Judaism overview Founded:Founded: 13 13thth Century BCE Century BCE

Founder:Founder: MosesMoses, who emancipated the Jews from slavery in Egypt and later , who emancipated the Jews from slavery in Egypt and later established a ‘covenant’ between his people and Yahweh on Mount Sinai established a ‘covenant’ between his people and Yahweh on Mount Sinai

Traditionally, it is held that Traditionally, it is held that AbrahamAbraham and his descendants established Judaism and his descendants established Judaism before Moses, however the before Moses, however the 10 Commandments10 Commandments are now considered by many to are now considered by many to be the foundation upon which Judaism rests. be the foundation upon which Judaism rests.

RootsRoots: dating back approximately 4000 years= origins of Judaism, Islam and : dating back approximately 4000 years= origins of Judaism, Islam and

ChristianityChristianity

Place:Place: Palestine (sometimes called Canaan; now Israel Palestine (sometimes called Canaan; now Israel

Sacred BooksSacred Books: Old Testament (which consists of the Five Books of Law, the : Old Testament (which consists of the Five Books of Law, the historical books, the Prophets and other writings). The most sacred are the Five historical books, the Prophets and other writings). The most sacred are the Five Books of the Law= called the TORAHBooks of the Law= called the TORAH

Symbols:Symbols: Menorah and Star of David Menorah and Star of David

AdherentsAdherents: Smallest major world religions, making up 0.2 % human race : Smallest major world religions, making up 0.2 % human race

Birthplace of Judaism is also birthplace to Islam and Christianity

Ancient IsraelAncient Israel

What is in a name?What is in a name?

• Hebrew means “From across”- Hebrew means “From across”- name given to Abraham and name given to Abraham and his followers his followers

• Israelites: Abraham’s Israelites: Abraham’s grandson Jacob renamed grandson Jacob renamed Israel which means “he who Israel which means “he who has wrestled with God”. His has wrestled with God”. His descendants were called descendants were called “Israelites” “Israelites”

• Jews: named after Jacob’s Jews: named after Jacob’s son Judah, ancient father of son Judah, ancient father of tribe of King David’s dynastytribe of King David’s dynasty

Tracing Roots of Israel’s HistoryTracing Roots of Israel’s History• Nomadic tribes wandered into Palestine Nomadic tribes wandered into Palestine

from east in approximately 1900 BCE from east in approximately 1900 BCE

• Mesopotamian society dominated by Mesopotamian society dominated by polytheism polytheism

• God (Yahweh) appeared before God (Yahweh) appeared before Patriarch Abraham and told Abraham Patriarch Abraham and told Abraham ““to go and raise a great nationto go and raise a great nation” ”

• This began the monotheistic tradition of This began the monotheistic tradition of the Hebrew faith with the establishment the Hebrew faith with the establishment of the “Covenant”, “Chosen People” of the “Covenant”, “Chosen People” and “Promised Land” and “Promised Land”

• Abraham settled in Canaan Abraham settled in Canaan

• Story: Sacrifice of AbrahamStory: Sacrifice of Abraham

Patriarchs to JudaismPatriarchs to Judaism

AbrahamAbraham

God told Abraham to go to Haran then Canaan and “make of him a God told Abraham to go to Haran then Canaan and “make of him a great nation” great nation”

Began monotheistic tradition Began monotheistic tradition Covenant with God Covenant with God The story of the Sacrifice of Abraham The story of the Sacrifice of Abraham

Moses & Exodus: Moses & Exodus: “Let My People Go!”“Let My People Go!”

Moses received Moses received revelationsrevelations from God: from God: burning bush, rod / staff, 10 plagues, burning bush, rod / staff, 10 plagues, parting of the Red Sea parting of the Red Sea

End of 13End of 13thth century BCE- Moses led the century BCE- Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt during Israelites out of bondage in Egypt during Rames II reign called the Rames II reign called the EXODUS EXODUS

Moses led the 12 Tribes of Israel to Mount Moses led the 12 Tribes of Israel to Mount Sinai where Yahweh gave him the Sinai where Yahweh gave him the 10 10 CommandmentsCommandments, uniting the Hebrews , uniting the Hebrews under one God under one God

Moses and Hebrews searched for the Moses and Hebrews searched for the ““Promised LandPromised Land” or the land of milk and ” or the land of milk and honey, however they honey, however they wandered in the wandered in the desertdesert for 40 years for 40 years

Key ConceptsKey ConceptsCovenantCovenant solemn and binding agreement between God and Abraham solemn and binding agreement between God and Abraham

(humanity) as God as the Creator and the Chosen people (humanity) as God as the Creator and the Chosen people

Chosen People Chosen People Jews considered themselves to be God’s Chosen People as God Jews considered themselves to be God’s Chosen People as God

chose Abraham and led him to monotheism chose Abraham and led him to monotheism Jews were instruments of God’s will Jews were instruments of God’s will God chose Jews (humanity); humanity must choose GodGod chose Jews (humanity); humanity must choose God

Promised Land Promised Land Gained significance during Moses’ life as Hebrews sought to keep Gained significance during Moses’ life as Hebrews sought to keep

covenant and develop a community in the Promised Land. Jews covenant and develop a community in the Promised Land. Jews believe this is Israel. believe this is Israel.

Development of JudaismDevelopment of Judaism JudgesJudges: tribal leaders: tribal leaders

KingsKings: King Saul, King David, King Solomon (built temple): King Saul, King David, King Solomon (built temple)

Division:Division: Northern tribes = Israel; Southern tribes = Judah Northern tribes = Israel; Southern tribes = Judah

Prophetic TraditionProphetic Tradition: word of God spoken through prophets : word of God spoken through prophets “Love God and keep the covenant with Him”“Love God and keep the covenant with Him”

Exile in BabylonExile in Babylon= Temple of Solomon destroyed; creation of = Temple of Solomon destroyed; creation of synagogues and rabbis and concept of Messiah “anointed synagogues and rabbis and concept of Messiah “anointed one”one”

DiasporaDiaspora: dispersal of Jews outside of Israel and : dispersal of Jews outside of Israel and Hellenization Hellenization

Maccabean RevoltMaccabean Revolt: temple rededicated to God: temple rededicated to God

Expansion of Roman Empire and ruleExpansion of Roman Empire and rule: destroying of the : destroying of the temple leaving only the Western Wall; rabbinic Judaism temple leaving only the Western Wall; rabbinic Judaism (interpretative commentaries)(interpretative commentaries)

Key BeliefsKey BeliefsMonotheistic Monotheistic Oneness of Creator God Oneness of Creator God Human obligation to worship God Human obligation to worship God God is immaterial and indivisible God is immaterial and indivisible God is refered to as YHWH or YAHWEH “I am that I am” God is refered to as YHWH or YAHWEH “I am that I am”

Lineage Lineage People are born a Jew (through mother) or can convert (gerut) People are born a Jew (through mother) or can convert (gerut)

MitzvahMitzvah act of performing a good deed or commandment (ie. 10 act of performing a good deed or commandment (ie. 10

Commandments) Commandments) Bible contains total of 613 mitvoth (some positive, some negative) Bible contains total of 613 mitvoth (some positive, some negative)

Beliefs continued

Jesus Jesus View of Jesus = born a Jew a preacher and teacher View of Jesus = born a Jew a preacher and teacher Jesus was not the Son of God; the Messiah is still to come Jesus was not the Son of God; the Messiah is still to come

Suffering Suffering suffering is heightened because as the Chosen People, Jews suffering is heightened because as the Chosen People, Jews

expect to suffer for all of mankind expect to suffer for all of mankind

Death and AfterlifeDeath and Afterlife on death, body returns to earth (dust to dust) but soul return to God on death, body returns to earth (dust to dust) but soul return to God

who gave it who gave it body will be Resurrected and reunited with soul at a later time body will be Resurrected and reunited with soul at a later time

(therefore no cremation)(therefore no cremation)

TORAHTORAH Consists of Five Books of Consists of Five Books of Moses written on Moses written on parchment scroll in ancient parchment scroll in ancient form by hand and kept in form by hand and kept in ArkArk

Torah means “law” but Torah means “law” but more accurate is more accurate is “revelation”, “teaching” or “revelation”, “teaching” or “instruction”“instruction”

Torah is divided into 54 Torah is divided into 54 sections and one portion is sections and one portion is read each week (2 weeks read each week (2 weeks of year have a double of year have a double portion) so that the entire portion) so that the entire Torah is read from Torah is read from beginning to end in a year beginning to end in a year

Tanukh Tanukh Jewish Bible, consisting of Torah Jewish Bible, consisting of Torah

(Law of Moses), the Prophets, and (Law of Moses), the Prophets, and the Writingsthe Writings

Talmud Talmud Second most important source of Second most important source of

rabbinic Jewish law based on rabbinic Jewish law based on Mishnah, which complements and Mishnah, which complements and interprets the Torah and applies interprets the Torah and applies scripture to everyday life and scripture to everyday life and observanceobservance

Mishnah Mishnah Early rabbinic teachings on how to Early rabbinic teachings on how to

live according to Torah live according to Torah

Sacred TextsSacred Texts

PracticesPractices Holy Ark & Torah Holy Ark & Torah Blessings and prayer Blessings and prayer Minyan Minyan Kashruth Kashruth Shabbat Shabbat Circumcision Circumcision Shofar Shofar Bar / Bat Mitvah Bar / Bat Mitvah Marriage Marriage Death & ShivaDeath & Shiva

HolidaysHolidays• Rosh Hashanah and Yom Rosh Hashanah and Yom

Kippur Kippur • Hanukkah Hanukkah • PassoverPassover• SukkotSukkot

SymbolsSymbols• Star of DavidStar of David= shape of = shape of

King David’s shield; symbol King David’s shield; symbol adopted by Zionistsadopted by Zionists

• MenorahMenorah= ancient source of = ancient source of light light

• 7 branched= Sabbath 7 branched= Sabbath • 9 branched= Hanukah9 branched= Hanukah

DenominationsDenominations

• Orthodox Orthodox • Reform Reform • Conservative Conservative • Reconstructionist Reconstructionist • MessianicMessianic

Western WallWestern Wall Old City in Jerusalem• Section Temple Mount which has remained intact since the destruction of the Second Jerusalem Temple (70 CE)

•It became a center of mourning over the destruction of the Temple and Israel's exile

•it became known in European languages as the "Wailing Wall".

Judaism In ModernJudaism In ModernWorldWorld

Anti SemitismAnti Semitism in Ottawa and the Worldin Ottawa and the World

ZionismZionism movement originally for re-establishment movement originally for re-establishment

of Jewish nation in Israelof Jewish nation in Israel

Holocaust Holocaust (Heb., (Heb., sho'ah) sho'ah) which originally meant a which originally meant a

sacrifice totally burned by fire sacrifice totally burned by fire the annihilation of the Jews (6 million) the annihilation of the Jews (6 million)

and other groups of people of Europe (5 and other groups of people of Europe (5 million) under the Nazi regime during million) under the Nazi regime during World War IIWorld War II

Middle East Conflict Middle East Conflict Issue of who has the rightful claim to Issue of who has the rightful claim to

Jerusalem Jerusalem