Israel
= where Judaism is practiced
= where Judaism originated
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Judaism originated in Israel
According to the Israel Central Bureau of
Statistics there is 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
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Abraham- The Hebrew patriarch from whom all Jews trace their
descent
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The first founder of Judaism
Physical and spiritual ancestor of the Jewish people
Father of the faith
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Covenant- is an agreement found in the bible between God and His
people in which God makes specific promises and demands
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Diaspora- the dispersion of Jews outside of Israel
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When they were exiled they were sent to Babylonia until present time
Ethical Monotheism- is a term used to describe a belief in one God who
guides humanity through ethical principles. This can be seen as distinct
from monotheistic beliefs which may be based on dogma or doctrines.
Ethical monotheists sometimes believe that all ethical standards are
derived from God and they are thus dependent upon the divine in this
way.
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Hanukkah- A Jewish festival, lasting eight days from the
25th day of Kislev (in December) and commemorating the
rededication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after
its desecration by the Syrians.
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.
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It is a major eight day festival
Matzah is eaten throughout the festival
Great spring cleaning in the home before the festival
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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.
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Synagogue- House of worship for Jewish congregation
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Over the two days there are special services at the synagogue
A musical instrument called a shofar is blown. It makes a loud piercing sound like a trumpet and
reminds the Jews of Gods great power
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
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Collection of ancient Jewish writings that forms the basis of Jewish
religious law, consisting of the early scriptural interpretations and the
later commentaries
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Torah- the most holy Jewish book. It’s the first five books of
the Hebrew Bible
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Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
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Torah is stored inside the Ark and no one is allowed to touch the Torah
Yahweh- Hebrew name of God
The Wailing Wall- Thought by the Jews to be the most scared
of places, temple itself was thought to be the place where God
resides on earth
Yom Kippur- Jewish holy day
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The holiest day of the Jewish year, on which Jews fast and say prayers of
penitence
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http://lubavitch.com/news/article/2032333/Themes-of-JewishLife-and-Texts-Explored-at-National-Jewish-Retreat.html
 This article was about a national Jewish Retreat. It was hosted
at the Hyatt Regency of Greenwich,CT.
 Its five days and there were numbers of 800 people. Guest were
feted with impressive lectures and workshops.
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http://lubavitch.com/news/article/2020946/Jewish-Children-inPublic-School-Chabad-to-Combat-Assimilation.html
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This article was about Jews in public schools. Many Jews who are enrolled in
public schools are not enrolled in any form of religious education. That puts
those kids in the red zone. 250 students enrolled in Torah 4 Teens a project in
Ontario. But the students participating in Torah 4 Teens receive high school for
teens.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/23/new-york-synagoguerestores-torah-that-survived-confiscation-bynazis/?iref=allsearch
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This article was a Torah that got restored in New York. It was destroyed for a
long time. They fixed errors and made it look brand new.
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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
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Rabbi is not a priest. A Rabbi has no more authority to
perform rituals than any other adult male member of the
Jewish community
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Chazzan is the person who leads the congregation in prayer. In
smaller congregations the rabbi is often serves as both rabbi
and chazzan. Professional chazzans are ordained clergy.
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Rabbi is simply a teacher
One of their most important duties is teaching young people to lead all or
part of a Shabbat service and to chant the Torah
Chazzan can conduct weddings and funerals. They can also visit
sick congregants and teach adult classes.
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The history of Judaism is inseparable from the history of
Jews themselves. God chose the Jews to be an example to the
world and how God and his chosen people worked out their
relationship
Jewish history began during the Bronze Age. The birth of the
Jewish people and the start of Judaism is told in the first five
books in the bible
God guided the Jewish people through many troubles and gave
them a set of rules
This was a beginning of Judaism as a structured religion. They
became a powerful people with kings.
Around 920 BCE the kingdom fell apart and the Jewish people
split into groups
Then the Jews grew in strength throughout the next 300
years and the temple was restored
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The Hebrew word for wife and mother is Akeret Habayit. It
means mainstay of the home. As a wife and mother she has the
duty to keep her house up to the Jewish rules. They have to
have so much stuff to do with their home. She also has to
supply food and keep the house clean.
Duty of a Rabbi is to teach the congregation. They must also
know secular subjects like medicine, mathematics, astrology
and astronomy. They must also be familiar with magic and
idolatry, in order to know how to judge such cases. They also
must know the Torah.
The children really become part of this religion when they
have their Bar mitzvah or Bat mitzvah. When they have that
then they become adults in their faith.
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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 just a celebration of them becoming adults in the Jewish
religion.
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Jews call marriage Kiddushin
 Kiddushin is the Hebrew word which means made
holy or special
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
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The Star of David
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Menorah
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Mezuzah
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Torah
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On their heads a devout Jew always 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.
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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
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