Download JEWISH HISTORY

JUDAISM
Judaism
 Worldwide: 14,551,000 Jews
– US: 5.6 million
– Asia: 4.5 million
– Europe: 2.4 million
 Many different groups/divisions of
Judaism that exist
– Conflicting beliefs about observances, etc.
Importance of History
*The basis of the Jewish religion is its history. It is
the most important aspect.
– demonstrated through the celebration of life cycle
events in people’s lives
– holiday celebrations commemorate historic events
 The key event is the Exodus from Egypt
(recorded Book of Exodus)
– Many important aspects of observances are linked to
this event
 From the beginning, the
Jewish people have
interpreted acts of history
as God acting on behalf of
the Jewish people
– Either to promote them or to
punish them
– History is seen as the story
of God’s intervention in the
lives of His “Chosen
People”
Six Periods of Jewish History
 The Patriarchs: AbrahamMoses (19th - 13th
cent. BCE)
 Mosesthe Hebrew Monarchy (13th - 6th cent.
BCE)
 The Babylonian Exile and Post Exilic Judaism
(6th cent BCE - 1st cent. CE) ("Second Temple"
period)
 Rabbinic period (1st - 7th cent CE)
 Medieval Judaism (7th - 18th cent. CE)
 Modern Judaism (18th cent. - current)
Judaism as a Race
 Judaism is an ethnic religion
 Began as a religion of an extended family, a tribe
of peoples known as the Hebrews
 Jewish people today continue to think of
themselves as a family, a nation of peoples, as
well as a religion
 God is understood by the Jews to intervene, to
act, in and through history time and again,
especially in the history of Israel (the people)
 Jews look to God’s action in the world
Sacred Texts
 The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh
– Known by Christians as "Old Testament“
– contains the same books as the Christian version but in a
different order after the first five
 Considered revealed and inspired by God
– Interpretation of early history of the Hebrew people,
establishment of a nation
– Story of God’s interaction with His "Chosen People" (His-Story)
– Foundation of Jewish life
 Called the Bible
– (Biblia) means "little books“
– Actually a library of 39 independent books divided into 3
categories:
The 3 Categories
1. Torah
 Most important text
 Divine instruction and guidance or "Written Law”
 Books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
Deuteronomy
 Covers history from creation through the Exodus and
wandering in the desert
 613 commandments from God
Continued…
2. Prophets: Words and revelations of the minor
and major prophets
Ezekiel, Isaiah, Amos, Jonah, etc.
3. Writings: poetic and devotional material written
and used during the same time as the Prophets,
words and works of the sages
Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ruth, Esther, Daniel, etc.
 The Talmud
– Oral tradition passed to Moses and beyond
– Finally written down in the 2nd century
– Contains info on rituals, marriages,
agricultural laws, festivals, etc.
The Nature of God
 Covenants with good people
– Responds to their needsdeliverance
 Guides & directs His people
 Compassionate
 Controls with justice
 Source of forgiving, redeeming love
 Establishes peace on earth
The “Name” of God
 Written by Hebrew consonants YHVH
– Means “I am”
 Jews do not have a personal name for God
– Christians and others have Anglicized it to Yahweh or
Jehovah
– Written by Orthodox Jews as G-d
 God referred to as:
– Adonai (The Lord)
– Elohim, or HaShem (the Name) - the unpronounceable
name of God
A Few Main Beliefs
 Jews do not believe in
"original sin" (no need for
a "savior" in the Christian
sense)
 The Ten Commandments
– first 4 have to do with our
relationship with God
– Next 6 refer to our
relationship with other
people
continued
 Importance of family
 Story/experience of exile and exodus
– "Let my people go."
– Compassion and concern for freedom of all
peoples
– history of continual fight for freedom and
continued survival
Humans
 God’s highest creatures
– Earth has been given to them for food & pleasure
– They are the “caretakers”
 Created in God’s image
– Each is a soul and body united
– Each should have a fellowship with God
 Responsible
– Answer to God for conduct
– Humans have choices/can make decisionssuffer
consequences
Problem for Humans
 Rebellion against God
and consequential
expulsion
– Adam and Eve
 Who is the Messiah?
– Has not arrived yet to
usher in a new age
– He is expected
Life after Death
 Emphasis on good life on earth more than
good afterlife
 References in Psalms to heaven and hell
– Influenced by Zoroastrians?
– Lack specific descriptions of life beyond death
Rituals
 Jewish calendar based on lunar month
 Sabbath/Shabbat
– Observed each week
– Sundown on Fridaysundown on Saturday
 Rosh Hashanah
– New year
– Begins the Days of Awe
– Concentrate on prayer, contemplation, self-searching
 Yom Kippur
– 10th day (of awe)
– Holiest day observed
– Repentance: 24 hours of atonement and fasting
Shabbat dinner
Sweets for a sweet new year
continued
 Chanukkah
– Celebrated
rededication of
Jerusalem temple in
164 BCE (after
destruction by Greeks)
– Sacred oil lasted 8
days for celebration
– Minor festival
Passover
 Most important holiday
 Marks deliverance form slavery in Egypt
under Moses’ leadership
 Sacred meal: seder
– Unleavened bread (matzah)
Mitzvah
 613 mitzvot
 258 positive, 365 negative
 Boys: 13+1 day, girls 12+1 day
– Bar Mitzvah means “son of the commandment”
 Commands from God
– No immediate reward
– Obedience rewards in afterlife