Clint Heinze
The Beginning of Judaism

 Circa 2000 BCE near Canaan (Israel area).
 Abraham is “founder” and lineage are a part of his covenant
with God. It is the first monotheistic religion. His son,
Ishmael is said to be the start of the Arabs.
 Isaac – almost Sacrificed
 Jacob (Israel) – 12 sons became the
12 tribes of Israel.
The Beginning of Judaism

 Judaism really became a structured religion in 1312 BCE
with the exodus of the Jews from Egypt.
 Moses is their main prophet
 Ten commandments and Mt. Horeb (Sinai)
 Torah/Pantateuch
Name of Deity

 The names given to the one Creator and Ruler of all:
 Considered the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
 God (a large portion of Jews will not say this, though. It
might not be said with enough respect: a sin.
 Yahweh (YHWH – no vowels in Hebrew)
 Elohim
 Adonai - Lord
 Hashem
Holy Books

 They follow written as well as oral law.
 Written Law – Torah/Pentateuch ( generally the
most important)
 The first five books of the Old Testament - the
Jewish Hebrew version
called the Tanakh - of the
Bible.
 Also known as the Books
of Moses
Holy Books

 After the diaspora by the Romans after the fall of the second
temple, Jerusalem was renamed Capitolina Aelia and Judah
was renamed Palestine.
 During this time of separation, Judaism entered the time of
“tannaim,” or teachers.
 Oral Law was practiced.
 Eventually written down into the
Mishnah.
 The Mishnah uses laws from the
Torah and legal traditions used
since the time of Ezra (450 BCE).
Holy Books

 The Amoraim, or rabbi scholars, studied the Mishnah and
added comments explaining the Oral Law.
 This became what is now the Talmud or Gemara.
 Two Talmuds developed
 Palestinian Talmud – the shorter of the two due to unrest
in Palestine. Finished
in CE 425.
 Babylonian Talmud –
finished in the end of the
5th century.
Holy Books

 The Zohar – 13th Century
 Gives instruction on Messiah identification
 Gives meaning of Biblical texts.
Places of Worship

 Synagogues (shuls to Orthodox Jews and temples
to Western Jews)
 Worship, education center, community Center
 Men and Women sit separately in more traditional
places, together in reformed .
 Services usually led by a rabbi
 Hebrew is mainly spoken
Spread of Judaism

 There are some possible explanations for the spread of an
ethnic religion.
 The first monotheistic religion (seen as more credible)
 People that are born Jewish generally remain Jewish. The
religion is passed down by generations.
 Jews were frequently exiled or moving (diffusion)
 The Jewish Diaspora
 The exodus with Moses
 Exile during Spanish Inquisition
Current Locations and
Numbers

 1. Israel – 5,901,100
 2. USA – 5,425,000
 3. France – 480,000
 4. Canada – 375,000
 5. U.K. – 291,000
 6. Russia – 194,000
 World total: 13,746,100
2 Main Branches of Judaism

 Orthodox
 Torah comes directly from God and cannot be altered.
 Humans must rely on rabbis to understand it.
 Rabbi understanding of the
Torah has been gathered to
make the “halachah,” or
Jewish law.
 Everything is literal; from
the concept of Mitzvah
(commandment).
2 Main Branches of Judaism
 Reform/mainstream

 Torah is God-inspired and used to understand
surroundings and relationship with God.
 Torah is holy but dated and discernment can be
used.
 Judaism can evolve by coming to
our own understandings of scripture.
 Jewish law is a guideline rather than
a requirement.
*There are also several other branches.
These are the main two.
Symbols

 Numbers (some of them)
 1 – Unity, divinity, and wholeness, as portrayed by God
 3 – Completeness and stability
 7 – The greatest number. Their word for luck, gad, equals
seven in gematria. Seven days for creation, Seven laws of
Noah, Seven branches on the
Menorah, Seven days a week,
and several others.
 10 – Good will and power
(10 Commandments).
Symbols

 Shield of David (Star of David)
 Represents the Jewish Community.
 Was not a religious sign prior the Jewish adaption
of it. Since it is so popular, though, nobody cares
about its pagan origin.
 Has a messianic
association/meaning
 Is plastered on the
US dollar.
 Story
Symbols

 The Menorah
 Symbolizes the nation of Israel and its mission to be
a light to other nations.
 Yarmulkes
 Used during prayer – a
traditional symbol of respect.
Holy Sites

 The Western, Wailing, Wall
 Most visible remaining structure from the Second Temple
complex
 Represents indestructible Jewish attachment to their
land
 Jews come from everywhere to place notes and prayers in
the cracks of the wall.
 Dome of the Rock
 Where Abraham prepared
to sacrifice Isaac
Holy Sites

 Mt. of Olives
 Those buried there are said to be the first
resurrected from the dead when the Messianic Age
comes.
 King David’s Tomb
 Jerusalem
 The eternal capital of
the Jewish people.
 Numerous holy sites
Holy Sites

 The Ramban Synagogue
 The oldest active synagogue in Israel
 The Temple Mount
 Likely the location of the old temple of Israel
 Several important things in Jewish history occurred
here.
Major Beliefs - Creation

 The same as Christianity – same book
 One alteration
 It says God essentially messed up on women once
before actually making Eve from Adam’s rib.
Major Beliefs – End Times
(Jewish eschatology)

 The Messiah (a dynamic Jewish leader) will come descending
from David
 Rebuild Temple
 He will bring all Jews back to Israel
 He will bring world peace and great living standards.
 He will be the world leader
 The world will worship one god,
Jewish nation will be preoccupied
with studying the Torah
 God’s purpose would then be fulfilled
Major Beliefs - Laws

 The halakhah, or Jewish Law
 613 Mitzvots, or commandments
 Rules regarding how to act, treat people, animals,
and God, grooming rules, who to marry, what to eat,
etc.
 The Ten Commandments
Major Beliefs – Purpose of Life

 Depends on branch





Become holy through observance of commandments.
Care for people
Live a holy life and try to imitate God.
Work for world peace
Enjoy life
Holidays

 Rosh Hashanah: The beginning of the Jewish New Year.
 Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement, the last 10 days of
penitence which marks the opening of the New Year.
 Sukkot: A harvest festival giving thanks for the safe 40 year
journey from Egypt to Israel
 Simchat Torah: Giving thanks for the Torah
 Hanukkah: An eight day festival which commemorates the
re-dedication of the temple in Jerusalem after expelling the
occupying Syrians in 164 BCE
 Purim: Celebrating the Saving of the Persian Jews, as told in
the biblical book of Esther
Holidays

 Passover (Pesach): Week long memorial retelling the
Israelites’ release from Egypt
 Shavuot: Harvest festival celebrating the gift of the Torah to
Moses
 Bar Mitzvah: Coming of age for boys aged 13. In liberal
traditions, an equivalent ceremony (Bat Mitzvah) is carried
out for girls
 Shabbat (Sabbath): Day of rest, worship and fasting, from
sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, requiring strict
observance for Orthodox Jews.
 Rosh Chodesh: This is observed on the first day of each
month, a minor festival. This is the day that women do not
work.
Roles of Men and Women

 Women - traditional





Wives, mothers, keepers of the house
Discouraged higher education and religious pursuits
Encouraged to be an entrepreneur and hard worker
Instrumental in spiritual growth at home
Helper to man/keeps everything working
Roles of Men and Women

 Men – traditional




Head of house
More public
Religious leader
Men and women have equal importance, just
different roles. Emphasis on partnership.
Jewish Influence on the Arts

 Architecture
 Mainly all borrowed, especially from Romans
 Old times – clay bricks, stone walls, wood ceilings,
circular or rectangular build.
 They like wood to build things
 Arches
 Walls
Jewish Influence on the Arts

 Art




Shows Jewish wanderings around the globe
Graven images forbidden – no new artistic creations
Many religious in nature
No pictures of God.
Jewish Influence on the Arts

 Literature
 Frequently depicts struggles of immigrant life, the
odd lives they have lived, and the unique struggles
regarding cultural acceptance
Jewish Influence on the Arts

 Food
 Again, mostly borrowed from other cultures, but the
combination of all of them is unique
 Unleavened bread
 Challah – sweat bread for holidays
 Knishes – potato and flour dumpling stuffed with
various things; a snack food.
Thank You

THE END
Sources
*I got several different things from each site, but I only listed them
once.
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Judaism.html
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Issues/Magic_and_the_Supernatural/Practices_and_Beliefs/Incan
tations/Names_and_Numbers/Numbers.shtml?p=2
http://www.menorah.org/starofdavid.html

http://www.jewfaq.org/signs.htm
http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/beliefs/god.htm
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/jewpop.html
http://www.abc.net.au/religion/stories/s796551.htm
http://www.truthnet.org/TheMessiah/3_Books_of_Judaism/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/worship/synagogue_1.shtml
http://www.innovationslearning.co.uk/subjects/re/information/creation/jewish_creation.htm
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/108400/jewish/The-End-of-Days.htm
http://www.simpletoremember.com/articles/a/Jewish_History/