Download What is Judaism?

WHAT IS JUDAISM?
Do you know...?
INTRODUCTION VIDEO
This short video clip would be an ideal introduction to
sources of authority such as the Torah, beliefs and
artefacts for a class looking at Judaism
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/theshema/3651.html
KEY FACTS
Originated in the Middle East over
3500 years ago
Founded by Moses, although Jews
trace their history back to
Abraham.
Jews believe that there is only one
God.
Jewish people keep God’s laws and
try to bring holiness into every
aspect of their lives.
6 million Jews were murdered in the
Holocaust in an attempt to wipe out
Judaism.
KEY WORDS
Synagogue
The Jewish house of
worship.
The Torah
The most Holy text in
Judaism.
A Rabbi
A spiritual leader
Bar Mitzvah
Jewish coming of age rituals.
SABBATH - HEBREW WORD FOR REST.
It begins at nightfall on Friday and lasts
until nightfall on Saturday, so it lasts about
25 hours.
God commanded the Jewish People to
observe the Sabbath and keep it holy as
the fourth of the Ten Commandments.
Most Jewish people look forward to
Shabbat all week. They see it as God's gift
to his chosen people of a day when they
take time out from everyday things to feel
special.
Shabbat is very much a time when
families come together in the
presence of God in their own home.
Shabbat is a time with no
television, no rushing to the
demands of the telephone or a
busy work schedule.
Some useful video clips
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/cli
ps/shabbat-part-1of-2/4744.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/cli
ps/shabbat-part-2-of-2/4745.html
LIBERAL JUDAISM
Lily Montagu – strict orthodox family, founder
of Liberal Judaism to help people fit their faith
into their lives
Association of 30 independent synagogues
Torah – don’t believe it was
Gender issues – men and
written by God and given to
women are equal and women
Moses on stone tablets – it
can take part in many rituals
should be responded to by the
such as leading services or
culture and moralities of our
becoming a rabbi. Multi –
time today
faith marriages are allowed.
Worship and ritual – men and
women can sit together in services
and can both take part in services
Kosher – some regard these
rules as irrelevant to them
and others think it is
significant –up to them.
REFORMED JUDAISM
Began in Germany in 1819, but emerged
in Britain in 1842 with the establishment
of the West London Synagogue
It developed partly out of a need for
internal religious changes and partly
because of wider factors operating in
society at large
They sought to inhabit both worlds, loyal
to their tradition but also part of
modernity..
Sections of the liturgy were omitted if
they no longer corresponded to what Jews
believed.
In Reform synagogues they sit together
with men, participate actively in public
worship and can now also be rabbis.
Services were no longer conducted solely
in Hebrew, but in a mixture of Hebrew and
English,
ORTHODOX JUDAISM
Believe theres only one God, Hashem
Believe that the Jewish people left the
slavery of Egypt and rendezvoused with Gd at a mountain called Sinai. There, Moses
was given the Torah
Shabbat is their day of rest
Attempt to follow all 613
commandments
Go to the Synagogue 3x a day
Largest population of Orthodox Jews are
in Israel
Have to abide by Kosher food law
ULTRA-ORTHODOX (‘HAREDI’) JUDAISM
Most strict branch of Judaism
Haredi = awe-inspired fear to perform the
will of God
1.3-1.5 million worldwide; mainly in Israel,
West Europe and North America
Segregation from modern society to
maintain their adherence to Jewish law
Lifestyle
- opposed to TV, phones and
internet
- gender separation in education
and prayer
- very family orientated
Very traditional dress
KOSHER
This is a fun video clip aimed at children to explain the
rules that surround Kosher
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/kosherfoods/7467.html
The next video shows children shopping in a
supermarket for a special occasion.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/shoppingfor-pesach/6598.html
OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES AND VIDEO CLIPS

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/

http://www.reonline.org.uk/knowing/what-re/judaism/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/subdivisions/liberal
_1.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/judaism-at-home/486.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/the-rules-ofjudaism/4675.html