Download HRE 3MI - Unit 2 Module 2

JUDAISM
Religious Experience and Sacred Stories
• SCV.01: examine the literary characteristics, origin and
development of the sacred writings and oral traditions of
the various religious traditions;
• SCV.02: analyse key narratives and events in the sacred
text/oral traditions of world religions to identify their
significance and meaning;
• PFV.01: demonstrate an understanding of religion as an
innate human response to our encounter with
God/Transcendent/Supernatural in our search for
meaning and purpose;
We will describe how the Jewish scripture
impacts upon their understanding of the
divine?
• For the Jewish people, their identity can be described as
religious and ethnic.
• Whether identifying as one or both, the story of Judaism
has a tremendous impact on their sense of self &
community.
• As a community who feels isolated & oppressed, they
draw strength from deep roots rather than wide
branches.
God and Scripture
• Jewish writing can be divided into two broad categories:
1. The Tanakh (canonical)
2. The Talmud (commentary: midrash and mishnah)
• The Tanakh can further be divided into three parts:
1. The Torah (Law or teaching)
2. The Nevi’im (Prophets)
3. The Ketuvim (Writing or wisdom/history literature)
• In all things, the Torah has the greatest authority. It is the
Law and describes the requirements of living in
Covenant.
• Jews cannot understand God outside of Covenant.
God and Scripture
• A covenant is a loving, committed relationship (e.g. marriage).
• The Covenant is the relationship between God and God’s
people.
• The stories of the Covenant are told illustrated by (amongst
others):
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Adam & Eve
Cain & Abel
Noah
Abraham (the father of Judaism, Patriarch)
Isaac
Jacob
Joseph
Moses (the great leader of Israel, prophet)
Continued in the story of salvation history
God and Scripture
• With a partner, read the following stories, list the key
events, and describe what they might say about
Covenant:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Noah – Genesis 9
Abraham – Genesis 15
Moses – Exodus 6.1-13
Sh’ma – Deuteronomy 6.4
David – 2 Samuel 7
God and Scripture
• Ultimately, the Law is summarised in the Decalogue or
Ten Commandments.
• These are not really ten laws but rather ten categories of
law that are expanded in 613 commandments (or
mitzvahs).
• The Decalogue is noted twice in scripture:
• Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.4-20.
1. Read both passages and note any differences.
2. Divide the commandments into two broad categories.
3. What types of relationships do they describe?
4. Do we follow the commandments today as Catholics?
5. In the same way as the Jews?
God and Scripture
• How might the Jewish sense of identity, God, and history
be impacted by their sacred stories?
God and Scripture