JudaismJudaism

Religion of the JewsReligion of the Jews

When & How did the Church When & How did the Church Begin?Begin?

Judaism is the oldest religion still existing Judaism is the oldest religion still existing today, although the date it was actually today, although the date it was actually founded is unknown. founded is unknown. It began as the religion of the small nation It began as the religion of the small nation of Hebrews.of Hebrews.Judaism traces its history back to the Judaism traces its history back to the creation of mankind, but the explicitly creation of mankind, but the explicitly Jewish historical origins began with Jewish historical origins began with Abraham and the HebrewsAbraham and the HebrewsAbraham is acknowledged as the patriarch Abraham is acknowledged as the patriarch of the Jewish faith. of the Jewish faith.

What do the followers believe?What do the followers believe?

They follow the Tanakh, sometimes They follow the Tanakh, sometimes referred to as the Torah.referred to as the Torah.Most religious Jews believe in both Most religious Jews believe in both resurrection and immortality of the soul.resurrection and immortality of the soul.They believe in ONE living God They believe in ONE living God (monotheism), and that God elected them (monotheism), and that God elected them to be the “Chosen People”to be the “Chosen People”They believe Jesus was born of a normal They believe Jesus was born of a normal birth and was a false prophet. They do birth and was a false prophet. They do NOT believe Jesus was the Messiah, nor NOT believe Jesus was the Messiah, nor the Son of God. the Son of God.

What do the followers believe?What do the followers believe?

Basically Jews believe in God. They believe Basically Jews believe in God. They believe God is indivisible, not represented in the God is indivisible, not represented in the Holy Trinity. Holy Trinity. Judaism accepts the Old Testament as its Judaism accepts the Old Testament as its only Holy Book. only Holy Book. Jerusalem is considered a holy city for Jerusalem is considered a holy city for followers of the Jewish faith. followers of the Jewish faith. The Ten Commandments are accepted as The Ten Commandments are accepted as guidelines for moral and ethical behavior. guidelines for moral and ethical behavior.

Do Jews have a leader or an authority?Do Jews have a leader or an authority?

Jewish clergy are known as rabbis. Jewish clergy are known as rabbis.

The Jewish house of worship is a The Jewish house of worship is a synagoguesynagogue

Jewish main day of worship is Jewish main day of worship is Saturday. Saturday.

Jewish followers often refer to God as Jewish followers often refer to God as Yahweh.Yahweh.

Where is this religion mainly located, Where is this religion mainly located, and how many followers are there?and how many followers are there?

The Jewish followers are mainly The Jewish followers are mainly concentrated in three major areas: concentrated in three major areas: Israel, Europe, and The United StatesIsrael, Europe, and The United States

There are approximately 14 million There are approximately 14 million current followers of the Jewish faithcurrent followers of the Jewish faith

What kinds of celebrations and What kinds of celebrations and holidays do they observe and holidays do they observe and

celebrate? celebrate? ChanukahChanukah- also spelled as Hannukah or Hannuka, - also spelled as Hannukah or Hannuka, a "festival of lights" in December commemorating a "festival of lights" in December commemorating the defeat of the Syrian Greeks by the Maccabes in the defeat of the Syrian Greeks by the Maccabes in 165 B.C.E and the rededication of the Temple in 165 B.C.E and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Miraculously, a tiny container of oil was Jerusalem. Miraculously, a tiny container of oil was found in the Temple burned for eight days. In found in the Temple burned for eight days. In celebrating this festival an eight branch candle celebrating this festival an eight branch candle stick, or menorah, is used, plus a ninth or Shamash, stick, or menorah, is used, plus a ninth or Shamash, candle used for lighting each of the other candles, candle used for lighting each of the other candles, one for each day of Chanukah. Children receive one for each day of Chanukah. Children receive gifts and play a top spinning game.gifts and play a top spinning game.

What kinds of celebrations and What kinds of celebrations and holidays do they observe and holidays do they observe and

celebrate? celebrate? Passover- A spring festival lasting seven or Passover- A spring festival lasting seven or eight days, recalling the angel of death eight days, recalling the angel of death "passing over" the Hebrews, as the first "passing over" the Hebrews, as the first born of the Egyptians were taken by death born of the Egyptians were taken by death of the last of the great plagues brought by of the last of the great plagues brought by God on the Egyptian captors. A home and God on the Egyptian captors. A home and synagogue ceremonial meal recalls the synagogue ceremonial meal recalls the bitter experience of slavery in Egypt and bitter experience of slavery in Egypt and the haste of the escape, or "Exodus."the haste of the escape, or "Exodus."

What kinds of celebrations and What kinds of celebrations and holidays do they observe and holidays do they observe and

celebrate? celebrate? Rosh HashanahRosh Hashanah- This means literally, the "head of - This means literally, the "head of the year," the Jewish New Year. Ushering in a period the year," the Jewish New Year. Ushering in a period of high holy days for reflection and repentance. A of high holy days for reflection and repentance. A ram’s horn or shofar is sounded. (the ram is used ram’s horn or shofar is sounded. (the ram is used because Abraham sacrificed a ram instead of Isaac.)because Abraham sacrificed a ram instead of Isaac.)

SabbathSabbath- This means of rest each week- the - This means of rest each week- the seventh and last day of the week- commemorates seventh and last day of the week- commemorates God’s rest on the seventh day of Creation. The God’s rest on the seventh day of Creation. The observance is a reminder of God’s justice and rule observance is a reminder of God’s justice and rule on earth, is ordered in the Ten Commandments.on earth, is ordered in the Ten Commandments.

What kinds of celebrations and What kinds of celebrations and holidays do they observe and holidays do they observe and

celebrate? celebrate? ShavuothShavuoth-  This means a "Feast of Weeks" in the -  This means a "Feast of Weeks" in the spring that celebrates the giving of the law, or Torah.spring that celebrates the giving of the law, or Torah.SukkothSukkoth-  The "Feast of booths," a fall harvest -  The "Feast of booths," a fall harvest festival, marked by putting up harvest booths.festival, marked by putting up harvest booths.Yom KippurYom Kippur- This means "Day of Atonement," and - This means "Day of Atonement," and is the most important holy day, the last of the high is the most important holy day, the last of the high holy days. It is a time of confessing of sins, atoning holy days. It is a time of confessing of sins, atoning or making amends for wrongdoing, and seeking or making amends for wrongdoing, and seeking forgiveness, and it comes ten days after Rosh forgiveness, and it comes ten days after Rosh Hashanah. The shofar, or ram’s horn, is sounded at Hashanah. The shofar, or ram’s horn, is sounded at the end of Yom Kippur.the end of Yom Kippur.

Some interesting info about Judaism: Some interesting info about Judaism:

There are 3 branches of Judaism: Orthodox, Reform, There are 3 branches of Judaism: Orthodox, Reform, and Conservativeand ConservativeThe Orthodox Jews are the strictest.The Orthodox Jews are the strictest.Orthodox Jews separate men and women from the Orthodox Jews separate men and women from the services services They follow a strict kosher diet (laws about food)They follow a strict kosher diet (laws about food)– No porkNo pork– No crawling seafoodNo crawling seafood– No mixing of milk and meat productsNo mixing of milk and meat products