Judaism Notes

1
Judaism Notes

• One of the smallest of the major religions at 14
  million.
• Monotheistic
• No true founder, but could include Abraham as the
  father of the faith.

2
Judaism, continued

• Books (Tanakh - Old Testament which includes the
  Torah the first 5 books of the Old Testament)
• Synagogues serve as a meeting place for worship
  and education, led by a rabbi.

3
Jewish history at a glance

• Abraham and wife Sarah had no children.
• G-d spoke to Abraham saying that he would have
  descendants to equal the stars and a land to live
  in of his own.
• Isaac was born.

4
Jewish history, continued

• Famine forced the Israelites out of Israel
• They ended up in Egypt where they became
  enslaved.
• God chose Moses to plead with the Egyptian
  pharaoh to free the Israelites from bondage in
  Egypt.
• He refused to let them go and G-d sent a series
  of 10 plagues to force him to change his mind.
• The Passover was the result of the last of the 10
  plagues.
• The Pharaoh changed his mind and the people were
  freed.

5
Judaism, continued

• Believe in kosher products
• Literally means fit in accordance with G-ds
  law.
• Separate meat and milk (never eat _at_ same time or
  prepare with same utensils)
• Shun foods such as pork and shellfish
• Meat must be drained of blood b/c it is the life
  of the animal and is too sacred to eat.
• Animal is o.k. to eat if it chews its cud and has
  split hooves.
• Animals that eat other animals are not permitted
  for consumption.

6
Jewish history, continued

• The Exodus followed as the Israelites were led
  out of Egypt by Moses with pharaohs army in
  pursuit.
• The Red Sea was parted so that the Israelites can
  safely pass through.

7
Jewish history, continued

• The Ten Commandments were given to Moses and the
  Israelites from G-d.
• 40 years after the Exodus, the tribes of Israel
  reached Canaan, the promised land.
• This land would be taken over many times by many
  peoples, including the Romans who would rename it
  Palestine.

8
Jewish history, continued

• In 1948, Palestine was divided up and the modern
  state of Israel was born.
• The Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths claim
  that their founders were born here and each hold
  rightful claim to the land.