judaism

What is judaism?Is this a religion?

Is this a civilization?

Table of Contents

What is judaism?Origin

Judaism is not just a religion

• Judaism is a religion, but it is also a culture and a people.

A culture and a people

Judaism does not represent any

single race, belief, or viewpoint, let alone values and

politics

A Religion of Action

• Judaism is a religion of action more than beliefs.

Important to know• At the outset, it is important to note that there is a

distinction between the Jewish people and the religion of Judaism; not all Jewish people are religious. Many profess to be atheists or agnostics. There are also Jews who are religious, yet have converted to other religions.

• Of the some 15 million Jewish people in the world today:• around 4.5 million are in Israel • some 7 million are in North America• approx.1 million are in countries that were part of the

former Soviet Union• approx. 2 million are spread throughout European countries•

Is “Jewish” a Religious or Ethnic Identity?

• Yes and no. Being Jewish can mean you are a part of a religious movement. However, the great majority of Jews become a part of the religious movement through birth and not due to their beliefs or actions. In this way, being Jewish is like being a citizen of a religious movement. A Jewish identity is automatically bestowed on the babies of Jewish mothers. And this identity stays with them throughout life no matter what they believe or how they act.

• A person who was born to a Jewish mother or has gone through the conversion process is considered a Jew even if he or she does not believe in Judaism and does not observe Jewish practices. Thus, there are non-religious Jews or secular Jews.

• A person who was not born to a Jewish mother or has not gone through the conversion process is not considered a Jew even if he or she believes in Judaism and observes Jewish practices. Thus, the conversion process is a very meaningful because it is the only way for a non-Jew to become Jewish.

Origins

• Adam and Eve – First humans created by God disobeyed Him and were forced to leave the Garden of Eden

• They continue to procreate to make the human race but humanity is very sinful

• Noah and family (wife, sons and their wives) are chosen to survive along with male and female animals on the Ark as God destroys the world with a flood

• God makes peace with humanity but it continues in its sinfulness

Abraham – Father of the Hebrew people

Lived near Ur in Mesopotamia (between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)

Obeyed a command by God to leave his relatives and take his wife and household westwards to the land God wanted him to

haveGod appeared to him in a dream and told him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands of the beach

Abraham and SarahAbraham was visited by three angels, who told him that by the following year his wife Sarah would be

pregnant.Sarah was believed to be barren. She told Abraham

to sleep with her servant Hagar, who bore him Ishmael. Perhaps, this is what God intended.Not so, eventually Sarah conceived and bore

Abraham a son, who was named Isaac. Sarah regretted telling Abraham to be with Hagar

and feared that Ishmael would take Isaac’s inheritance. She pestered Abraham until he sent

Hagar and Ishmael away. According to Islamic tradition, Abraham and his son

Ishmael were the founding fathers.

Abraham and Isaac• While Isaac was still a boy, God commanded

Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. • Abraham was going to follow through with it. • God sent an angel to stop Abraham before he

killed Isaac. This act of obedience was credited as obedience to Abraham.

• Abraham and God made a covenant (agreement). Abraham would make sure all his descendants were circumcise their sons, and God would bless them. This would be an outward sign of their cleanliness, holiness, and dedication to God.

Sacrifice of Isaac (Brunelleschi

Basic Worldview

• Universe is made by G-d but is an arena for humans to live in and enjoy, exercising free will, in cooperation with G-d’s guidance.

• G-d is the omnipotent, sovereign, personal, all-good Creator.

• People were created by G-d to follow His Will which can improve the human condition until a paradisal age is reached

Destiny of the WorldWill be led by God through various historical

periodsA messiah that has been prophesied about

will come in and lead the world into a paradisal state

What Is Expected of Humans

To honor and serve G-d by following the Law of Moses in letter or spirit

To maintain the identity of the peopleTo promote the ethical vision of the great

prophets and humanitariansJewish customs are followed in the home

as well as in the place of worship.

The Ten Commandments• I am the Lord your God – no other gods besides me

• No graven image or any likeness of anything – not to bow or serve others; for I am a jealous god for those who hate me…but showing love for those who love me and keep my commandments

• Don’t take the name of your God in vain

• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy

• Honor your father and mother• No killing• No adultery• No stealing• No false witness/shahaadah against your neighbor • Don’t covet/want your neighbor’s house, or his

wife, or his manservant, or maidservant, or his ox, or anything

– Tabernacle of God: Holy Shrine – contains two stone tablets marked with the terms of the Covenant.

• Arrival of Moses to the borders of Can’aan• Rebellion against Moses and God• Under Moses’ successor Joshua, jews reached

Can’aan• In 11th century BCE under king David, they captured

Jerusalem• Building of Temple by David’s son Solomon

Torah

• 1st 5 books of Hebrew Bible

• Most holy of sacred writings in Judaism

Moses

• Led Hebrews out of slavery from Egypt

• Moses’ mother hid him along Nile

• Lived with Egyptian princess

• Never forgot religion

Moses was the greatest prophet, leader and teacher that Judaism has ever known. In fact, one of the primary Principles of Faith is the belief that Moses‘ prophecies are true, and that he was the greatest of the prophets. He is called "Moshe Rabbeinu," that is, Moses, Our Teacher/Rabbi. Interestingly, the numerical value of "Moshe Rabbeinu" is 613: the number of mitzvot that Moses taught the Children of Israel! He is described as the only person who ever knew God face-to-face (Deut. 34:10) and spoke directly to God (Num. 12:8)

Moses

How is Judaism related to Christianity?

• Judaism predates Christianity – it is the foundation of Christianity but is not a part of it

• Jesus was Jewish, as were his followers and the Apostles

• Jews do not believe that Jesus was anything more than a good and wise man who lived and died 2000 years ago – Jews still await their messiah

• The Jewish messiah would not be divine. He would be a political figure who restores the Hebrew monarchy and causes peace to reign on Earth

• Jews are not concerned about salvation and the “world to come”

The Marriage Contract

• A woman could only get a divorce if the man agreed to give her one. Pictured here is a traditional marriage contract, called a Ketubah.

Judaic Teachings

– To be chosen is a gift and also a responsibility from God to fulfill the Covenant

• Responsibilities:– Not to profane God’s name– Not to worship idols– Not to commit murder– Not to steal– Not to commit adultery– Not to be unjust– Not to cut limbs from living animals

2. Existence of God

• First sentence of Jewish Scripture:“In the beginning God created the heavens and the

earth” (Genesis 1:1)

• First quotation of Exodus:“I am what I am” or “I will be what I will be”

3. Unity of God

Deutronomy 6:4 says:“Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One”

4. Attributes of God

• Two main Attributes are:– Divine Mercy and Divine Justice

• Love, Mercy, Grace of God, His anger, Justice• Source of both good and evil

Good & Evil• Every good and bad are from God• Similarly God has placed ‘the drive’ in all human

beings to do evil or to do good. • It was Adam’s ‘drive’ that made him to go against

God’s command• Every man can commit sin and will be punished not

because of Adam’s sin but because of his own sin

5. Messianic Age• Since long, Jews believe that a Messiah will come to

free humankind and to establish God’s kingdom on earth

• Messiah will be human being and not a divine being• Messiah will be the descendant of the house of

David• He will bring truth, peace, morality, social and moral

order etc.• He will make Jews to return to their promised land• He will bring a universal religion

6. Promised Land

• Promised land of the Covenant that God made to Abraham and his people

• Cana’an (modern Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel)

Jewish Practices

1. Rites of Passage:–Circumcision of male children eight days after

birth–Religious practices in marriage ceremonies–Detailed ceremonies on death occasion

2. The Sabbath:

• Hebrew word ‘Shabbat’ means rest• From Friday evening till Saturday sunset• candles, wine, bread, etc

3. Devotional Acts:to recite the basic prayer twice a day from their scripture (Shema: Hear)

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our god is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”