SEPTEMBER FACT SHEET - Judaism
WHAT IS JUDAISM?
Around 4,000 years ago a nomadic tribe led by Abraham abandoned their old
gods and became monotheists – worshippers of one god, known as Hebrews.
Abraham and his followers left their home in the territory now called Iraq, and
settled in Canaan, the area to the west of the River Jordan, which is now
Israel and Palestine.
Today, there are some 15 million Jews around the world, with the largest
community in the USA.
WHAT DO JEWS BELIEVE?
Jews believe in one God but do not worship prophets. Orthodox Jews believe
that a Messianic age will come, bringing peace and justice through the cooperation of all people and the help of God.
The Jews regard their relationship with God as a binding agreement, or
'Covenant'. There are 613 mitzvoth (laws) covering every aspect of daily life.
Collective worship is in a synagogue over the Sabbath (Saturday) but Jews
also pray individually at home, three times a day. Each synagogue contains
an Ark, a cupboard which houses The Torah, handwritten in Hebrew on a
parchment scroll.
In Judaism, actions are far more important than beliefs, although there is
certainly a place for belief within Judaism.
The closest that anyone has ever come to creating a widely-accepted list of
Jewish beliefs is Rambam's thirteen principles of faith. Rambam's thirteen
principles of faith, which he thought were the minimum requirements of
Jewish belief, are:
God exists
God is one and unique
God is incorporeal
God is eternal
Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other
The words of the prophets are true
Moses's prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets
The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now
contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses
There will be no other Torah
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God knows the thoughts and deeds of men
God will reward the good and punish the wicked
The Messiah will come
The dead will be resurrected
WHO IS A JEW?
The original name for the people we now call Jews was Hebrews. The word
"Hebrew" (in Hebrew, "Ivri") is first used in the Torah to describe Abraham
(Gen. 14:13). The word is apparently derived from the name Eber, one of
Abraham's ancestors. Another tradition teaches that the word comes from the
word "eyver," which means "the other side," referring to the fact that Abraham
came from the other side of the Euphrates, or referring to the fact Abraham
was separated from the other nations morally and spiritually.
Another name used for the people is Children of Israel or Israelites, which
refers to the fact that the people are descendants of Jacob, who was also
called Israel.
FESTIVALS
Passover
Passover is the 8 day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus
of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh
Ramses II.
A time of family gatherings and lavish meals called Seders, the story of
Passover is retold through the reading of the Haggadah. With its special
foods, songs, and customs, the Seder is the focal point of the Passover
celebration. Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan.
As the Jewish day begins at sundown the night before, for the year 2005, the
first night of Passover will be April 23rd.
Purim
Purim is the most festive of Jewish holidays, a time of prizes, noisemakers,
costumes and treats. The Festival of Purim commemorates a major victory
over oppression and is recounted in the Megillah, the scroll of the story of
Esther. Purim takes place on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar, the
twelfth month of the Jewish calendar. This year (2005) Purim begins at
sundown on the 24th of March.
Shavuot
Shavuot, the Feast of the Weeks, is the Jewish holiday celebrating the
harvest season in Israel. Shavuot, which means "weeks", refers to the timing
of the festival which is held exactly 7 weeks after Passover.
Shavuot also commemorates the anniversary of the giving of the Ten
Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
And many more including, High holy days, Chanukah, Holocaust
remembrance.
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SEPTEMBER FACT SHEET - Judaism
JEWISH LITERATURE
This is a small extract from the TORAH:
A meshulach (a man who raises funds for charity) came one sunny Sunday
morning to a large home in the Five Towns of Long Island. Eagerly he rang
the bell, and simultaneously knocked on the door. A woman, quite displeased,
swung open the ornate portal to her home and, knowing the man's intent, she
began to shout.
"What do you want? I never met you in my life! How do you expect me to give
charity to someone I have never seen? I'm sorry, but this is my policy and I
just can't give you!"
The meshulach was not perturbed. Slowly, he walked around the block and
fifteen minutes later he was back at the same door. Again he rang the bell,
and again the woman came out shouting. "I told you I never met you in my
life! How do you expect me to give charity to someone I have never seen!
Didn't I clearly explain my policy to you?"
The meshulach just smiled as he replied. "You are absolutely correct.
However, you forgot one small thing. You know me already! After all, we met
ten minutes ago!"
JUDAISM ON HUMAN VALUES
HUMAN VALUES
TRUTH
(Sathya)
RIGHTOUSNESS
(Right – Conduct)
(Dharma)
PEACE
(Shanti)
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CHRISTIANITY/JUDAISM 
 “Thou should not bear false witness against
thy neighbour.”(i.e. You must not lie)
(one of the 10 commendanments)
 “Lord who shall abide in thy tabernacle?”
“He that walketh uprightly and worketh
rightousness and speaketh the truth in his
heart.”
(Bible-Psalm 15 Verse 1 & 2)
 Let your moderation be known to all men;
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are
just…. If there be any virtue, if there be any
praise, think as these things….. and the God
Of Peace shall be with you.”
(Phlilppians Chap. 4 Verse 5-9)
 And when you come into a house salute it and
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LOVE
(Prema)
(Universal)
NON-VIOLENCE
(Thought, Word,
Deed)
(Ahimsa)
if the house is worthy, let your Peace come
upon it.”
 “Love is of God, and everyone that loveth is
born of God and knoweth God” – St. John
 Jesus Christ called upon all me to “Love God”
and “the second commandment is namely
this! Thou shall love thy neighbour as
thyself. There is none other commandment
greater than this.” But I say unto you “Love
your enemises, bless them that curse you, do
good tothem that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you and
persecute you. Love and serve one another.”
(Holy Bible)
 “But I say unto you, that you resist evil, but
whosoever shall smite thee on thy right
cheek, turn to him the other also….. for if
you forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly father will also forgive you.”
REFERENCES
 Ref: Unity Of Faiths (29th-31st July 1984) J.Jagadeesan
http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/C/can_you_beli
eve_it/religion/r-jewish.html
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm#Story
http://www.jewfaq.org/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/index.shtml
http://www.judaism.com/12paths/innerpath.htm
http://www.chiefrabbi.org/ft-index.html
http://www.chiefrabbi.org/ar-index.html
http://www.chiefrabbi.org/resp-index.html
FFoorr pprreevviioouuss iissssuueess ooff ffaaccttsshheeeettss cclliicckk::
http://www.saiscotland.com/resource/religion/
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