Judaism

Circa 1750 BCE

He is considered the founder of Judaism (the first Hebrew)

It was monotheistic whereas most other religions were polytheistic

He received the Covenant

Land, descendants, and blessings and protection from G-d

The Israelites

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

G-d and Abraham

Due to the third of the 10 Commandments (the name of God is not to be taken in vain)

They must be circumcised

G-d ordered Moses to release the Jewish people from slavery and lead them out of Egypt

He received the Torah, or the Ten Commandments

At Mount Sinai

The 613 mitzvot that a Jew must follow be faithful to follow the Covenant

Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform

• more traditional than Progressive/Reform Judaism

• sympathetic to modern Western ways of thinking

• Largely a US movement

• Great diversity in practices (language, etc)

• inspired by Enlightenment period

• Rejected beliefs in: a personal Messiah, resurrection of the dead, return to the holy land, rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, the eventual reintroduction of Temple sacrifice

• Significant innovations include: religious services in the language of the community, men and women sitting together during worship, lessening in the importance of traditional Jewish laws, the Torah interpreted to be relevant to the times rather than taken literally, female Rabbis, gender equality during synagogue services, the Bar Mitzvah and Confirmation ceremony, adaptations of Jewish prayer book

• Jewish traditionalist who accept the authority of the code of Jewish law

• reject modernist adjustments

• traditional forms of Jewish worship

• denigrates secular studies and often dresses in stylised ghetto clothing

1. as the clan-God of Abraham and his descendents

2. as the God of the land of Israel, because of the special relationship between the Jewish people and God, the Covenant is inextricably linked to the land

3. As a universal God, the creator of the universe

The 3rd description, as a universal God who is the creator of the universe

As omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, transcendent, immanent, and creator

No, never

They are recorded in the Talmud

Moral laws that apply to everyone, given to Noah by G-d through their Covenant

1. prohibition of idolatry

2. prohibition of murder

3. prohibition of theft

4. prohibition of sexual promiscuity (adultery and incest)

5. prohibition of taking G-d’s name lightly

6. prohibition of cruelty to animals

7. requirement to establish a legal system

It is central to the expression of Judaism and the identity of the Jewish people

The Hebrew Bible

The Torah, the Neviim, and the Ketuvim

The teachings

The prophets

The writings

The source and inspiration for all Jewish teaching and the law of Jewish traditions

A collection of discussions and comments by Rabbis on the Tanakh on Jewish laws, customs, and ethics

The Mishnah and the Gemara

An edited section of rabbinic discourse

Commentary on and extension of the Mishnah

A small cylinder containing a piece of parchment on which are rotten several verses of the Torah to remind each member of the Jewish home that the Torah is the guiding principle in the way they conduct their lives

Guides that the mezuzah should be placed in the doorpost of a Jewish home

The commandment to study the Torah

Because people who study common thoughts with a common purpose will grow in unity and love. It develops friendships between adherents and G-d

The dietary laws found in the Torah

Ethical and moral teachings that guide believers in the right relationship with G-d and one’s neighbours

Aggadah is the non-legal material of the rabbinic literature. It is not as authoritative as the halacha but instead is used to explain and illustrate the prescriptions of the halacha

Found in the Torah. They are the Commandments which Jewish adherents aim to live by

Repair of the world. It includes charity through money and labour

Wisdom, righteousness, purity, and generosity of spirit

Ethical teachings allow them to uphold the Covenant (core paradigm of the religion)

That the seventh day belongs to G-d and is to be set aside for family, community, and the study of the Torah. It also commands that no work is to be done on Shabbat

Challah (bread) is baked for Shabbat

To remind of the dual commandments to remember and observe the Sabbath

The head woman of the house recites blessings on the Shabbat

The dispersion of Jews away from Judaism’s historical origins in the middle East due to persecution and exile

Modern day Israel

By following His rules

Mitzvot that humans can understand (e.g. thou shalt not kill)

Mitzvot that humans cannot understand (e.g. dietary laws)