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What are the central beliefs
of Judaism?
1. Belief in one God
2. Obedience to the Ten Commandments;
3. Code of ethics justice and righteousness
Kindness, fairness
4. Ethical and moral systems, as set forth in
the Torah and Ten Commandments
Jewish Sacred Texts-Torah, Talmud
• In
Torah
(first five books of the Bible)
,
containing religious, moral and
social law which guides the life of
a Jew
– the Hebrew Bible does not include the
New Testament
As a way of life, Judaism is based
on…
• 613 commandments found in Torah (“Written Law”)
Talmud (“Oral Law”) –
commentary of ancient rabbis that
elaborates on how to apply
God’s Law in everyday life
through:
–Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher)
–Dress and other symbols
–Prayer and devotion to the one God
–The Temple and Temple rites
–Observance of Holy days
–Proper social relations between male
and female, in business, judicial
rulings, etc.
• Thus sanctifying life, blessing it in every way
13 Principles of Faith
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G-d exists
G-d is one and unique
G-d is incorporeal
G-d is eternal
Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other
The words of the prophets are true
Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets
The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now
contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses
There will be no other Torah
G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men
G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked
The Messiah will come
The dead will be resurrected
JEWISH ATTITUDES TO NON JEWS
• You don't have to be Jewish to find favor in Gd's eyes
• G-d gave only seven basic commandments to
gentiles
• Yiddish words for gentiles are goy, shiksa and
shkutz
• Judaism does not approve of interfaith
marriage, but it is very common
• Jews do not proselytize, but it is possible to
convert to Judaism
The Early Hebrews
The Hebrews were the ancestors of the Jews, and most of what we know,
including the laws and requirements of their religion, Judaism, comes from
their later writings.
Hebrew Fathers
Moses and Exodus
Promised Land
• The Torah
• Slaves in Egypt
• Israelites in desert
• Abraham, father of
the Hebrews
• Moses
• Canaan
• Pharaoh, plagues
• God’s covenant
• Exodus
• Land of “milk and
honey”
• 12 Tribes of Israel
• Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob were
patriarchs
• Israelites in Egypt
– Israelites out of
Egypt
• Israelites battled for
land
– Passover
• Canaan = Israel
• The Ten
Commandments
History Abraham and Sarah:
Isaac married Rebecca-Jacob
Jacob Marries 2 Sisters
Joseph and the amazing
technicolour Dream Coat Part 1
Joseph: Part Two
Jacob fathered 12 sons:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah,
Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad,
Asher, Naphtali, Joseph and
Benjamin.
They are the ancestors of the tribes of
Israel, and the ones for whom the tribes
are named. Joseph is the father of two
tribes: Manasseh and Ephraim
The Story of Joseph Part One
Part 2
Part 3
Baby Moses
Moses and the Burning Bush
Summary of whole story
Abba fun summary
Sequencing
Some key events in early Israelite
history?
Abraham traveled to Canaan, 1800 BC;
Moses appeared among Hebrews in Egypt,
1200s BC;
the Exodus; delivery of Ten Commandments to
Moses; Hebrews wander desert for 40 years; invasion
of Philistines to Israel,
mid-1000s BC; Saul named first king of Israel,
mid-1000s BC; David named second king of Israel,
1000 BC; Solomon named third king of Israel, 865 BC
Click view Moses
http://online.clickview.
com.au/Exchange/Play
VideoExchange?Id=d81
8362c-b1ba-87e62001-4ba790b6ed78
A modern film
discussing the
historical evidence to
prove the existence of
Judaism.
WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE?
• Judaism does not have a formal mandatory
beliefs
• The most accepted summary of Jewish
beliefs is Rambam's 13 principles of faith
• Even these basic principles have been
debated
• Judaism focuses on the relationships
between the Creator, mankind, and the land
of Israel
WHO IS A JEW? In the Bible, Jews
were called Hebrews or Children of Israel
• The terms "Jew" and "Judaism" come from
the tribe or kingdom of Judah
• "Jew" now refers to all physical and spiritual
descendants of Jacob
• A person can be Jewish by birth or by
conversion
• Traditionally, Jewish status passes through the
mother, not the father
Orthodox Jew: Believe
exactly in the law and try to
stay away from outside world.
Ultra Orthodox:
Believe in all this but isolate themselves
completely from society: Chasidic
Modern Orthodox:
more conservative, wear normal clothes. More
artistic Yarmulke
TYPES OF JEWS
• Ashkenazic: Descendants of Jews from France,
Germany and Eastern Europe
Sephardic: Descendants of Jews from Spain,
Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East
Mizrachi: Descendants of Jews from North
Africa and the Middle East
• Other subgroups are Yemenite, Ethiopian and
Oriental
THE ROLE OF WOMEN
• In Judaism, G-d is neither male nor female
• The Talmud says both good and bad things about
women
• Women are not required to perform certain
commandments
• Certain commandments are reserved specifically for
women
• The first of the month is a minor festival for women
• Men and women sit separately in traditional
synagogues
Rabbis, Priests, and Other Religious
Functionaries
Rabbi: Teacher and decider of matters
of religious law
Chazan: Cantor, who leads
congregation in prayer
Gabbai: Volunteer who assists with
Torah readings
What is a Rabbi?
• http://www.hitchams.suffolk.sch.uk/synagogue/rabbi.htm
SYNAGOGUES, SHULS AND TEMPLES
• A Jewish "church" is called a synagogue, shul or
temple
• A synagogue is a place of worship and study, and a
"town hall"
• There are several important ritual items found in
the synagogue
• Non-Jews may visit a synagogue, but dress and
should behave appropriately
• The Temple is the ancient center of Jewish worship
where sacrifices were performed
Modern Synagogue
Neil Diamond the Jazz Singer
Virtual tour: cartoon
• http://www.refuel.org.uk/projects/ks2_judaism/synagogue_
scheinerman_net.php
Flash Tour of synagogue
• http://www.panoramicearth.com/433/Budapest/Great_Syna
gogue_(Dohany_Zsinagoga)_-_Inside
• Jewish Games
• http://www.wartgames.com/themes/religions/judaism.html
Torah in the narrowest sense refers to the
first five books of the Bible
• In a broader sense, Torah includes all Jewish
law and tradition
• Torah was given to Moses in written form with
oral commentary
• The oral component is now written in the
Talmud
• There are additional important writings
SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
Mezuzah, tzitzit and tefillin are reminders of the
commandments
The menorah (candelabrum) is the
ancient universal symbol of Judaism
Jewish star of David
The
(Magen David) is a modern universal Jewish
symbol.
skullcap (yarmulke) as a
Jews wear a
pious custom
Chai, found on jewellery, is the number 18,
which is a favourable number
Shabbat (Sabbath)
• Weekly Day of Rest (“Observe” & “Remember”)
– Fri. before sunset to Sat. nightfall (ca. 25 hours)
– God "ceased work" on 7th day of creation (Gen 2:1-3)
– No work allowed (39 types of “work”; how strict?)
– Home/Family: 2 candles; 3 festive meals; wine/bread
• Shabbat Services
– Several different synagogue services (min. 10 men)
– Readings from Torah & Prophets (annual cycle)
– Prayers, Blessings, Sermon, etc.
– Lots of Psalms prayed/chanted
Macabeats sing Shabbat
Shabbat is a joyful day of rest
Shabbat has two commandments: to remember and to observe
• A traditional dish is cholent
, slow-cooked stew
PASSOVER /Pesach/Seder
Significance: Remembers the Exodus from Egypt
Observances: Avoiding all leavened grain
products and related foods; Family or communal
retelling of the Exodus story
Length: 8 days (Some: 7 days)
Sedder
Major Jewish Feasts (Overview):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Rosh Hashanah / Jewish New Year
Yom Kippur / Day of Atonement
Sukkot / Tabernacles/Booths
Pesach / Passover
Shavu'ot / Weeks/Pentecost
Hanukkah / Feast of Lights
Purim / Feast of Lots
Simchat Torah / Rejoicing in the Torah
Tisha B’Av / 9th of Av: Destruction of Two Temples
Purim Significance: Remembers the defeat of a plot to exterminate the Jews
Observances: Public reading of the book of Esther while "blotting out" the villain's
name
Length: 1 day
Customs: Costume parties; drinking; eating fruit-filled triangular cookies
Hanukkah / Feast of Lights
Hanukkah
• Need to go into the file Music and play directly
from there
Peace Song-Need to go into the
music file and play directly from
there
Rituals of Judaism
Life cycle celebrations:
• Bris – ritual circumcision, sign of the covenant
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah – full adult status and responsibility
within the religion
• Marriage - "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:22)
• Death – funerals, mourning (sitting “Shiva”), and
memorials (“Yartzeits”)
Jewish Funerals
In Judaism, life is valued above almost all else.
Death is not viewed as a tragedy, even when it
occurs early in life or through unfortunate
circumstances. For Jewish people there is an
afterlife, where those who have lived a worthy
life will be rewarded. Jewish funerals are
governed by a set of rituals and traditions that
particularly apply to the seven immediate family
members: the spouse, mother, father, son,
daughter, brother or sister.
• Jewish Death Rituals According to Jewish Law
• The body of the deceased is washed
thoroughly.
• The deceased is buried in a simple pine coffin.
• The deceased is buried wearing a simple white
shroud (tachrichim).
• The body is guarded or watched from the
moment of death until after burial.
• Just before a funeral begins, the immediate
relatives of the deceased tear their garments
or the rabbi does this to them or hands them
torn black ribbons to pin on their clothes to
symbolize their loss.
• Upon hearing about a death, a Jew recites the
words, "Baruch dayan emet," Blessed be the
one true Judge.
Every Jewish community has a burial
society called a Chevra Kadisha who
prepare the body for burial and help make
the funeral arrangements. Jewish burials
are usually held within 24 hours of death,
but may be delayed if immediate family
members have to travel long distances.
Most Jews are buried in a cemetery and
some communities consider cremation a
desecration of the body.
• At the cemetery, the family and friends
congregate in a room with the coffin. A
symbolic small tear (Keriah) may be
made in the mourner's clothes which
represents a broken heart. A eulogy
(hesped) is given by the rabbi or close
family friend. The Kaddish, an ancient
prayer for the dead, is recited in Hebrew
and again after the coffin has been
interred.
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”
What are Jews really concerned
about?
• Tikkun Olam - “repairing this world” through
justice and righteousness; through “deed, not
creed”
• The heart of Judaism is in the home and family,
social responsibility and doing Mitzvot (“good
deeds” based on God’s commandments)
• Through education and hard work we make our
lives, the lives of others, and the world, what God
intended it to be – Holy!
Web resources
• Judaism 101: http://jewfaq.org/
”an online encyclopedia of Judaism, covering Jewish beliefs,
people, places, things, language, scripture, holidays,
practices and customs”
• ReligiousTolerance.org on Judaism:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/judaism.htm
• This P0werpoint presentation available at:
http://www.nvcc.edu/home/lshulman/Rel232/resource/judaism.ppt