Characteristics of Judaism 

Judaism includes cultural aspects, which makes it more than just a religion

Some Jewish choose to keep kosher

Kosher = dietary restrictions such as:

  • no mixing meat and dairy
    • some people have different plates to ensure meat and dairy don’t mix
  • no eating pork
  • no blood
    • meat must be drained out so that there isn’t a lot of blood in it
  • no shellfish
    • avoid bottom feeders

Jewish live all over the World but originated and feel most connected to Israel

Judaism was founded by Abraham, Isaac and Moses helped to start it

Jewish worship from a bible

  • Their bible is called the Torah and is the First Five Books of Moses
  • Torah = The Old Testament

Judaism is the mother religion to Christianity and Islam

All branches practice Matrilineal Descent

  • matrilineal descent = if someone’s mom is Jewish, they are considered to be Jewish

A person can convert to Judaism and be considered a full Jewish

The languages of Judaism are Hebrew and Yiddish

  • yiddish = an Eastern European dialect

Judaism was the first monotheistic religion

Jewish follow the same 10 commandments as Christians

There are 4 branches of Judaism

  1. Hasidic
  2. Orthodox
  3. Conservative
  4. Reform

JEWISH ARE NOT A RACE! They are a religion, culture, and ethnicity

All branches of Judaism worship in a Temple or Synagouge