Download Jewish Beliefs and Observances Introduction

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Jewish Beliefs and Observances
Introduction
There are approximately 14 million Jewish people in the world. 5.5 million live in
Israel, some 6 million in the US and about half a million each in the UK, France,
South America and Russia.
The Jews are not a 'race', as they comprise people of all skin colors and racial
types. Jews resolve the question of definition by describing themselves as a
'people', with an identity which incorporates elements including religion, culture,
language and historical memory. It follows that Judaism is more than a faith or a
belief system. It might best be described as a religious culture, originating in the
historical narrative of the Jewish people.
In this sense Jews see themselves as a family, tracing their origins to the Biblical
Patriarchs, generally dated as about 1900 BCE (Before the Common Era). Two
thousand years later, in the year 70 CE, the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem was
destroyed by the Romans, and this is the traditional date for the beginning of the
present Jewish Dispersion. As they moved throughout the world, the Jewish people
brought with them particular spiritual and ethical values, a body of inspired
literature and a sense of continuing history - the religion known as Judaism.
Jews believe in a single God who is without shape or form, who is both the creator
and ruler of the universe, and who prescribes a moral law for humanity. The
Jewish concept of 'ethical monotheism' has passed to Christianity and Islam with
some variations.
Unlike Christianity or Islam, Judaism has no dogma, and metaphysical beliefs are
not prescribed. The idea of a single deity as the creator of the universe with
incorporeal, omnipotent and eternal attributes is simply taken as given, and is
proclaimed in Jewish literature and prayer. Physical representations of the divine
are forbidden.
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View of God: Named Yahweh, observant Jews do not refer to Yahweh in name,
but substitute Lord.
Book: TORAH- Belief that the Torah was given to Moses
by God and contained the Ten Commandments and other religious laws.
Place of Worship: Synagogue
Sabbath: Saturday, a day of rest and worship
Messiah: Jews believe in a Messiah, but he is not divine.
They do not believe Jesus is the Messiah
Afterlife: Not much info in Torah or the Talmud about afterlife. There is more of
a focus on everyday life. Jews believe living life right will bring reward.
Religious Holidays:
Passover: Celebrates the Exodus; Spring
Hanukah: commemorates a post-biblical event: the victory of the
Maccabees over the Syrian-Greek rulers of Jerusalem and the subsequent
rededication of the Temple in 164 BCE.
Yom Kippur: day of atonement; holiest of days
Rosh Hashana: Jewish New Year
Sects: Orthodox Jews, Reform Jews, Hassidic Jews
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Other Traditions:
Bar and Bat Mitzvah: Child becoming an adult at 13 and 12. Child of
the Commandments; now must observe commandments
Yarmulke: skull cap worn by Orthodox and Conservative Jews
at worship and home; all times
Interfaith Marriage: disfavored
Kosher: Ritual-safe foods blessed by God (see table)
Kosher (permitted)
Trayf (forbidden)
Ritually slaughtered beef, sheep,
goats and deer with no flaws or
diseases
Pork, camel, rabbit, rodents, reptiles,
and any animal that died of natural
causes
Chicken, turkey, quail, geese
Eagle, hawk, vulture
Salmon, tuna, carp, herring, cod
Crab, lobster, octopus, clam,
swordfish, sturgeon
Meat eaten separately from dairy
Meat with dairy (e.g., cheeseburger,
burger with milkshake, chicken
cordon bleu, wiener schnitzel, etc.)
Wine or grape juice made under
Jewish supervision
Any other wine and grape juice
Soft cheese and kosher hard cheese
Most hard cheese
Diaspora: The spreading out of Jews from homeland due to Roman Empire
persecution and travel throughout Roman Empire; Islamic empire also lead to
Diaspora; throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, And America
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An Overview of Judaism
Directions: Use the Jewish Beliefs and Observances H/O to answer the following questions.
1. How many Jewish people currently live in the world? How many Jewish people currently live in the
United States?
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2. The reading explains that the Jews are not a ‘race.’ According to the reading, what would be a better
way to describe the Jewish people?
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3. According to the reading, what do Jews believe?
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4. What is the Jewish word for god? ______________________________________________________
5. What is the holy text of the Jewish people? ______________________________________________
6. True or False: The Jewish place of worship is the mosque.
7. True or False: Jews believe that Jesus is the Messiah, or son of God.
8. True or False: There is not much information on the afterlife in Jewish religious texts.
9. True or False: The Yarmulke, or skull cap, is worn by all male followers of the Jewish faith.
10. True or False: Interfaith marriages are discouraged in the Jewish faith.
11. _______________________________ foods are permitted to be eaten by Jewish people but
_______________________________ foods are not. (HINT: I’m not looking for examples of food
that are permitted or forbidden)
12. Identify at least three foods that Jews are permitted to eat:
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13. Identify at least three foods that Jews are not permitted to eat:
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