Judaism

1. Judaism A covenant people

2. Basic Facts • Not a doctrine, an idea, a faith, but a covenant between God and the people • Living in the spiritual order of Jewish people • Two ways of summarizing Judaism • In the Jews of the past with the interpretation of their history • With the Jews of the present sanctifying life • Group identity • Religious, Jews who observe the religious aspect of Judaism • Cultural, Non observant Jews

3. Central Teachings • God • Master of the Universe • YHWH (Yahweh) • Adonai • G-d • Shema • Judaism’s most basic theological statement. “Here O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone” Deut. 6:4 • Recited 2 times a day • Inscribed on a Mezuzah kept in the doorway of the home • Torah • The written revelation of God’s will

4. Covenant People • Covenant is an agreement between two parties each offering something in return for something. • First covenant made with Abraham insured the land and the descendants and the promise of a great nation in return for faith in the one true God • Monotheistic worship of the God of Abraham • Circumcision • Second covenant made with the Israelites, post exodus, through Moses. God promises to be their personal God in return for their faith and obedience • Chosen people • Ten Commandments

5. Torah • Literally means “instruction” and refers to the will of God revealed to his people • Loosely translated as “Law”; it guides proper human conduct • Believed to have been revealed directly to Moses • Primary statement of the religious laws of Judaism • Central code of holiness; 613 laws • First 5 books of Hebrew Scripture; Pentateuch • Every synagogue house the entire Torah in a vessel called an “ark”

6. Hebrew Scripture • Torah • Law • Central code of holiness • 613 laws (Leviticus) • Purity • Ritual • Social justice • Ten commandments (Exodus & Deuteronomy) • Nevi’im • Prophets • Historical accounts • Visions and sermons of messengers of God • Apocalyptic writings • Ketuvim • Writings • Historical accounts • Wisdom literature TaNaK

7. Religious Teachings • Torah: • Inspired word of God; initially passed on orally • Mishnah: • Collected teachings of the rabbis of 400 BC to 200AD. • Talmud • Based on Mishnah- extensive rabbinic commentary on chapters of Mishnah; Palestinian and Babylonian

8. History of the “Chosen People” • Ancient Israelites • The Patriarchs (2000 BC) to Destruction of Temple (70 AD) • Classical Judaism • Destruction of Temple to 700 AD when Muslims claimed Israel and dispersed Jews • Diaspora • Jewish->Christian->Muslim

9. History of the “Chosen People” • Medieval Judaism • 700 AD to Mid 1700’s • Lives under Islamic rule but were treated well, paid taxes • Christian animosity for “killing Christ” • Jew s blamed for many disasters, emigrated to Poland • Moses Maimonides: Jewish philosopher and mystic • 13 principles “The Backbone of Jewish Theology” • Kabbalah: God can be known through the heart. • Zohar • Modern Judaism • Mid 1700’s – present • Hasidism • Zionism • Holocaust • State of Israel • Different branches of Judaism • Reform • Conservative • Orthodox

10. Daily Life • Rituals • Birth and naming • Circumcision • Naming • Coming of Age • Bar mitzvah • Bat mitzvah • Marriage • Huppah • Breaking of the glass • Death and mourning • Outward signs of grief • Kaddish • 30 days • Worship • Daily prayer • Home • Synagogue • Ethics • Adherence to the Law • Social justice

11. Holy days & Festivals • Sabbath • Friday sundown to Saturday sundown • Day of rest, worship, celebration and fellowship • Seventh day of creation • Rosh Hashanah • Jewish New Year, 2 days in the Fall • Celebrates creation • Reflection on deeds of the last year, need for redemption • Ram’s horn is blown • Reinforcement of social relationships • Yom Kippur • Day of Atonement • 10th day of the new year • Fasting, and repentance • Passover • Remembrance of the saving event of the exodus, 8 days • Seder : special meal to remind of the 10th plague of Egypt • Recitation of the HAGGADAH