JUDAISM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5hvXgI_bQ

Population

• Over 13 million Jews in world—largest populations are in Israel and U.S. (approximately number of Illinois residents)

• .2 percent of world population

By Numbers:

Population (Urban centers)• Tel Aviv 2,560,000• New York 1,970,000• Los Angeles 655,000• Haifa621,0004.75• Jerusalem 570,000• SouthFlorida514,000• Paris310,000• Philadelphia 276,000• Chicago 261,000• Buenos Aires 244,000• Boston 227,0001

Symbols: Kippah (head covering)

It is found in other

religions…

Star of David

KEY BELIEFS • Monotheistic: belief in one god• Covenant: Jews will follow god’s laws and

they will be blessed.• The circumcision ceremony seals the

“covenant”.

Key beliefs

• Jerusalem is holy city • Emphasize life on earth—not Heaven and

Hell. • People have free will to do good or bad. • Some Jews believe in the eventual coming of

the Messiah: A person who will bring heaven to earth.

Mount of Olives

HISTORY BC/AD

• BC (Before Christ): Before the birth of Jesus.

Example: 1341-1323 BC (King Tut’s life)

• AD (Anno Domini) Latin for “In the time of our lord”

Example: 1492 AD (Columbus sailed)

CE/ BCE (politically correct)

BCE: Before Common Era

Example: 220 BCE (Great Wall of China)

CE: Common Era

Example: 1945 CE (World War II ends)

Important events from history

• 2nd Temple and Jerusalem destroyed by Roman 73 CE (AD) after 1st Jewish revolt.

Second Temple (model)

Roman Conquest:

Romans used Jewish loot and Jewish slaves to

build the coliseum

History • Romans exile Jews from Israel in 150 CE after 2nd Jewish revolt. • Jews spread to rest of the world (Diaspora). • Live in places like Spain and Eastern Europe but some even in Ethiopia,

India and China.

More history….

Anti-Semitism: prejudice and hatred directed at Jews. Many Jews left Europe in 1800’s and early 1900’s and moved to the U.S.

• Anti-Semitism reached its peak with the Holocaust (occurred during WWII from 1939-1945). Six million out of Europe’s nine million Jews were killed.

• Israel is reestablished as a Jewish state in 1948

Auschwitz

Israel

Tel Aviv (Israel’s largest city)

HOLY BOOK

HOLY BOOK

• TeNaKh: 1) Torah 2) Prophets 3) Writings

• Torah: Five books

• Genesis: (1st book): a) World is created b) Adam and Eve c) Noah’s Ark d) Abraham and Isaac

• Exodus (2nd book): Story of Moses

• Deuteronomy (5th book): Ends with Death of Moses

Moses parts the Red Sea

Abraham and Isaac

HOLY BOOK

• In the Torah 613 Commandments (Mitzvot)– To circumcise the male offspring – To place mezuzah on the doorposts and gates of

your house – To leave the unreaped corner of the field or

orchard for the poor – Not to eat milk and meat together. (keep

Kosher)

Sects: Orthodox

View of who wrote the torah God

Approach to laws•Keep Kosher• Services in Hebrew/no instruments• keep the Sabbath. (e.g. do not drive, write, cook, talk on the phone, use elevator) •Against interfaith marriage—cut off those that do. • Can become Jewish by birth or through orthodox conversion.

Orthodox Jews (continued)

• View of women Cannot be leaders of synagogue. Pray separately. Wear conservative clothing and cover hair in public

The word Orthodox means: To strictly follow approved beliefs.

Sects: Conservative

Conservative Jews believe that it is important to hold on to the traditions as much as possible in a modern world. (to conserve the traditions.)

View of who wrote the torah Either written by god or Inspired by God and written by men.

Approach to laws•Some Keep Kosher• Services mostly in Hebrew/no instruments• Many keep the Sabbath • Interfaith marriages not encouraged

View of women •Pray together •Can be rabbis • Dress as they please

Sects: ReformView of who wrote the torah

Inspired by God and written by men.

Approach to laws

•Few keep Kosher• Services in Hebrew and English• Instruments such as organ or guitar used• Few keep the Sabbath. •Against interfaith marriage but reject cutting off family.

View of women •Pray together •Can be rabbis • Dress as they please

The word “Reform” means to improve

Orthodox Synagogue

Practices and Rituals/Worship Services

• Shabbat (Sabbath): Day of rest • Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement for

sins • Rosh Hashana: New year (5770) • Passover: Exodus from slavery in

Egypt