Judaism “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” - who’s quoted here? “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” - who’s quoted here?

The Hebrew Bible Torah ( teachings) Torah ( teachings) –The most Sacred core Nevi’im (prophets) Nevi’im (prophets) –Spoke for God Ketuvim (writings) Ketuvim (writings) –Imaginative literature

Biblical History Creation Story Creation Story –7 days –Man and woman The great flood The great flood –God’s judgment Tower of Babel Tower of Babel These stories demonstrate the power of myth?

Patriarchs and Matriarchs Abraham and Sarah Abraham and Sarah –Covenant/contract with God –Isaac story Jacob becomes Israel Jacob becomes Israel –Joseph and brothers move to Egypt Moses Moses –Hope of freedom from Egypt

Moses found… Found and raised by Egyptian Found and raised by Egyptian Fled to the desert Fled to the desert Found by God in the desert Found by God in the desert Returned to Egypt Returned to Egypt

The Passover ‘The Moment’ in Jewish history ‘The Moment’ in Jewish history –Passover Leave Egypt Leave Egypt –Parting of Red Sea Spent 40 years in the desert Spent 40 years in the desert –Food and water from God

A Conquering and conquered people Judges and kings ruled Judges and kings ruled Prophets warned the people Prophets warned the people Exiled to other lands Exiled to other lands Temples destroyed Temples destroyed

Cultural Conflict Contrast with Hellenistic culture Contrast with Hellenistic culture Historical Factions within Judaism Historical Factions within Judaism –Sadducees –Pharisees –Zealots –Essenes

Temple destroyed Diaspora Diaspora –Jews outside Israel Rabbinical Judaism Rabbinical Judaism –Focus on scripture and its interpretation –Cannon set (Hebrew Scripture) –Talmud created Kabbalah (mystical Judaism) Kabbalah (mystical Judaism)

Persecution Christians suspicious of Jews Christians suspicious of Jews –Couldn’t own land –Blamed for Black plague Holocaust happened Holocaust happened –Hitler blamed, many others ‘silent’ Creation of state of Israel (1948) Creation of state of Israel (1948) –Two main centers Israel and US

Jewish Belief God is one… God is one… Belief in words of prophets Belief in words of prophets God is lawgiver through Moses God is lawgiver through Moses Messiah will come some day Messiah will come some day –Jesus of Nazareth not him Will be a resurrection of the good Will be a resurrection of the good Human beings made in God’s image with special role – care for creation Human beings made in God’s image with special role – care for creation Among peoples, Jews have special role Among peoples, Jews have special role

Religious practice 10 commandments 10 commandments Sabbath keeping Sabbath keeping –Orthodoxy OR orthopraxy Holy days Holy days –Rosh Hashana (new Year) –Yom kippur –Hanukkah –Passover

Other practices Keeping kosher Keeping kosher Prayers Prayers –Dawn, noon, dusk, bedtime Male circumcision Male circumcision Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah

Divisions Orthodox Orthodox Conservative Conservative Reformed Reformed Reconstructionist Reconstructionist

Concluding questions What is essential to being a Jew? What is essential to being a Jew? This question is still being asked and answered in different ways… –Have Jewish mother –May convert –Ethnic diversity accepted

Terms to know Covenant Rabbi Covenant Rabbi Diaspora Rosh Hashanah Diaspora Rosh Hashanah HolocaustSabbath HolocaustSabbath KabbalahTalmud KabbalahTalmud KosherTorah KosherTorah PassoverYom kippur PassoverYom kippur ProphetZealots ProphetZealots

Judaism today Contributions Contributions Challenges Challenges The future of Judaism The future of Judaism