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JUDAISM
I.
HISTORY
A. Historical sketch up to New Testament times
Judaism may date back as far as 3500 BC
Abraham, Patriarchs
Slavery in Egypt, deliverance and exodus, Law given at Sinai,
wilderness wandering
Conquest of the Promised Land, tribal confederation (judges)
Kingdom, Divided Kingdom
Fall of northern Kingdom to Assyria, fall of southern kingdom to
Babylon
Return from exile, Medo-Persian rule,
“Interbiblical period”:
Greek occupation, wars of the Maccabees, coming of the Romans
B. History of the Jews in terms of Persecution
1. Rise of Islam in early 7th century
Reduced influence of Jews in Middle East
Sporadic persecutions
2. Catholic views
a. Aquinas (1127-1274) called them “carnal-minded, stiff-necked,
cruel”
b. At the Fourth Lateran Council (1215),
Jews were required to wear badges; criticized for “blood rituals
and having attributes of the devil…”
3. Crusades (1096-1250)
Crusaders slaughtered “Christ-killers” on the way to the Holy Land
4. Jews were blamed for the Black Death (1348-1349)
The Talmud was burned publicly as a “devil book”
5. 13th and 14th centuries
Jews were expelled from England. Wide-spread pogroms took
place in France, Germany; expulsion from these countries
6. 15th century
Inquisition claimed 30,000 Jew; expelled from Spain
Sephardic: Spain, Portugal, No. Africa, Middle East (Sepharah: Spain)
Ashkenazi: France, Germany, Eastern Europe (Ashkenaz: Germany)
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7. Luther
Originally held out hope for the Jews.
In later writings (Against the Jews and Their Lies) he accused them
of proselytizing and Christ-killing.
Some of his words were quoted by Hitler.
8. Counter Reformation (1550s-1560s)
The Inquisition continued and intensified.
The Jewish Ghetto formed in this time (concentration of Jews in
certain neighborhoods).
9. 17th and 18th centuries
Pogroms in Poland and Russia
10. Nazi “Final Solution”…the Holocaust (1935-1945)
Jews were reduced to 2nd class citizens; forced to wear badges.
6 million Jews murdered in concentration camps…..
German racism (Aryan supremacy, super race obsession)
Scapegoat for German problems
Silence of the rest of the world
Anti-semitic attitudes sanctioned by the church
Christians remained silent
11. Zionism
Reaction to persecution: movement to establish a Jewish state
1890s: kibbutzim
1909: Tel Aviv founded
1917: British Mandate favorable to immigration
1939: quota set on immigration
1948: first prime minister
C. Branches of Contemporary Judaism
1. Orthodox
Laws are absolute, unchanging
Hasidim: live separately, dress differently
10% American Jews
2. Reform
Laws are guidelines. One may choose to follow or not
Torah is not necessarily from God
Value the ethics of Judaism
35% of American Jews
3. Conservative
Arose out of the tension—varieties of expressions
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Laws change and evolve
Torah is from God but has human element
25% of American Jews
II.
OVERVIEW OF BASIC BELIEFS
A. One way of summarizing Judaism
Rambam’s 13 principles:
God exists
God is one, unique
God is incorporeal
God is eternal
Prayer is directed to God
Prophets are true
Moses is the greatest prophet
The Torah and Oral Torah (Talmud) are authoritative
613 mitzvot (laws)
There will be no other Torah
God knows man’s thoughts and deeds
God will reward the good and punish the wicked
Messiah will come
The dead will be resurrected
B. Comparison to Christianity
1. God
One Person: thorough monotheism
Supreme Creator and Lord of everything that exists.
Deliverer, Lord of history, intervenes in history
Personal: related to the wonders of the human person (“image”)
2. Man
Humanity is part of creation, distinct from the rest of creation and
from God.
Created in God’s image. Every person is a unique, precious being of
dignity and worth.
Responsible: free to make decisions, capable of sin
Dependent being, dependent on God for his existence
Tripartite: body (basar); soul (nephesh); spirit (ruach)
3. Sin
By their free will, humans have chosen to sin against God, rejecting
His nature, pursuing a course of life that is opposed to His
essential character and revealed in Law.
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4. Scripture
Old Testament: Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), including Torah, Prophets,
and Writings; unique, revealed, factual, accurate, inspired
5. Ethics
Ultimate values for humanity are based on God’s character.
Man is free and responsible.
The 10 Commandments, other laws of the Scripture, provide
guidance.
The Law shapes social life, relationships with God and other
persons
Focus is on relationship of God to man, God to Israel, Jews to Israel
Justice: equality for all individuals; Year of Jubilee (50 years),
Sabbatic Year (7th year); and gleaning laws (provide for the poor);
C. Contrast to Christianity
1. Jesus
An important prophet, an itinerant Jewish teacher but not a divine
Person. He did good things and taught the Golden Rule.
His death has no saving power. He is not the Messiah.
2. Salvation
God grants “salvation” to people who repent, trust in God, and
obey Him according to their understanding.
Salvation is obtained by adherence to Judaism however it might be
defined.
3. After life
A range of views:
Orthodox: reward or punishment in heaven or hell
Conservative: Vague, probably most likely live on in others, in
things accomplished, in the lives and memories of others.
Reform: Denial of afterlife
III.
CONVERSATIONS WITH JEWISH PEOPLE
A. Build genuine friendships
Invite conversation.
Learn before trying to “teach” or “correct”
B. Understand the history enough to recognize understandable
suspicion of Christians.
No people have held on to beliefs so long through so much suffering.
This fact is ever present in Jewish minds.
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Be aware that conversion brings severe social consequences—
practice genuine respect.
Never criticize or make “Jew” jokes.
C. Understand what has set the Jewish people apart
An abiding confidence in the covenant and promises
Separateness—a sense of continuity and community—created by
Awareness of an ancient history
Sense of being a persecuted minority group
Specific religious calendar: festivals, rites, celebrations
D. Learn about the holidays: they are bridges to conversation and
understanding
1. Sabbath
Most important, distinctive practice
Based on seven days of creation
Begins on Friday at sundown, ends at sundown Saturday
No work to be done: regard for God and His creation
Synagogue worship on Friday night
Central activity: reading of the Torah
2. Passover (Pesach)
March/April
An eight day festival
Commemorates deliverance from Egypt and the final meal
The Seder: lamb, bitter herbs, unleavened bread
3. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot)
May/June
50 days after Passover (Pentecost)
Originally observed at the first harvest
Later, commemorating the giving of Law at Sinai
All night study of Torah
4. New Year (Rosh Hashanah) September/October
Blowing of the Shofar
Anniversary of creation
Inaugurates season of repentance
5. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
For 10 days after New Year’s Day
The most holy day: God reckons the sins of the past year
People make penance, fasting, confession, prayers, and worship
6. Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (Sukkot)
A five day observance
Originally the autumn harvest
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Later, remembering the wandering in the wilderness (the
Tabernacle) and entrance into the Promised Land
7. Purim
February/March
Esther’s victory over Haman
8. Hankukkah
November/December
Restoration and rededication of the Temple by Judas Maccabeus in
165 BC after it had been defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes
The menorah burned miraculously for 8 days
9. Bar or Bat Mitzvah (Son or Daughter of the Covenant)
Carried out after 13 years old
Confirmation or graduation to adult status
May have developed in 14th century or earlier
E. Sharing Your faith
1. Avoid Christian jargon
“You Jews” or “the Jews” Jewish people
“Conversion”
Become a follower of Christ
“Y’shua”:
Ingratiating, refer to Jesus instead
2. Encourage reading the Bible (both the Hebrew Bible and the
Christian Bible)
3. Point out places of agreement
Jesus and His Jewish roots
Mt. 26:56
Lk. 22:7-20
Mt. 5:17
Lk. 24:27, 44
Jn. 5:37-40
Sin and Yom Kippur
Atonement, forgiveness, righteousness with God
Ex. 12:7, 13; Rom. 3:25 Blood of the Passover Lamb
Ps. 51
Confession of sin
Isa. 53
Suffering Servant who takes our sin
Gen 21
Providing a substitute sacrifice for Isaac
Value of every individual
Respect for the beliefs of others, protection for all
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Related topics
Messianic Jews
Descendants of Jews in Mexico
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