JudaismJudaism

ؤؤצץפ�ןצץפ�ן

The People of the The People of the BookBook

םלםלببס�ס� өөإئإئ

Let My People

Go!

It is I, Moses!

I am here to tell you

About Judaism.

But first, some

Business….

Ahem…

So where can we begin

…

In the beginning…In the beginning… God gave the Creation God gave the Creation

stories, aka, Genesis, via stories, aka, Genesis, via divine inspiration to Moses. divine inspiration to Moses. His writings become the His writings become the Penateuch, the first five Penateuch, the first five books of the Bible, also called books of the Bible, also called the Torah (it contains 613 the Torah (it contains 613 laws).laws).

His call for a monotheism is His call for a monotheism is completely new to the completely new to the enslaved Hebrews…enslaved Hebrews…

It probably took longer than It probably took longer than his lifetime for it to be his lifetime for it to be accepted and developed accepted and developed because of how radical it was because of how radical it was (they probably thought (they probably thought Yahweh was simply the most Yahweh was simply the most powerful, but not the only).powerful, but not the only).

It would be good for you to know that I’m the most

important person in Judaism.

Era of MonarchyEra of Monarchy 1004 – 928 BCE – The time 1004 – 928 BCE – The time

of David and Solomon – of David and Solomon – Rulers of a United Israel. Rulers of a United Israel. After the defeat of the After the defeat of the Philistine Tribe, Israel Philistine Tribe, Israel enjoys a period of enjoys a period of prosperity. prosperity.

David referred to as the David referred to as the prototype of the Messiah prototype of the Messiah (Christians went to special (Christians went to special lengths to bring Jesus’ lengths to bring Jesus’ lineage to David). His lineage to David). His tomb in Jerusalem is a tomb in Jerusalem is a sacred Pilgrimage site.sacred Pilgrimage site.

Solomon builds the Solomon builds the magnificent first temple magnificent first temple of Jerusalem, which will of Jerusalem, which will last 500 years. last 500 years.

Kingdom divides into Kingdom divides into “Judah” and “Israel” “Judah” and “Israel” after Solomon’s reign. after Solomon’s reign. “Judaism” comes from “Judaism” comes from the name “Judah.”the name “Judah.”

The Mouthpieces of the The Mouthpieces of the Lord…Lord…

Seek to keep Israel’s Seek to keep Israel’s leaders and peoples leaders and peoples constantly cognizant of the constantly cognizant of the Covenant with Yahweh.Covenant with Yahweh.

Often receive much Often receive much persecution, whether in the persecution, whether in the form of disbelief or ridiculeform of disbelief or ridicule

Are partly how Judaism Are partly how Judaism forms its beliefs until the forms its beliefs until the Babylonian Exile.Babylonian Exile.

Types of Judaism:Types of Judaism:

Classical Classical –– Begins with the Roman Begins with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem (both in 70 CE destruction of Jerusalem (both in 70 CE and 135 CE). Jewish people are scattered and 135 CE). Jewish people are scattered in thein the Diaspora (Dispersion).Diaspora (Dispersion).

It is in this period that the Bible as it is currently was put together, to insure that Jews everywhere knew how to practice their religion.This period is also marked with a hope for the return to the homeland (partly based on the experience of returning after the Babylonian Exile).

Medieval Medieval JudaismJudaism

Realization the Return to Homeland may not be Realization the Return to Homeland may not be coming…Jews living under Christians and Muslims coming…Jews living under Christians and Muslims (Muslim rulers more tolerable than Christians)(Muslim rulers more tolerable than Christians)

Christians couldn’t be moneylenders (usurers) so Christians couldn’t be moneylenders (usurers) so Jews held that role and were resented for it. Jews held that role and were resented for it. Christians also blamed Jews for the Bubonic Plague Christians also blamed Jews for the Bubonic Plague and subjected them to the Inquisition in Spain.and subjected them to the Inquisition in Spain.

Many fled from Western to Eastern Europe because Many fled from Western to Eastern Europe because of persecution.of persecution.

Jewish culture remained intact, and led to the Jewish culture remained intact, and led to the intellectual combination of Arab, Jewish, and Greek intellectual combination of Arab, Jewish, and Greek thought, which culminated in academics like thought, which culminated in academics like Maimonides.Maimonides.

MaimonidesMaimonides Moses ben Maimon (1135-Moses ben Maimon (1135-

1204 CE)1204 CE) Greatest Figure in the Greatest Figure in the

Spanish School of Hebrew Spanish School of Hebrew Theology – Author of Theology – Author of Guide to the Perplexed. Guide to the Perplexed. Brings Aristotle to Brings Aristotle to Jewish Theology.Jewish Theology.

““The World Depends on The World Depends on God’s Will.”God’s Will.”

Experience of the Experience of the Prophets not an Prophets not an interruption of regular interruption of regular life, but possible for life, but possible for anyone sufficiently anyone sufficiently perceptive.perceptive.

Famous for his 13 Famous for his 13 Articles of Judaism.Articles of Judaism.

I’m smart.

The Thirteen Articles, by The Thirteen Articles, by MaimonidesMaimonides

A Short Creed of Judaism:A Short Creed of Judaism:

Existence of the CreatorExistence of the CreatorHis UnityHis Unity

His IncorporealityHis IncorporealityHis EternityHis Eternity

The Necessity of Worshipping Him aloneThe Necessity of Worshipping Him aloneThe Truth of the Words of the ProphetThe Truth of the Words of the Prophet

The Superiority of Moses to all ProphetsThe Superiority of Moses to all ProphetsThe revelation of the Law to Moses at SinaiThe revelation of the Law to Moses at Sinai

The immutability of the LawThe immutability of the LawThe Omniscience of GodThe Omniscience of God

Retribution in this world and the nextRetribution in this world and the nextThe coming of the MessiahThe coming of the Messiah

The resurrection of the dead.The resurrection of the dead.

Note: This is what Jews believe…Note: This is what Jews believe…

Jewish Mysticism…akin to Muslim SufismJewish Mysticism…akin to Muslim Sufism Main work is called the Zohar (“Splendor”)Main work is called the Zohar (“Splendor”) Unlike Sufis, these mystics continue to practice Unlike Sufis, these mystics continue to practice

all elements of Jewish life. The Law needed to all elements of Jewish life. The Law needed to be enacted along with a mystical element.be enacted along with a mystical element.

God is called “En Sof” – from which 10 ideal God is called “En Sof” – from which 10 ideal qualities emanate, including wisdom, patience, qualities emanate, including wisdom, patience, mercy and justice.mercy and justice.

They celebrate meekness and love, and glorify They celebrate meekness and love, and glorify poverty.poverty.

Modern JudaismModern Judaism

Judaism in Modernity…Judaism in Modernity…

Modern Judaism has branched into three primary Modern Judaism has branched into three primary categories (this is most particular in the United States:categories (this is most particular in the United States:– Reform -- a result of the Enlightenment, sought to purge Reform -- a result of the Enlightenment, sought to purge

Judaism of its ancient leanings, simplifying rituals and using Judaism of its ancient leanings, simplifying rituals and using science as a guide. Move beyond the reliance on the science as a guide. Move beyond the reliance on the Talmud and History.Talmud and History.

– Orthodox -- Reject abandoning tradition in order to stay true Orthodox -- Reject abandoning tradition in order to stay true to God and the struggle of the Jewish people.to God and the struggle of the Jewish people.

– Conservative -- a synthesis of the previous two that added Conservative -- a synthesis of the previous two that added emphasis on rituals and ethics, preserving community and emphasis on rituals and ethics, preserving community and revelation while not necessarily believing in a transcendent revelation while not necessarily believing in a transcendent God.God.

ZionismZionism ““Zion” – Another term for Zion” – Another term for

the eternal city of Jerusalem the eternal city of Jerusalem (you may remember it in (you may remember it in “The Matrix”).“The Matrix”).

In wake of multiple In wake of multiple persecutions up until the persecutions up until the late 1890’s, Jewish leaders, late 1890’s, Jewish leaders, most prominently Theodore most prominently Theodore Herzl, advocate for a Herzl, advocate for a National Jewish Homeland National Jewish Homeland (so they can avoid future (so they can avoid future persecutions).persecutions).

Original thought was that Original thought was that they would acquire land they would acquire land privatelyprivately (financially) from (financially) from the Arabs ruling Palestine the Arabs ruling Palestine (and actually do, setting up (and actually do, setting up a Kibbutz in Northern a Kibbutz in Northern Palestine in 1907).Palestine in 1907).

Development of Zionism…Development of Zionism…

Herzl says Herzl says that a that a Homeland Homeland would be a would be a blessing to the blessing to the rest of the rest of the world, and the world, and the world would world would be “liberated be “liberated through our through our freedom.”freedom.”

First Zionist First Zionist Congress Congress meets in 1897meets in 1897

Within twenty Within twenty years popular years popular support for a support for a Jewish homeland Jewish homeland gains enough gains enough ground that Great ground that Great Britain (at that Britain (at that time “THE” world time “THE” world power, agrees to power, agrees to facilitate the facilitate the process. process. (Remember that (Remember that Britain had a Britain had a League of Nations League of Nations mandate over the mandate over the Middle East).Middle East).

But there were arguments…But there were arguments…

We Orthodox

Jews feel a Homeland is trying to force the

hand of God

While Reformed

Jews feel that a Homeland is

more Nationalistic

than Religious

Within Judaism…

And outside of Judaism…And outside of Judaism…

Yes, it was tricky with we Palestinians, who would

have to move from our

homes for this Jewish

homeland.

We Brits lost our UN Mandate in

Palestine because we tried to stop immigration to

protect the Arab population.

Even US President Harry Truman was very hard-pressed to recognize

the State of Israel. However…

The Holocaust helps the cause…The Holocaust helps the cause…

As 6 million Jews are As 6 million Jews are exterminated by exterminated by

the Nazis, the Nazis, international international

sympathy goes out sympathy goes out to the Jewish to the Jewish

people, and the people, and the state of Israel is state of Israel is declared on May declared on May

14, 1948.14, 1948.

While mired in controversy, the State of Israel While mired in controversy, the State of Israel has maintained their sovereignty as a Jewish has maintained their sovereignty as a Jewish nation in the Middle East.nation in the Middle East.

They have had to repel invasions in 1948 (only They have had to repel invasions in 1948 (only days after declaring their independence), 1956, days after declaring their independence), 1956, 1967, and 1973. Each time they lost tremendous 1967, and 1973. Each time they lost tremendous numbers of people defending their borders.numbers of people defending their borders.

The issue of a Jewish state, especially The issue of a Jewish state, especially considering the Palestinians still living within its considering the Palestinians still living within its borders, is still topic for heated debate.borders, is still topic for heated debate.

However, to an extent, the dreams of people like However, to an extent, the dreams of people like Herzl were realized in 1948 and since.Herzl were realized in 1948 and since.