Exploring the Religions
of Our World
Chapter 2 Judaism
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.
Modern Period 1783 - present
Medieval Period
639 - 1783 CE
Rabbinic Period
323 BCE – 637 CE
Biblical Period
1800 BCE – 323 CE
Chapter 2 Judaism
Periods of Jewish History
Chapter 2 Judaism
Periods of Jewish History
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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
Chapter 2 Judaism
Sacred writings
Tanakh
Torah
first five books
The Hebrew Bible
Nevi’im
prophets
Ketuvim
writings
Chapter 2 Judaism
Other sacred writings
Jerusalem
Talmud
Midrash
Babylonian
commentary
Talmud
Biblical
interpretation
commentary
Chapter 2 Judaism
Beliefs and Practices
Sh’ma
“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God,
the Lord is One”
(Deuteronomy 6:4)
Chapter 2 Judaism
Beliefs and Practices (continued)
Torah
613
commandments
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)
Chapter 2 Judaism
Sacred Times
Annual Feasts:
• Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year
• Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement
• Sukkot –Feast of Tabernacles/Booths
• Pesach – Passover
• Shavuot – Harvest festival / reception of Torah
• Hanukkah – Festival of Lights
• Purim – Feast of Lots
Chapter 2 Judaism
Sacred Times (continued)
Shabbat – the Jewish Sabbath
• weekly event
• sunset Friday through sunset Saturday
• obedience to fourth commandment
• Jews rest on the seventh day, as God did
• Shabbat dinner – Friday evening
Chapter 2 Judaism
Sacred Places and Sacred Spaces
Synagogue
house of prayer
house of study
house of assembly
Home
Chapter 2 Judaism
Sacred Places and Sacred Spaces (continued)
Land of Israel
= Israel
= Canaan
= Promised Land
= Judea
= Palestine
= State of Israel
Jerusalem
• holiest city
• City of David
• Temple
• holy city for:
Judaism,
Christianity, Islam
Chapter 2 Judaism
Judaism through a Catholic Lens
Judaism
Commonalities
History
Scripture
Liturgy
Theology
Christianity
Chapter 2 Judaism
Judaism through a Catholic Lens (continued)
Differences
Judaism
Christianity
Still expects a Messiah
Jesus was the Messiah
or messianic age to come
Jesus is God
Chapter 2 Judaism
Judaism through a Catholic Lens (continued)
Jewish influences in Catholicism
The Hebrew Bible – Old Testament
Passover meal – the Lord’s Supper
Passover – Holy Thursday
Shavuot – Pentecost
Chapter 2 Judaism
Vocabulary
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Torah
Idolatry
Diaspora
Hellenization
Septuagint
Sadducees
Pharisees
Essenes
Rabbi
Talmud
Monotheistic
Sephardim
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Pogroms
Ashkenazim
Yiddish
Hasidism
Zionism
Tanak
Nevi’im
Ketuvim
Mishnah
Midrash
Sh’ma
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Mitzvoth
Covenant
Halakhic
Shabbat
Pesach
Yom Kippur
Havdalah
Bimah
Mezuzah
Kosher
Testament