JUDAISM

-- MAP OF ISRAEL --

Abraham (1743 BC)founded Judaismmade “covenant” with God

make Israel a great nation in exchange for remaining faithful

viewed as “Chosen People”‘Patriarchs of Judaism”

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jacob’s 12 sons

JUDAISM

YAHWEH = GODNATURE OF YAHWEHis ONE, CREATOR, INCORPOREAL, OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT,

OMNISCIENT, ETERNAL, JUST and MERCIFUL, PERFECT, FATHER and KING

God is above naturePolytheistic religions felt their gods represented nature

Proof is not needed of God’s existence – existence of universe is proof enough

JUDAISM

Yahweh focused on:demanded “Ethical” behavior

Righteous livingBeing dutifulimprove the “here and now”

Torahcontained Instructions for living a correct life

“hitting the mark”Sin = “missing the mark”

JUDAISM

1600’s BC Drought/famine forced to move to Egypt

Jews became slaves to Egyptians1200’s BC MOSES called to lead Hebrews out of Egypt

“Burning Bush”10 Plagues against Egypt

oRamses II – Egyptian Pharaohoeach against a different Egyptian god

proving God’s powero”Passover”

”Exodus” oparting of Red Sea

JEWISH HISTORY

Ten CommandmentsoMt. Sinaiorenewed covenant with YahwehoARK OF THE COVENANT

40 years in desert oMoses died…Joshua took Jews into the “Promise Land”

JEWISH HISTORY

KINGDOM OF ISRAEL879 BC - SAUL – 1ST King877 BC - DAVID – king

(killed Goliath)United 12 Tribes of IsraelJerusalem became capital

836 BC - SOLOMON – king (wisest man)height of Israel’s powerhigh taxes / forced labor 825 BC - built 1st TEMPLE

Yahweh found in Templesacrifice

Jewish History

1st Temple

KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

After death of Solomon – Israel weakened, divided, and was conquered

North = Israel

South = Judah

Jewish History

722 BC

Assyrians destroyed Israel

586 BCNEBUCHADNEZZAR conquered Judah // destroyed

Temple

“Diaspora” – Jews fled to avoid persecution

”Babylonian Captivity”

Talmud written to preserve correct teachings

fear of losing teachings of Judaism

Jewish History

HAS GOD BEEN DEFEATED?

IS HE GONE?

Jewish History

NO!!Prophet EZEKIEL

said God is to be

found everywhere

331 BC -- Alexander the Great

tolerated religions

spread “Hellenistic Culture”

Synagogues developed

“House of Prayer”

a)copy of Torah

b)10 adult males

Jewish History

63 BC

Rome conquered IsraelRome would allow Judaism:

1)Paid taxes to Rome

2)Caused no problems

70 AD Rome destroyed 2nd Temple

Jewish History

• TANAKH - Jewish Bible• TORAH - written law

• 613 commandments (Mt. Sinai)• “to hit the mark”

• PENTATUCH -- 1st 5 books • TALMUD - oral law

• written to preserve Judaism during attacks• interpretation, explanation, application of written

Torah• HALAKAH – name for ALL Jewish law (Torah and Talmud)

JEWISH TEXTS

JEWISH SECTSPHARISEES •Largest Jewish Sect

•Opposed Greek influence•Accepted Torah and Prophets•Strict interpretation of Torah

SADDUCEES •Wealthy and powerful•Okay with Greek Influence•Accepted Torah, but NOT Prophets•Did not believe in Angels and Afterlife•Enemies of Pharisees

ZEALOTS •“Jewish Terrorists”•Willing to fight against Roman control

Jewish SymbolsMENORAH STAR OF

DAVIDYARMULKE

•Symbol of Israel•Mission to be the “light unto the nations”

•Newer symbol•Top points to God•Intertwining makes triangles inseparable

•Kippah (Hebrew)•Reminder of God being above them• servants to God

JEWISH HOLY DAYSSHABBAT YOM

KIPPURROSH

HASHANAPASSOVER

•Most important – only observance in 10 Commandments•Friday Sundown to Saturday Sundown

•“Day of atonement”•Ask forgiveness from God•Only time High Priest could enter “Holy of Holies”

•Jewish New Year•time to look back at the mistakes of the past year and make changes for the new year

•Remembrance of God’s “passing” over the homes of the Jews and delivering them safely from Egypt

JEWISH LIFEKOSHER no mixing of dairy and meat; no pork products; no shell fish

BAR / BAT MITZVAH (“son / daughter of the

commandment”) • boys = 13 //// girls = 12• obligated to observe the commandments (613)

• marks the right to take part in leading religious services, to count in a minyan (minimum # needed to perform certain parts of religious services)

• ceremonies are not required, but common

How is Judaism related to

Christianity?• Judaism predates Christianity – it is the foundation of

Christianity, but is not a part of it • Jews do not believe in “New Testament”• Jesus was Jewish, but Jews do not believe Jesus was

anything more than a good and wise man who lived and died 2000 years ago

• Did not feel Jesus was the “Messiah”– Jews felt the “Jewish Messiah” would not be divine– Jews felt he would be a political figure who restored the

power of Israel and brought peace to Earth

JUDAISMOLAM HA - BA “The World to Come”

Jews believe that there is a world to come in which the Messiah will reign, a world in which

the Jewish temple will be rebuilt and the nation of Israel will be fully restored, instituting a world order of justice and compassion. A

“Messianic Age.”

The Wailing Wall

Anti-SemitismAdolf Hitlersuperiority of German Aryan raceblamed Jews for Germany’s loss in WWI”survival of strongest”eliminate origins of God and morality”Final Solution” = HOLOCAUST

6,000,000

1948creation of a new IsraelZionismIsraeli-Palestinian Conflict

JUDAISM