At the end of this lesson, you will…
Know who founded
Judaism
 Understand the
geographic origins
of Judaism
 Know some
essential Jewish
stories, customs
and holidays.

World Religions: Judaism
Why put Judaism first?
Because…of the top
three, this is where
it all began…4000
years ago!
History of Judaism
 Back
in the “old days” – 4000 years
ago and beyond – most people
believed there were a lot of different
gods or goddesses that controlled
things.
 This
concept is called polytheism
(belief in many gods)
History of Judaism


The start of Judaism is
actually found in the
first five books of the
Bible.
These books are called
the Torah and they
make up the Hebrew
Bible.
The founder of Judaism


A man named Abram
(later changed to
Abraham) was inspired
by God to spread the
word that there was
only ONE god.
He convinced his
immediate family to
stop worshipping idols
and begin following
One God (monotheism)
Jews led to the “Promised Land”
 Because
their beliefs – in ONE God –
were so out-of-step with everybody
else, Abram’s family was persecuted
(harassed).
 In
addition to the persecution, a
famine struck the area.
Jews led to the “Promised Land”


God told Abram to
leave, that He
would guide them
to a place where
they could practice
their faith openly.
This place was
called “the Promised
Land”
Along the way…


The Jews (as they
were now called)
traveled for many
years.
Along the way, they
settled in Egypt where
they were made to
become slaves to the
Egyptian pharaoh.
Egyptian Slavery

While they were
slaves, they were
made to work very
hard. The Jews
were persecuted
and mistreated to
the point where
many died.
Holy Moses!
 At
the time, a new Pharaoh had
come into power. This new Pharaoh
decided to kill all the Jewish newborn
boys to keep the Jewish people from
coming into power.
 Moses
was born a Hebrew (Jew) but
was given up as a baby by his
mother to protect him from harm.
Holy Moses!

Moses was placed
in a basket made
of reeds and
floated across the
Nile River towards
the Pharaoh’s
palace.
Holy Moses!


Later that day, the Princess (the Pharaoh's
daughter) came down to the water. She
saw the basket. When she saw the baby,
she knew that he was a Jewish baby and
was supposed to be killed.
She took him home anyway, called him
Moses, and raised him in the palace
Holy Moses!

Moses became
very popular and
well-liked within
the palace. He
could have become
a Pharaoh himself
but then…
“Essential Story”



He saw an Egyptian hitting a Jew. Moses
became angry and hit the Egyptian back,
killing him.
Moses ran away into the desert where he
became a shepherd.
Then one day, while tending the sheep, he
saw a bush that was burning. He went to
have a closer look, the fire went out, and
then…
“Essential Story” (cont’d)


…strangely enough, he
looked at the bush
and it wasn’t burnt at
all. He thought this
was very odd
Suddenly, he heard a
voice saying “Stop!
And take your shoes
off, for this is sacred
ground."
“Essential Story” (cont’d)


God then spoke to Moses
and told him to go back to
Egypt, back to the Pharaoh,
and ask him to let the Jews
go free.
Moses did so, but the
Pharaoh told him “No!”
“Essential Story” (cont’d)


Moses told him if he
didn’t, God would
punish him severely.
The Pharaoh didn’t
care. And so God sent
Ten Plagues (bad
things) to happen to
Pharaoh and his
armies.
“Essential Story” (cont’d)
The Ten Plagues of Egypt were as follows:
1st plague: God changed water into blood.
2nd plague: God made frogs appear everywhere.
3rd plague: God put lice everywhere.
4th plague: God sent flies everywhere.
5th plague: All livestock were mysteriously killed.
“Essential Story” (cont’d)
The Ten Plagues of Egypt were as follows:
6th plague: The Egyptian people developed gross sores.
7th plague: Hailstones and fire destroyed crops.
8th plague: God sent locusts to eat the crops
9th plague: Darkness everywhere EXCEPT where the Jews
were.
10th plague: The oldest son in every Egyptian family died.
Finally…


Pharaoh gave up and allowed
the Jews to leave.
The Jews were so excited to
leave that they didn’t even wait
for their bread to rise…which is
why unleavened “flat bread” is
so important to the Jewish
story.
Jewish Culture and Customs

Jewish celebrations
are often centered
around Jewish
historical events.
Hanukah




Hanukah is NOT the Jewish version of Christmas!!
Instead, Hanukah celebrates Hanukkah is the
festival of lights.
Jewish temples have “eternal lights” which are
lamps that are always lit.
The Jewish temple was rededicated after a period
of persecution and the eternal light was rekindled
but there was only enough oil for a few days.
Hanukah
The oil lasted for
eight days, until
more oil could be
found.
That’s why you see a
Menorah (a 9 pillar
candlestick)
Bar (or Bat) Mitvah
Bar Mitzvah takes place
when a boy turns
thirteen.
 Bat mitzvah is the same,
but for girls.


The first act of adulthood
is reading from the Torah
scroll during services
The Jewish Sabbath



All Jewish holy days begin at
sundown and end at sundown.
The Shabbat (Sabbath) begins
at sundown each Friday and
lasts until dark on Saturday.
There is a special Sabbath
meal which includes special
foods, songs and readings and
prayers.
Test Time
How much do you remember?
Answer the following questions to find
out just how much you really KNOW!
(click the navigation buttons)
Question One:
Who is the founder of Judaism?
Answer One:
Abraham (Abram)
Question Two:
The name of the area that was
promised to the Jewish people by
God; now known as Israel…
Answer Two
The “Promised Land”
(also known now
as the country of
Israel)
Question Three:
Known as the Festival of Lights, this
holiday celebrates that the oil in the
temple lasted for eight days, instead
of just one day…
Answer Three
Hanukah
Question Four
Who led the Jews from slavery in
Egypt?
(hint: he was personally given the Ten
Commandments by God)
Answer Four
Moses
Question Five:
God changed water into blood.
God made frogs appear everywhere.
God put lice everywhere.
God sent flies everywhere.
All livestock were mysteriously killed.
The Egyptian people developed gross sores.
Hailstones and fire destroyed crops.
God sent locusts to eat the crops
Darkness everywhere EXCEPT where the Jews were.
The oldest son in every Egyptian family died
What were these called?
Answer Five:
The Ten Plagues of Egypt
Bonus Question:
What is Polytheism?
Bonus Answer:
Belief in many gods,
not just one.