Judaism

1. Judaism Unit Two

3. The Beginning • In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

4. Some Facts • Judaism is the smallest of the world’s major religions, with a worldwide population of about 14 million. • We study it, despite its small numbers, for two reasons…… • It has made great contributions to Western religious thinking and philosophy. • No other religious group has endured such persecution because of its beliefs.

5. Judaism is the oldest of the three great monotheistic religions, dating back approximately 4000 years. • From Adam and Eve to Abraham and Moses, Judaism gave roots to both Christianity and Islam. • Many of the prophets revered in Hebrew Scriptures are also revered in the Christian and Muslim traditions. • It has a tradition of scholarship, from the Bible to philosophy to science, and Jews have discoveries that have changed the way people see the world. • From the Babylonian captivity, Egyptian slavery, the Spanish Inquisition to the Nazis, Jews have been subjected to great persecution.

6. At the end of this unit you should be able to……… • Identify the origins and beliefs of Judaism. • Identify those who have contributed to the Jewish faith, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Maimonides and Judah the Prince. • Describe Jewish worship, beliefs, practices, rituals, symbols and festivals. • Describe the sacred writings of Judaism • Understand how Jews are represented in Canada.

10. OriginsThe Patriarch of the Covenant: Abraham • According to Hebrew scriptures, around 2000 BCE, Abraham received a vision from God that instructed him to leave his home in UR, move to Haran and later, Canaan. • The vision came from the one true God and thus the monotheistic tradition of the Hebrew faith. • His instructions were to move to a special land and raise a nation. Eventually this special land came to be Canaan.

11. Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

12. From this two ideas emerged that would develop into Judaism. • The Jews represented God’s chosen people. God chose Abraham and promised to make all of his descendants God’s chosen people. • The idea of a promised land was established. It was Abraham, his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, that sought to keep the covenant with God and develop a community in the promised land. A covenant is a solemn and binding agreement. The covenant between God and Abraham is the key to the Jewish faith.

13. Moses and The Covenant • The Hebrews had been enslaved by the Egyptians and they longed for liberty. Moses was raised in the Pharaoh’s court but fled when he had killed an Egyptian. • Many years latter, while looking after his flock, he encountered a burning bush that was not being consumed by the flames. God’s voice came from the bush and ordered Moses to set the Hebrews free and bring them to the promised land. • Through Moses God brought ten plagues on the Egyptians until Pharaoh finally agreed to let the Hebrews go. • As the Hebrews, led by Moses, came to the Red Sea, Moses parted the sea so that they could cross. Pharaoh had changed his mind and sent his army to stop the Hebrews. As they came through the part of the Red Sea, Moses returned the sea to normal and Pharaoh’s army drowned.

17. This event is referred to as the Exodus. • God appeared to Moses again on Mount Sinai, sharing with him the Ten commandants. • Moses sinned with pride and died before he could see the promised land. • The Hebrews continued on their journey and settled the area around where present day Israel is located today.

18. Judges, Kings and Prophets • After 40 years of wandering in the desert, the Israelites arrived in Canaan. This marked the beginning of the Biblical period of Judges and Kings. • At first the Israelites were led by people referred to as Judges. They were like tribal leaders or chiefs who led the people through periods of crisis. • Around 1000BCE, the period of Kings began, starting with Saul, then David (established Jerusalem as the capital), and finally Solomon (built the temple). His death ended the era of Kings. • Around 921 BCE the kingdom divided into Israel in the North and Judah in the South. • The Prophets predicted the end of this era. A Prophet refers to one who speaks on behalf of god or one who predicts the future. In Jewish tradition a prophet is one who receives a message from God and delivers that message to God’s people.

19. The Exile • In 586 BCE Babylonian invaders captured Judah and destroyed Solomon’s temple. Around 10,000 Jewish leaders were captured and sent into exile in Babylon. • Known as The Babylonian Captivity, they were held there until Cyrus the great of Persia released them in 538 BCE. • During the exile, places for worship were created, called Synagogues. • The exile also marked the emergence of revered teachers known as Rabbis. • Finally, during this period, the development of a belief in a divine kingship occurred. The Messiah, which means anointed one, came to mean hope for the Jews, a great king who would lead them out of oppression. • After their release from captivity the people returned to their homeland. They built a new temple and from this point on they would be referred to as JEWS!

20. The Diaspora • Greek for “sowing of seed” or “dispersal.” • Diaspora is the term used when referring to the Jewish population living outside of Israel. • Jews were led by Rabbis and prayed in Synagogues. • A process called Hellenization, the influence of Greek culture, affected the Diaspora Jews especially and the Bible was translated into Greek. • Legend has it that 70 Jewish scholars all translated the Bible into Greek, independent of each other, and produced identical translations. • This translation, known as the Septuagint, has books often not included in the Christian Bible.

23. The Maccabean Revolt • In 168 BCE the Jewish temple was converted into a shrine for the Greek god Zeus! • A group of rebels called the Maccabees, started a revolt. By 164 they were back in control of Jerusalem and the temple was rededicated to God. The Maccabees would rule until the Roman conquest. • The Jews celebrate the Maccabean revolt each year during Hanukkah.

24. Menorah • The Menorah is a seven branch candelabrum lit by olive oil. • After the destruction of the Jewish temple their was only enough blessed oil for one day, to keep the eternal flame going. • Miraculously, it burned for eight days, until new oil could be obtained and the temple rebuilt.

25. The Jews and the Romans • In 64 BCE, the Roman general Pompey entered Jerusalem. • The harshness of Roman rule led to a renewed emphasis on the messiah, one anointed by God to lead the Jews out of oppression. • Heavy taxation, unfair administration of justice and Roman control of the temple and the high priest, led the Jews to revolt. • In 70 CE the Romans responded with force. They captured Jerusalem and destroyed the temple, which was never rebuilt. • The only remaining was the Western Wall (wailing wall) where Jews today go to pray.

29. Rabbi Yohanan Ben Zakkai convinced the Romans to allow him to relocate the Sanhedrin (the supreme judicial body of the Jews) to the town of Yavneh. • This moved preserved the Jewish way of life as they maintained their scriptures and developed a Jewish calendar. • Rabbis replaced priests and Synagogues became the Jewish place of worship. • The Rabbinic movement brought greater emphasis to Jewish law, including the Torah, the Mishnah (early Rabbinic teachings on how to live a life in accordance with the Torah, around 200 CE) and the Talmud (Rabbinic teachings from the Mishnah, main source of Jewish teaching from medieval times to present day)

30. By 100 CE the rabbis had compiled a substantial body of commentary on the Bible known as the Midrash. It looks at puzzling situations presented in the Bible and poses possible explanations for these problems. • The Jewish experience from exile to Roman occupation is one of fortitude and unfailing faith.

31. Jewish Beliefs • Centered on one God and the covenant. • A Jew is a person either born Jewish or converted. As long as one of a child’s parents is Jewish, the child is considered Jewish. • The process of conversion is called Gerut, where candidates must reveal knowledge of Judaism, confirm their Jewish beliefs, demonstrate a will to act ethically and show a connection with the Jewish people. • Jews believe that God is the creator of everything! Their belief can be summarized as follows:

32. Shema, the Jewish creed of faith. “ hear, O Israel, The Lord is our God, the Lord is one. • Five Fundamental Concepts – there is a God, there is only one God, God created the world but the world will not last forever, there is only one universe and god cares for the world and all its creatures. • Thirteen Articles of Faith – of the 13, 3 are considered absolute….there is one God, God is perfect unity, God is immaterial.

33. Further understanding of Jewish beliefs can be illustrated by their commitment to the covenant. This commitment can be summarized as follows: • Chosen people – God chose them but they also chose God. Some anti-Semitism (hostility and prejudice towards Jews) • Promised Land – God promised a land to his people, the Jews believe this to be Israel. • Messiah – Jews believe that God will send a great leader to the world to bring peace and harmony. • World to Come – The belief that God will provide a future time of peace and prosperity for the Jewish people.

34. Practices, Rituals, Symbols and Festivals • A Synagogue is the communal place of worship for Jews. It is also referred to as Shul, which emphasizes it as a place of study. • The Torah scroll, comprised of the five books of Moses, is the most sacred object of Jewish life. • When the Jews received the ten commandments in the desert, they made an ark to place them in. Called the Ark of the Covenant, each Synagogue has a replica which contains the Torah scrolls.

39. A Rabbi is a trained scholar, a teacher, an interpreter of Jewish law, a counselor and presides over special ceremonies. • Fulfilling the requirements of the Jewish dietary laws of Kashruth is called being Kosher. The idea of Kosher foods distinguishes Jews from others and speaks to their humanity and humility. • Humanity refers to their method of killing animals as humanely as possible, humility refers to how grateful the Jews are for the food provided by God.

40. Star of David Named after King David of ancient Israel

41. Yom Kippur – the most solemn religious day of the Jewish year, marked by fasting and prayers of repentance. • Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish New Year, September or early October. • Circumcision – occurs eight days after birth, performed by a Mohel, it is done during a ceremony called a Bris Mulah. A boy is named during this ceremony. • Shiva – seven-day period of mourning following the death of a person. • Bar Mitzvah – occurs when a boy turns 13 (Bat Mitzvah for girls) and is now considered an adult in the Jewish community.

42. Anti-Semitism • Why did Jews become targets of hatred and prejudice……. 1. Lacking a homeland and living in scattered communities, Jews were always the outsiders. 2. Different religious customs and clothing styles made them seem strange, different and untrustworthy. 3. Blamed for the death of Christ. 4. Jews moved a lot and therefore did not have an opportunity to establish themselves in communities. 5. Jews were blamed for societal problems. 6. In the middle ages, Jews who lent money and charged interest were accused of being cheats and thieves. 7. As Jews became successful they were viewed with jealously and suspicion.

43. Judaism In Canada • Judaism has a long history in Canada and thrives here today. • The first Synagogue was built in Montreal in 1768. • In June, 1939, Canada refused entry to an ocean liner called St. Louis, carrying Jewish refuges from Europe. Later half of the 907 passengers were killed by the Nazis. After the war, when Hitler’s atrocities became known, Canada accepted a huge post-war wave of Jewish immigrants. • SevenCanadian provinceshave made Holocaust Remembrance day (held in April) an official day on the Provincial calendar.