Exploring the Religions of Our World

1. Exploring the Religions of Our World Chapter 2 Judaism

2. Chapter 2 Judaism A Living Religion 1. Judaism is the religion practiced by Jesus when he was living on earth. 2. Judaism is the religion of the Hebrew Bible and a religion still longing for God’s chosen one. 3. Being a Jew has both an ethnic and a religious connotation. 4. A religious Jew practices Judaism. An ethnic Jew may or may not practice Judaism.

3. Chapter 2 Judaism Periods of Jewish History Biblical Period 1800 BCE – 323 CE Medieval Period 639 - 1783 CE Rabbinic Period 323 BCE – 637 CE Modern Period 1783 - present

4. Chapter 2 Judaism Periods of Jewish History • Page 29

5. Chapter 2 Judaism Modern Judaism Reform Judaism – advocates full integration into the culture where one lives Conservative Judaism – counteracts reformed Judaism, modifying Jewish traditions in a limited manner Orthodox Judaism – the most traditional wing, insists its members strictly follow the Torah Reconstructionist Judaism – advocates Judaism as a culture, not only a religion

6. Study Questions p. 43 What did the Hebrews become in the 40 years it took to return to Canaan from Egypt? • The Hebrews became a convenantal community, owing their allegiance to God.

7. Study Questions p. 43 After the death of Solomon, why did the kingdom become more vulnerable to outside attacks? • The kingdom was divided into two after Solomon's death; North 10 tribes, the South two tribes • Both kingdoms weakened and fell prey to idolatry. • Israel fell to Assyrians in 722BCE; Judah conquered Babylon two centuries later

8. Study Questions p. 43 What is the diaspora? • The diaspora originally referred to the large community of Jews who lived outside of Palestine. • Driven out by foreign conquerors, the Jews were dispersed and set up Jewish communities throughout the world. • Today, it refers to all Jews outside of Israel.

9. Study Questions p. 43 According to Rabbi Hillel, what is the summation of the Torah? • “Whatever is hateful to you, you are not to do to your neighbor.”

10. Study Questions p. 43 Who is Moses Maimonides, and what did he argue for? • He was a medieval Jewish philosopher who argued that there was no contradiction between Aristotle and the Jewish religion.

11. Study Questions p. 43 Define Hadism • A spiritual movement founded by Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer in the 18th century. • In an era of darkness and persecution, he stressed the presence of God – light – in all aspects of Jewish life. • It was a comforting teaching that helped Jews endure trials.

12. Study Questions p. 43 Name the four types of Judaism in the Modern era. • Orthodox – literal interpretation of the Torah • Conservative – Modify Jewish traditions in a limited manner • Reformed – advocate full integration into the culture where one lives • Reconstructionist – Advocate Judaism as a culture rather than a religion

13. Chapter 2 Judaism Sacred writings Tanakh The Hebrew Bible Torah First five books Nevi’im Prophets Ketuvim Writings

14. Chapter 2 Judaism Other sacred writings Jerusalem Talmud commentary Midrash Biblical interpretation Babylonian Talmud commentary

15. Chapter 2 Judaism Beliefs and Practices Sh’ma “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

16. Chapter 2 Judaism Beliefs and Practices (continued) Torah 613 commandments God gave Moses Two Torahs: • Oral • Written Judaism can be summed up in three words: • God Torah, Israel

17. Chapter 2 Judaism Beliefs and Practices (continued) God’s covenant with Israel: “The Chosen People” “I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6)

18. Chapter 2 Judaism Sacred Times Annual Feasts: Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year, feast of Trumpets Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement (10 days after Rosh Hashanah ) Pesach – Passover (God’s saving Hebrews) Sukkot – Feast of Tabernacles/Booths (Desert times) Shavuot – Harvest festival / Moses’ reception of Torah Hanukkah – Festival of Lights (menorah) Purim – Feast of Lots

19. Chapter 2 Judaism Sacred Times (continued) Shabbat – the Jewish Sabbath • Weekly event • Begins Sunset Friday through sunset Saturday • Obedience to fourth commandment • Jews rest on the seventh day, as God did • Shabbat dinner – Friday evening • Celebrated as a family with Ritual Prayers, candles, wine, bread

20. Chapter 2 Judaism Sacred Places and Sacred Spaces Temple is associated with ritual sacrifices Temple was destroyed in 70 CE Synagogue House of prayer House of study House of assembly Home

21. Chapter 2 Judaism Sacred Places and Sacred Spaces (continued) At Passover, Jews pray, “Next year in Jerusalem” Land of Israel (AKA:) • Israel • Canaan • Promised Land • Judea • Palestine • State of Israel Jerusalem (AKA:) • Holiest city • City of David • Temple • Holy city for: Judaism, Christianity, Islam

22. Chapter 2 Judaism Judaism through a Catholic Lens Judaism Christianity Commonalities History Scripture Liturgy Rituals Theology

23. Chapter 2 Judaism Judaism through a Catholic Lens (continued) Differences Judaism Christianity Still awaits a Messiah or messianic age to come Messiah would be a human (not God) warrior-king, political figure from the House of David Jesus was the Messiah Jesus is God Jesus will return at the 2nd coming

24. Chapter 2 Judaism Judaism through a Catholic Lens (continued) Jewish influences in Catholicism JewishChristian The Hebrew Bible Old Testament Passover meal the Lord’s Supper Passover Holy Thursday Shavuot Pentecost

25. Chapter 2 Judaism - Vocabulary • Pogroms • Yiddish • Hasidism • Zionism • Tanak • Mishnah • Midrash • Sh’ma • Conversos • Holy of Holies • Mitzvoth • Covenant • Shabbat • Pesach • Yom Kippur • Rosh Hashanah • Mezuzah • Kosher • Arranged marriage • Torah • Idolatry • Diaspora • Hellenization • Septuagint • Sadducees • Pharisees • Essenes • Rabbi • Talmud • Monotheistic

26. Chapter 2 Judaism - Vocabulary Torah – 1st five books of the Bible, Pentateuch, Idolatry – giving worship to something other than God Diaspora – Jews living outside Judea (Holy Land) Hellenization – The adoption of Greek ways and speech Septuagint – “70” translators of Jewish scriptures to Greek Sadducees – Jewish leaders who strictly interpreted Torah Pharisees – Loose interpretation of Torah (resurrection) Essenes – Monastic Jews responsible for Dead Sea scrolls Rabbi – My Teacher religious leader who teaches and judges Talmud – Books of commentaries on the interpretation of Torah Monotheistic – A belief on one God Shoah – Hebrew for “calamity”, refers to holocaust in WWII

27. Chapter 2 Judaism - Vocabulary Pogrom – the massacre and expulsion of a minority Yiddish – a language developed from German and Hebrew Hasidism – Meaning pious, founded by devout Polish Jews, called Orthodox Jews today Zionism – the movement which sought the creation of a Jewish home state (now Israel) Tanakh -The Hebrew word for the Jewish bible Mitzvot – A commandment of the Jewish law Mishnah – the oral Torah or teaching Midrash – Biblical interpretation typically found in the Talmud's, which can provide answers for every situation in life Sh’ma – “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” Dt 6:4

28. Chapter 2 Judaism - Vocabulary Covenant – a binding, solemn agreement or sacred promise between God and His people Shabbat – The Sabbath, begins at sunset on Friday Pesach – Passover, an annual meal celebrating the Exodus Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year Mezuzah – the parchment of Sh’ma in the right doorpost Kosher – Hebrew for proper, refers to permitted dietary laws Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year Holy of Holies – The sanctuary inside the tabernacle in the Temple of Jerusalem Conversos – the Spanish Jews who converted to Christianity at the time of the Spanish Inquisition