Download Judaism

Judaism
It is important to study about Judaism because
Christians are, in a sense, Judaic in their spiritual and
religious roots. Jesus, his mother, his father Joseph, his
cousin John the Baptist, and most of his followers were
Jewish. They lived in the Jewish religious culture. They are
as John Paul II said, “our elder brothers [and sisters.”
Today there are different kinds of Jews. Basically,
they all have the tradition that they hold religious values
that are sacred to both themselves and Christians but they
do not accept the belief that Jesus was totally human and
totally divine.
In the first century in Palestine, Jews were living
under Roman rule and power. Some Jews were friends with
the Romans like Herod the Great. He spent huge funds to
improve and build the temple in Jerusalem to be bigger and
more grand. Jews managed their own affairs, especially
those of the temple by giving allegiance to the Sanhedrin.
Some Jews found the management of the temple and the
behavior of the Sanhedrin to be contrary to long held Judaic
principles. High ranking Jews often wanted to impress
their wealthy Roman friends and would forget their own
spiritual obligations. There were distinct groups: the
Pharisees, the Zealots, the Essenes, and the Sadducees. It is
good to know their different positions and relationship to
Jesus as recorded in the Bible. Many associate the Essenes
with the community at Qumran and possibly with the
hiding of the scrolls in the caves at the Dead Sea near
Qumran.
Jewish life at the time of Jesus in the first century
could be hard for some. The very poor were called the
Annawim. They were trying to establish a revolutionary
movement. However, most scholars believe that Jesus and
his family were not desperately poor but part of a higher
level working class. Joseph was a carpenter. Some of the
Jewish groups, however, were very unhappy with Roman
rule and formed revolutionary reaction.
We know that the Torah held the Pentateuch, the
Writings, and the Wisdom books. Oral interpretation of the
Torah came along gradually and was collected into sacred
writings called the Talmud. Even later commentary with
biblical exegesis (!!!) was called the Mishnah. A good deed
or a law, or a moral teaching is called – and was then called
– a mitzvah, plural mitzvoth.
Jews believe in one God, named El or Yahweh. All
other names for God relate to the meaning of “One.” The
call to faith is found in Deut 6:4 and is called the Great
Shema. Orthodox Jews write this on a tiny scroll and put it
in a mezuzah on their doorposts in their homes and in a
teeny box, a tefilin, tied to their head when they are at
prayer. A prayer shawl is called a talit, worn during
religious services and when a Jew, male or female, is at
prayer. Every male child is circumcised at a bris milah.
The rite of passage for boys is held at age 12 and called a
bar mitzvah. For a girl, it is called a bat mitzvah. They
learned to read the Torah in Hebrew and to express their
faith in the temple before family and friends. It is
something like the idea of Roman Catholic Sacrament of
Confirmation.
On pages 316 and 317 in our text there is an important
section on the everyday life of Jews. Be sure and cover it
and be able to recognize the italicized words. Passover,
however, is a most important feast for Jews and for
Christians. It celebrates the passage from slavery to
freedom. This freedom, which exists in the loving bond of a
covenant with God, is the core meaning of the Eucharist.
Jesus was pointing out that He is, Himself, the Passover
God.
Today, there are three strands of Judaism: Orthodox
Jews who cling firmly to ancient tradition, laws and
customs; Conservative Jews who cling to the ways of true
Judaism but adapt them somewhat to modern life; and
Reform Jews (note: not “reformed”) who freely adapt their
faith to modern times and often are less theistic.
The relationship of Jews to Christians has historically
had very rough periods. In the Middle Ages some
Christian leaders blamed the death of Jesus directly on the
Jewish race and carried out horrible persecutions against
them, such as isolating their villages in Europe and not
allowing them living wages and healthy living conditions.
Later, the regime under communism and especially under
Hitler carried out the horrendous Holocaust. Someday, you
all should visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC
– a Smithsonian Museum – and experience many of the
terrible aspects of hatred and violence that humanity has
known. This sense of blaming the Jews for the world’s
trouble is called “anti-semitism.” You may be familiar with
the short but pungent account of the holocaust in the book
Night by Elie Wiesel. It’s a “must read.”
Questions to ponder and comment upon ………..
1) From what you have read in our textbook, learned in
class, and in the Bible, how do you see that Judaism is
connected to your faith? Do you think these connections
have been overlooked in the preaching, teaching and ritual
as you have experienced it in the church?
2) Have you ever been invited to a Seder meal? (Passover
meal) If so, was it at a church or in a Jewish family home?
Do you think that it might be important for Christians, and
particularly Roman Catholics, to reinstitute the celebration
of Passover in their homes? What reason would there be to
do this?
3) How do you understand the problem of anti-semitism?
Is there still a problem today? What can be done? What
can each of us do? And how would these actions be
“Christian”?
4) What about the public schools? Are we robbing our
children of learning about the Bible, the heritage of
Judaism and Christianity. Could it be taught so that our
culture could appreciate the heritage of the monotheistic
tradition? Can this be done without proselytizing,
preaching, or pressure?