Judaism Origins Fun Facts Judaism smallest of the

Judaism Origins

Fun Facts Judaism – smallest of the world religions 14 million believers First monotheistic religion – dates back over 4000 years! Judaism gives roots to Christianity and Islam – the Hebrew scriptures are revered by both these religions Distinctive feature of Jewish people is their sense of history - scriptures are a historical record of a people and their relationship with their G-d. This unique shared memory of events helped form and shape the identity of a people

Abraham: The Patriarch "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. ”

The Fertile Crescent

Abram & Sarai • Born in Ur (modern day Iraq) into a Hewbrew speaking branch of the Semitic group • At this time the Hebrews were polytheistic • G-d calls Abraham to listen to the one true G-d • At age 75 G-d instructs Abram to take his wife Sarai and household & travel to Canaan

Abraham’s Journey

Ishmael • • At age 86 Abram has his first son with Hagar (servant) as Sarai could not conceive G-d promises to make Abram the father of many nations for his faithfulness To establish this covenant (sacred promise) G-d instructs that every male must be circumcised God changes Abram & Sarai’s name to Abraham and Sarah

Issac • Three angels appear to Abraham and tell him Sarah would have a son • At age 100 Abraham and Sarah have a son – Isaac • After this, Sarah became jealous of Hagar – ordered Abraham to send them away – distressed Abraham • God reassured Abraham that Ishmael would make a nation

Abraham & Isaac God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Abraham followed G-d’s instruction As Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, the angel of the lord stopped him and offered him a ram instead For his faithfulness God promised to make Abraham’s descendants numerous and prosperous

The Covenant “Because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your favoured one, I will bestow My blessing upon you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven…All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants because you have obeyed My command…”

From Isaac to Egypt • Isaac has a son, Jacob, who struggles with G-d and changes his name to Israel • 1800 BCE famine devastates Canaan • Israelites travel to Goshen – near Egypt • 1750 -1550 BCE Hyksos invaders conquer Egypt – very tolerant • 1550 BCE Egyptians master chariot fighting and defeat Hyksos invaders

Moses: The Founder of a Faith

Moses • Moses → born a Hebrew but adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter • Moses favoured by Pharaoh • Moses killed Hebrew slave → fled to Midian to home of Jethro • God called on Moses to lead Hebrew out of bondage into the “promised land” • God brought ten plagues on Egypt to convince Pharaoh to release Hebrew’s • The 10 th plague → angel of the lord would descend on Egypt and take the first born of all Egyptians

Passover • Hebrews were instructed to smear lamb’s blood over their doors and death would “pass over” their house. • This is celebrated in the festival of Passover • Moses lead Hebrew’s out of Egypt → Exodus

Exodus • Moses lead Hebrew’s out of Egypt → Exodus • On Mount Sinai God appeared and gave Moses the Ten Commandments → laws the people had to follow to keep the covenant • Marks the beginning of the Jewish identity as a people • Passover, Exodus and the Ten Commandments renews the covenant between God and his people • Source of inspiration → proof of God’s love

Significance of Abraham & Moses Foundation of three key ideas that define Judaism: Chosen people Promised land Covenant – solemn and binding agreement between God & man (humanity): God = creator & governor of all things God would love humanity and humanity agreed to love one God Establishes Jewish identity as a people

Rituals Established Circumcision – marks the sign of the covenant Passover – re-established G-d’s commitment to his people