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JUDAISM
What is
Judaism?
• Judaism is described the covenant between God
and his people.
• Judaism as “the living in the Jews of the past and
with the Jews of the present.”
• Importance of group identity in Judaism.
• The Jewish community numbers between 13 and
20 million people, with roughly 35% of the Jewish
population living in Israel and 38% of the Jewish
population living in the United States.
Historical Foundations of Judaism
• Judaism is not the first historically-monotheistic
religion.
• Judaism is the main monotheistic source for the
Western World.
• Judaism holds that God revealed God’s self to
humanity through his personal name (YHWH)
• God is also a transcendent God, infinitely
powerful, all-knowing and beyond the limits of
space and time.
• The revelation of God as God was radical for the
time and place where it developed, as all of the
neighbors of Israel were polytheistic cultures.
Beliefs and Teachings
• The Torah refers to the first five books of the Bible (Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.)
– It is also known as the “Law,” the “Pentateuch” or the “Books of
Moses.”
• The Torah is the primary statement of the religious laws of
Judaism.
• The word Tanakh describes the Bible in general.
– Tanakh comes from the Hebrew words Torah, Nevi’im (The
Prophets) and Ketuvim (The Writings).
• The Mishnah and Talmud are the collected teachings of
Jewish rabbis.
– The Mishnah is seen as a sacred text, almost on the same level as
the Tanakh.
– The Talmud is an extensive commentary on the Mishnah.
• The Mishnah and Talmud continue to be interpreted in the
21st century, and are important texts for modern rabbis.
Classical Judaism
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The Patriarchs (2000 to 1500 B.C.)
The Exodus and Revelation (1290 B.C.)
The Monarchy of David and Solomon (1004 to
928 B.C.)
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Babylonian Exile and Captivity (587 to 538 B.C.)
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The Rebuilding of the Temple (515 B.C.)
Greek Conquest of Palestine (332 B.C.)
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The Building of the First Temple
The Development of Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes
and Zealots
Destruction of the Second Temple (A.D. 70)
Medieval Judaism:
Moses Maimonides and the Thirteen Principles of Faith
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The belief in the existence of God.
God's unity.
God's spirituality and incorporeality.
God's eternity and timelessness.
God alone should be the object of worship and prayer.
Revelation through God's prophets.
The preeminence of Moses among the prophets.
God's law given on Mount Sinai.
The immutability of the Torah as God's Law.
God's foreknowledge of human actions.
Reward of good and retribution of evil.
The coming of the Jewish Messiah.
The resurrection of the dead and human immortality.
Modern Judaism
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Kabbalah
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Jewish mysticism
The Torah can be taught and interpreted on many different levels, each
bringing a person closer to God.
Hasidism
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Based on Kabbalah, it holds that God is known first and foremost in the
human heart.
Emphasis on the personal relationships with God and the community
under the leadership of the zaddik, or a holy man with a close
relationship with God.
Zionism, Anti-Semitism, the Holocaust and the State of Israel
Reform vs. Orthodox vs. Conservative Judaism
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Reform: Judaism and modern lifestyles are compatible (33% of Jews in
the United States)
Orthodox: The Torah is the standard of truth, and life in modern society
must always conform to the Torah. (10% of Jews in the United States)
Conservative: Strict observance of traditional Jewish practices,
including liturgy, kosher laws and the Sabbath. (about 50% of Jews in
the United States)
The Way of the Torah
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Daily Life
The Synagogue and the
Sabbath
Rosh Hashanah, Yom
Kippur and Passover
Rites of Passage
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Birth and Naming: Brit milah
(circumcision)
Coming of Age: Bar mitzvah
and Bat mitzvah
Marriage
Death and Mourning Rituals