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An over 3,500 year old tradition…
• The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
(“Israel”) – origins of the Hebrew people
(more than 3,500 years ago)
• Enslaved in ancient Egypt and freed by
Moses (more than 3300 years ago)
• Hebrew monarchy in the “Promised Land”
(The Land of Israel), ends 6th century
BCE
As a faith, Jews Believe…
• In one God, creator of the universe, personal but
non-corporeal
• In prophets of old – especially Moses, through
whom Torah was revealed to the Hebrew people
• 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
Terms
• Abraham- The Hebrew patriarch from whom all Jews trace their
descent
• The first founder of Judaism
• Physical and spiritual ancestor of the Jewish people
• Father of the faith
• Moses- He is the most important prophet in Judaism. Moses is
the leader who freed them from slavery in Egypt. Moses protected
the Jews from the wrath of God, and negotiated with God on their
behalf.
• Covenant- is an agreement found in the bible between God and
His people in which God makes specific promises and demands
• Diaspora- the dispersion of Jews outside of Israel
• When they were exiled they were sent to Babylonia until
present time
Terms
• Rabbi- A Jewish scholar or teacher especially one who
studies or teaches Jewish law. A person appointed as a
Jewish religious leader.
• Synagogue- House of worship for Jewish
congregation
• The place of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation
• Men and women usually sit separately in the Synagogues
• Ethical Monotheism- is a term used to describe a belief in
one God who guides humanity through ethical principles.
This can be seen as distinct from monotheistic beliefs which
may be based on dogma or doctrines. Ethical monotheists
sometimes believe that all ethical standards are derived from
God and they are thus dependent upon the divine in this
way.
Terms
• Torah- the most holy Jewish book. It’s the first five books of the
Hebrew Bible
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Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
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Torah is stored inside the Ark and no one is allowed to touch the Torah
• Talmud- The book of Jewish law- Jewish Holy Book
– Collection of ancient Jewish writings that forms the basis of Jewish religious law,
consisting of the early scriptural interpretations and the later commentaries
• Yahweh- Hebrew name of God
• The Wailing Wall- Thought by the Jews to be the most scared of
places, temple itself was thought to be the place where God resides on
earth
What Jews believe
• Jews believe that there is a single God who not only
created the universe, but with whom every Jew can have an
individual and personal relationship
• They also believe that their Savior has not come yet
• They believe that everyone was created in the image of
God
– For this reason every person is equally important
and has an infinite potential to do good in the
world
As a people, Jews are…
• A nation in Diaspora (dispersed)
• 15 – 16 million in worldwide population
• United by a common heritage (an “ethnic” religion),
divided in contemporary practice:
– Orthodox:
• Modern
• Chasidic (Ultra Orthodox)
– Reformed (18th century Germany)
– Conservative – moderates, response to reform
• Reconstructionalism (20th century America)
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
How does Judaism sanctify time?
The Jewish Holidays:
• High Holidays:
– Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
– Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
• Pesach (“Passover”) – commemorates the
exodus from Egypt (events told in Exodus)
• Chanukah, the “Festival of Lights”
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah- Coming of age
ceremonies (13 for boys ,12 for girls)
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!
Magen David
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Star of David
Was on the shields of David’s warriors
Symbol on the Flag of the state of Israel
Used throughout the world as a clear
and unique identifying symbol of Jews
and Judaism
Menorah
• Seven (or nine) branched candleholder
• One of the oldest Jewish symbols—one of the
ritual objects described in the Torah
• Today the nine branched menorah is used in
celebration of Chanukah
• The seven branched menorah is the authentic
ancient symbol (one for each of the 6 days of
creation and 1 for sabbath)
Mezuzah
Blessing for the home
or other
building/room
Metal box placed on
the right doorframe
of a house,
apartment, or
business.
Has religious
scripture inside
Good luck
Mazal Tov
• Means good luck or congratulations
• Particularly used for significant life
events (ie. Bar Mitzvahs, weddings,
birthdays, etc.)
Orthodox Judaism
• Mainstream Judaism
• Belief in the direct revelation of divine law which
was recorded in the Torah
– It is eternal, unchanging, and the sole guide for life
– Carefully and strictly observe the commandments as
the direct will of God
– Ultra-Orthodox assert that complete separation from
secular society
Chasidism (Hasidism)—Sect of Orthodox
Famous for their dress. From eastern Europe in the early 18th C.
Emphasizes both contemplative meditation and fervent joy.
Reform Judaism
• Early 19th C. Germany
• Assert authorship of Torah to Divinely inspired
human beings
• Modern worship mostly in vernacular
Conservative Judaism
• Response to Reform mid to late 19th C. Europe
• Agree that change was necessary but felt
Reform had eliminated too many basic Jewish
practices
• Motto is “tradition and change”
• Fiddler on the Roof
Reconstructionist Judaism
• Early 1920s in US by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan
• Judaism is not merely a religion, but an
evolving religious civilization, a peoplehood, a
culture, as well as a faith community
All of Judaism
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To accept Torah and fulfill its mitzvot
To embrace the ethical mandate of Judaism
To regulate existence to Judaism’s rituals & observances
To support Jewish causes
To be a devoted member of the Jewish community
To maintain a bond and a sense of mutual interdependence with
the Jewish Land
• To feel a connection to Jewish history
• To be committed to the creative survival of the Jewish future
Torah
• Creation: God Created the Universe and
everything in it, The covenant was created
between God and Humanity (specifically
between God and the Jewish people)
• Redemption: Israelites were saved from bondage
in Egypt (in order to experience revelation)
• Revelation: God gave his 613 mitzvot as a
standard for conduct and behavior
▫ Mixed with ritual practices this provides the framework
of lifestyle for all humanity.
Torah
• Genesis (Bereshit): contains stories of creation, records the
establishment of the covenant between God and the Jewish
people, tells of the lives of the patriarchs and matriarchs
• Exodus (Sh’mot): account of Israelites enslaved in Egypt, the
exodus from Egypt, the receiving of the 10 Commandments
at Mt. Sinai
• Leviticus (Vayikra): gives God’s ethical and ritual laws and
specific instructions to priests on how to perform their
duties
• Numbers (Bamidbar): recounts the of the Israelites through
the desert and gives more of God’s ethical and ritual laws
• Deuteronony (Devarim): Moses reviews the laws and the
people prepare to enter the promised land.
Talmud
• Is the combined Mishnah and Gemara
• Largest compilation of post-biblical law
• Remains the basic and central document of postbiblical law
• Talmud is studied:
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For the practical application of its laws
For its mind-expanding challenges in logic and reasoning
For its total immersion in Jewish concerns
For its wisdom and insights into the human experience
And for the simple love of learning and growing
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”