JUDAISM
HOW DID JUDAISM START?
 “Fore Father” of Judaism = Abraham
 His son (Isaac) and grandson (Jacob) = 3 “Fathers” of Judaism
 The 4 wives = their wives (Jacob had 2)
 Abraham was the 1st to realize God controls everything and to
worship him not idols of him
 Abraham = Father of the Hebrews
 God told Abraham to go to Canaan (a.k.a “promise land” for the
Jews)
HOW DO THE JEWS
PRACTICE RELIGION?
 Israel = 5 million Jewish people.
 Israel = “Most holy place on earth”.
 The Western Wall in Israel.
 Jews still pray there today.
 Synagogue = place where they worship daily
WHAT DOES THIS
RELIGION BELIEVE?
 One god-creates everything
 Communicate with god through prayer
 Sacred text-Torah
 Torah- most important part of Jewish Bible
 All Jews – what they do more important than what they believe
 Some Jews- land of Israel most important part of being Jewish-called
Zionists
 Believe world will end some day.
 Believe god would send a Messiah to save them.
WHAT ARE
IMPORTANT/FAMOUS
PLACES FOR WORSHIP?
 Prayers = Berachat.
 Read the Hebrew Bible.
 Pray with eyes closed for more concentration.
 Believe in one god.
 Sabbath = Jewish tradition = Starts on Friday of every week and
goes to Saturday at sundown.
WHAT ARE
IMPORTANT/FAMOUS
PLACES FOR WORSHIP?
CON’T
 Sabbath = Religious time for coming together and celebrating life.
 Celebrations = Rosh Ha-Shanah, Yom Kippur, Pass Over,
Hanukkah.
 Boys have coming of age ceremony called Bar-Mitzvah.
 Torah = Holy book.
 Rabbi = Jewish priest.
WHO ARE THEIR
GOD/GODS/LEADERS
 Abraham said: There is only one god he creates everything
 The god has relationship with people on Earth
 God listens and speaks to people through prayers
 3 main things in their life,
 God, Torah and Israel
 The leaders where men and women
 Chosen by god as prophets to learn and teach
 The 12 tribes were headed by princes
 Also had judges, kings & rabbis as leaders
 Rabbis has been religious leaders in orthodox
 Only men where allowed but with time women came too
 They must start praying at the age of 3
WHAT WAS THE
HOLOCAUST?

Since 18th century in Europe/USA Jews have suffered

Less official persecution

Anti-Semitism still exists

Worst Anti-Semitism took place in the 20th century

In 1930 the Nazi gained control in Germany

During the second world war

Killed all Jews that lived in countries owned by Germany

Killed 6 million Jews

Hebrew= Shoah (holocaust)

Means ‘whirlwind’

From the 19th century Jews began to come back

After the holocaust the United Nation voted that part of Palestine must become the State
of Israel

Which is now where most Jews live
WHAT RELIGIOUS TEXT DO
THEY FOLLOW?
 The Tanach = made up word taken from the first letter of each
Hebrew scripture.
 The Torah (Scripture in the Tanach);
• 5 books
• A.k.a The Laws of the Jews
• Given to Moses on Mt. Sinai
• Kept in a cabinet called an “Ark”
 The Nvi’im (Scripture in the Tanach);
• 8 books
• Longest section in the Tanach
• Combo of historical events, religious teachings, & prophecies for
the future

WHAT RELIGIOUS TEXT DO
THEY FOLLOW?
(CONTINUED)
The K’tuvim (Scripture in the Tanach);
› 11 books
› A.k.a Wisdom Literature
› Contains: Poetry, history, faith, reward, punishment, & why bad things
happen to people
› Written by King David and King Soloman

Many books have been made to interpret the Tanach

The Midrash (Interprets the Tanach);
› Explains feelings and motives behind the writing
› Incl. stories to explain important messages
› Tells some history not told in the Tanach
› Written down 2,000 yrs ago
WHAT RELIGIOUS TEXT DO
THEY FOLLOW?
(CONTINUED)

The Mishnah (Interprets the Tanach);
› 1 book w/ 6 sections discussing the Torah
› Written down like convo. about different issues all ending with
a ruling
› Written down after 70 C.E
› Main author = Rabbi Juddah the Prince
 The Talmud (Interprets the Tanach);
• Incl. writtings of rabbis from 200 to 500 C.E
• Rabbis studied the Tanach & wrote qdown their opinions about
its message
What is Hanukkah?
 Popular festival=among Jews= in western countries.
 Falls= December last’s for 8 days.
 Evenings Jewish light the Hanukkah=outside or inside the window.
 A Hanukkah spaces for lights.
 Light 1 on first night 2 next night and so on.
 Hanukkah =dedication=recalls time=Jerusalem rededicated=after being
destroyed.
 Hanukkah=1 helper= light the others.