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SURVEY OF RELIGIONS & CULTS
LECTURE 5
JUDAISM
INTRODUCTION
Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people.
Judaism is the oldest known monotheistic religion still practiced in the world today. Some of its teachings form
part of the basis for Christianity and Islam.
[Judaism teaches] that the world stands upon three things:
▫Torah (Knowledge, study, principles, ideas),
▫Avodah (Worship, practice, religious experience),
▫Gemilut chasadim (loving deeds which repair the world).
(per Mishnah Avot)
Geographical location of Jews
United States
Israel
Europe
Canada
Russia
Argentina
South Africa
Australia
6,000,000
5,000,000
2,000,000
400,000
400,000
250,000
110,000
100,000
GROUPINGS WITHIN JUDAISM
Judaism is usually classified in three denominations: Orthodox (17%), Conservative (33%), and Reform (22%).
28% make up the ‘Unaffiliated’ grouping.
Orthodox Judaism
This is the oldest and most conservative form of Judaism. Orthodox Judaism holds that the Torah was written by
God and Moses, and that the original laws within it are binding and unchanging. Every word in their sacred texts is
thought of as being divinely inspired.
Orthodox Judaism may be divided into two broad categories: Modern Orthodox and Hasidim. The Modern
Orthodox are usually more academic, while the Hasidim are more mystical. Hasidic men usually wear black or
dark gray suits and always wear skullcaps. The Hasidim movement was founded in Europe by Israel Baal Shem Tov
(1700-1760).
Conservative Judaism
This began in the mid-nineteenth century as a reaction against the Reform movement. It is a main-line movement
midway between Reform and Orthodox. This is the largest denomination within American Jewry.
Conservative Jews make allowances for modern culture, while “conserving,” as far as possible, traditional
Judaism. This movement views the Torah as unchanging, but subject to interpretation.
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism is known as Progressive Judaism outside of the USA, and in the UK as Liberal Judaism. It sprang
up in Germany as a reaction to traditional Judaism. It stresses integration with society and a personal interpretation
of the Torah. Its members are usually sympathetic to an inclusive position regarding feminism, homosexuality, and
agnosticism.
Reconstructionism
Reconstructionism is the most recent branch of Judaism. The founder was Mordecai Kaplan (born 1881).
Reconstructionism gives equal importance to religion, ethics and culture, and teaches that Judaism is an evolving
religious civilization.
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THE JEWISH HOLY BOOKS
Tanakh
The Jewish scriptures are known as the Tanakh. They correspond to what non-Jews call the “Old Testament.”
The Tanakh is composed of three groups of books: Torah (Genesis – Deuteronomy); Nevi’im (the Prophets); and
Ketuvim (the Writings, i.e. Chronicles – Ecclesiastes).
Talmud
It includes stories, laws, medical knowledge, and debates about moral choices. It is viewed as the authoritative record of
rabbinic discussions on Jewish law, Jewish ethics, customs, legends and stories, and is a fundamental source of customs,
case histories and moral exhortations.
The Talmud is the summary of Judaism’s oral tradition and is the major influence on Jewish belief and thought.
Although not a formal legal code, it is the basis for all later codes of Jewish law. It is composed of material from
two sources: the Mishnah and the Gemara.
JEWISH PRACTICES
Obedience to the Law: Strict discipline, according to the 613 Laws, governs all areas of Jewish life.
Tefillin: Jewish males from the age of thirteen onwards wear tefillin on the left arm and head during weekday morning
prayers to remind them of the importance of following the Jewish Scriptures.
Also known as phylacteries, tefillin are small black leather boxes held in place with straps. They contain the following
verses Ex 13:1-16, Deut 6:4-9, Deut 11:13-21.
Marriage: Jews are only supposed to marry fellow-Jews. Marriage is a holy covenant. Vows are said under a canopy,
huppah, which symbolizes the expanse of the heavens under which all life takes place.
Mourning: Judaism has a multi-staged mourning practice. The first stage, called the Shiv’ah, is observed for one week.
During this time the family sits in mourning. The second stage, called the shloshim, is observed for one month.
Praying: Jews believe that God hears and answers prayer. Symbolic actions [of prayer] performed by devout orthodox
Jews are: Prayer three times a day - morning, afternoon and evening. When he prays the Jew covers his head with a skull
cap, or an ordinary hat. In the morning he may also wear a prayer shawl. This has tassels at the four corners in obedience
to a command in the Torah.
A mezuzah on the upper part of the right front door post. This is a small scroll with the words of the Shema written on it
in Hebrew. It is kept in a wooden or metal container. This reminds members of the family of God’s presence whenever
they go in and out.
Kosher: Jews who observe the dietary laws (kashrut) make decisions about what they eat, when they eat it and how they
prepare their food. Food that may be eaten is called kosher. Orthodox Jews are careful to keep all the dietary
laws; other Jews will not eat forbidden food, but do not insist on a kosher kitchen. Others ignore all these laws.
JEWISH BELIEFS
Maimonides (AD 1135-1204) was a Jewish philosopher who lived in Spain and then Egypt. His thirteen principles of
faith are the nearest that anyone has ever come to creating a widely-accepted list of Jewish beliefs.
These principles of faith are the minimum requirements of Jewish belief.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
G-d exists
G-d is one and unique
G-d is incorporeal
G-d is eternal
Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other
The words of the prophets are true
Moses’ prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets
The Written Torah (first five books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were
given to Moses
There will be no other Torah
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10.
11.
12.
13.
G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men
G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked
The Messiah will come
The dead will be resurrected
God: God is the creator of all that exists. God is one. God is incorporeal (without a body). God alone is to be
worshiped. Jews do not believe in the Trinity.
Messiah: Jews do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, although some accept that he was a good moral teacher. The
Messiah, God’s anointed one, will arrive in the future and gather Jews into the land of Israel. There will be a general
resurrection of the dead at that time.
Prophets & Patriarchs: God has revealed his will through his prophets, especially Abraham and Moses. God chose
Israel as his own special followers. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, known as the patriarchs, are both the physical and
spiritual ancestors of Judaism. They founded Judaism, and their descendants are the Jewish people.
Covenant: The idea of a covenant (an agreement) between God and his people is central to Jewish religion: the people
are bound to God by a covenant that was initiated by God and freely agreed to by the people.
God promises that Israel will be his special possession. The people agree to keep the God’s commandments.
The Commandments: The Ten Commandments, as delineated in Ex 20:1-17 and Deut 5:6-21, form a brief synopsis of
the Law. Jewish believers are able to sanctify their lives and draw closer to God by keeping the mitzvot (divine
commandments). The 613 commandments, found in Leviticus and other books, regulate all aspects of Jewish life. It may
be said that it is this distinctive emphasis on holiness in every detail of everyday life and separation from corrupting
worldly influences that explains Jewish survival [and purpose].
Worship: The worship practices described below are those of orthodox Jews.
The Sabbath; Synagogue; Life-cycle events (Birth, Bar Mitzvah); Annual Festivals; the Jewish Calendar.
Jewish worship is liturgical. The prayer book (siddur) sets out the various readings and prayers for the day. A
rabbi directs the service, teaches and preaches. Songs and chants are led by a cantor. A specific Torah reader
chants or reads from the texts for the day.
(from Encyclopedia of World Religions, Cults and the Occult)
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