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Judaism

Mr. Ito

AP World History

El Segundo High School

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Torah Scrolls

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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).

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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).

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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.

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

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