Judaism

Moses 

• Covenant Significance

  • Covenant between God and Hebrews gained new significance during Moses' time

  • Patriarchal covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob:

    • God loves humanity, humanity loves God (vs. polytheistic gods)

• Mosaic Period

  • God provides commandments for people to maintain the covenant

  • Drought in Canaan leads descendants of Abraham to Egypt

  • Egyptians enslave the Hebrews

  • By Ramses II's reign, slavery is entrenched, liberation seems distant

• Moses' Early Life

  • Born of Hebrew slaves, adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter

  • Grew up in the imperial court, favored until he killed an Egyptian

  • Fled to Midian, welcomed by Jethro, a priest

• Encounter with God

  • While tending sheep, Moses reaches Mount Horeb (mountain of God)

  • Encounters God through a burning bush

  • God hears the cries of the Israelites; promises liberation through Moses

  • Describes the Promised Land as “flowing with milk and honey”

  • God reveals name: “Ehyeh-asher-Ehyeh” (means “I am in the process of becoming” or “I will be who I will be”)

• Mission to Free the Hebrews

  • Moses embarks on the mission despite Pharaoh's strength

  • God brings ten plagues upon Egypt to persuade Pharaoh:

    • Tenth plague: angel of death strikes first-borns

    • Hebrews instructed to smear lamb's blood on doorposts for protection (celebrated in Passover)

  • Pharaoh's son dies, leading to the release of the Hebrews

• The Exodus

  • Moses leads Hebrews across the Red Sea into Sinai peninsula

  • Mass emigration known as the Exodus (means “going out” or “departure”)

  • Represents transition from slavery to freedom

• Receiving the Ten Commandments

  • God gives Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai

  • Commandments outline laws for the people to maintain the covenant with God

• Legacy of Moses

  • Events of Passover, Exodus, and Ten Commandments renew the covenant

  • Hebrews draw inspiration from Moses, choose to worship God, and follow commandments for a peaceful, faithful life.

Abraham 

• According to Hebrew scriptures, around 2000 BCE:

  • Abraham received a vision from God.

  • Instruction to leave his home in Ur (Mesopotamia):

    • Move to Haran and later to Canaan.

  • Abraham’s revelation was from one God, not the polytheistic gods of Mesopotamia.

  • Origin of the monotheistic tradition in Hebrew faith.

• God’s message to Abraham (Genesis 12: 1–2):

  • "Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you."

  • "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing."

• Abraham instructed to:

  • Move to a special land to raise a nation.

  • He obeyed God, eventually settling in Canaan.

• Emergence of two key ideas in Judaism:

  • Jews as God’s chosen people:

    • Amid polytheism and idolatry, God chose Abraham.

    • Promise to make Abraham a "great nation."

  • The concept of a Promised Land:

    • Gained significance during Moses’ time.

    • Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob aimed to keep the covenant and build a community in the Promised Land.

• Foundation of the covenant with Abraham:

  • A covenant is a solemn, binding agreement (like a contract).

  • The covenant established:

    • God as creator and governor of all.

    • The chosen people to honor God’s covenant.

The Holocaust

• Named “Shoah” which means destruction in Hebrew

• Mass murder of 6 millions Jews by the Nazis during the WWII

Zionism

• Zionism, Jewish nationalist movement with the goal of the creation and support of a Jewish national state in Palestine. 

• Originated during the late 19th century in Europe. 

• Further support after Holocaust.

What is the Torah, Talmud, and Tanakh?

• Torah

  • Sacred writings of Judaism 

  • Refers to the Law of Moses

  • Scriptures and the entire belief system of the Jewish faith

  • Translated to mean “law”, “revelation”, or “teaching”

  • Written Torah is a description of the development of God’s relationship with the Chosen people

  • SEFER TORAH is the text of the five books of Moses written on parchment

• Talmud

  • Rabbinic teachings derived from the Mishnah

  • Main source of Jewish teaching from the medieval period to the present\

• Tanakh 

  • Torah + Prophets (Nevi’im) + Writings (Ketuvim)

  • Hebrew Bible 

Shofar

• A rams horn that is repurposed for Jewish Rituals. 

• Is blown on Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur. 

Tallit (Tallis)

• A prayer shawl worn by Jews, it can be made of wool, cotton, and maybe silk.

Kippah/Yarmulke

• A small cap worn by Jews to show respect to God, and give a sense of humility. 

Star of David 

•  A symbol of the nation and identity of Jewish people. 

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

• A coming of age ceremony. 

• Bar Mitzvah is when a boy turns 13 in Judaism, he is now considered an adult.

• Bat Mitzvah is when a girl turns 12, she is now considered a woman. 

• Celebrated with family and friends. 

Menorah 

• A 7 branched candlestick which represents the 7 days of Creation, with the center candle representing the Sabbath (Sunday) 

Shema

• Jewish Declaration of Faith

• “Hear, O Israel, The Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” 

Tefillin 

• Two black leather gloves worn by Jewish adults, they are worn on the forehead and upper arm. 

• Purpose is to bind your heart and mind to God when Jews pray. 

Rabbi

• A spiritual leader or religious teacher, their role is to lead the congregation in prayers and readings from the Torah. 

Synagogue

•  Jewish place of worship. 

Covenant (sign of the covenant too) 

• Sacred agreement with God

• The Sabbath, The Rainbow, and Circumcision are signs of the covenants that Jews made with God. 

Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Judaism

• Branch: Orthodox

  • View of Torah

    • Torah is from Heaven and is the word of God

    • Unchanging body of truth

  • Great adherence to tradition

    • Role of Women

    • Men are leaders in worship and rituals

    • Roles of women are focused on the home and being a good wife and mother

    • Women dress modestly

Branch: Reform

• View of Torah

  • Written and spoken Torah are human creations

  • Torah can be refined over time

• Role of Women

  • Abolished partitions between genders

  • Ordain female rabbis

  • Women may initiate divorce

  • Accepts equality of men and women

Branch: Conservative

• View of Torah

  • Torah revealed by God to and through the people

  • -Middle view between Orthodox and Reform

• Role of Women

  • Women and men sit together in synagogue

  • Women equal participants in religious services

  • Women can become cantors and rabbis

  • Bat mitzvah rite for girls

• Branch: Reconstructionist

  • View of Torah

  • View Torah as a work in progress

• Role of Women

  • Believes in full gender equality

Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Passover, Yom Kippur, etc.

• Rosh Hashanah

  • English Name: Jewish New Year.

  • When: Early fall, usually in September.

  • Why: Marks the beginning of the Jewish year and a time for reflection and repentance.

  • How: Celebrated with prayers, the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn), and eating sweet foods like apples and honey.

• Yom Kippur

  • English Name: Day of Atonement.

  • When: 10 days after Rosh Hashanah, usually in September or October.

  • Why: A day for repentance, seeking forgiveness, and atonement for sins.

  • How: Observed with fasting, intense prayer, and seeking forgiveness from God and others.

• Hanukkah

  • English Name: Festival of Lights.

  • When: December.

  • Why: Commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.

  • How: Celebrated by lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, and eating foods fried in oil like latkes and sufganiyot.

• Pesach (Passover)

  • English Name: Passover.

  • When: Spring, usually in March or April.

  • Why: Commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

  • How: Celebrated with a Seder meal, reading the Haggadah, and eating matzah (unleavened bread).

• Shabbat (Sabbath)

  • English Name: Sabbath.

  • When: Weekly, from Friday evening to Saturday evening.

  • Why: A day of rest and spiritual renewal, in remembrance of God’s creation of the world.

  • How: Observed by lighting candles, attending synagogue services, sharing meals, and refraining from work.\

Jerusalem

• The birthplace of Judaism. 

• Capital of Jewish state (King David established this in 1000 BCE. 

• The first and second temples were made. 

Kosher 

• A dietary restriction that applies to all Jewish people. 

• Foods that are Kosher are: Cow, Sheep, Goats, Deer, Chicken, Duck, Geese, Turkey, Salmon, Flounder, Herrings, Healthy Animals,

• Foods that are not Kosher are: Pigs, Bats, Vultures, Insects and Bugs, Shellfish, Catfish, Crabs, Swordfish, Lobster, Unhealthy Animals, Cheeseburgers.