Judaism is

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Judaism is

• A 4000 year old tradition with ideas about what
  it means to be human and how to make the world a
  holy place
• (Rabbi Harold Kushner, To Life)
• A covenant relationship between God and the
  Hebrew people
• A celebration and sanctification of life
• A faith, a people, a way of life

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A 4000 year old tradition

• The Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel)
  origins of the Hebrew people (more than 3800
  years ago)
• Enslaved in ancient Egypt and freed by Moses
  (more than 3300 years ago)
• Hebrew monarchy in the Promised Land (The Land
  of Israel), ends 6th century BCE

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As a faith, Jews Believe

• In one God, creator of the universe, personal but
  non-corporeal
• In prophets of old especially Moses, through
  whom Torah was revealed to the Hebrew people
• In Torah (first five books of the Bible),
  containing religious, moral and social law which
  guides the life of a Jew
• the Hebrew Bible does not include the New
  Testament

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How does Judaism sanctify life?

• Life cycle celebrations
• Bris ritual circumcision, sign of the covenant
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah full adult status and
  responsibility within the religion
• Marriage - "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 122)
• Death funerals, mourning (sitting Shiva), and
  memorials (Yartzeits)

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How does Judaism sanctify time?

• The Jewish Holidays
• High Holidays
• Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
• Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
• Sukkot, the Festival of Booths (fall harvest
  festival)
• Simchat Torah celebrating Torah
• Chanukah, the Festival of Lights

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More Holy Days

• Purim (Lots) a carnival (commemorates events
  told in book of Esther)
• Pesach (Passover) commemorates the exodus
  from Egypt (events told in Exodus)
• Shavuot (weeks, Pentecost) commemorates
  receipt of Torah at Sinai
• Other, minor festivals
• Shabbat (Sabbath, 7th day, on Saturday) the
  Day of Rest

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As a people, Jews are

• A nation in Diaspora (dispersed)
• 15 16 million in worldwide population
• United by a common heritage (an ethnic
  religion), divided in contemporary practice
• Orthodox
• Modern
• Chasidic (Ultra Orthodox)
• Reformed (18th century Germany)
• Conservative moderates, response to reform
• Reconstructionalism (20th century America)

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10 Commandments
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10 Sayings

• Exodus and Deuteronomy
• Two tablets
• Duties re relationship to G_d
• Duties re relationships to others

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As a way of life, Judaism is based on

• 613 commandments found in Torah (Written Law)
• Talmud (Oral Law) commentary of ancient
  rabbis that elaborates on how to apply Gods Law
  in everyday life through
• Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher)
• Dress and other symbols
• Prayer and devotion to the one God
• The Temple and Temple rites
• Observance of Holy days
• Proper social relations between male and female,
  in business, judicial rulings, etc.
• Thus sanctifying life, blessing it in every way

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Hebrew Bible Holy Text

• Bible from Greek Biblia Little Books
• Originally an oral tradition
• First written down ca. 900 BCE
• Finalized ca. 200BCE

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Old Testament

• A Christian name
• Some contemporary scholars use the term Hebrew
  Bible in an attempt to be neutral
• Based on language

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Different names

• TaNaKH, Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament depending
  on context
• Torah (The Teachings)
• Neviim (the Prophets)
• Ketuvim (the Writings)

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Torah

• Stories of Creation
• Adam Eve/Noah Sin and Redemption
• Hebrew Patriarchs Matriarchs
• Moses chief Prophet (lawgiver Deliverer)
• Aaron father of priesthood in Judaism
• Laws of daily conduct and religious ritual

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Books of the Hebrew BibleTorah

• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• Numbers
• Deuteronomy

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Books Continued Prophets Neviim)

• Joshua
• Judges
• Samuel
• Kings
• Isaiah
• Jeremiah
• Ezekial
• Book of the Twelve

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Books ContinuedKetuvim

• Psalms
• Proverbs
• Job
• Song of Songs
• Ruth
• Lamentations
• Ecclesiastes
• Esther
• Daniel
• Ezra-Nehemiah
• Chronicles

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Some Biblical History

• Up until 17th century or so
• Christians and Jews considered the Torah as a
  divine document, transmitted somehow to humans
  via Moses
• Document was considered cryptic, perfect,
  relevant which made it prescriptive as well

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History continued

• Early 17th century, some Europeans interpreted
  Torah as any other text
• 19th century, biblical criticism was established
  in Germany and made its way to England US

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Judaism The History of the Hebrews
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Essential Questions

• In what ways is Judaism different from other
  beliefs at the time?
• How has Judaism made a lasting impact on the
  world?
• How did the Kingdom of Israel divide?
• Why was the Ancient Kingdom of Israel conquered
  by outsiders?
• What led to the Diaspora, and what is its impact
  on Jewish people today?

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Where did the Ancient Israelites Come From???
Ancient Israelites migrated from Ur in
Mesopotamia to Canaan (later called Palestine)
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Who was Abraham?

• Led Israelites from Mesopotamia to Canaan in 2000
  BCE
• First patriarch of Israelites revered by
  Muslims, Jews, Christians
• In the Book of Genesis (first book of the Torah),
  God made a covenant with Abraham

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Life in the land of Canaan

• Hebrews lived in Canaan until 1800 BCE
• Abrahams grandson Jacob raised his 12 sons there
• Jacobs family was divided into the Twelve Tribes
  of Israel
• Famine occurred around 1800 BCE
• Hebrews migrated to Egypt

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Enslaved in Egypt

• Israelites were enslaved the Pharaoh needed
  people to help build pyramids
• Moses emerged as a great leader
• 10 Plagues
• Pharaoh agrees to let Moses lead Israelites out
  of Egypt (The Exodus)

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To the Promised Land

• Israelites wandered in Sinai for 4 years
• Mount Sinai
• Torah Most sacred book of Judaism makes up 1st
  5 books of Old Testament to Christians
• Covenant a binding agreement Moses made a
  covenant with God
• Chosen People
• Ten Commandments

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The Kingdom of Israel

• After Moses led them, the Israelites lived in
  Canaan alongside Philistines
• They needed to unite against the mighty
  Philistines
• Saul was anointed as king by Samuel, a
  judge/prophet
• He was not such a great king, so David was chosen
  by Samuel to succeed him
• David united feuding Hebrew tribes

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The Kingdom of Israel cont

• Solomon was Davids son
• Built up Jerusalem and erected a splendid temple
• Known for his proverbs
• Ambitious, but not very well-liked
• His rule led to the division of the Kingdom, with
  Israel in the north and Judah in the south

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Solomons Proverbs

• What you gain by doing evil wont help you at
  all, but being good can save you from death
• At harvest season its smart to work hard, but
  unwise to sleep
• You will be safe if you always do right, but you
  will get caught if you are dishonest

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From Downfall to Diaspora

• 722 BCE Israel fell to Assyrians
• 586 BCE Judah fell to Babylonians King
  Nebuchadnezzar
• Temple destroyed, many Jews exiled and/or captive
• Cyrus the Great captured Babylon released Jews.
  Solomons temple rebuilt.

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The Diaspora

• No longer exile- still tensions with other people
• 135 AD Roman armies drove Jews out of Palestine
• Diaspora scattering of people (Greek)
• Jews settled in different parts of the world
  after being driven out of their homeland
• Tightly-knit communities, observant despite
  being dispersed

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Changes Due to Diaspora

• Translation of Bible in Greek (Alexandria)
• Synagogue assembly
• Need a copy of the Torah and a minyan

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Life in the Diaspora Holding onto Tradition

• Jews held onto their religion. Some important
  aspects of Judaism are
• Monotheism
• There is one omnipresent, omnipotent, just,
  merciful, personal, accessible God that exists
  and always wil
• Jewish education (Torah Talmud)
• Kashrut (that which is proper, keeping kosher)
• Sabbath

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Groups within Judaism

• Pharisees
• Sadducees
• Essenes
• Zealots

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Other Groups

• Ashkenazy Groups from the Rhineland area that
  migrated Eastward to Hungary, Poland, Russia
  Eastern Europe between the 10th and 19th
  Centuries
• Yiddish language
• Additional customs

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Sephardi

• From Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal)
• Language based on Spanish and Hebrew
• Contact with Muslims in Cordoba, Spain
• Known and mentioned by Paul the Apostle

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How is Judaism related to Christianity?

• Judaism predates Christianity it is the
  foundation of Christianity but is not a part of
  it
• Jesus was Jewish, as were his followers and the
  Apostles
• Jews do not believe that Jesus was anything more
  than a good and wise man who lived and died 2000
  years ago Jews still await their messiah
• The Jewish messiah would not be divine. He would
  be a political figure who restores the Hebrew
  monarchy and causes peace to reign on Earth
• Jews are not concerned about salvation and the
  world to come

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What are Jews really concerned about?

• Tikkun Olam - repairing this world through
  justice and righteousness through deed, not
  creed
• The heart of Judaism is in the home and family,
  social responsibility and doing Mitzvot (good
  deeds based on Gods commandments)
• Through education and hard work we make our
  lives, the lives of others, and the world, what
  God intended it to be Holy!