Aim: What does it mean to be Jewish?

Aim: What does it mean to be Jewish? Do Now: What do you know about Judaism? What would you like to know? NY Learning Standards 2, 3 Common Core RS 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and WS 1, 2

I How did Judaism Begin? A) The founder of Judaism was Abraham. He lived in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). When Abraham was born, Mesopotamians were polytheistic. B) According to the Torah (the most sacred text in Judaism), in 1800 BCE Abraham made a covenant (agreement) with God to worship only him. In turn, God promised the Holy Land (modern day Israel) to the Hebrews (descendants of Abraham). C) The Hebrews began to follow Abraham’s new religion of Judaism. Followers of Judaism are Jewish.

How did Judaism begin? Continued… D) Abraham’s grandson Jacob encouraged Jews to move to Egypt due to a famine. Years later, a Pharaoh enslaved the Jews. Jews remained in bondage until Moses led them out of Egypt (the Exodus). He received the 10 commandments from God on Mt. Sinai. As many Jews began to doubt God, they were punished by being forced to wander the desert for 40 years. Only then were they permitted to return to the Holy Land, which they conquered from the Canaanites (the people already living there). Jews believe that God does not take the form of a human or animal. That is why Moses saw God as a burning bush.

After the Hebrews settled in the Holy Land, they created the first Jewish Kingdom. The Jewish King Solomon built the first Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Eventually the kingdom divided, and were later conquered by the Neo-Babylonians who destroyed the first Temple.

II Beliefs of Judaism • Judaism is monotheistic; Jews believe in only one God. • Jews follow the 10 commandments (given to Moses on Mt. Sinai). 1. I am the lord your God who brought you out of Egypt. You shall have no other gods. 2. You shall not make or worship idols. 3. You shall not swear falsely by the name of the Lord your G-d. 4. Remember the Sabbath [Friday night and Saturday] and keep it holy. 5. Honor your father and mother. 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s belongings. How many commandments deal with you and God? How many deal with you and other people? Why aren’t all of the commandments about God?

Beliefs of Judaism Continued… C) The messiah is coming and will bring peace to earth. BOTH Jews and Christians believe in a messiah. HOWEVER… According to the Torah the messiah must be descended from King David, and bring peace to earth in his own lifetime. As Jesus died before bringing peace to earth, Jews do not believe that he was the messiah.

III Jewish Sacred Places A) Jerusalem and the Holy Land (today Jerusalem is the capital of the modern nation of Israel).

Jewish Sacred Places Continued… B) The Western “Wailing” Wall is the remaining wall from the 2nd Jewish Temple which was destroyed by the Romans. Jews go there to pray. The first Jewish Temple was built by King Solomon. Jewish priests sacrificed animals to God inside of it. After the Romans destroyed the Second Jewish Temple in the 1st century CE, Jews no longer practiced animal sacrifice. Instead, they would pray at the Western Wall or in synagogue.

Jewish Sacred Places Continued… C) Today Jews attend religious services at a synagogue. Services are led by a rabbi. The Torah ( the holiest Jewish text) is sung by the Cantor. *There are no images of people.

IV Sacred Jewish Texts • The Torah “the law” is the holiest book in Judaism. It includes the first 5 Books of the Jewish Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), and contains 613 laws. The entire Jewish Bible consists of the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings (ending at Chronicles). • The Talmud is a collection of Jewish laws and traditions. C) Christians refer to the Jewish Bible as the Old Testament, as Christians also have a New Testament. To Jews, there is no New Testament, so they never refer to their Bible as “old”. D) The Torah is written entirely by hand on a scroll. If there is even a single mistake, the scribe has to start from scratch! It is written in Aramaic, a language similar to Hebrew. E) A mezzuzah is a tiny piece of a Torah scroll which Jews place on their doors to bless their home.

V Jewish Practices A) Shabbat (sundown on Friday through Saturday) is time to be spent in prayer and with your family. A mother and daughter lighting the Shabbat candles

Jewish Practices Continued… B) Kosher Law forbids eating certain foods (such as pork or shellfish). You also cannot mix meat or dairy.

Jewish Practices Continued… C) Men wear a yarmulke on their heads; a reminder that g-d is above you. Women cover their hair in synagogue. Orthodox and Hasidic Jews (who are very religious) will not cut their beards or sideburns. The women will cover their hair with a scarf or wig, and wear long skirts.

Jewish Practices Continued… D) When praying, Jews wear a tallit; a prayer shawl with 613 strings (a reminder of the 613 laws of the Torah). A woman being arrested for wearing tallit at the Western Wall.

Jewish Practices Continued… E) Bar Mitzvah: At 13 a boy reads from the Torah for the first time and takes on the responsibilities of a man. *Girls have their bat mitzvahat 12! Did you know that it’s not just an excuse for a party?

VI Jewish Holidays

HW: Fill in your religion chart for Judaism! What fact(s) do you find the most interesting about Judaism? What question(s) do you still have?

Key Vocabulary • Abraham • Aramaic • Bar Mitzvah • Bat Mitzvah • Cantor • Covenant • Hanukah • Jerusalem • Jewish Temple • Judaism • Kosher • Mezuzah • Passover • Rabbi • Rosh Hashanah • Shabbat • Synagogue • Tallit • Talmud • Tefillin • Torah • Western Wall • Yarmulke • Yom Kippur

Aim: What does it mean to be Jewish?