2. Stories of Origin and Important People( Early History) In Judaism the biggest story of origin is the story of Abram. The Torah says that Abram made a covenant with God, he would worship only one God. Because of that God changed Abram’s name to Abraham which means father of a great nation. Then when Abraham was about 75 years old, God said to him… “Go from your country ,your kindred, and your father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and make your name great so that you will be a blessing.”( Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham and his wife Sarah journeyed to the land that God promised Abraham, Canaan ( Modern day Israel). Abraham and Sarah grew old, but God gave them a son, Isaac. In Genesis 22, God tested Abrahams faith by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac. Though Abraham was sad he tied Isaac and laid him on a wood alter. Just as Abraham was reaching for the knife to slay his only son for God, an angel called out. “ Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you obey God, because you have not withheld me from your son.” Abraham dropped the knife and prayed to God.
4. Symbols and Objects The Shofar The Shofar is a rams horn blown a month before Rosh Hashanah, and during Rosh Hashanah services. It is also blown at the end of Yom Kippur services. Its purpose is to wake people up and to remind them of their responsibility to ask forgiveness for their sins. It symbolizes the ram that Abraham killed as an offering for God after God said his only son could live. This is how you blow into it. These are Shofars. This is a Shofar.
5. Holy Places and Places of Worship In Judaism a place of worship is called a Synagogue. The holiest place for Jewish people is the Western Wall. The Western Wall used to be the Western Wall of a Synagogue. It was the only wall standing after the Romans knocked the Synagogue. All the synagogues face towards the Western Wall so when people pray they pray in the direction of it. This is a service held at This is a Synagogue. the Western Wall. This is the Western wall