols: Menorah and Star of DavidMenorah and Star of David

AdherentsAdherents: : Smallest major world religions,Smallest major world religions,making up 0.2 % human racemaking up 0.2 % human race


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Historical OverviewHistorical Overview

Ancient Israel is the birthplace Ancient Israel is the birthplaceof the 3 greatof the 3 great monotheisticmonotheisticreligions of the world:religions of the world:Judaism, Christianity andJudaism, Christianity andIslamIslam

Ancient Israel dates back Ancient Israel dates backapproximately 4000 years toapproximately 4000 years tothe books of thethe books of the OldOldTestamentTestamentGreatGreat patriarchspatriarchs of Judaism:of Judaism:

Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Moses,JoshuaJoshuaHebrews, Israelites, Jews,Hebrews, Israelites, Jews,SemitesSemites : have all undergone: have all undergonepersecution throughout history;persecution throughout history;from Babylonian Captivity,from Babylonian Captivity,Exodus, Diaspora, SpanishExodus, Diaspora, SpanishInquisition, HolocaustInquisition, Holocaust


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B irthplace of Judaism is alsobirthplace to Islam and Christianity

Ancient IsraelAncient Israel


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W hat is in a name?W hat is in a name?

HebrewHebrew means From acrossmeans From across- -name given to Abraham and hisname given to Abraham and hisfollowersfollowersIsraelitesIsraelites : Abrahams grandson: Abrahams grandsonJacob renamed Israel whichJacob renamed Israel whichmeans he who has wrestledmeans he who has wrestledwith God. His descendantswith God. His descendantswere called Israeliteswere called IsraelitesJewsJews : named after Jacobs son: named after Jacobs sonJudah, ancient father of tribe of Judah, ancient father of tribe of King Davids dynastyKing Davids dynasty


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K ey ConceptsK ey ConceptsCovenantCovenant

solemn and binding agreement between God and Abrahamsolemn and binding agreement between God and Abraham(humanity) as God as the Creator and the Chosen people(humanity) as God as the Creator and the Chosen people

Chosen PeopleChosen PeopleJews considered themselves to be Gods Chosen People asJews considered themselves to be Gods Chosen People asGod chose Abraham and led him to monotheismGod chose Abraham and led him to monotheismJews were instruments of Gods willJews were instruments of Gods willGod chose Jews (humanity); humanity must choose GodGod chose Jews (humanity); humanity must choose God

Promised LandPromised LandGained significance during Moses life as Hebrews sought toGained significance during Moses life as Hebrews sought tokeep covenant and develop a community in the Promisedkeep covenant and develop a community in the PromisedLand. Jews believe this is Israel.Land. Jews believe this is Israel.


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Development of JudaismDevelopment of JudaismJudgesJudges : tribal leaders: tribal leaders

KingsKings : King Saul, King David, King Solomon (built: King Saul, King David, King Solomon (builttemple)temple)

Division:Division: Northern tribes = Israel; Southern tribes =Northern tribes = Israel; Southern tribes =JudahJudah

Prophetic TraditionProphetic Tradition : word of God spoken through: word of God spoken throughprophets Love God and keep the covenant with Himprophets Love God and keep the covenant with Him

Exile in BabylonExile in Babylon = Temple of Solomon destroyed;= Temple of Solomon destroyed;creation of synagogues and rabbis and concept of creation of synagogues and rabbis and concept of Messiah anointed oneMessiah anointed one

DiasporaDiaspora : dispersal of Jews outside of Israel and: dispersal of Jews outside of Israel andHellenizationHellenization

Maccabean RevoltMaccabean Revolt : temple rededicated to God: temple rededicated to God

Expansion of Roman Empire and ruleExpansion of Roman Empire and rule : destroying of : destroying of the temple leaving only the W estern W all; rabbinicthe temple leaving only the W estern W all; rabbinicJudaism (interpretative commentaries)Judaism (interpretative commentaries)


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BeliefsBeliefsMonotheisticMonotheistic

Oneness of Creator GodOneness of Creator GodHuman obligation to worship GodHuman obligation to worship God

God is immaterial and indivisibleGod is immaterial and indivisibleGod is refered to as YH W H or YAH W EH I am that I amGod is refered to as YH W H or YAH W EH I am that I amLineageLineage

People are born a Jew (through mother) or can convert (gerut)People are born a Jew (through mother) or can convert (gerut)MitzvahMitzvah

act of performing a good deed or commandment (ie. 10act of performing a good deed or commandment (ie. 10Commandments)Commandments)Bible contains total of 613 mitvoth (some positive, some negative)Bible contains total of 613 mitvoth (some positive, some negative)

JesusJesusView of Jesus = born a Jew a preacher and teacher View of Jesus = born a Jew a preacher and teacher Jesus was not the Son of God; the Messiah is still to comeJesus was not the Son of God; the Messiah is still to come

SufferingSufferingsuffering is heightened because as the Chosen People, Jews expect tosuffering is heightened because as the Chosen People, Jews expect tosuffer for all of mankindsuffer for all of mankind

Death and AfterlifeDeath and Afterlifeon death, body returns to earth (dust to dust) but soul return to God whoon death, body returns to earth (dust to dust) but soul return to God whogave itgave it

body will be Resurrected and reunited with soul at a later timebody will be Resurrected and reunited with soul at a later time(therefore no cremation)(therefore no cremation)


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BELIEFS:BELIEFS:The stories of the Patriarchs was their personalThe stories of the Patriarchs was their personalexperience of God . A covenantal God. A God whoexperience of God . A covenantal God. A God whoestablished a covenant with His people, the people of established a covenant with His people, the people of Israel .Israel .He is the God of Abraham the God Isaac, and the God of He is the God of Abraham the God Isaac, and the God of

Jacob. He was the God Almighty, W ho save , W hoJacob. He was the God Almighty, W ho save , W holiberate and W ho provide the needs of His people.liberate and W ho provide the needs of His people. As a chosen people of God they follow the As a chosen people of God they follow thecommandments of God that was given to Moses in Mt.commandments of God that was given to Moses in Mt.Sinai.Sinai.The Ten Commandments was the law that guided theThe Ten Commandments was the law that guided theIsraelites how to live and be faithful to the covenant.Israelites how to live and be faithful to the covenant.


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TORAHTORAHconsists of Five Books of consists of Five Books of Moses written onMoses written onparchment scroll in ancientparchment scroll in ancient

form by hand and kept inform by hand and kept in Ark Ark

Torah means law butTorah means law butmore accurate ismore accurate isrevelation, teaching or revelation, teaching or instructioninstruction

Torah is divided into 54Torah is divided into 54sections and one portion issections and one portion isread each week (2 weeksread each week (2 weeksof year have a doubleof year have a doubleportion) so that the entireportion) so that the entireTorah is read fromTorah is read frombeginning to end in a year beginning to end in a year


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PracticesPracticesH oly Ark & TorahH oly Ark & TorahB lessings and prayer B lessings and prayer MinyanMinyanKashruthKashruth

ShabbatShabbatCircumcisionCircumcisionShofar Shofar B ar / B at MitvahB ar / B at Mitvah

MarriageMarriageDeath & ShivaDeath & Shiva


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Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

TheThe Israeli flagIsraeli flag is rooted in Jewish tradition. The whiteis rooted in Jewish tradition. The whitebackground symbolizes purity. The symbols on the flag arebackground symbolizes purity. The symbols on the flag are

two stripestwo stripes one on the top and one on the bottomone on the top and one on the bottom andandthe Star of David emblem adorning the center. The stripesthe Star of David emblem adorning the center. The stripesand blue color are inspired by the techeileth dye of the tallitand blue color are inspired by the techeileth dye of the tallit(Jewish prayer shawl)(Jewish prayer shawl)

Jews have regarded the Land of Israel as their homeland,Jews have regarded the Land of Israel as their homeland,both as aboth as a Holy LandHoly Land and as aand as a Promised Land.Promised Land. The Land of The Land of Israel holds a special place in Jewish religious obligations,Israel holds a special place in Jewish religious obligations,encompassing Judaism's most important sitesencompassing Judaism's most important sites including includingthe remains of thethe remains of the First and Second TemplesFirst and Second Temples


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SymbolsSymbolsStar of DavidStar of David = shape= shapeof King Davidsof King Davidsshield; symbolshield; symboladopted by Zionistsadopted by Zionists

MenorahMenorah = ancient= ancientsource of lightsource of light

7 branched= Sabbath7 branched= Sabbath9 branched= Hanukah9 branched= Hanukah


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DenominationsDenominations

OrthodoxOrthodoxReformReformConservativeConservativeReconstructionistReconstructionistMessianicMessianic


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W estern W allW estern W all

The W estern W all in the midst of the Old City inJerusalem is the section of the W estern supportingwall of the Temple Mount which has remained intactsince the destruction of the Second JerusalemTemple (70 CE)It became a center of mourning over the destruction

of the Temple and Israel's exileCommunion with the memory of Israel's former glory

and the hope for its restorationIt became known in European languages as the

"W ailing W all".


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Tracing Roots of Israels HistoryTracing Roots of Israels HistoryNomadic tribes wanderedNomadic tribes wandered

into Palestine from east ininto Palestine from east inapproximately 1900 BCEapproximately 1900 BCEMesopotamian societyMesopotamian societydominated by polytheismdominated by polytheismGod (God ( YahwehYahweh ) appeared) appeared

before Patriarch Abrahambefore Patriarch Abrahamand told Abraham and told Abraham to goto goand raise a great nationand raise a great nation This began theThis began themonotheistic tradition of themonotheistic tradition of theHebrew faith with theHebrew faith with theestablishment of theestablishment of theCovenantCovenant , , ChosenChosenPeoplePeople and and PromisedPromisedLandLand

Abraham settled in Abraham settled in CanaanCanaanStory: Sacrifice of AbrahamStory: Sacrifice of Abraham


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Patriarchs to JudaismPatriarchs to Judaism

AbrahamAbrahamGod told Abraham to go to Haran then CanaanGod told Abraham to go to Haran then Canaanand make of him a great nationand make of him a great nationBegan monotheistic traditionBegan monotheistic traditionCovenant with GodCovenant with GodThe story of the Sacrifice of AbrahamThe story of the Sacrifice of Abraham

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