JUDAISM

Honors World History 12.2.2 World Religions

Where Judaism Practiced

= where Judaism is practiced = where Judaism originated

Israel

Where is Judaism Practiced Cont.

Judaism originated in Israel According to the Israel Central Bureau of

Statistics there are 14,993,000 Jews worldwide

In Israel alone there is 5,703,700 United States has 5,275,000 Canada has 375,000 Mexico has 39,400

Terms

Abraham- The Hebrew founder from whom all Jews trace their descent

The first founder of Judaism Physical and spiritual ancestor of the Jewish people Father of the faith

Covenant- is an agreement between God and His people in which God makes specific promises and demands

Terms

Hanukkah- A Jewish festival, lasting eight days from the 25th day of Kislev (in December) and commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BCE by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. Symbolized by the menorah.

Moses- He is the most important prophet in Judaism. Moses is the leader who freed them from slavery in Egypt. Moses protected the Jews from the wrath of God, and negotiated with God on their behalf. 

Passover- is celebrated to commemorate the liberation of the Children of Israel who were led out of slavery in Egypt by Moses.

It is a major eight day festival Matzah is eaten throughout the festival Great spring cleaning in the home before the festival

Terms

Rabbi- A Jewish scholar or teacher especially one who studies or teaches Jewish law. A person appointed as a Jewish religious leader.

Rosh Hashanah- Jewish new year, it commemorates the creation of the world.

Synagogue- House of worship for Jewish congregation The place of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation Men and women usually sit separately in the Synagogues

Talmud- The book of Jewish law- Jewish Holy Book Collection of ancient Jewish writings that forms the basis of Jewish

religious law

Terms

Torah- the most holy Jewish book. It’s the first five books of the Hebrew Bible

Yahweh- Hebrew name of God The Wailing Wall- Thought by the Jews to be the most

sacred of places, temple itself was thought to be the place where God resides on earth

Yom Kippur- Jewish holy day The holiest day of the Jewish year, on which Jews fast and say prayers

of penitence

What Jews believe

Jews believe that there is a single God who not only created the universe, but with whom every Jew can have an individual and personal relationship

They also believe that their Savior has not come yet

They believe that everyone was created in the image of God For this reason every person is equally

important and has an infinite potential to do good in the world

Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah

They are both special ceremonies where Jewish boys at age 13 and girls at age 12 can become adults in the eyes of the Jewish religion

Bar mitzvah is for boys and means Son of the Commandments

Bat mitzvah is for girls and means Daughter of the Commandment

It is a celebration of them becoming adults in the Jewish religion.

Jewish Marriage

The couple gets married under a huppah Huppah is a canopy

The couple make a written contract or promise together which is called a Ketubah

Glass is broken at the end of the ceremony to remind them that their joy will never be complete until the Holy Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt

Symbols of Judaism

The Star of David

Menorah

Mezuzah

Torah

Special Clothing Jews May Wear

On their heads a devout Jew wears a Kippah to remind him that he is always duty bound to follow the laws of God at all times and in all places.

Before beginning to worship or pray the devout Jew will often put on a tallit. The fringes on the shawl remind him of the many commandments of the Torah. Tallit is a prayer shawl

The boxes are worn on the left forearm and on the forehead. Inside the boxes are passages from the scriptures. A tefilin on the left arm is a reminder to keep God's laws with all your heart, because it is near to the heart. A tefilin on the forehead remind the Jew to concentrate on the teachings of the Torah with all your full mind. Tefilin are small leather box with a long leather straps attached Tefilin are worn when praying at the home or in the synagogue

INSIDE THE SYNAGOGUE

LO: To learn about the features of a synagogue and how Jewish people

worship God.

THE SYNAGOGUE IS THE SPECIAL JEWISH PLACE OF WORSHIP.

It is where Jewish people study, pray, worship and celebrate.

REFORMED JEWISH PEOPLE SIT IN MIXED CONGREGATIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN.

Orthodox Jewish people believe women should sit separately to

men.

WHEN BOYS AND MEN GO INTO THE SYNAGOGUE THEY MUST COVER THEIR HEADS.

The little round hat they wear is called a kippah. They often wear a prayer shawl over their shoulders, called a tallit.

EVERY SYNAGOGUE CONTAINS AN ARK.

This is a special cupboard where the Torah Scrolls, which contain the text of the Hebrew bible, are kept.

WHAT DO YOU NOTICE ABOUT THIS ARK?

Are there any symbols or images you have seen before?

THE ARK IS NAMED AFTER THE WOODEN CHEST WHICH HELD THE STONE TABLETS OF THE COVENANT THAT GOD

GAVE TO MOSES ON MOUNT SINAI.

The search for that original Ark formed the plot of the movie Raiders Of The Lost Ark.

It also represents the pillar of fire that guided the Jewish people on

their early journey.

AN ETERNAL LIGHT (CALLED NER TAMID) HANGS ABOVE THE ARK. THIS LIGHT IS ALWAYS BURNING, AS A SYMBOL OF GOD'S PRESENCE.

During the service, the Ark is ceremonially opened, and the Torah scroll is carried in procession to the reading desk, unrolled to the reading chosen for the day and laid on the reading desk.

THE INTERIOR OF A SYNAGOGUE CAN BE VERY BEAUTIFUL, JUST LIKE A CATHEDRAL.

JEWISH PEOPLE BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE NO STATUES OR IMAGES OF PEOPLE’S FACES IN THEIR HOLY PLACES.

Their stained glass often shows special objects, such as the menorah, the tree of life or the Star of David .