Judaism

Brief History of Judaism

• World's oldest monotheistic religion.

• Originated nearly 4,000 years ago.

• Followers believe in one God.

• God revealed Himself through ancient prophets.

• Rich heritage of law, culture, and tradition.

Brief Beliefs of Judaism

• Belief in one God.

• God made a covenant with the Jewish people.

• God communicates through prophets.

• Good deeds are rewarded; evil is punished.

• Jews believe the Messiah has not yet come.

Synagogue

It is the place of worship.

Rabbi

It is the spiritual leader.

Star of David

It is the religion’s symbol.

14 Million

There are this many Jews worldwide.

Israel & United States

They have the largest populations of Judaism.

Tanakh

• It is the Hebrew Bible and the sacred scripture of Judaism.

• It contains the same books as the Christian Old Testament.

Torah

• It is the first five books of the Tanakh.

• It contains God’s law for the Jewish people.

• It is also called the Pentateuch.

Abraham

He is the founder of Judaism.

Founder and Early Leaders

• Abraham Founder of Judaism.

• God made a covenant with Abraham.

• Isaac and Jacob continued God's promise.

• Jacob became Israel.

• Descendants became the Israelites.

• Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.

• Received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai.

Jewish Temples

• King David ruled around 1000-B.C.

• Solomon built the First Temple in Jerusalem.

• Kingdom divided into Israel and Judah.

• Babylonians destroyed the First Temple (587 B.C.).

• Second Temple built around 518 В.С.

• Romans destroyed the Second Temple (70 A.D.).

• Worship shifted to synagogues.

Jewish Holy Books

• Mishnah

• Talmud

• Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith

Mishnah

• Around 200 A.D.

• Written collection of Jewish oral laws.

Talmud

• Collection of Jewish laws and commentaries.

• It includes the Mishnah and Gemara.

• It explains the 813 commandments.

Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith

It was written by Maimonides.

Shabbat

• Weekly day of rest and prayer.

• Begins Friday sunset and ends Saturday night.

• Time for: Prayer, Reading the Torah, Attending synagogue, and Family meals.

• Orthodox and Conservative Jews avoid work and certain activities.

Kosher

• It refers to Jewish dietary laws based on the Torah.

• Food must be prepared according to Jewish dietary rules.

• Examples of dietary restrictions:

Do not eat blood.

Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk.

Do not eat shellfish.

Do not eat birds of prey.

Eat only animals with split hooves that chew cud.

• Some Jews strictly follow this, while others follow it only at home or not at all.

Birth and Naming

• Father prays for the 'child's health and well-being.

• Girls are usually named on the first Sabbath after birth.

• Boys are named on the eighth day during Brit Milah (circumcision).

Coming of Age

• Boys become adults at 13 years old.

• Girls become "Daughters of the Commandment" at 12 years old.

• They are expected to obey God's commandments.

Marriage

• Highly valued in Judaism.

• Family is the center of Jewish life.

• Only married men may become rabbis.

Family

It is the center of Jewish life.

Death

• Viewed as part of God's plan.

• Judaism teaches the immortality of the soul.

• Mourning services comfort the family.

• Family observes seven days of mourning, during which relatives and friends visit and bring food.