Judaism

The CharacteristicsBy Katie Pyzowski

A Torah

The Star of David

The Ten Commandments

Stories of Origin

The story of Abraham-Decided to worship only one God

-God told Abram that if he made him the only God he would make Abram the father of a great nation.

-Changed name to Abraham and moved to Canaan with his wife Sarah.

-Is called the father of the Jewish people.

Moses-Born in Egypt and became prince.-Saw Jewish slaves and ran away.-Lived on farm and received message from God to free the slaves.-Pharaoh said “no.”-Caused the 10 plagues of Egypt.-Split the Red Sea.-Received the ten commandments from God.

Abraham and Isaac-God tested Abraham and asked for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.

-Abraham got ready to sacrifice but then an angel appeared and told him to stop.

Moses and the Ten Commandments.

An angel stopping Abraham from sacrificing Isaac.

Moses splitting the Red Sea.

Core Beliefs

Mitzvot

-The 613 commandments Jews are supposed to follow.

-Some of the mitzvot are about keeping kosher and keeping the Sabbath.

The Sabbath-The Sabbath is Saturday, sun-rise till sun-down.-Not supposed to do any work.-Only Orthodox Jews actually follow EVERY Sabbath mitzvot.

Keeping Kosher-Keeping kosher is only eating certain foods.-Can’t eat shellfish.-Can’t eat meat and dairy together.-All fruits and vegetables are kosher

WORK

Judaism is a monotheistic religion.

You might find these symbols on food packages. This means the food item is kosher.

No work is supposed to be done on the Sabbath.

Holy Writings

The Torah-Judaism’s MOST sacred text.-2 scrolls-HAND-WRITTEN-Contains the Old Testament.-Treated like a queen.

The Ten Commandments-Moses was given the Ten Commandments.-Contains the ten best ways to live from God.

The Old Testament-Contains the Five Books of Moses.-Does not contain the story of Jesus.

The Old Testament does not contain the story of Jesus.

The Ten Commandments

The torah is dressed like a queen

Holy PlacesSynagogue-Place of worship.-A community center.-An education center.-Rabbi work here.

The West Wall-Greeks destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem and all that is left is the West Wall.-Very sacred.-Synagogues and buried people face toward the West Wall.

Sanctuary-Has raised platform (bimah)-Ner Tamid (eternal light)-Ark and Torah (s)

The ark at the new Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley.

A diagram of a sanctuary.

The West Wall in Jerusalem.

Rites of Passage

Bar or Bat Mitzvah-Celebrated after 13th birthday for boys and 12th birthday for girls.-Celebrates child becoming an adult.-Child reads from Torah.-Usually a big party is after the service.

Marriage-Must sign ketubah-Wedding happens under chuph.-At end the groom stomps on glass cup.

Death-Body is buried as soon as possible.-Tradition teaches that the body should be returned to Earth as fast as possible-Coffins made entirely of wood

An example of a very pretty ketubah.

A Jewish person might be buried in a pine box like this one.

During the Bar or Bat Mitzvah the child reads from the Torah.

Symbols and ObjectsTallit-Looks like a shawl-Fringes represent the 613 commandments on your shoulders

Kippah-Small hat worn on head-Represents that humans are beneath or dependent on God.

Star of David-Was on King David’s shield-Symbol is on the flag of Israel.- Has become more popular in the last 200 years.

Shofar-Made from a ram’s horn.-Blown during Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur.-Purpose is to remind people the responsibility to ask forgiveness for their sins.

The Star of David

A Shofar made from a ram’s horn.

Tallits come in many sizes and colors.

A man wearing a Kippah.

Holidays and Celebrations

Purim-Celebrated on the 14th of Adar (March)-Celebrates the victory against Haman who tried to destroy the Jews.

Triangular fruit-filled cookies are made for Purim and are supposed to represent Haman's three-cornered hat.

Chanukkah -Starts on the 25thof Kislev (November- December)-Remembers the destruction of the Temple-lasts 8 days

Rosh Hashanah-Celebrated on the first an second days of Tishri (September-October)-The Jewish New Year.

A menorah is lit, one candle for each day celebrated, during Chanukkah.

Eating Apples in honey is a custom for Rosh Hashanah.