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Judaism
The original name for the people we now call Jews was Hebrews. The word “Hebrew”
is first used in the Torah to describe Abraham. Another name used for the people is
Children of Israel or Israelites, which refers to the fact that the people are descendants
of Jacob, who was also called Israel. The word “Jew” (in Hebrew, “Yehudi”) is derived
from the name Judah, which was the name of one of Jacob’s twelve sons. Judah was
the ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel, which was named after him.
Originally, the term Yehudi referred specifically to members of the tribe of Judah, as
distinguished from the other tribes of Israel. After the death of Solomon the kingdom of
Judah and the kingdom of Israel were split. After that time, the word Yehudi could
properly be used to describe anyone from the kingdom of Judah, which included the
tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, as well as scattered settlements from other tribes.
In the 6th centrury B.C.E., the kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria and the ten
tribes were exiled from the land, leaving only the tribes in the kingdom of Judah
remaining to carry on Abraham’s heritage. These people of the kingdom of Judah
were generally known to themselves and to other nations as Jews, and that name
continues to be used today.
In common speech, the word “Jew” is used to refer to all of the physical and spiritual
descendants of Jacob (Israel), as well as to the patriarchs Abraham and Isaac and
their wives, and the word “Judaism” is used to refer to their beliefs.
A Jew is any person whose mother was a Jew or any person who has gone through
the formal process of conversion to Judaism. Judaism is more like a nationality than
like other religions.
Abraham (roughly 4,000 years ago) and his descendants (from Palestine or Canaan)
established Judaism and later Moses emancipated the Jews from Egyptian bondage
and established a covenant between the people and Jehovah at Mount Sinai. The Ten
Commandments is now considered the foundation stone of Judaism.
Sacred Books: The Torah (considered the Five Books of the Law – the first 5 books of
the Old Testament), the Old Testament, and the Talmud (written summary (of the oral
law given to Moses by God), with later commentaries and explanation, compiled by
rabbis from the second century C.E. into the Middle Ages.
There are over 13 millions Jews world wide. Jews are found in N. And S. America,
Europe (mostly in Russia and Poland), Asia, and Israel.
The Law that Israel accepted consisted of the Ten Words or commandments, and over
600 laws that amounted to a comprehensive catalog of directions and guidance for
daily conduct. A priesthood was established in the line of Moses’ brother, Aaron.
Eventually an earthly kingship was established, and in 1077 B.C.E. David, from the
tribe of Judah, became king and established a new national center, Jerusalem. After
David’s death, his son Solomon built a magnificent temple in Jerusalem. In 607 B.C.E.
the dominant world power, Babylon, overthrew Jerusalem and took the nation into
captivity.
In 539 B.C.E. Persia defeated Babylon and permitted the Jews to resettle their land
and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
In 332 B.C.E. Alexander the Great took the Middle East and imbued the Greek culture
within the area – leading to the Septuagint (first translation of the Hebrew Scriptures –
in Greek).
In 70 C.E. Roman troops put down a Jewish rebellion and besieged Jerusalem – laying
waste to the city, burning down the temple, and scattering the Jews. The people
dispersed throughout the Roman Empire.
During the Middle Ages the Jews in W. Europe were persecuted and many were
expelled (Spain) – they fled to Eastern Europe and countries around the
Mediterranean.
The murder of some six million European Jews in the Nazi-inspired Holocaust (193545) gave Zionism (movement to create a homeland for the Jews in Palestine) it’s final
impetus and gained much sympathy for it worldwide.
In 1948 the State of Israel was establishment.
Since that time we have had 4 Arab/Israeli wars with Israel growing and the
Palestinians being displaced.
One of the basic beliefs of modern Judaism is that man has an immortal soul that
survives the death of his body. Judaism teaches that while God’s name exists in
written form, it is too holy to be pronounced. The result has been that, over the last
2,000 years, the correct pronunciation has been lost. As you look at Jewish scripture
throughout the years we have the holy name of God, the Tetragrammaton, the four
Hebrew consonants YHWH (Yahweh) that in their latinized form have come be known
over the centuries in English as JEHOVAH.
There are major differences between the various factions of Judaism. Traditionally,
Judaism emphasizes religious practice. Debate over such matters, rather than beliefs,
has caused serious tension among Jews and has led to the formation of three major
divisions in Judaism.
Orthodox Judaism: They believe that the oral law was given to Moses by God at
the same time as the written law. They believe that the Messiah is still to appear and to
bring Israel to a golden age. Follow the traditional practices and faith closely.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews are uncompromising in their religious beliefs, these Jews tend to
live in separate communities with their own schools and courts of law. Generally, they
feel it is wrong to mix with the outside world, even with less observant Jews.
Reform Judaism: (Liberal or Progressive) Believe Jews should assimilate
Western culture rather than separate themselves from the Gentiles. They
adopt their faith to suit modern life.
Some important Festivals and Customs:
Shabbat: (Sabbath) The seventh day of the Jewish week (from sundown Friday
to sundown Saturday) is viewed as sanctifying the week, and the special
observance of this day is an essential part of worship.
Yom Kippur: – Day of Atonement, a solemn festival characterized by fasting and
self-examination.
Hanukkah: Festival of Dedication – commemorates the Maccabees’ restoration
of Jewish independence from Syro-Grecian domination and the
rededication of the temple at Jerusalem in December 165 B.C.E. Usually
distinguished by the lighting of candles for eight days.
Bar Mitzvah: Another essential Jewish ritual, which literally means “son of the
commandment,” a “term denoting both the attainment of religious and
legal maturity as well as the occasion at which this status is formally
assumed for boys at the age of 13 plus one day.”