Oldest Semitic Smallest JUDAISM Oldest Semitic Smallest

1. Name and # people who belong Jews (Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed, Hasidic, Messianic) Hebrews “God’s Chosen People” = responsibility to share the belief in one God with others ~14 million (location)

Jews believe in justice & righteousness Justice means kindness and fairness toward all. Righteousness means proper behavior…even if others around them do not. Righteous behavior is very important!

2. God they worship God Yahweh (one God)

Synagogue Temple Shul 3. Place of worship Rabbi Cantor Eternal flame Ark

4. Holy Scriptures Torah = 1st 5 books of the Bible Hebrew Bible = Torah (5books), 8 books that describe messages of Hebrew prophets, and 11 books of poetry, songs, stories, & history, including Psalms and Proverbs. (Old Testament = 39 books) Talmud = explanations for everyday life

Bible 66 books 39 in the Old Testament 1st 5 books = Torah Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Revealed to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai The Torah contains 613 social, ethical, and ritual requirements for Jews 27 in the New Testament

5. How & when the religion began God made a love covenant with Abraham ~1900 BCE and promised to bless him and his descendants if they were faithful. God made a law covenant with Moses ~1200 BCE with the 10 Commandments. Judaism does not actively try to convert followers. The Bible says you are born a Jew.

Jews: enslaved and persecuted 1200s BCE Egypt 700s BCE Babylonians 70 CE Romans 1300-1800s Europeans Isolated in society, ghettos, denied education 1900s anti-Semitism & Holocaust 6 million Jews killed during WW2 Today they are some of the most educated and wealthy people in the world.

Being Jewish is… Religious: believing in one God and keeping the laws of God. Cultural: participating in various elements of the culture…Kosher food, customs, holidays, etc. Historical: born into a community of people. Political: part of a people all over the world, with a spiritual homeland in Israel. Denominations: Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed, Hasidic, Messianic

6. Doctrine of Salvation Jews believe they must obey basic laws in the Hebrew Bible to be morally acceptable to God. If they believe in God and do his will they will go to Heaven. Jews believe Gentiles can go to Heaven if they believe in one God and practice moral living.

Addition to #6 Jews believe it is their responsibility to bear witness to God in everything they do. They believe it is important to observe the religious customs and practices of Judaism and be examples of proper moral behavior according to Jewish law. Failure to obey the law is a sin. To recover from sin, Jews must repent…this is done at Yom Kippur.

9. Basic beliefs & code of conduct Worship one God (creator) * * Lead a morally correct life according to God’s 10 Commandments and OT laws * God made a unique covenant/agreement with Jewish people to provide for them if they worship & obey His laws. * Man not born good/evil but free to choose *** Waiting for Messiah/Savior to come! Jews are to prepare His way.

7. Holidays practiced Based on the Hebrew calendar 3761 years ahead http://www.jewfaq.org/calendar.htm Celebrate a historical event (see pictures/explanations) Rosh Hashanah (call for repentance) Hebrew New Year (10 days in fall) Yom Kippur Day of Atonement (1 day end of Rosh Hashanah) Hanukkah Festival of Lights (8 days in winter) Passover Freedom from slavery in Egypt (7 days in spring) Shavuot Giving of the Torah to Moses (1 day in summer)

8. Rituals practiced Sabbath sundown Friday to sundown Saturday Prayer Mezuzah Yarmulke worn out of respect for God Dietary laws kosher foods/other laws in Leviticus 11 Wailing Wall sacred place in Israel/visit Israel sacred places Brit Milah/bris = naming ceremony 8 days after birth Bar/Bat Mitzvah coming of age ceremony Marriage contract/ketubah hupa, blessing, breaking glass Shiva, Kaddish/death rituals time of mourning, no viewing, no flowers, prayer, helping out, yearly anniversary candle