Judaism

Global Studies

Judaism

• Oldest of the world’s 3 major monotheistic religions
• Some people also classify it as an ethnic group (controversial to some)
• Jews also known as Hebrews or People of Israel
• Holy books include: Torah (Holy Scriptures) and the Talmud (laws and commentaries)
• Literally translates to “that which is studied”
• Approximately 13 million Jews in the world
• Nearly half live in the US
• Until recently, more Jewish people lived in the US than in Israel

Major Groups of Judaism

• Hasidic Jews: strictest and separatist
• Orthodox Jews: strict but not separatist
• Conservative: moderate
• Reform & Reconstructionist: most liberal
• Like most religions, Judaism has many variations
• There are some commonly accepted beliefs

Jewish Religious Beliefs

• Judaism strictly believes in one God (Jehovah or Yahweh)
• Jews believe they were the “chosen people”
• They represent God to humanity and humanity to God
• Jews believe they are commanded to study the scriptures and laws to improve themselves to be worthy of salvation
• They believe nothing happens for no reason and that God is charge of all things
• Jews believe that a savior will come someday to lead them and deliver them as a people to God
• This savior is called the messiah

Jewish Practices

• Jews believe that religion should be practiced not only in the temples or synagogues but in daily life
• Traditionally pray 3 times a day
• Morning, midday, night
• In strict Jewish groups, men and women worship separately
• During worship, people cover their heads
• Men wear a small cap called a yarmulke
• Jewish holy day is the Sabbath (Saturday)
• No work is done

Jewish Hasidic Fashion

Tefillin

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Tefillin

Tallit and Yarmulke

Inside of a Synagogue

Dietary Rules

• Jews believe that some foods are unclean and cannot be eaten
• Pork, any fish without scales or fins (no shellfish)
• Believe that food must be properly prepared – called kosher (“fit”)
• Jews do not mix milk and meat
• Dairy and meat products never together – NO CHEESEBURGERS

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Beginning of Jewish History

(According to the Torah)

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• Those that identify as ethnically Jewish, trace their ancestry back to earliest human communities
• Abraham from Sumerian city of Ur
• Hated polytheistic idol worship and prayed for guidance
• God of Jews heard him and told him there was only one God
• Abraham left Sumeria – went to Canaan

Abraham’s Journey from Ur

Canaan: The “Promised Land”

Story of Abraham

• Abraham’s wife was Sarah
• Both very old
• God said that if Abraham made a great nation, that he would have a child
• Sarah forced/convinced him to have a child with her Egyptian servant Hagar
• He did; she bore him a son, Ishmael
• Sarah miraculously became pregnant
• Had a son Isaac
• Sarah grew fearful of Hagar and Ishmael (inheritance)
• Wanted Abraham to get rid of them

The Story of Abraham

• Abraham could not kill them
• Left them in the desert
• God took pity on them and provided them with a miraculous water fountain
• Running between Safa and Marwa during the Hajj/Umra represents this miracle
• Ishmael became the first Arab and Isaac became the first Jew
• According to their own religious beliefs, Jews and Arabs are related

Abraham’s Genealogy

Yahweh’s “Covenant” With His People

The Torah

• Covenant: Agreement (in this case between God and His chosen people

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• The first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible.
• The most sacred text in the Jewish religious tradition

Joseph

• One of Jacob’s 12 sons (main tribes in Israel)
• Joseph was the favorite son
• Jacob gave Joseph a “coat of many colors”
• Jealous brothers beat Joseph
• Brothers sold Joseph as a slave to passing Egyptians
• Joseph in Egypt
• Slave of Potiphar
• Jumped out a window to avoid Potiphar’s wife’s advances
• Went to jail
• His “gift” was dream interpreter
• Eventually Joseph worked directly for Pharaoh
• Famine hit region
• Joseph had prepared Egypt
• Joseph’s brothers ended up in Egypt begging for food
• Reunited, forgave, and Hebrews moved to Egypt

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Moses

• Jews enslaved in Egypt
• “There came a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph”
• Moses born in Egyptian ghetto of Goshen
• Jews were multiplying too much, so…
• Pharaoh ordered all baby Jewish boys be killed
• Moses’ mother (Miriam) floated him in a basket down Nile
• One of Pharaoh’s daughters found & raised him as a prince
• Killed a cruel Egyptian overseer
• Moses exiled into Canaan (today’s Israel)
• God talked to Moses through a burning bush
• Went back to Egypt and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, let my people go!”

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Land of Goshen, Egypt

Moses

“Prince of Egypt”

“Shepherd of His People”

Passover & Exodus

• Prayed for miraculous plagues on Egypt: Flies, locusts, frogs, boils, hail that turned to fire, the Nile turned to blood, and the last…
• Pharaoh was done
• Pharaoh ordered all Jewish first-born (oldest) be killed
• Curse reversed, happened to Egyptians
• Jews were told by God to mark around their doors with lamb’s blood so the spirit of death would “pass over” them
• Pharaoh finally gave in and let Hebrews leave Egypt
• Soon after, Pharaoh changed his mind, chased Jews
• Trapped by the Red Sea, Moses called for a miracle and the sea parted allowing them to walk to safety

The Exodus

Route of the Exodus

Ten Commandments

• Moses led Hebrews thru desert for 40 years
• Moses led them to Mount Sinai
• God gave Moses the Ten Commandments there
• Lived on miracle bread called manna which God provided every day
• Finally ended up in what is modern-day Israel
• Jews believe Israel is their “promised land”
• Moses a superstar in Jewish religious history

Moses and the 10 Commandments

A new “covenant” with Yahweh

Mount Sinai