judaism god’s chosen people. basic information what is a jew? ▫racial ▫religious ▫political...
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JudaismGod’s Chosen People
Basic Information
•What is a Jew?▫Racial▫Religious▫Political
•What is the Torah?▫Jewish Law▫Pentateuch▫“Word”
Basic DataChristianity Judaism
Adherents 2 billion (32%) 13.75 million (.2%)
Leading Person Jesus Abraham
Holy Book Bible Tanakh
Clergy Bishops, Priests Rabbis
House of Worship
Church Synagogue
Theology Monotheistic-Trinitarian Monotheistic
Soteriology Passion of Christ; Baptism
Keeping the Decalogue
Holidays EasterChristmasPentecost
Yom KippurPassoverSukkot
Basic Information
•What is the difference between “Temple” and “Synagogue”?▫Temple is a place of sacrifice▫Synagogue is a place of prayer and study
NOTE: Some synagogues have the word “temple” in their name (e.g., Temple Beth El)
•Does Judaism have “denominations”?▫Ultra-Orthodox, Orthodox, Conservative,
Reform, Hasidic, Kabbalah
History of
Judaism
Time Chart BCE1900-1700 Abraham, the first patriarch
1200 Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt
1010-970 David, King of Judah & Israel
960-930 Solomon builds the First Temple
586 First Temple is destroyed; Exile to Babylon
515 Second Temple is built; Exiles return
430 Ezra reads the Torah to the public; rededication
330 Alexander the Great conquers Israel
250 Septuagint translation of Torah; rise of Sadducees
165-160 Maccabean revolt
63 Rome conquers Israel
Before Abraham
•Stories in the Pentateuch record the etiologies▫Etiology = historical or mythical
explanation of origins or the reason for something
•Monotheism clearly stated▫Elohim = plural name for singular God▫God described in His names
Name Meaning Name Meaning
Adonai Master; Lord El Shaddai Almighty
Elohim God Elyon Most High
Yahweh I AM; LORD Avinu Father
Abraham
•Foundational: Covenant with Abraham▫Promised Land▫Great Nation▫Many Kings (promise of Messiah)
•“Chosen People” •Passed on to Isaac, not Ishmael•Abraham the Sojourner
▫Establishes the first mindset of Judaism
Moses
•A persecuted people▫Establishes the second mindset of Judaism
•Hero of Judaism▫Releases Israelites from bondage
•Restores the covenant (Promised Land)•The three major feasts come from this
event
Moses: The Major Feasts
•Passover – the first major festival in Judaism▫Pesach – escape from Egypt
•Pentecost – second major festival▫Shavuot – when God gave the Torah ▫7 days (8 diaspora), 50 days after Pesach
•Feast of Booths – third major festival▫Sukkot – recalls wandering in wilderness ▫Late September to early October
•All three are pilgrimage festivals”
King David
•Unites warring tribes, forming the Nation or Kingdom of Israel
•Expands borders to the greatest extent•Covenant
▫Your kingdom shall have no end▫Promise of the Temple
King Solomon
•Ushers in “golden age” of Judaism▫Wealth▫Prestige▫Wisdom Literature
•Builds the First Temple▫Built of finest materials▫Takes decades to complete▫Dedicated by King Solomon
The First Temple
The First Temple
Divided Kingdom
•Kingdom divided after Solomon’s death▫North: Israel▫South: Judah
Retains the Davidic line•Israel
▫Establishes its own religious tradition▫Destroyed by Assyrians▫Samaritans are remnants of the remaining
tribes Over 1 million during Christ’s time Now only 751 people
Divided Kingdom
•Judah conquered by Babylon▫Solomon’s temple is destroyed▫Leading citizens exiled
Stories of Daniel occur in Babylon▫Babylon conquered by Persia▫The word “Jew” first appears
•Exiles permitted to return home•Jerusalem rebuilt•Second Temple built
Second Temple
Second Temple
Occupation & Rebellion
•Greeks conquer Israel & Middle East▫Alexander the Great
•Reign of Antiochus Epiphanes▫Temple defiled
Antiochus orders an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple (167)
Antiochus forbids the practice of Judaism•Maccabean Revolt (167-160)
▫Hanukkah – commemorates rededication of temple
Occupation & Revolt
•Romans occupy Israel & Middle East in 63 BC
•Herod(s) installed as Kings▫Not from Davidic line, but from Edomic
(Esau) line•Jerusalem & Temple destroyed in 70 AD
▫Masada is last hold out; destroyed 73 AD▫Seen as a sign that God has withdrawn
from His people
Time Chart AD
70 Jerusalem & Temple destroyed
90-200 Rabbinic Judaism (“Judaism”) forms
200 Mishnah compiled
600 Talmud completed
135 Jews disperse (diaspora); especially to Europe & Russia
1100 Crusaders massacre Jews in Europe
1500 Expulsion of Jews from Spain
1555 Ghettos of Jews in Italy and Germany
1850-1900 Jewish pogroms in Russia & Eastern Europe
1881 Jews emigrate to North America
Modern Judaism
Early History
•Known as “Rabbinic Judaism”•Two events lead to emergence of Modern
Judaism▫Destruction of Temple (70 AD)▫Loss of autonomy (132-135 AD)
•Most significant was destruction of Temple▫Main ritual changes▫Temple sacrifices stop▫Worship transferred to synagogues
(prayers)
Key Changes: Leadership
•Leader was High Priest▫Destruction of temple signals the end of
priests▫Priests are needed for sacrifice
•Rabbis become main leaders▫Teacher & Expert in Torah▫Preach, lead prayers▫Help govern the life of ordinary Jews
Key Changes: Synagogues
•Synagogues▫Begun in Babylon as a replacement for the
Temple▫Place of learning▫Place of prayer
•Kept alive the Jewish faith for those who could not go to temple
•Become primary as Jews await the building of the Third Temple
Key Changes: Messiah
•Originally▫Son of David▫Innocent “Son of God”▫Sacrifice himself to redeem, reconcile and
restore▫For all nations (light to the Gentiles)
•In Rabbinic Judaism▫“Son of David” – metaphorical ▫No longer savior for all; now one who frees
Jews from occupation
Key Changes: Messiah
•“The mashiach will bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people”▫Return to Israel▫Restore Jerusalem▫Establish a government in Israel
Center of all world government For Jews and gentiles
Key Changes: Messiah
▫Rebuild the Temple Third Temple Re-establish sacrifices
▫Restore the religious court system of Israel Establish Jewish law as the law of the land
Key Changes: Messiah
•Shimeon ben Kosiba (Bar Kokhba)▫Fought a war against the Roman Empire▫Established a provisional government and
began to issue coins in its name. This is what the Jewish people were looking
for in a mashiach▫The Roman Empire crushed the revolt and
killed Bar Kokhba (135 AD)▫After his death, all acknowledged that he
was not the mashiach.
Key Changes: Messiah
•Latest: Menachem Mendel Schneerson ▫Born in Russia 1902▫Died in Manhattan June 12, 1994▫Hassidic Rabbi
Key Changes: Ghetto
•Two key mindsets/themes/viewpoints harden▫We are a wandering/traveling people▫We are a persecuted people
•Begin to insulate themselves in their own neighborhoods▫For protection▫Due to anti-Semitism▫To keep faith pure
Key Changes: Ghetto
•Laws of Kosher▫To follow Torah▫To keep faith and tradition alive
•Include separation from Goyim•Includes rules about intermarriage
Key Changes: What is a Jew?
•A Jew is any person whose mother was a Jew
•“A Jew has nothing to do with what you believe or what you do.”
•A person born to non-Jewish parents who has not undergone the formal process of conversion but who believes everything that Orthodox Jews believe and observes every law and custom of Judaism is still a non-Jew
Key Changes: What is a Jew?
•A person born to a Jewish mother who is an atheist and never practices the Jewish religion is still a Jew, even in the eyes of the ultra-Orthodox.
•Judaism is more like a nationality than like other religions, and being Jewish is like a citizenship.
Diaspora: Middle Ages
•Jews forced to emigrate•Settle in Europe & Russia•Tolerated or persecuted
▫Varies from century to century▫Varies from place to place
Holocaust / Shoah
•Holocaust▫Sacrifice by fire
•Shoah▫Catastrophe
•Result▫Many Jews reject God, saying he has
abandoned them▫Some still keep Jewish customs as
“cultural”
Movements in
Judaism
Origins
•Movements within Judaism begin forming in the 1700s.▫“Movement” is the term that Jews prefer
instead of “denomination”•These movements react to:
▫Ghetto conditions▫Enlightenment changes (theology,
philosophy)▫Emigration to US and elsewhere
•These movements are found mostly in US
Hassidic
•Hassidic Judaism▫Forms 1700▫Emphasizes personal experience and
mysticism rather than education▫Revolves around a Rebbe (enlightened
spiritual leader)▫Insular – adherents live in same
neighborhood(s)▫Seems to be influenced by Pietism
Reform
•The Reform Movement▫Forms in 18th century Europe▫A way to escape the ghetto▫Institutes “modern” changes to practices,
liturgy and doctrines▫Largest Jewish movement in US
Orthodox
•Orthodox Judaism▫Opposed Reform and Hassidic movements▫Keeps the older ways in liturgy, practice
and doctrine▫Considers itself the “traditional” Judaism▫Second largest Jewish movement in US
Coservative
•Conservative Judaism▫Formed in US in 1913▫Middle way between Reform and Orthodox ▫Keeps some traditional ways, modernizes
others▫Small and shrinking
Secular Jews
•Reconstructionist•Humanist
Comparing TeachingsIssue Orthodox Conservative Reform
Origin of Torah
Given by God as is
Divine Inspired by God, but humans interpret God’s meaning
Authority of Torah
Absolute Some are more important than others
Generally not binding today
How Torah is Lived
As perfectly as possible
Rabbis follow laws, but laypeople do not need to
The ethical laws are followed closely but in a modern sense
JewishTheolog
y
Rabbinic Judaism
•Judaism changed from “Temple Judaism” to “Rabbinic Judaism”
•Key Events▫Destruction of the Temple (70 AD)▫Loss of Autonomy (135 AD)▫Rise of Christianity (30-150 AD)
•Key Theological Changes▫Torah is de-personalized▫Trinitarian hints are de-emphasized▫Definition of “Messiah” changes
Thirteen Principles of Faith
•The 13 Principles of Faith are most accepted summary of Jewish beliefs ▫No set of formal mandatory beliefs▫Even these basic principles have been
debated•Formulated by Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon
▫Known to the secular world as Maimonides▫Great Jewish scholar and philosopher
•State the minimum requirements of belief•Accepted by nearly all Jewish Movements
Thirteen Principles of Faith
I. G-d exists
II. G-d is one and unique
III. G-d is incorporeal
IV. G-d is eternal
V. Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other
Thirteen Principles of Faith
VI. The words of the prophets are true
VII. Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets
VIII. The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses
IX. There will be no other Torah
Thirteen Principles of Faith
X. G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men
XI. G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked
XII. The Messiah will come
XIII. The dead will be resurrected
Thirteen Principles of Faith
•Very basic and general principles. •The necessity of believing each one of
these has been disputed at one time or another
•Liberal movements of Judaism dispute many of these principles. ▫Reform ▫Reconstructionist▫Humanist▫Some Conservatives
Not Speculative
•No mandated, official, definitive belief on these subjects:▫The nature of G-d, ▫The nature of man▫The nature of the universe▫The nature of life and the afterlife
•Exception: Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism▫Hassidic
Focus: Relationships
•Judaism focuses on the relationships between the Creator, mankind, and the land of Israel▫the relationship between G-d and mankind▫between G-d and the Jewish people▫between the Jewish people and the land of
Israel▫between human beings.
•Focus: The stories in the Tanakh that describe these relationships
Focus: Relationships
•Mutual obligations created by these relationships are most important▫Various movements of Judaism disagree
about the nature of these obligations.•Day to day, the focus in on family•Sabbath is about being with family
▫Everything is dropped (work, school, sports, etc) in order to be with family
Actions More than Beliefs
•Judaism is concerned about actions more than beliefs
•According to Orthodox Judaism, these actions include 613 commandments given by God in the Torah as well as laws instituted by the rabbis and long-standing customs.
Important Deeds• Worship one God
▫Shema Israel• Love for God
▫You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead; inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Important Deeds
•The sacredness of human life•Suffering and Faith
Jewish Practice
s
Sabbath
•Saturday•Family Day•Begins Friday evening•Prayers in the home and synagogue
Sabbath• In addition to, or instead of, going to a service welcoming
the Sabbath, observant families usually begin the Sabbath eve with a special Friday night dinner. The mother lights candles to bring in the Sabbath light; the father recites a blessing over the wine. Special braided bread, challah, is shared as a symbol of the double portions of manna in the desert. The rituals help to set a different tone for the day of rest, as do commandments against working, handling money, traveling except by foot, lighting a fire, cooking, and the like. The Sabbath day is set aside for public prayer, study, thought, friendship, and family closeness, with the hope that this renewed life of the spirit will then carry through the week to come.
Kosher
Daily Prayer Customs
•Phylacteries (t’fillin)▫On arm and forehead
•Talit▫Prayer shawl
•Yarmulke▫Head covering for men
•Prayers said every morning and evening•Daily blessings
Bar Mitzvah
Jewish Holiday
s
•The most important Jewish holy days are the Sabbath, the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot) and the two High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). It is forbidden to work on any of these days.