2. THOMAS CAHILL - THE GIFTS OF
THE JEWS
âThe Jews started it allâand by âitâ I mean so many of the
things we care about, the underlying values that make all
of us, Jew and Gentile, believer and atheist, tick. Without
the Jews, we would see the world through different eyes,
hear with different ears, even feel with different feelings
⌠we would think with a different mind, interpret all our
experiences differently, draw different conclusions from
the things that befall us. And we would set a different
course for our lives.â
3. PATRIARCHS OF THREE FAITHS
Beliefs common to the West:
â˘âŻHumans = highest creation of God
â˘âŻLinear time lines
â˘âŻGod has a personal relationship with humans
â˘âŻSpeaks through prophets
â˘âŻGod is love
How can three religions as diverse (and often hostile) as Judaism,
Christianity and Islam, be classified as closely-related religions?
6. THEHISTORYOFTHEJEWS
Abram (later
Abraham)
Man from UR
Covenant with
God (agreement)
Follow only 1 God
(I AM) and God
will provide a land
of Milk and Honey
âMONOTHESISM
Promised Land =
Canaan
Abraham moved
family (& people)
from UR to
CANAAN
2 sons = Isaac
and Ishmael
7. THE FATHERS (PATRIARCHS) OF JUDAISM
â˘âŻAbraham, Isaac and Jacob
establish the covenant.
â˘âŻ God will love humanity and
humanity will love God and God
alone.
â˘âŻKey Ideas Emerge:
â˘âŻ Jews = Godâs chosen people
â˘âŻ Promised land
â˘âŻJacob
â˘âŻ 12 sons (12 tribes of Israel)
â˘âŻ Joseph - moves the tribe to
Egypt
8. MOSES
â˘âŻMoses
â˘âŻRaised in Pharaoh's palace
â˘âŻCalled to free the Israelites and return
them to the promised land.
â˘âŻ10 plagues
â˘âŻ Passover
â˘âŻThe Exodus (Sinai Peninsula)
â˘âŻ10 Commandments
9. JUDGES, KINGS, EXILES, PROPHETS
â˘âŻJudges (c. 40 years later when the
Israelites reach Canaan)
â˘âŻKings (c.1000 BCE)
â˘âŻSaul
â˘âŻDavid
â˘âŻSolomon
â˘âŻBuilds the Temple
â˘âŻLevities (Priestly Caste)
â˘âŻCanaan splits into ISRAEL (north)
and JUDAH (south)
â˘âŻAssyrians conquer (721 BCE)
â˘âŻBabylonians conquer (586 BCE)
â˘âŻBabylonian Captivity
â˘âŻTemple destroyed
â˘âŻDIASPORA begins.
â˘âŻSynagogue worship/rabbis emerge
â˘âŻBelief in Messiah emerges
13. KEYTERM:PROPHET
.
â˘âŻEnd of the era predicted by
PROPHETS:
â˘âŻA prophet is a person who receives a
message from God and delivers that message
to Godâs people. Usually, prophets warn of a
coming crisis based on the inability of people
to be true to their covenant with God. The
prophetic tradition is shared by Christianity,
Islam and Judaism
14. A HISTORY OF JEWISH
PERSECUTION
- Required Reading (see Appendix)
15. â˘âŻZionism
â˘âŻMovement to restore the nation of Israel to the Jews. It began
strongly in 1900 and finally succeeded in 1948, with the
establishment of a Jewish homeland in Israel
16. TANAKH
â˘âŻTanakh = Old Testament or
Hebrew Bible
â˘âŻWritten over a period of 1000 yrs
(c. 1300 BCE to 300 BCE)
â˘âŻIncludes history, fiction, non-
fiction, laws, myths, instructional
guides etc.
â˘âŻThis contains the Torah, the
prophets and the writings
(basically all of the âOld
Testamentâ).
â˘âŻFor Jews, the most important
section = TORAH (Pentateuch)
17. TORAH
â˘âŻWritten over 400 years. The word Torah means
ârevelation,â âteaching,â or âinstruction.â For Jews it means
a way by which to live.
â˘âŻTorah = first 5 books of the Hebrew Scriptures (also called
Pentateuch)
â˘âŻGenesis = myth and story about creation.
â˘âŻExodus = the story of Moses leading Israelites back to Canaan
â˘âŻLeviticus = rituals and ceremonies performed during TEMPLE
worship (done by Priests called Levities)
â˘âŻNumbers = Outlines the Israelites faith growth while wondering for
39 years in the desert before entering the Promised Land
â˘âŻDeuteronomy = Outlines the 613 LAWS that Jews are called to
follow (in addition to the 10 Commandments). These include
KOSHER, Marriage, Family, Property, Murder, etc.
18. TORAH AND TANAKH
â˘âŻWhy would the BOOK become the most important
element once Solomonâs Temple was destroyed and
the Jews were sent into Exile????
â˘âŻWhat parts of the TANAKH would become less
important? More important?
19. THE TALMUD
â˘âŻTalmud = commentary on Tanakh written by Rabbis
â˘âŻIt is a collection of written Jewish Law and oral traditions pertaining
to the Law. Basically, it is an interpretation of the Pentateuch. It
developed as a collection of materials used to settle problems
concerning the obligations imposed on Jews by the Law.
â˘âŻIn addition, the Talmud contains a collection of oral stories dealing
with how Yahweh intervened in the lives of the Hebrew people.
Such stories were handed down by word of mouth (not written) from
generation to generation.
â˘âŻThe Talmud is divided into two sections:
â˘âŻ The Mishnah â a collection of oral laws handed down from
around 200 C.E.
â˘âŻ The Gemera â a collection of discussions on the Mishnah (a
discussion on the discussion)
20. CREED
â˘âŻShema = MOST important/
fundamental statement of
Jewish beliefs taken from the
Torah
â˘âŻStatement refers to two
fundamental concepts: One is
that God is their God and that
the Jewish people are the
âchosen peopleâ. The second
is the belief in Monotheism.
â˘âŻâHear, O Israel, The Lord is our
God, the Lord is Oneâ.
â˘âŻDeuteronomy 6:4-9
21. CREED (FIVE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS)
â˘âŻPhilo (20 BCE â 50 CE), a
Jewish philosopher
â˘âŻThere is a GOD
â˘âŻThere is only ONE God
â˘âŻGod created the WORLD, but it
will not last forever
â˘âŻThere is only ONE Universe
â˘âŻGod CARES for the world and all
of its creatures
22. CREED (13 ARTICLES OF
FAITH)
â˘âŻ Maimonedes (1135-1204 CE), adopted Philoâs 5
Concepts into 13 key statements of belief
â˘âŻ The existence of God, the creator: There is only one God
â˘âŻ God's unity: There is only one universe
â˘âŻ God's incorporeality: God is all-knowing
â˘âŻ God's eternity: God is eternal external to time
â˘âŻ The obligation to worship God alone
â˘âŻ The truth of the words of the prophets
â˘âŻ The superiority of the prophecy of Moses (TORAH)
â˘âŻ The Torah as God's revelation to Moses
â˘âŻ The immutability of the Torah (unchanging)
â˘âŻ God's omniscience
â˘âŻ Retribution in this world and the next (Punishment OR
Reward)
â˘âŻ The coming of the Messiah
â˘âŻ The resurrection of the dead
23. CREED (OTHER BELIEFS)
â˘âŻChosen People â they were picked by God and
set apart from others
â˘âŻPromised Land (Israel)
â˘âŻMessiah will come, bring peace and prosperity
for the Jews, resurrect/judge dead and rebuild
Temple
â˘âŻ10 Commandments (creed and code)
24. MITZVAH (CODE)
â˘âŻKeeping the covenant means following Godâs mitzvot
(the act of doing a good deed, more specifically a
commandment from God that gives people ethical
direction).
â˘âŻBible contains 613 Mitzvoth including:
â˘âŻThe 10 Commandments (the heart of the law)
â˘âŻPrayer 3x/day â Morning, Noon, Night
â˘âŻTzedakah â Charity, 10-15%
â˘âŻShabbat â Friday SUNDOWN to Saturday SUNDOWN, no
work
â˘âŻFollowing Mitzvot helps Jews live in right relationship
with God.
â˘âŻhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDaggJpNrT0 (4:05 â 6:00)
25. KOSHER (CODE)â˘âŻSeveral Jewish laws are devoted to food.
These laws are called kosher or kashrut
â˘âŻJews may eat all fruits and vegetables,
split hooved animals, Chicken, Turkey,
Duck & fish with fins and scales but cannot
eat horses, pigs, birds of prey or
shellfish.
â˘âŻPermitted foods must be slaughtered in
ritual fashion (all blood is drained) and
must be killed with as little pain as possible.
â˘âŻNo meat or dairy can be eaten together
and all utensils for each type must be kept
separate.
26. KOSHER (CODE)
â˘âŻ5 Reasons:
â˘âŻHygienic: Judaism forbids eating animals that died without proper
slaughter and the draining of the blood (which is a medium for the growth of
bacteria). Judaism also forbids eating animals that have abscesses in their
lungs or other health problems.
â˘âŻMoral Lessons: Jews are taught to be sensitive to others' feelings -- even
to the feelings of animals.
â˘âŻNational Reasons: The Jewish people have a mission of Tikkun Olam,
repairing the world. A special diet reminds them of their mission and keeps
them together as a people to fulfill it.
â˘âŻMystical: The Torah calls the Jews a "holy people" and prescribes a holy
diet. You are what you eat. Kosher is God's diet for spirituality. Jewish
mysticism teaches that non-kosher food blocks the spiritual potential of the
soul.
â˘âŻDiscipline: If a person can be disciplined in what and when he eats, it
follows that he can be disciplined in other areas of life.
27. READING ASSIGNMENT:
Introduction to the Law:
This is the law Moses set before the Israelites. These are
the stipulations, decrees and laws Moses gave them when
they came out of Egypt.
Jewish Law in Leviticus and Deuteronomy
Deut. 14: 1-21, 20: 1-20, 22: 13-30, 12: 1-14, 16: 1-17, 5: 11-15
Lev. 11: 1- 45, 19: 1-17, 19: 18-37
28. COVENANT WITH NOAH (CODE)
â˘âŻ Jews believe that non-Jews are also obligated to
follow those mitzvot pronounced before Abrahamâs time
(by Noah), these include:
1.⯠Do not commit adultery.
2.⯠Do not commit blasphemy.
3.⯠Do not commit murder.
4.⯠Do not commit theft.
5.⯠Do not commit sexual immorality.
6.⯠Do not remove and eat the limb of a living animal.
7.⯠Establish a judicial system with courts to enforce the
above six.
29. SIN (CODE)
â˘âŻFailure to live the covenant is called sin.
â˘âŻSin includes deliberately going again moral laws and
violating ritual or purity laws.
â˘âŻSin is a break in the relationship with God.
â˘âŻIn the days of the temple sacrifices were carried out to
heal this break, today Jews celebrate Yom Kippur.
30. COMMUNITY OUTREACH (CODE)
â˘âŻHospitality is a key feature of Judaism (this includes
welcoming guests into oneâs home and community
and meeting the needs of the elderly, sick and poor in
the community).
â˘âŻJews believe in Tikkun Olam (repairing the world);
this can range from political action to planting a tree
31. WORSHIP (CULT)
â˘âŻClergy and Laypersons â in the Jewish
faith any Jew is considered to be
knowledgeable and as such can conduct
and lead a worship service. However it is
usually the rabbi who will do so.
â˘âŻA rabbi is a trained scholar, teacher and
interpreter of Jewish law. They are also
the person who will officiate at certain
ceremonies such as Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
and Marriages
â˘âŻSynagogue is the center of all worship.
32. WORSHIP (CULT)â˘âŻBlessings (Berakhah) are the
foundations of Jewish prayer.
Through blessings Jews
acknowledge, praise, thank and
petition God.
â˘âŻThere are 3 types of blessings:
â˘âŻ Thanks (kiddish)
â˘âŻ Mitzvot (recited before
performing a mitzvah -
acknowledges that
commandments are divinely
given and thanks God for the
chance to fulfill a religious
precept)
â˘âŻ Praise (recited before each
festival)
33. SERVICES (CULT)
â˘âŻWhen Jewish people pray communally, a minyan, or a
quorum of ten males over 13 is required (Reform and
Reconstructionist Jews count women).
â˘âŻThree worship services are held daily (evening, morning
and afternoon).
â˘âŻThe Torah reading is the central part of certain worship
services during the week, one of the Torahâs 54 sections
is read each week; the entire Torah is read each year.
â˘âŻWorship in the home is also central to the Jewish faith â
meals specifically are considered sacred for Jews and are
used to commemorate most events.
34. THE TORAH SCROLL (CULT)
â˘âŻThe five books of Moses on parchment
â˘âŻThe most sacred object in Jewish life - essential
for worship.
â˘âŻKept in a place of honour and read at specific
times during service.
â˘âŻThe Holy Ark (symbolizes
the Ark of the Covenant)
sits on a raised platform
and contains the scrolls.
35. THE SABBATH (CULT)
Sabbath/Shabbat
â˘âŻFriday sunset to sundown on Saturday
â˘âŻThis is a time to put aside work, shopping, housework and is
instead focused on family, prayer and friends.
â˘âŻJews may go to the synagogue on Friday evening. When
they return home families will share in a meal that begins with
Kiddush (prayer over wine). Usually challah (a special egg
bread) is blessed and eaten at the meal. On Saturday
morning Jews will return to the synagogue for prayer and
worship. At sundown on Saturday the Sabbath will conclude
with a brief prayer in which people greet each other by saying
âShavua tovâ (may it be a good week).
36. THE SABBATH (CULT)
Requirements of Shabbat:
â˘âŻNo work is to be done.
â˘âŻNo discussion of work or oneâs job is allowed.
â˘âŻNo money is to be handled.
â˘âŻNothing is to be carried in public.
â˘âŻNo motor vehicle is to be ridden, even if driven by a
non-Jew.
â˘âŻNo lights are to be switched on or electrical
appliances operated.
â˘âŻNo food is to be cooked.
37. DIVISIONS IN MODERN JUDAISM
â˘âŻAfter the Holocaust, some Jews
lost faith in old traditions or failed
to see them as relevant; others
began to rely more heavily on
traditions.
â˘âŻIn some cases traditions became a
unifying and strengthening aspect
for the community
â˘âŻThese reactions serve as the
primary distinctions between the
modern divisions in Judaism.
38. DIVISIONS (CULT)â˘âŻOrthodox â âRight Wayâ
â˘âŻ Strict Jews who believe that they should preserve the traditions of the Jewish
people and conform to the will of God in all areas of life.
â˘âŻ The Torah is held to be âthe word of Godâ.
â˘âŻ Resistant to change: all services in Hebrew, strict rules about customs, ritual,
clothing, gender roles etc.
â˘âŻConservative â Mix Orthodox w. Reform
â˘âŻ âReligious Jews living within the modern world".
â˘âŻ Follow old ways (most services still in Hebrew) and traditions.
â˘âŻ Needs of community come before the individual.
â˘âŻ Allow men and women to sit together, female rabbis are permitted and Bat
Mizvahs are performed.
â˘âŻReform â Very Liberal
â˘âŻ Retain the essential elements of Judaism that make the most sense in the
modern world.
â˘âŻ Leave the rules of Judaism open to individual interpretation.
â˘âŻ Believe the Torah was a human creation and that God allows successive
generations to interpret the Torah.
â˘âŻ Allow female rabbis and men and women are allowed to intermingle.
39. DIVISIONS (CULT)
â˘âŻHasidic âUltra-Orthodox
â˘âŻ Live in exclusive communities; rejecting the modern world.
â˘âŻ Founder taught that communion with God happens through
prayer, good deeds, humility and joy.
â˘âŻ Emphasize singing, dancing and Kabalah ( mystical reading of
the Torah)
â˘âŻ Very traditional clothing and grooming (black clothes, tassels,
complete body covering, beards, etc.).
â˘âŻ Strict observance of Jewish law.
â˘âŻReconstructionist â new, fastest growing,
â˘âŻ Off-shoot of Conservative Judaism.
â˘âŻ Wish to âreconstructâ Judaism by making it more meaningful to
todayâs world (different than reforming or changing Judaism).
â˘âŻ Believe that Judaism is a âwork-in-progressâ.
40. FESTIVALS (CULT)
â˘âŻPassover/ Pesach
â˘âŻUsually held in March or April (during
Nisan â the first month of the Jewish year).
â˘âŻRepresents the 10th Plague
â˘âŻFamilies gather to retell the story of Exodus
â˘âŻJews do not eat anything chametz (leavened) in order to
commemorate the haste in which the Hebrews left Egypt
â˘âŻEat foods that remind them of slavery, SEDER PLATE
â˘âŻMaror â bitter herb (bitterness of slavery)
â˘âŻCharoset â mix of apples, walnuts, cinnamon & wine (mortar)
â˘âŻZâroah â roasted bone (sacrifice)
â˘âŻBeitzah â roasted egg (new life)
â˘âŻKarpas â parsley, dipped in H2O (tears of slavery )
â˘âŻMatzvah â unleavened bread (haste)
â˘âŻWine â Godâs promise
41. FESTIVALS (CULT)
Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year
â˘âŻSeptember or early October
â˘âŻ2 day festival commemorating the creation of the world
â˘âŻDay of judgment when Jews believe that God balances a
personâs good deeds over the past year against their bad deeds
and decides what the next year will be like for them. God
records this judgment in the Book of Life.
â˘âŻStarts 10 days of repentance (days of awe); Jews request
forgiveness from God and others for their mistakes and
transgressions.
â˘âŻPeriod ends with the blowing of a SHOFAR (ramâs horn).
â˘âŻApples are dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet year to come.
â˘âŻRosh Hashanah ends withâŚ
42. FESTIVALS (CULT)
Yom Kippurâ Day of Atonement
â˘âŻRosh Hashanah ends with the
festival of Yom Kippur.
â˘âŻThe most important religious day in
the Jewish calendar as it is believed
that the book of life and Godâs
judgments are finally sealed on this
day. Jews spend the day seeking
reconciliation with God and atoning
for sins.
â˘âŻYom Kippur is marked by a 25 hour
fast. No signs of comfort or luxury
are allowed on this day. For
example, women may choose not to
wear make-up, no food or drink, no
sex.
43. FESTIVALS (CULT)
Hanukkah/ Chanukkah
â˘âŻJewish festival of lights held in December.
â˘âŻCommemorates the miracle of the menorah in the
temple (after the Maccabean Revolt).
â˘âŻJews light a candle for each of the eight days of
Hanukkah on a candelabrum (menorah).
â˘âŻMenorah has 9 branches, one for each of the eight
nights of Hanukkah and the ninth for the candle
known as the shamus (servant candle), which is
used to light the others.
â˘âŻEach night families gather to light the candles, say
prayers, recite blessings and share gifts.
44. MILESTONES (CULT)
â˘âŻBrit Milah or Bris
â˘âŻ8th day after birth the rite of
circumcision is performed,
combined with naming.
â˘âŻInitiates the infant into the people of
the covenant.
â˘âŻA MOHEL performs the ceremony
â˘âŻBar/Bat Mitzvah
â˘âŻSon or Daughter of Commandment
â˘âŻ1st Sabbath after 13th birthday
â˘âŻPrior - study TORAH
â˘âŻRead, in Hebrew, passage in front of
Congregation
â˘âŻOnly modern (Reform) Jews do this
for girls
45. MILESTONES (CULT)
â˘âŻMarriage
â˘âŻUsually same faith because a
child can technically only be
Jewish IF born of a Jewish mother
â˘âŻMost marriages are in the synagogue
and are presided over by a rabbi.
â˘âŻCouple starts under a Chuppah
(canopy) â representing their home
â˘âŻShare blessed wine
â˘âŻMarriage contract read and signed by the groom
â˘âŻExchange rings and vows
â˘âŻCeremony ends with the groom crushing a glass â representing good & bad
times AND destruction of TEMPLE
â˘âŻDivorce allowed but highly discouraged â if all efforts at reconciliation fail a
certificate known as a GET is given by the husband to the wife, allowing the
couple to remarry again in the faith.
46. MILESTONES (CULT)
â˘âŻDeath:
â˘âŻWhen a parent dies, a son (in some cases a daughter) recites
the Kaddish (a prayer of sanctification) in the synagogue each
morning and evening for 11 months.
â˘âŻFuneral takes place as soon as possible following death
(usually within 24 hours).
â˘âŻSimple service â NO cremation because we should not destroy
what God has created.
â˘âŻBelieve in life after death but do not dwell on it; one should
concentrate on being a good person now, in the present.
â˘âŻSitting Shiva â seven day period of mourning following the
funeral. Family mourners are protected from everyday
problems and responsibilities. Mourners will not leave the home
for the seven day period.
49. FOR REVIEW: TEST YOUR
KNOWLEDGE
â˘âŻ Define the terms:
â˘âŻ Covenant
â˘âŻ Kabbalah
â˘âŻ Mishnah
â˘âŻ Passover
â˘âŻ Rabbi
â˘âŻ Shema
â˘âŻ Talmud
â˘âŻ Tanakh
â˘âŻ Torah
1.⯠Explain the importance of covenant to Judaism.
2.⯠Why is (or was) the Shema considered a radical
statement?
3.⯠What are the three main parts of the Tanakh?
50. IMPORTANT TERMS
â˘âŻSynagogue
â˘âŻPatriarch
â˘âŻCovenant
â˘âŻTanakh, Torah, Mishnah,
Pentateuch
â˘âŻPassover
â˘âŻShema
â˘âŻMoses, Abraham, Joseph
â˘âŻSabbath
â˘âŻShiva
â˘âŻCircumcision
â˘âŻ5 Fundamental Concepts
o⯠Mezuzah
o⯠Idoltry
o⯠Driedal, Yarmulke, Menorah,
Star of David
o⯠Messiah
o⯠Diaspora
o⯠Holocaust
o⯠Israel
o⯠Chanukah/Hanukah
o⯠Solomonâs Temple
o⯠Kashrut/Kosher
o⯠Divisions (Conservative,
Reform, Hasidic etc.)
51. REVIEW QUESTIONS
â˘âŻHow have the sacred writings of Judaism influenced its
ritualistic practices and moral beliefs?
â˘âŻHow have the sacred writings been influenced by the
sacred history of the Jewish people?
â˘âŻIn what ways have world religions responded to
prejudice and discrimination, specifically through the
events of the Holocaust?
â˘âŻIn what ways has Judaism been altered due to the
Holocaust?
â˘âŻHow have the Jewish divisions each reacted to
modernity with respects to prayer and ritualistic life?