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JUDAISM. THE PEOPLE OF THE COVENANT. JUDAISM. ONE OF THE THREE ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS “CHOSEN PEOPLE” ETHNIC GROUP THAT SHARES A COMMON HISTORY AND RELIGION JUDAISM RELIGIOUS ETHNIC GEOGRAPHIC OBESERVANT VS NON-OBSERVANT JEWS. HEBREW BIBLE.
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JUDAISM THE PEOPLE OF THE COVENANT
JUDAISM • ONE OF THE THREE ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS • “CHOSEN PEOPLE” • ETHNIC GROUP THAT SHARES A COMMON HISTORY AND RELIGION • JUDAISM • RELIGIOUS • ETHNIC • GEOGRAPHIC • OBESERVANT VS NON-OBSERVANT JEWS
HEBREW BIBLE • TANAKH -> COMPOSED OF FIRST THREE HEBREW LETTERS THAT DESIGNATE THE THREE COMPONENT PARTS OF THE HEBREW BIBLE • TORAH • 1ST 5 BOOKS – PENTATEUCH • CREATION THRU THE DEATH OF MOSES • NEVI’IM • HEBREW FOR PROPHETS • ISRAEL’S 1ST SETTLEMENT IN CANAAN TO DESTRUCTION OF THE 1ST TEMPLE IN 586 BC • KETUVIM • HEBREW FOR SCRIPTURES • LITERATURE, POETRY, HISTORICAL WORKS
SHEMA • Most basic theological statement • “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone”. (Deut 6:4) • Recited at least twice daily, morning and evening
TEACHINGS OF THE RABBIS“ORAL TORAH” • MISHNAH • WRITTEN ABOUT 200 AD • TEACHINGS FORMULATED BY RABBIS DURING THE PRECEEDING FOUR CENTURIES • BECAME REGARDED AS A SACRED TEXT • STARTING POINT FOR RABINNICAL STUDY OF THE ORAL TORAH
TEACHINGS OF THE RABBIS“ORAL TORAH • TALMUD • BASED DIRECTLY ON THE MISHNAH • SMALL PORTIONOF MISHNAH CITED, FOLLOWED BY INTRICATE COMENTARY…PAGE AFTER PAGE OF IT • INTERPRETATION OF GOD’S WILL • MASSIVE WORK…THOUSANDS OF PAGES • ATTEMPS TO ADDRESS EVERY HUMAN ACTION RELATIVE TO THE TORAH
A Quick History of Judaism • The Patriarchs (2000-1500 BC) • Abraham->Isaac->Jacob • Exodus and Revelation (1290 BC) • Joseph->Moses->10 Com/614 laws->Promised Land • Monarchy of David and Solomon(1004-928BC) • David->power-> Solomon->Temple • Babylonian Exile (587-538BC) • Isreal-721BC->Judah->Babylon->Syrians release • Greek Conquest of Palestine (332BC) • Greek->Sadducees/temple->Essenes/desert->Pharasees/Temple • Destruction of the Second Temple (70AD) • Romans->Jewish War-Destruction of Temple->Rabbinic
QUICK HISTORY OF JUDAISM • Classical Judaism • Pharisaic Judaism • Torah not Temple • Exile Diaspora • Medieval Judaism • Lived under rule of Muslims & Christians • Europe-> money lenders/business • Inquisition-> migration Eastern Europe • Maimonides->Philosopher/Plato/Aristotle->The Guide for the Perplexed • Kaballah->mysticism->God by looking inward->Zohar • Modern Judaism • Hasidism-18th Century->Eastern Europe>pious->very conservative->Zadik • Zionism->political->Anti-Semitism-Holocaust • State of Israel-1948
Divisions of Judaism Today • Orthodox • TORAH: Literal interpretation of Jewish Law • Observe: Strict/men separate from women/dietary/dress/Hebrew prayers at fixed times/cantor/synagogue • Jewish Law and Teaching: Binding • Conservative • TORAH: Respects Divine Authority/ allows biblical scholars • Observe: Permits modification/no separation of sexes/more Hebrew than vernacular/traditional dress at services/cantor/synagogue • Jewish Law and Teaching Accept most as binding • Reform • TORAH: Ethical teachings • Observe: No traditional dress/instruments/choir/vernacular/sermons/temple/no reference to sacrificial system • Jewish Law and Teaching: Do not see Jewish law and tradition as divine/men-women equal • Reconstructionists • TORAH: Not given by God/culture /history • Observe: Reflects needs of the community • Jewish Law and Teaching : Jewish Law created by people
SOME JEWISH FEASTS • Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year • Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement - holiest • Sukkoth – Feast of Booths • Hanukkah – Festival of Lights • Purim – Feast of Lots • Shavuot (Pentecost) – Ten Commandments • Passover (Pesach) – Flight from Egypt
The Way of the Torah • More concerned with correct practice than belief…”observer of the commandments” • Daily life guided by regulations derived from the Torah • Permitted or forbidden • Obliged or free • Holy or profane
JUDAISM PRACTICES • Daily prayer-mandatory for males 13 and older; women excused because of household duties • Ritual accessories • Yarmulke - skull cap • Teflillin - small boxes containing prayers/head & arm • Talliith - shawl • Said three times a day in synagogue or home during morning/afternoon/evening
Home & Synagogue • Home most common for worship • Often have mezuzah – container with scroll containing Shema • Kosher- no pork; no mixing meat and dairy • Festive meals – celebrations – holy days
Home & Synagogue • Synagogue • Center for prayer, study, & worship • Contain scroll of five books of the Torah placed in a box called an ark • Reform Jews call their worship place a Temple • Led by rabbi…no precise role
Sabbath (Shabbat) • Sunset Friday to sunset Saturday • Some reform Jews celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday • Refrain from usual activity (fire/electric)
Rites of Passage • Circumcision • Eight days after birth for boys (Bris) • Bar/Bat Mitzvah (son or daughter of the commandment) • Age 13 – becomes responsible for observance of detailed practices of Jewish daily life • Marriage • Bride & groom stand under Huppah • Seven blessings said over cup of wine • Groom breaks glass with foot – destructions of 2 temples/difficulty of life • Death & mourning (rip clothes); no shaving/leather; body ritually washed shroud-simple coffin • First stage – death to burial ( within 24 hours) • Second stage – begins after burial for seven days ; recite Kaddish; good comments • Third stage – 30 days after burial; social activities avoided • Forth stage – if parent, 1 year; avoid usual seats; Kaddish