Download JUDAISM Judaism is a religion based on principles and ethics found

JUDAISM
Judaism is a religion based on
principles and ethics found
in religious texts
of the Jewish people.
Judaism is among the oldest
religions still in practice today
and Judaism has influenced
other religions such as
Christianity and Islam.
With an estimated 14 million
followers in the world,
Judaism is the world's
eleventh-largest religion.
This map is a ranked ordering of countries
by the sizes of their Jewish populations.
The countries in red have the ten largest
Jewish populations in the world, etc.
During Judaism's 4,000-year
history, Jews have
experienced slavery,
conquest, persecution,
exile from their homeland,
and eventual return
to their homeland in Israel
during the 20th century.
The history of
Judaism begins
with the covenant
(agreement)
between God and
Abraham
(2000 BC)- the
patriarch (father) of
the Jewish people.
Around 1600 BC, as a result of
famine, many Jews (Hebrews)
migrated to Egypt, where they were
eventually held in slavery until
Moses led them out of Egypt and
established a homeland in
present-day Israel.
A universal symbol of Judaism is
the six-point Star of David…
King David
unified the
Jewish kingdom
and ruled from
Jerusalem.
His reign
symbolizes a
united Jewish
people.
Throughout the ages,
Jews remain faithful
to certain religious principles,
the most important of which is
the belief in one God
who created the universe
and continues to govern it.
According to
Jewish belief,
God revealed
his laws and
commandments
to Moses
and is written
in the Torah.
Torah is Hebrew for
"teaching",
"instruction", or "law".
The Torah
is the most
important
religious text
of Judaism.
The five books
of the Torah
are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, Deuteronomy.
The practice of Judaism revolves
around study and the
observance of God's laws
written in the Torah and
expounded in the Talmud- the
second sacred book of Judaism.
Other sacred texts include the writings of
prophets and psalms, which also form
the Christian’s Old Testament.
Over the past centuries, the
Jewish community has
divided into a number of
Jewish denominationseach has a different
understanding of what beliefs
a Jew should hold,
and how one should live
as a Jew.
Orthodox
Judaism
emphasizes
strict observance
of religious laws
and
commandments.
Conservative Judaism holds that
the laws may be interpreted to
reflect modern situations.
Reform Judaism,
called Liberal or
Progressive,
believes that
individual Jews
determine for
themselves how
laws should be
observed.
Most Jewish
religious
practices
include the
wearing
of certain
religious
clothing.
A “kippah” (or yarmulke) is a
round skullcap worn by most
Jewish men while praying or
studying Jewish religious texts.
Among Jews, the practice of
covering the head is a way to
show reverence.
A “tallis”
(prayer shawl)
is worn by
Jewish men
and some
Jewish women
during a prayer
service.
Traditionally, Jews
recite prayers three
times daily, with a
fourth prayer added on
Shabbat
(the sabbath)
and religious holidays.
In addition, some Jews recite
prayers throughout the daybefore eating
and after eating a meal.
Shabbat (Hebrew for "rest“)
is the weekly day of rest in
Judaism, symbolizing the
seventh day in the
Book of Genesis,
after the six days of
God’s creation.
It is observed from sundown on
Friday until Saturday night.
Shabbat is begun
by lighting
candles and
families gathering
together for the
sabbath meal.
During Shabbat, Jews honor the
day by not engaging in any
activity that would be
considered as "work."
Other Jewish holidays or
festivals are observed by Jews
to commemorate important
beliefs or events
in Jewish history.
Rosh Hashanahthe Jewish New Yearmarks the beginning
of the 10-day period of atonement
(making right for one’s sins)
leading up to
Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur is
considered by Jews
to be the holiest and
most solemn day
of the year.
It is a day of fasting
and praying for
forgiveness for
one's sins.
Hanukkah,
the Festival of Lightsis an 8-day holiday
commemorating
a Jewish victory over an ancient
ruler who refused to allow the
Jews to worship freely.
Hanukkah celebrations include
the lighting of the menoraha candelabra.
It is said to symbolize the
burning bush as seen by Moses.
Passover is a week-long holiday
that commemorates the Moses
and the Jewish people’s exodus
from Egypt.
Other important events, occur
throughout a Jew's life.
Bar mitzvah
(for young men)
and
Bat mitzvah
(for young women)-
This event marks the passage
from childhood to adulthood.
This is often
commemorated
by having the
new adults lead
the congregation
in prayer and
publicly read a
"portion"
of the Torah
in Hebrew.
Synagogues are Jewish houses
of prayer and study.
They usually contain a
sanctuary for prayer, smaller
rooms for study, and an area for
community or educational use.
The Rabbi of a
congregation
is the Jewish
scholar who is
a synagogue’s
religious
leader.
He serves
many similar
purposes
as a priest
or minister,
such as
marrying
Jewish
couples.
A congregation does not necessarily
require a rabbi. Some congregations
allow members of the congregation
to act as rabbi.
As one of the oldest religions
still practiced today,
Judaism’s laws, such as the
Ten Commandments,
influence our legal system
in the
United States
and other nations
of the world.
JUDAISM