Judaism

Mr. Ito

AP World History

El Segundo High School

History

• Judaism traces its origins to the beginning of man
• Abraham and the Hebrews around 1300 BCE, who came from a town in Mesopotamia (now known as Iraq).
• Abraham was called by God to migrate to Canaan (what is roughly Israel and Lebanon today).
• The Hebrews, who were semi-nomadic, migrated to Egypt, where they were enslaved by the Pharaoh's command.
• The Prophet Moses
• God called upon Moses to free his people. After they fled Egypt, they once again settled in Canaan.
• It is recorded in the Hebrew Bible that God made the Jews his chosen people and promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation.

Fast Facts

• Judaism - foundation for Christianity and Islam.
• Jews have their own ethnicity and culture.
• History is the most important aspect of Judaism and is centered on historical narrative.
• Holidays are meant to connect Jews with their historical ancestors and traditions.
• The Western Wall (also known as the Wailing Wall)
• Judaism’s most sacred place on earth.
• Remnants of The Temple of Jerusalem, where the Ark of the Covenant was stored (the Ark contained the commandments and many other laws sent by God).

Major Sects

• Orthodox: Designated as the most traditional form of the religion
• Orthodox Jews believe in the Torah, which was revealed at Sinai
• Households are very strict regarding food and utensils
• Meat and dairy
• Segregation of women and men in synagogues is still continued.
• Hasidic: Are considered to be ultra-Orthodox. This branch of the religion
• originated in Poland
• stressed the study of Jewish literature.
• distinct appearance; men dressed completely in black with wide-brimmed hats, long coats, beards, and extended rope-like sideburns.

Major Sects, cont.

• Conservative: The Torah and Talmud are taught to be constant authorities
• The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, is the leading institution for conservatives.
• Zionism (modern political movement that supports the creation of a Jewish state).
• Reform:
• The central principle is that they have the right to decide which beliefs and practices to follow.
• Conversion to Judaism is also much simpler.

Beliefs

• Ethics are the foundation of Judaism.
• The backbone of Judaism is the Five Books of Moses (Torah), which contain 613 commandments and should be read each Sabbath (shabbat).
• God is all powerful. The sacred name of God is YHWH (sometimes pronounced as “Yahweh”).
• The 13 Articles of Faith were created by a 12th century rabbi, Maimonides, and are accepted as a general summary of religious Judaism.

The 13 Articles of Faith

• 1. God exists.
• 2. God is one and unique.
• 3. God is incorporeal.
• 4. God is eternal.
• 5. Prayer is to God only.
• 6. The prophets spoke truth.
• 7. Moses was the greatest of the prophets.
• 8. The Written and Oral Torah were given to Moses.
• 9. There will be no other Torah.
• 10. God knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
• 11. God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
• 12. The Messiah will come.
• 13. The dead will be resurrected.

Rituals & Practices

• mezuzah (parchment inscribed with religious texts attached in a case) on every door post in their home, that reminds them to keep God’s laws.
• Circumcision (brit milah) takes place on the 8th day after a boy’s birth.
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah: Coming of age
• A ritual is not needed in order to signify their new status.

Torah Scrolls

Sacred Texts

• Torah
• It consists of narratives and laws that have been recorded, in historical order, the beginning of the world all the way through to the death of Moses.
• The five books are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
• Talmud (means study or learning): A reference to the interpretations of the Torah
• used mostly by rabbis.
• Tanakh (acronym for Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim):
• Torah, Nevi'im (law) and Ketuvim (writings).

Worship

• Synagogues
• House of Prayer (where services are held on the Sabbath and festival days)
• House of Study (where the Torah and Talmud are studied)
• House of Assembly (people can meet for any purpose)
• Synagogues were developed after the destruction of The Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, when the Jews dispersed all over the Roman Empire.
• In traditional Judaism, Jews recite prayers three times a day. Although private praying is accepted, it is ideal if praying takes place in a synagogue with a minyan (quorum of 10 adult males).

Symbolism

• The Menorah (candelabrum): One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith.
• represent the eternal lamp that was left burning in front of the Ark of the Covenant.
• The Jewish Star (magen david)
• This six-pointed star
• part of the flag of Israel.
• Chai: Consists of two Hebrew letters chet (life) and yud (living)
• represents the value life.

"Intelligent people know of what they speak; fools speak of what they know.”

-Minchas Shabbos Pirkei Avos 3:18 / -Ethics of The Fathers (Talmud)