JudaismThe first monotheistic religion.

The first to believe in one G_d.

Sinai Peninsula

Where are Jews Located Today?

Founding Fathers

Abraham ~ 2000 BCEConsidered the first Hebrew.First person to believe in one G_d.

Moses ~1300 BCETen Commandments were revealed to him on

Mt Sinai.Moses was the man who led his people out of

Egypt. This movement is known as the Exodus.

Dead Sea Scrolls

The oldest surviving texts of the Hebrew Bible were found in a set of caves in 1947.

The 2000 year-old Dead Sea Scrolls were printed on papyrus and had been stored in clay jars.

The caves of Qumran, where the scrolls were found.

Who is the Jewish G_d?

Jews believe in a single, omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (in all places at all times), who created the universe and continues to be involved in its governance.

This G_d is just and merciful and has no form or representation.

Creation Story

Jews believe it took G_d six days to create the world and everything in it.

On the seventh day G_d rested.

The Creation of the Heavens Michelangelo

Sacred Text ~ Torah

The first five books of the Hebrew Bible which presents the Mosaic law and moral codes.

Torah comes from the Hebrew word for “instruction.”

Always written in Hebrew

613 Commandments

Rules for moral conduct: Ten Commandments

Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments given to Moses are these: 1. You shall have no other G_ds before me. 2. You shall not make idols. 3. You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain. 4. You shall honor the Sabbath. 5. You shall honor your parents. 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not commit perjury. 10. You shall not covet.

How do you become a Jew?

Traditional Jewish Law: a Jew is anyone

born of a Jewish mother or converted in

accordance with Jewish Law.

Judaism maintains that a Jew, whether by birth or conversion, is a Jew forever.

All Jews consider themselves to be descendants

of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Holy Days Passover-commemorates the story of the

Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.

Rosh Hashanah-Creation of the WorldYom Kippur-Day of Atonement-most important

holy day.Painting by Maurycy Gottlieb, 1878, depicting Ashkenazi Jews praying in the synagogue on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.

Rituals

Sabbath~

The weekly holy day-sundown Friday to sundown Saturday-reserved for worship and attention to family and community.

Rituals

Bar Mitzvah & Bat Mitzvah Respectively mean “son” and “daughter” of

the Commandment.Religious rites of passage for thirteen-year-

old boys and twelve-year-old girls. After the ceremony, they are fully

responsible in the eyes of G_d and are seen as adult members of the congregation.

Kosher

Kashruth (kashroot)

Very specific dietary laws regarding food restrictions as well as proper animal slaughter.

Where Do Jews Pray?

Synagogue

Central place for worship and the place where

customs, religious practice and faith are maintained

Synagogue in Florence, Italy

Dress

Yarmulke

Covering the head is regarded more as a custom rather than a commandment. It is a common pious practice to cover the head at all times, it is not religiously mandatory.

Other beliefs of the Jewish People

Jews believe the Messiah will be a person

(not a god), from the family of King David,

who will lead the world to unity and peace.

Jews do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

Jews do recognize that in his time, Jesus was an influential Jewish teacher who lived and died as a Jew, with no thought of creating a separate religion.

Symbols Star of David

End

Major Branches of Judaism

Orthodox:

Original and only form of Judaism until the 1800’s.

Named Orthodox in reaction to the advent of

Reform Judaism.

Most observant.

Major Branches of Judaism

Reform

Founded by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise in 1873 in

rebellion against the binding traditions of

orthodoxy.

Most flexible about observance of Jewish laws.

Largest Jewish movement in North America.

Major Branches of Judaism

Conservative

Organized by Dr. Solomon Schechter in 1913 as a reaction to Reform Judaism's liberalism.

Philosophically stands between Orthodox and

Reform.