Judaism

Jewish Patriarchs

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- NOT MOSES

Abraham

* Lived in Ur, couldn’t conceive
* Made Covenant with God, moved to Canaan as God asked and had Isaac
* Almost sacrificed Isaac on Mt Sinai
* The descendents of Abraham are the chosen Jewish people

God’s Covenant with Abraham

In return for God’s protection, the chosen land and as many children as stars in the sky, Abraham committed to monotheism and circumcision.

Moses’s revelation

* Moses fled Egypt- received a revelation at Mt Sinai
* God said if the Israelites kept the covenant alive through the mitzvot, they would be the chosen people
* Therefore, given 613 mitzvot which became the Torah

3 MAIN BELIEFS

* One God
* Moral Law
* The Covenant

One God

* God is transcendent, but involved
* Has no form, morally perfect and can’t be written down (G-d)

Moral law

* The belief in the Torah and the 613 commandments given by God to Moses

Covenant

* The agreement between God and Jewish people that began with Abraham and cemented by Moses
* Jews believe they are responsible for upholding the knowledge and the Jewish way of life

Jewish Ethics derived from:

Sacred texts which detail the revelation from God and the commandments

What ethics are contained in the 613 Mitzvot

* Concept of good and evil- Not to insult or harm anybody with words
* Value of human life- Not to stand idly by if someone’s life is in danger
* The idea of holiness- Observe the laws of menstrual impurity
* What to wear and eat- Men must not shave the hair off the sides of their head and To eat Matzah on the first night of Passover

Types of Mitzvot

* 365 negative commandments- though shall not
* 248 positive commandments- must

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* Some time dependent (festivals)
* Some not (giving to poor)

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* Some between humans and God
* Some between humans and humans

Why follow mitzvot

* Required in Torah and Talmud
* Confer holiness to humanity

Example of ethical teaching: Tikkun Olam

* Jewish commitment to social justice- a partnership with God to bring the world back to order

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WITHIN TIKKUN OLAM THERE IS

Gemilut Chasadim= Giving kindness

Tzedakah= Giving financially

Tenach (written law) contains

* Nevlim- Prophet writings
* Ketuvim- other writings
* Torah

Torah contains:

5 books detailing Jewish history and containing the 613 commandments

Oral Law (The Talmuds) contain

* Two different versions of Gemara but the same Mishnah
* Has two categories of writing: Halachah and Aggadah

Mishnah

* How to interpret the Tenach (written law)
* The oral law from moses

Aggadah

The narrative of Jewish life (the stories of oral teaching)

Halachah

How to live out the Mitzvot (all the laws of the oral teaching)

What is Shabbat

The commandment given by God that the 7th day is for worship and rest

What can’t you do on Shabbat

* Cook
* Drive
* Business
* Turn off lights

ANY LABOUR

What must you do on Shabbat

* Wear best clothes and eat off of best dishes
* Cooking of Challah bread and setting of the table is always done in advance- and light the candles
* Go to the synagogue especially
* Have a Shabbat meal with uncovered Challah bread
* Do the Havdalah

Shabbat candles

2 candle are lit by the woman of the household and she says a prayer

* One represents remember, one represents observe

Havdalah

A Shabbat prayers that involves blessing over wine, spices and candles

Importance of Shabbat

Jews appreciate their gifts from God and centre themselves with their family