Download What is Judaism?

Judaism is…
Judaism is a religious tradition with origins
dating back nearly four thousand years,
rooted in the ancient region of Canaan
(now Israel and Palestinian territories).
Abraham- Father of Israel from whom all
Jews trace their ancestry and faith.
A “covenant relationship” between God and
the Hebrew people. (contract)
A 4000 year old tradition…
 Enslaved in ancient Egypt and freed by
Moses (more than 3300 years ago)
 Hebrews were led to the
“Promised Land” (The Land of Israel).
As a faith, Jews Believe…
 Monotheistic - In one God, creator of the
universe
 In Torah (first five books of the Bible),
containing religious, moral and social laws
which guides the life of a Jew.
 The Talmud contains the history of the
Jewish religion plus their contemporary
practices and beliefs.
 Humans were created with “free will”,
giving them the option of choosing “life and
prosperity” or “death and adversity.”
 Jews do not believe that Jesus the
messiah, he was a good and wise man
who lived and died 2000 years ago – Jews
still await their messiah.
 The Jewish messiah is said not be divine.
He will 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 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!
Terms
 Yahweh- Hebrew name of God
 The Wailing Wall- Thought by the Jews to
be the most scared of places, sacred
temple of the Jews destroyed in 70 A.D.
 Yom Kippur- Day of Atonement
 The holiest day of the Jewish year, on
which Jews fast and say prayers of
penitence
 Rabbi- A Jewish scholar who studies or
teaches Jewish law. A person appointed as a
Jewish religious leader.
 Synagogue- House of worship for Jewish
congregation
 Rosh Hashanah- Jewish new year, it
commemorates the creation of the world.
 Shabbat- Weekly Day of Rest
 Fri. before sunset to Sat. nightfall
 God "ceased work" on 7th day of creation
 No work allowed - 39 types of “work”
Jewish Customs
A devout Jew always wears a Kippah or
yarmulka (yamaka)
“Cover your head in order that the fear of
heaven may be upon you.”
Bar mitzvah is for boys and means Son of the
Commandments
Bat mitzvah is for girls and means Daughter of
the Commandment
It is just a celebration of them becoming adults
in the Jewish religion.
Jewish Marriage
 Jews call marriage Kiddushin
 Kiddushin
is the Hebrew word which
means made holy or special
 The couple gets married under a huppah
 Huppah is a canopy
 Glass is broken at the end of the ceremony to
remind them that their joy will never be
complete until the Holy Temple in Jerusalem
is rebuilt.
Jewish Branches
 Orthodox Jews - God is spirit rather than
form. He is a personal God. Believe in a
human Messiah. There will be a physical
resurrection. (25 percent of Jews)
 Reform Jews – “God” It holds that
(the truth is that we do not know the truth.)
Do not believe in a Messiah (human nor
divine). Reform Judaism has no concept
of personal life after death. (35 percent)
 Conservative Jews – Belief in a
impersonal God. Do not believe in a
Messiah. No concept of personal life after
death. (40 percent)