World Religions: Judaism World Religions: Judaism

History of JudaismHistory of Judaism

The start of Judaism is The start of Judaism is actually found in the actually found in the first five books of the first five books of the Bible.Bible.

These books are These books are called the called the TorahTorah and and they make up the they make up the Hebrew Bible.Hebrew Bible.

The founder of JudaismThe founder of Judaism

A man named Abram A man named Abram (later changed to (later changed to Abraham) was inspired Abraham) was inspired by God to spread the by God to spread the word that there was word that there was only ONE god.only ONE god.

He convinced his He convinced his immediate family to immediate family to stop worshipping idols stop worshipping idols and begin following and begin following One God (One God (monotheismmonotheism))

Jews led to the Jews led to the ““Promised LandPromised Land””

Because their beliefs – in ONE God – Because their beliefs – in ONE God – were so out-of-step with everybody were so out-of-step with everybody else, Abramelse, Abram’’s family was s family was persecutedpersecuted (harassed).(harassed).

In addition to the persecution, a In addition to the persecution, a famine struck the area.famine struck the area.

Jews led to the Jews led to the ““Promised LandPromised Land””

God told Abram to God told Abram to leave, that He leave, that He would guide them would guide them to a place where to a place where they could practice they could practice their faith openly.their faith openly.

This place was This place was called called ““the Promised the Promised LandLand””

““Essential StoryEssential Story”” Moses saw an Egyptian hitting a Jew. Moses saw an Egyptian hitting a Jew.

Moses became angry and hit the Egyptian Moses became angry and hit the Egyptian back, killing him.back, killing him.

Moses ran away into the desert where he Moses ran away into the desert where he became a shepherd. became a shepherd.

Then one day, while tending the sheep, he Then one day, while tending the sheep, he saw a bush that was burning. He went to saw a bush that was burning. He went to have a closer look, the fire went out, and have a closer look, the fire went out, and then… then…

““Essential StoryEssential Story”” (cont (cont’’d)d) ……strangely enough, strangely enough,

he looked at the bush he looked at the bush and it wasnand it wasn’’t burnt at t burnt at all. He thought this all. He thought this was very oddwas very odd

Suddenly, he heard a Suddenly, he heard a voice saying voice saying ““Stop! Stop! And take your shoes And take your shoes off, for this is sacred off, for this is sacred ground." ground."

VideoVideo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHTBfAt0_zov=VHTBfAt0_zo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Mg-eZqEdIv=U0Mg-eZqEdI

““Essential StoryEssential Story”” (cont (cont’’d)d)

God then spoke to Moses God then spoke to Moses and told him to go back to and told him to go back to Egypt, back to the Pharaoh, Egypt, back to the Pharaoh, and ask him to let the Jews and ask him to let the Jews go free.go free.

Moses did so, but the Moses did so, but the Pharaoh told him Pharaoh told him ““No!No!””

““Essential StoryEssential Story”” (cont (cont’’d)d)

Moses told him if he Moses told him if he didndidn’’t, God would t, God would punish him severely.punish him severely.

The Pharaoh didnThe Pharaoh didn’’t t care. And so God sent care. And so God sent Ten Plagues (bad Ten Plagues (bad things) to happen to things) to happen to Pharaoh and his Pharaoh and his armies.armies.

VideoVideo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYeox3LLQ08v=OYeox3LLQ08

Finally…Finally…

Pharaoh gave up and allowed Pharaoh gave up and allowed the Jews to leave.the Jews to leave.

The Jews were so excited to The Jews were so excited to leave that they didnleave that they didn’’t even wait t even wait for their bread to rise…which is for their bread to rise…which is why unleavened why unleavened ““flat breadflat bread”” is is so important to the Jewish so important to the Jewish story.story.

Jewish Culture and CustomsJewish Culture and Customs

Jewish celebrations Jewish celebrations are often centered are often centered around Jewish around Jewish historical events.historical events.

HanukahHanukah Hanukah is NOT the Jewish version of Christmas!!Hanukah is NOT the Jewish version of Christmas!!

Instead, Hanukah celebrates Hanukkah is the Instead, Hanukah celebrates Hanukkah is the festival of lights. festival of lights.

Jewish temples have Jewish temples have ““eternal lightseternal lights”” which are which are lamps that are always lit.lamps that are always lit.

The Jewish temple was rededicated after a period The Jewish temple was rededicated after a period of persecution and the eternal light was rekindled of persecution and the eternal light was rekindled but there was only enough oil for a few days. but there was only enough oil for a few days.

HanukahHanukah

The oil lasted for eight The oil lasted for eight days, until more oil could days, until more oil could be found.be found.

ThatThat’’s why you see a s why you see a Menorah (a 9 pillar Menorah (a 9 pillar candlestick)candlestick)

http://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW138NkFoI8watch?v=iW138NkFoI8

Bar (or Bat) MitvahBar (or Bat) Mitvah

Bar Mitzvah takes place Bar Mitzvah takes place when a boy turns when a boy turns thirteen.thirteen.

Bat mitzvah is the same, Bat mitzvah is the same, but for girls.but for girls.

The first act of adulthood The first act of adulthood is reading from the Torah is reading from the Torah scroll during services scroll during services

VideoVideo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s30XA1vmTs8v=s30XA1vmTs8

The Jewish SabbathThe Jewish Sabbath

All Jewish holy days begin at All Jewish holy days begin at sundown and end at sundown. sundown and end at sundown.

The Shabbat (Sabbath) begins The Shabbat (Sabbath) begins at sundown each Friday and at sundown each Friday and lasts until dark on Saturday. lasts until dark on Saturday.

There is a special Sabbath There is a special Sabbath meal which includes special meal which includes special foods, songs and readings and foods, songs and readings and prayers. prayers.

Test TimeTest Time

How much do you remember?How much do you remember?

Answer the following questions to find Answer the following questions to find out just how much you really KNOW!out just how much you really KNOW!

Question One:Question One:

Who is the founder of Judaism?Who is the founder of Judaism?

Answer One:Answer One:

Abraham (Abram)Abraham (Abram)

Question Two:Question Two:

The name of the area that was The name of the area that was promised to the Jewish people by promised to the Jewish people by

God; now known as Israel…God; now known as Israel…

Answer TwoAnswer Two

The The ““Promised LandPromised Land”” (also known now as (also known now as

the country of the country of Israel)Israel)

Question Three:Question Three:

Known as the Festival of Lights, this Known as the Festival of Lights, this holiday celebrates that the oil in the holiday celebrates that the oil in the temple lasted for eight days, instead temple lasted for eight days, instead of just one day…of just one day…

Answer ThreeAnswer Three

HanukahHanukah

Question FourQuestion Four

Who led the Jews from slavery in Who led the Jews from slavery in Egypt? Egypt?

(hint: he was personally given the Ten (hint: he was personally given the Ten Commandments by God)Commandments by God)

Answer FourAnswer Four

MosesMoses