Judaism – History and Key Beliefs

History

Judaism• God enters into a relationship

with the people he has created, as a personal partner in dialogue

• He announces his real presence, Yahveh: “I am who I am”

• The covenant: People are not simply passive objects of divine grace or divine action, but are called to responsibility and partnership, having to work at their salvation

Judaism - Beginnings

• Traditionally, it is Traditionally, it is held that held that AbrahamAbraham and his and his descendants descendants established established Judaism Judaism

• Now Moses and Now Moses and the the 10 10 CommandmentsCommandments are considered by are considered by many to be the many to be the foundation upon foundation upon which Judaism which Judaism rests.rests.

Tracing RootsTracing Roots

• Nomadic tribes 1900 BCE Nomadic tribes 1900 BCE

• Mesopotamian society - polytheisticMesopotamian society - polytheistic

• God (Yahweh) appeared before God (Yahweh) appeared before Abraham Abraham ““to go and raise a great to go and raise a great nationnation””

• Beginning of monotheistic Hebrew Beginning of monotheistic Hebrew faith with the establishment of the faith with the establishment of the ““CovenantCovenant””, , ““Chosen PeopleChosen People”” and and ““Promised LandPromised Land””

• Abraham settled in Canaan Abraham settled in Canaan

• Story: Sacrifice of AbrahamStory: Sacrifice of Abraham

Tracing the RootsAbraham

Isaac

Jacob

12 Sons (12 Tribes)

3 Patriarchs

-Given the name Israel after ‘struggling’ with an angle

4th son, Judah, inhabited the area of Jerusalem.Moses, the Kings (Saul, David and Solomon) and Jesus are all descendants of the tribe of Judah

What is in a name?What is in a name?

• HebrewHebrew means means ““From acrossFrom across””- - name given to Abraham and name given to Abraham and his followers his followers

• IsraelitesIsraelites: Abraham: Abraham’’s s grandson Jacob renamed grandson Jacob renamed Israel which means Israel which means ““he who he who has wrestled with Godhas wrestled with God””. His . His descendants were called descendants were called ““IsraelitesIsraelites””

• JewsJews: named after Jacob: named after Jacob’’s s son Judah, ancient father of son Judah, ancient father of tribe of King Davidtribe of King David’’s dynastys dynasty

Tracing the Roots – Moses and Tracing the Roots – Moses and the Exodusthe Exodus

Moses received Moses received revelationsrevelations from God: from God: burning bush, rod / staff, 10 plagues (angle burning bush, rod / staff, 10 plagues (angle of Death / Passover), parting of the Red of Death / Passover), parting of the Red Sea Sea

Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt - Egypt - EXODUS EXODUS

Moses led the 12 Tribes of Israel to Mount Moses led the 12 Tribes of Israel to Mount Sinai where Yahweh gave him the Sinai where Yahweh gave him the 10 10 CommandmentsCommandments, uniting the Hebrews , uniting the Hebrews under one God under one God

Moses and Hebrews searched for the Moses and Hebrews searched for the ““Promised LandPromised Land”” or the or the ““land of milk and land of milk and honeyhoney”” they they wandered in the desertwandered in the desert for 40 for 40 yearsyears

Key ConceptsKey ConceptsCovenantCovenant solemn and binding agreement between God (as Creator) and solemn and binding agreement between God (as Creator) and

Abraham (humanity, the Chosen people ) Abraham (humanity, the Chosen people )

Chosen People Chosen People Jews considered themselves to be GodJews considered themselves to be God’’s Chosen People as God s Chosen People as God

chose Abraham and led him to monotheism chose Abraham and led him to monotheism Jews were instruments of GodJews were instruments of God’’s will s will God chose Jews (humanity); humanity must choose GodGod chose Jews (humanity); humanity must choose God

Promised Land Promised Land Gained significance during MosesGained significance during Moses’’ life as Hebrews sought to keep life as Hebrews sought to keep

covenant and develop a community in the Promised Land. Jews covenant and develop a community in the Promised Land. Jews believe this is Israel. believe this is Israel.

Tracing the Roots

The Patriarchs

The 12 TribesThe 12 Tribes

Moses Moses - the Exodus- the covenant- Israel (Promise land)

Foundation of JudaismPassover

JudgesJudges: tribal leaders: tribal leaders

KingsKings: King Saul / David, King Solomon (built temple): King Saul / David, King Solomon (built temple)

Division:Division: Northern tribes = Israel; Northern tribes = Israel; Southern tribes = JudahSouthern tribes = Judah

Prophetic TraditionProphetic Tradition: word of God spoken through prophets: word of God spoken through prophets

Exile in BabylonExile in Babylon= = Temple of Solomon Temple of Solomon destroyed; creation of destroyed; creation of synagogues and rabbis synagogues and rabbis and concept of Messiah and concept of Messiah ““anointed oneanointed one””

DiasporaDiaspora: dispersal of Jews outside of : dispersal of Jews outside of Israel and Hellenization Israel and Hellenization

Maccabean RevoltMaccabean Revolt: temple rededicated to God: temple rededicated to God

Expansion of Roman Empire and ruleExpansion of Roman Empire and rule: destroying of : destroying of the temple leaving only the Western Wall; the temple leaving only the Western Wall; rabbinic Judaismrabbinic Judaism

Key BeliefsKey BeliefsMonotheistic Monotheistic Oneness of Creator God Oneness of Creator God Human obligation to worship God Human obligation to worship God God is immaterial and indivisible God is immaterial and indivisible God is refered to as YHWH or YAHWEH God is refered to as YHWH or YAHWEH ““I am that I amI am that I am””

Lineage Lineage People are born a Jew (through mother) or can convert (gerut) People are born a Jew (through mother) or can convert (gerut)

MitzvahMitzvah act of performing a good deed or commandment (ie. 10 act of performing a good deed or commandment (ie. 10

Commandments) Commandments) Bible contains total of 613 mitvoth (some positive, some negative) Bible contains total of 613 mitvoth (some positive, some negative)

Beliefs continued

Jesus Jesus View of Jesus = born a Jew a preacher and teacher View of Jesus = born a Jew a preacher and teacher Jesus was not the Son of God; the Messiah is still to come Jesus was not the Son of God; the Messiah is still to come

Suffering Suffering suffering is heightened because as the Chosen People, Jews suffering is heightened because as the Chosen People, Jews

expect to suffer for all of mankind expect to suffer for all of mankind

Death and AfterlifeDeath and Afterlife on death, body returns to earth (dust to dust) but soul return to God on death, body returns to earth (dust to dust) but soul return to God

who gave it who gave it body will be Resurrected and reunited with soul at a later time body will be Resurrected and reunited with soul at a later time

(therefore no cremation)(therefore no cremation) Little dogma on the afterlife since most emphasis is on this life

TORAHTORAH Consists of Five Books of Consists of Five Books of Moses written on Moses written on parchment scroll in ancient parchment scroll in ancient form by hand and kept in form by hand and kept in ArkArk

Torah means Torah means ““lawlaw”” but but more accurate is more accurate is ““revelationrevelation””, , ““teachingteaching”” or or ““instructioninstruction””

Torah is divided into 54 Torah is divided into 54 sections and one portion is sections and one portion is read each week (2 weeks read each week (2 weeks of year have a double of year have a double portion) so that the entire portion) so that the entire Torah is read from Torah is read from beginning to end in a year beginning to end in a year

Tanakh Tanakh Jewish Bible, consisting of Jewish Bible, consisting of

Torah (Law of Moses), the Torah (Law of Moses), the Prophets, and the WritingsProphets, and the Writings

Talmud Talmud Second most important source Second most important source

of rabbinic Jewish law. of rabbinic Jewish law. Includes the Mishnah, which Includes the Mishnah, which complements and interprets the complements and interprets the Torah and applies scripture to Torah and applies scripture to everyday life and observanceeveryday life and observance

Mishnah Mishnah Early rabbinic teachings on Early rabbinic teachings on

how to live according to Torah how to live according to Torah

Sacred TextsSacred Texts

SymbolsSymbols• Star of DavidStar of David= shape of = shape of

King DavidKing David’’s shield; symbol s shield; symbol adopted by Zionistsadopted by Zionists

• MenorahMenorah= ancient source of = ancient source of light light

7 branched= 7 branched= Sabbath Sabbath

9 branched= 9 branched= HanukahHanukah