Judaism in Canada

Introduction● Canada has 4th largest Jewish population● Many Jews immigrated from Europe to North

America after WWII (the holocaust)● Most settled in large cities (Montreal &

Toronto)

Origins● Traces back 3800 years to Abraham and

Sarah when God promised them many descendants

Links to the Past● Area of Israel today was once divided into

two kingdomso Kingdom of Israel (north)o Kingdom of Judah (south)

● Name comes from southern kingdom of Judah

Birth of Modern Judaism● Practices have evolved and changed over

time● Temple was the centre of all Jewish worship

and sacrifice during time of King David and King Solomon

● Roman Empire destroyed the Temple

Christianity● Jews and non-Jews had accepted Jesus of

Nazareth as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah, or Christ

● Followers became known as Christians

Rabbinic Judaism● Begun by a group known as the Pharisees● Encouraged people to gather in synagogues

to study the Torah● Interpreted Torah

o Interpreters were known as Rabbis

Jews in the Diaspora● Romans expelled Jews from Judea● Diaspora means ‘the scattering of’

Jews in Christian Europe● Became divided into two major groups:

o Ashkenazim (central and eastern European Jews)o Sephardim (Spanish, Portuguese, North African

Jews)● Jews were often persecuted

Jewish Mystical Teachings● Main Jewish mystical teachings:

o Kabbalah (12th century)o Hasidism (18th century)

● Hasidic Jewso Maintain strict observance of Jewish laws