Describe origins
- Hebrew bible describes God’s relationship with humanity
- Begins with patriarch, Abraham
- 2000 BCE, Abraham received vision from God, told to leave home of Mesopotamian City and go to Haran
- Received revelation of one God, monotheistic
- 2 ideas received: Jews are God’s chosen people, idea of Promise Land
- Abraham’s son (Issac) and grandson (Jacob) kept covenant with God
- Covenant= key of Jewish faith, God is the creator and governor
Describe Moses’s role
- Moses meant to give Ten Commandments and God keeps covenant
- Moses born of Hebrew slaves, raised by Pharaoh’s daughter
- Killed an Egyptian, fled to Midian, went to Jethro
- Encountered God through burning bush
- Moses asked who he was, told “I will be who I will be” (I am who I am)
- Plagues on Egyptians till Hebrews finally allowed out of Egypt across Red Sea
- God appeared at Mount Sinai to give Ten Commandments, renewal of covenant
Exodus meaning?
Departure
Describe a holy place for Jews
Western Wall
- Temple inside, spiritual centre of the world for Jews
- Permanent reminder of God’s presence, Jews will not be destroyed
- Symbolizes heroism
Beliefs?
- Oneness of God, and His compassion for creation (covenant)
- God is the Creator
- God governs with just and honour
- Humanity has an obligation to worship God
Five fundamental concepts?
- There is a God
- Only one God
- God created the world, won’t last forever
- Only one universe
- God cares for the world and all its creatures
Holy place of worship?
Synagogue
- Place of gather, prayer, and study/learning
Sacred writings?
Torah, Talmund, Tanakh
Describe the Torah?
Describes the development of God’s relationship with the chosen people (5 books of the Old Testament) “law”
Describe the Talmud?
Teachings and commentary on the Torah, second most important (basis of Jewish law)
- Mishnah: Edited records of oral Torah, early rabbinic teachings on living life
- Gemara: Rabbinical analysis and commentary on Mishnah
Describe the Tanakh?
Hebrew bible, Old Testament
-Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim
- Nevi’im: Prophets (former and latter prophets)
- Ketuvim: Writings (ex. 1/2 Chronicles, Pslams)
What is Shabbat? (Sabbath)
Based on the creation story in Genesis, a time to put aside work, shopping, housework, and homework
- For important things: prayer, family, and friends
Friday evening- Saturday evening
Star of David symbol?
- Shape of King David’s shield
- Symbol of the will to survive, and Jewish pride
Menorah symbol?
- Ancient source of light
- One branch for every day of creation, and one for Sabbath
Explain Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Jewish New Year
- Ten day period of repentance, ends with Yom Kippur
- Request forgiveness from God and others for mistakes and transgressions
- Sounded of the Shofar, horn (call people together
Explain Hanukkah
Festival of Lights
- Eight days, celebrates the Maccabean revolt (rekindled sacred lamp with only enough oil to last one day, but it burned for 8)
- Candle lit for each day
- Ninth branch= shamus, servant
- Families gather light each candle every night, recite special blessing
Describe lead to the branches in Judaism
- Jews gaining civil liberties during 18th century in Western Europe
- During Enlightenment, Jews thought to join European life more fully
- Some thought they should assimilate
Orthodox Judaism?
- Torah= from Heaven
- Written/spoken Torah combined= evolving communication of God’s will
- Torah= source of truth, revealed by God, from generation to generation
- Most strict, upholds tradition (ancestors closer to God because of tradition)
Practices:
- Bigger festivals
- Very spiritual
- Dresses like their ancestors
- Daily worship
- Kosher
- Extensive study of Torah
- Separation of men and women in synagogues
Reform Judaism?
- Both written/spoken Torah were human creations
- God allows for successive generations have different appreciation of the truth of the Torah
- Alters Jewish beliefs to conform with modern society
Conservative Judaism?
- Middle ground between Orthodox and Reform
- Recognizes human elements in revelation (God revealed Torah to both people and through the people)
- Wants to alter old style Orthodox to meet new realizes of North American life (New York, after World War 2
Reconstructionist Judaism?
- Youngest, but fastest growing
- Aims to reconstruct Judaism by making Jewish traditions more meaningful for todays world (blends tradition with change)
- Judaism is work in progress, not finished
Zionist Judaism?
Political, goes against Judaism
- Wants the Promised Land back (Israel)
- Protect Jewish people through force
What is Shiva?
Seven day mourning period for the dead immediately after funeral
What is kosher?
Separation of meat and dairy goods, slaughter and removal of blood from meat
