1 Judaism beliefs denominations ancient modern 2 some

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Judaism beliefs & denominations ancient & modern 2

some random facts • origins: Abram/Abraham (1800 BCE) • Judaism = “religion of Judah; Judahites” (“Jew” is a term from Middle Ages) • today there are Jews who are agnostic, atheist, etc. (never cease being Jewish) • fewer than 20 million (1% of world) 6 million in Israel, 6 million in US • Palestinian Judaism = mother of Rabbinic Judaism, Christianity & Islam • RCC: God’s “chosen people” still 3

Biblical History 1 • Prehistory: Stories of Creation, etc. • Era of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs (1800 BCE) Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and 12 sons… story of Joseph in Egypt • The Exodus (1300 BCE) Moses, flight from Egypt/slavery • Conquest of Canaan: Joshua (1250 BCE) • Era of the Judges (1200 BCE) 2 or more tribes unite under a charismatic leader for defense 4

Biblical History 2 • United Kingdom [First Temple Period] (1000 BCE) Saul, David, Solomon • Divided Kingdom (1100 BCE) north: Israel (Samaria) & south: Judah (Jerusalem) prophets: e. g. Amos & Jeremiah • Assyria conquers Israel [northern kingdom] (720 BCE) never return from exile (ten “lost” tribes) 5

Biblical History 3 • Babylonian Exile (600 BCE) Babylon conquers Judah Persia conquers Babylon • The Return [Second Temple Period] Jerusalem and Temple rebuilt • Maccabean Period Seleucid Greeks (Syria) conquer Jerusalem, outlaw Judaism; Maccabean revolt • Roman Era (66 BCE -70 CE) 6

denominations in Biblical times • Yahwism (pre-Exile religion) • Palestinian Judaism: (1) land/people (2) temple/priesthood/cult (3)Torah • Pharisees (“separate ones”) -- Torah • Sadducees (“Zaddok”) -- Temple cult • Essenes (? ) -- Temple cult • Zealots (sicarii = daggers) -- land/people • followers of The Way (Christians) • see “Key Moments in History of Judaism” handout 7

end of Jewish state 70 CE • 66 -72 CE (Masada) • (1) land/people (2)Temple/priest/cult gone • Torah: Pharisees and successors – rabbis • Synagogue (= academy) • Rabbinic Judaism Orthodox Reform Conservative 8

Sacred Writings • Tanakh – 39 books Torah (the teaching) Nevi’im (the prophets) Ketuvim (the writings) • Mishnah (“repetition”, “secondary”) oral Law in written form • Talmud (“instruction” or “learning”) written record of rabbinic discussions and debates; includes Mishnah & Gemara law, ethics, customs and history 9

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Sacred Writings • Gemara – discussion/interpretation of Mishnah; included in Talmud • Midrash (“sermons”) 4 th – 6 th century CE • Responsa: thousands of responses to specific questions • see Judaism’s Sacred Writings handout 11

Orthodox Judaism • “sound/correct/conventional doctrine” • Law (Torah) from God – cannot be changed e. g. Kashrut/Kosher https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=if. KFC 4 j. Yq. S 8 • written and oral law Tenakh (Torah), Talmud & Mishnah • 613 laws • worship: Rabbi & Cantor (Chazzan) • no female rabbis Bar but no Bat Mitzvah • 10% of American Jews 12

Hasidic (Chasidic) Judaism • • Orthodox “pious ones” Eastern Europe, 18 th century Rabbi & Cantor less scholarly, more emotional mysticism great mystical figures with followers to this day: Rebbe - enlightened one 13

Reform Judaism • late 18 th century in Germany • accept modern critical Biblical study • values, ethics and principles matter not particular laws • Rabbi & Cantor • female rabbis Bar & Bat Mitzvah • 35% of American Jews 14

Conservative Judaism • • 19 th century Europe accept the binding nature of Jewish Law but Law must evolve and change principles cannot change, but laws need to be flexible, adapt • some female rabbis some bas mitzvah • 25% of American Jews 15

modern denominations Hasidim (“pious ones”) Orthodox (“correct teaching”) Conservative Reform others: Reconstructionist, Humanistic (Jewish culture without religion) 16

Chicago Police (training video) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=5 Tn. KVYM 9 Euk 17

Who is God? • • creator law-giver moral Judge active in history faithful (covenant) only God universal • • El, El Shaddai YHWH (Yahweh) Adonai (the Lord) Ha Shem (the Name) 18

13 Principles of Faith 1 2 3 4 5 6 G-d exists - G-d is one and unique G-d is incorporeal G-d is eternal Prayer must be directed to G-d alone The words of the prophets are true Moses is the greatest of the prophets 19

13 Principles of Faith 8 The written Torah and oral Torah were given to Moses 9 There will be no other Torah 10 G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of all 11 G-d will reward the good and punish wicked 12 The Messiah/Messianic age will come 13 The dead will be resurrected 2 views (a) heavenly paradise at death, then resurrection or (b) nothing at death – await final resurrection 20

Shema (see handout: Deut 6: 4 -9, 11: 13 -21; Num 15: 37 -41) Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates… 21

covenants • • pact: unequals rights of conquerer rights of the conquered “cutting” a covenant animal, blood, feast • 2 copies (bronze or stone) • • • Noah Abraham Moses (Sinai) David Jeremiah 22

Judaism’s ethical teaching • Tenakh, rabbinic tradition (Talmud, Mishnah, etc. ) • 613 laws emphasize: respect for God, honesty, peace, generosity, compassion, respect for human dignity, care for God’s creation • dietary and purity laws • Ten Commandments (= bill of rights) 1 – 4 God’s rights (allegiance, praise, etc. ) 4 – 10 rights of humans (life, family, property, etc. ) videos: The Ten Commandments (parts 1, 2 & 3) 23

worship customs • Shabbat (Sabbath) = “Rest” as worship (not for worship) • worship in synagogue (= academy) rabbi (master of Law) teaches – brings God’s word to us cantor (chazzan) – brings our praise to God • Torah stored in holy ark (aron kodesh) [see next slide] • individuals pray three times per day • community prayer – requires 10 adults (minion) • swaying while praying = mystical practice (flickering, upward reaching of candle flame) 24

synagogue 1 – Ark (aron kodesh) 2 – Torah scrolls 3 – eternal light (ner tamid) 4 – menorah 5 – Ten Commandments 6 – seats for Rabbi and Cantor 7 – Cantor/Rabbi reading table 8 – Rabbi’s podium 9 – raised platform (bimah) 10 – seats for congregation 25

customs • kippah/yarmulke • married women: head covering (often a wig) • prayer shawl (tallit) • tefillin / phylactery (scripture) • mezzuzah 26

miscellaneous terms • Sephardic Judaism Spain and Portugal • Ashkenazi Judaism France and Germany (Yiddish) • Kashrut: dietary laws (kosher = proper, correct) • Brit Milah (circumcision & naming of son on 8 th day) Brit Bat (naming of daughter on 8 th day) • Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah (“son/daughter of the Law”) boys = 13 years old, girls =12 years old 27

Judaism in Great Britain • 270, 000 • 55% Orthodox 11% Hasidic 10% Conservative 20% Reform 28