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World Religions
Judaism
Introduction to Judaism
“Judaism is a religion of deed, not creed. It is possible to be an atheist and yet an Orthodox Jew
because one happens to attend an Orthodox congregation.” Dr. James Bjornstad, Religion & Culture 2003
While Judaism is a religion, it is not just a religion is the sense of a set of beliefs. Judaism has always
been about a group of people and their land, the nation of Israel. Even today, Jewish people scattered
throughout the world have the right to return to Israel as full citizens. According to Jewish law, the
Halakah, a Jewish person is the child of a Jewish mother but converts can also apply for Israeli citizenship.
Orthodox Jewish converts are accepted as Israeli citizens more easily and with fewer stipulations. All this
is to say being Jewish is less about what you believe and more about maintaining membership within a
community through following prescribed rules.
Types of Judaism
Orthodox Judaism: Orthodox Jewish people strictly follow the law and the teachings of respected rabbis
in order to maintain the traditions of the past. They believe the entire Old Testament is given by God and
should be interpreted literally. The first five books of the OT are called the Torah and contain the core of
Jewish law, the Ten Commandments and the 613 commandments or mitzvoth. In addition to the OT
Orthodox Jewish people believe the Talmud is also inspired by God. The Talmud is the oral law, teachings
and discussions of respected rabbis concerning the Torah.
Orthodox Theology:
The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9): “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” God is
considered one, alone, and He is personal and transcendent. Many Orthodox Jewish people gave their
lives during the Roman Catholic Inquisitions from 1200 to 1500 AD rather than contradict the Shema.
Human Nature: People are born neutral, with good and evil inclinations. People sin by breaking
the law and then must rectify their wrongs. Since the destruction of the temple (70 AD) sacrifices
cannot be made so Orthodox Jews rectify their wrongs through repentance, good deeds and prayer.
The Messiah: Messiah will one day deliver the nation of Israel and the land and create world
peace with Israel at the head of all nations. Orthodox Jewish people reject Jesus as Messiah because
this time of world peace has not yet been accomplished. Christians respond that Jesus created a way
for peace with God and will restore Israel during His second coming.
Reform Judaism: Over a third of today’s Jewish people consider themselves Reformed. Reform Judaism
started in Germany in the early 1800s as a response to many Jewish people converting to Christianity.
Jewish people in Europe were often persecuted and treated as second class citizens. Additionally, Jewish
people were increasingly dissatisfied with the old fashion rituals and language of Orthodox Judaism. In
response, rabbis began deviating from Orthodox tradition in order to maintain their synagogue.
Reform Theology:
God: If God exists it is an impersonal being such as nature or the spirit of humanity. Since they
reject God as personal, they also reject the inspiration of the OT and Talmud. At best these books
preserve an ethical standard.
Human Nature: People are basically good and are born as a blank slate. Sin is seen as the ill
effects of society. People obtain salvation from sin by pursuing the improvement of self and/or society.
The Messianic Age: Reformed Jewish people look forward to a time of world peace brought about
by human effort. They deny the need for a Messianic figure.
Conservative Judaism: Approximately a third of today’s Jewish people consider themselves
Conservative. Conservative Judaism developed as a response to Reform Judaism when the Reform
movement removed the Hebrew language from prayer. Conservative Judaism thought that Reform
Judaism was losing too much of what it meant to be Jewish so they seek to balance the traditions of the past
with the learning of the present. A Conservative saying which illustrates this is “Eat kosher but think trayf
(non-kosher).”
Conservative Theology:
God: Affirms belief in God but does not specify particulars. God could be the personal
transcendent being in the OT or a supreme supernatural force. In connection, Conservative Jewish
Theology believes that Jewish law is continually developing and the OT and Talmud are not the final
authority.
Human Nature: People are basically good. Showing compassion and charity is the best way to
respond to the ills of society and evil.
Messianic Hope: Conservative Jewish people hope for a messianic deliverance which could come
through an actual person or through the cumulative efforts of Jewish people.
Hasidic Judaism: In the extreme minority of Jewish practice is Hasidic Judaism. Like Reform Judaism,
Hasidic Judaism began in the early 1800s and broke away from the traditional way of studying Talmudic
text by engaging in extreme debate over the smallest points of the law, this is known as pilpul. Rabbi
Israel ben Eliezer taught that a person could become pious through joyful worship instead of rigorous
study.
Hasidic Teaching:
Hasidic Worship: Singing, dancing and loud prayer all filled with motion and energy is the way
to reach a fulfilling joy.
Deveket: Deveket is the ideal of cleaving to the Holy and “Endless One” in mystical union. The
Cabala is a system of mystical philosophy and meditation that is usually used. Cabala emphasizes
occult traditions that spring from Judaism. Attaining deveket makes you a Zaddik or “righteous one”.
Messianic Judaism: In general, Messianic Jewish people believe that Jesus is the Messiah but there are
two variations. Some believe that Jesus is God and they worship in local churches or messianic
congregations. Others believe that Jesus was God’s messiah but deny His deity. Messianic Jewish people
are often seen as traitors by other Jewish groups because Jesus and Christianity are for the Gentiles.
Becoming like the Gentiles is a renunciation of your membership within the nation of Israel.
Annual Holiday Cycle (The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar, meaning that months are organized
around moon phases. This is why Jewish holidays are not on the same date each year according to our
calendar and incidentally this is why Easter is not on the same weekend each spring.)
Rosh Hashanah (New Year’s Day) Sept or Oct: The New Year is marked by the blowing of the shofar
or rams horn. Rosh Hashanah represents the day of creation to the Jewish person but it is also a
time that God passes judgment on each person’s actions. Ten days are set aside for self
examination and repentance.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Sept or Oct: Yom Kippur is the conclusion to the ten days of
examination mentioned above. It is observed with a 24 hour fast and time of prayer for the
forgiveness of sins. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are opportunities for Christians to talk about
sin and forgiveness with Jewish people.
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) Sept or Oct: Sukkot is a celebration of God’s provision for His people
during their time in the wilderness, journeying to the Promised Land. During the celebration a
booth (sukkah) is built and decorated with fruits and plants.
Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) Nov or Dec: Hanukkah is the remembrance of the victory of the
Maccabees, Jewish guerrilla fighters, over the Greeks in 165 BC. When the Maccabees reclaimed
the temple in Jerusalem they removed the statue of Zeus and relit the menorah but only had enough
oil for one day. The menorah stayed lit throughout the eight days that it took to consecrate more oil
and so Hanukkah lasts for eight nights.
Purim (Remember Esther) Feb or March: A carnival like celebration at which the story of Esther is
read. When Haman is mentioned during the reading the audience responds with jeers, boos and
hisses.
Passover (Remember Deliverance from Egypt) March or April: Passover is a feast in which four
cups and a meal are served. The first cup is the cup of sanctification and the second is the cup of
judgment which commemorates the 10 plagues. Between the second and third cups a meal is
served where the foods represent elements of the Exodus story. The third cup is the Passover cup
which represents the blood that redeemed the people in Egypt and the fourth cup is the cup of
praise. For the Christian, Easter and communion relate to this feast and offer opportunities to
discuss the similarities and differences between them.
Shavuot (Pentecost) May or June: Shavuot commemorates the journey of Israel through the desert
after the Passover and before the giving of the Torah, law. During Biblical times it was
commemorated as a time to sacrifice your first fruits or harvests but today it is more of a
remembrance of the law. The Book of Ruth is often read during Shavuot and Ruth’s pledge “Your
people shall be my people and your God shall be my God” is seen as the ultimate effect that the
law can have.
Tishah B’av (Remember the Destruction of the Temple) July or Aug: Tishah B’av is a time of
mourning and commemoration for the destruction of the first Temple by Babylon in 586 BC and the
second Temple by Rome in 70 AD. During this holiday the book of Lamentations is read and there
is an emphasis on how to respond to evil. Jewish history is full of tragedy, from pogroms on
Medieval European Jewish people, attacks on Jewish people during the Crusades, the Inquisitions
and the Holocaust; all are seen as opportunities to learn from.
The Jewish Worldview