= where Judaism is practiced = where Judaism originated Israel

 Judaism originated in Israel  According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics there is 14,993,000 Jews worldwide  In Israel alone there is 5,703,700  United States has 5,275,000  Canada has 375,000  Mexico has 39,400

 Abraham- The Hebrew patriarch from whom all Jews trace their descent  The first founder of Judaism  Physical and spiritual ancestor of the Jewish people  Father of the faith  Covenant- is an agreement found in the bible between God and His people in which God makes specific promises and demands  Diaspora- the dispersion of Jews outside of Israel  When they were exiled they were sent to Babylonia until present time  Ethical Monotheism- is a term used to describe a belief in one God who guides humanity through ethical principles. This can be seen as distinct from monotheistic beliefs which may be based on dogma or doctrines. Ethical monotheists sometimes believe that all ethical standards are derived from God and they are thus dependent upon the divine in this way.

 Hanukkah- A Jewish festival, lasting eight days from the 25th day of Kislev (in December) and commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians.  Moses- He is the most important prophet in Judaism. Moses is the leader who freed them from slavery in Egypt. Moses protected the Jews from the wrath of God, and negotiated with God on their behalf.  Passover- is celebrated to commemorate the liberation of the Children of Israel who were led out of slavery in Egypt by Moses.  It is a major eight day festival  Matzah is eaten throughout the festival  Great spring cleaning in the home before the festival

 Rabbi- A Jewish scholar or teacher especially one who studies or teaches Jewish law. A person appointed as a Jewish religious leader.  Rosh Hashanah- Jewish new year, it commemorates the creation of the world.  Over the two days there are special services at the synagogue  A musical instrument called a shofar is blown. It makes a loud piercing sound like a trumpet and reminds the Jews of Gods great power  Synagogue- House of worship for Jewish congregation  The place of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation  Men and women usually sit separately in the Synagogues  Talmud- The book of Jewish law- Jewish Holy Book  Collection of ancient Jewish writings that forms the basis of Jewish religious law, consisting of the early scriptural interpretations and the later commentaries

 Torah- the most holy Jewish book. It’s the first five books of the Hebrew Bible  Genesis  Exodus  Leviticus  Numbers  Deuteronomy  Torah is stored inside the Ark and no one is allowed to touch the Torah  Yahweh- Hebrew name of God  The Wailing Wall- Thought by the Jews to be the most scared of places, temple itself was thought to be the place where God resides on earth  Yom Kippur- Jewish holy day  The holiest day of the Jewish year, on which Jews fast and say prayers of penitence

 Life-and-Texts-Explored-at-National-Jewish-Retreat.html Life-and-Texts-Explored-at-National-Jewish-Retreat.html  This article was about a national Jewish Retreat. It was hosted at the Hyatt Regency of Greenwich,CT.  Its five days and there were numbers of 800 people. Guest were feted with impressive lectures and workshops.  Public-School-Chabad-to-Combat-Assimilation.html Public-School-Chabad-to-Combat-Assimilation.html  This article was about Jews in public schools. Many Jews who are enrolled in public schools are not enrolled in any form of religious education. That puts those kids in the red zone. 250 students enrolled in Torah 4 Teens a project in Ontario. But the students participating in Torah 4 Teens receive high school for teens.  restores-torah-that-survived-confiscation-by- nazis/?iref=allsearch restores-torah-that-survived-confiscation-by- nazis/?iref=allsearch  This article was a Torah that got restored in New York. It was destroyed for a long time. They fixed errors and made it look brand new.

 Jews believe that there is a single God who not only created the universe, but with whom every Jew can have an individual and personal relationship  They also believe that their Savior has not come yet  They believe that everyone was created in the image of God  For this reason every person is equally important and has an infinite potential to do good in the world

 Rabbi is not a priest. A Rabbi has no more authority to perform rituals than any other adult male member of the Jewish community  Rabbi is simply a teacher  Chazzan is the person who leads the congregation in prayer. In smaller congregations the rabbi is often serves as both rabbi and chazzan. Professional chazzans are ordained clergy.  One of their most important duties is teaching young people to lead all or part of a Shabbat service and to chant the Torah  Chazzan can conduct weddings and funerals. They can also visit sick congregants and teach adult classes.

 The history of Judaism is inseparable from the history of Jews themselves. God chose the Jews to be an example to the world and how God and his chosen people worked out their relationship  Jewish history began during the Bronze Age. The birth of the Jewish people and the start of Judaism is told in the first five books in the bible  God guided the Jewish people through many troubles and gave them a set of rules  This was a beginning of Judaism as a structured religion. They became a powerful people with kings.  Around 920 BCE the kingdom fell apart and the Jewish people split into groups  Then the Jews grew in strength throughout the next 300 years and the temple was restored

 The Hebrew word for wife and mother is Akeret Habayit. It means mainstay of the home. As a wife and mother she has the duty to keep her house up to the Jewish rules. They have to have so much stuff to do with their home. She also has to supply food and keep the house clean.  Duty of a Rabbi is to teach the congregation. They must also know secular subjects like medicine, mathematics, astrology and astronomy. They must also be familiar with magic and idolatry, in order to know how to judge such cases. They also must know the Torah.  The children really become part of this religion when they have their Bar mitzvah or Bat mitzvah. When they have that then they become adults in their faith.

 They are both special ceremonies where Jewish boys at age 13 and girls at age 12 can become adults in the eyes of the Jewish religion  Bar mitzvah is for boys and means Son of the Commandments  Bat mitzvah is for girls and means Daughter of the Commandment  It is just a celebration of them becoming adults in the Jewish religion.

 Jews call marriage Kiddushin  Kiddushin is the Hebrew word which means made holy or special  The couple gets married under a huppah  Huppah is a canopy  The couple make a written contract or promise together which is called a Ketubah  Glass is broken at the end of the ceremony to remind them that their joy will never be complete until the Holy Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt

 The Star of David  Menorah  Mezuzah  Torah

 On their heads a devout Jew always wears a Kippah to remind him that he is always duty bound to follow the laws of God at all times and in all places.  Before beginning to worship or pray the devout Jew will often put on a tallit. The fringes on the shawl remind him of the many commandments of the Torah.  Tallit is a prayer shawl  The boxes are worn on the left forearm and on the forehead. Inside the boxes are passages from the scriptures. A tefilin on the left arm is a reminder to keep God's laws with all your heart, because it is near to the heart. A tefilin on the forehead remind the Jew to concentrate on the teachings of the Torah with all your full mind.  Tefilin are small leather box with a long leather straps attached  Tefilin are worn when praying at the home or in the synagogue