The religion Judaism

1. Which effect of religion is referred to in
the following sentences?
a. Religion promotes discrimination.
b. Religion promotes social solidarity.
c. Religion affirms hierarchy.
d. Religion sets positive goals in life.
e. Religion obstructs scientific success and development.
f. Religion reduces fear of the unknown.
g. Religion obstructs the use of reason.
h. Religion gives people a sense of belonging.
i. Religion makes people fight each other.
j. Religion provides moral values.

2. JUDAISM

3. Judaism
 It is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world that originated
in West Asia.
 They are known as the “People of the Book”
 The Jews consider themselves as the people chosen by God to serve as an
exemplar of devotion and purity to humankind.
 Followers of Judaism are known as Jews. Hebrew, Yiddish, and Jews also
refers to Judaism.
 It is the oldest of the three main religions of the Middle East, (Around
2000 BC)

4. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 The origin of the Jewish people and the beginning of Judaism are
recorded in the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Pentateuch.
 Judaism has three notable founding figures or patriarchs, namely,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These biblical patriarchs are the
physical and spiritual forebears of the Jewish people and their
narratives can be found in Genesis 12-50 of their scripture.

5. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 Judaism is anchored upon God’s revelation to Abraham that He is the
creator and ruler of the universe, and that He loves His creatures and
demands righteousness from them (Losch 2001).
 These patriarchs are depicted as nomads in biblical stories.
According to tradition, Abraham’s original name was “Abram”
who was born in the city of Ur of the Chaldeas around 1800
B.C.E.

6. SACRED SCRIPTURES
 Hebrew Bible (Tanakh or Mikra) that has been
the authority, guide, and inspiration of the many
forms of Judaism that have evolved throughout
the different periods of time and in various
places (Parrinder 1971).

7. Hebrew Bible is divided into three
principal sections
1. Torah (“Teaching”) - is composed of the first “Five Books” or the Pentateuch
traditionally believed to have been authored by Moses through divine
instruction in Sinai. These include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy.
2. Nevi’im(“Prophets”) - is subdivided into Earlier Prophets, Later Prophets, and
twelve minor prophets. Prophets served as spokespersons who criticize the
hypocritical practices of Jewish rituals. They were specifically chosen by God to
preach his message to the people.
3. Ketuvim (“Writings”) - contains works on poetry, temple ritual, private
prayer, philosophical explorations, and other canonical works.

8. SACRED SCRIPTURES
 Talmud (or the “Oral Torah”) which means “study.” All
studies and interpretations done by Jewish rabbis or
teachers of the Torah are contained in the Talmud.
 In short, the Talmud is an authoritative collection of
rabbinic interpretations of the sacred scriptures. It
contains materials of law and moral codes.

9. SACRED SCRIPTURES
 The Pentateuch is the single most important scripture for the Jewish people
that became the source of their inspiration and direction for centuries.
 It became the foundation of other essential Jewish writings, such as the
Talmud and Mishnah. With all these codified laws and legal materials,
Judaism has become a religion of the law and the Jews as the chosen people
have shown obedience to God’s covenant throughout their long and
tumultuous history (Hopfe 1983).

10. BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES
 In Judaism, actions are more significant than beliefs.
However, while Judaism has no dogma, there is
definitely a place for belief within the religion since
it focuses on the worship of one god, the practice of
good deeds, and the love of learning (Brasswell
1994).

11. BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES
 Human beings were created by God who provided
them the capacity to decide what is right and wrong,
and gave them the freedom and responsibility for
their own actions (Losch 2001).
 With regard one’s Jewishness, a Jew is someone
whose mother is a Jew, although some sectors
recognize the children of Jewish fathers as Jews, too.

12. The Jewish Holidays
 High Holidays:
 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
 Sukkot, the “Festival of Booths” (fall harvest festival)
 Simchat Torah – celebrating Torah
 Chanukah, the “Festival of Lights”

13. The Jewish Holidays
 Purim (“Lots”) – a carnival (commemorates events
told in book of Esther)
 Pesach (“Passover”) – commemorates the exodus
from Egypt (events told in Exodus)
 Shavuot (“weeks,” Pentecost) – commemorates
receipt of Torah at Sinai
 Other, minor festivals
 Shabbat (Sabbath, 7th day, on Saturday) – the “Day of
Rest”

14. Star of David
 The six points of the Star of David symbolize
God's rule over the universe in all six directions:
 north, south, east, west, up and down.

15. Other Beliefs and Practices
 Worship at a Synagogue - house of worship
 Strict dietary requirements. (Can only eat what is
“kosher”. (Permitted)

16. The meaning of Kosher is “Fit”.
According to the Jewish people
this or kosher food is fit for them to
eat, the country Israel use the food
under the laws and the kosher
animals could be the unclean
animals for them, there are four
animals which are forbidden
according to the Kosher, the four
animals are hare, pig, camel, hyrax.
WHAT IS KOSHER?

17. Some Jewish Religious Observances
 Rosh Hashanah- the
Jewish New Year.
Introspection for the
future.
 Yom Kippur-a “day of
atonement”. Fasting and
repentance to “atone” for
your sins