JUDAISM Ninette Garcia

BACKGROUND INFO Believe in one God, or monotheistic Judaism traces its heritage to the covenant God made with Abraham and his lineage — that God would make them a sacred people and give them a holy land refer to the Bible as the Tanakh, an acronym for the texts of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings Judaism is more concerned about actions than beliefs one of the oldest religions in the world today, whose history extends back through the ancient Israelite and Hebrew people

ORIGINS Formed 2000 BCE Rooted from a region of Canaan (which is now Israel and Palestinian territories) Moses was the main founder of Judaism, but Jews can trace their history back as far as Abraham

SEVEN LAWS OF NOAH The following are prohibited: 1. idolatry 2. murder 3. theft 4. sexual promiscuity (including adultery, incest, bestiality, homosexuality 5. blasphemy 6. eating meat taken from a live animal 7. Requirement of setting just laws

RAMBAM’S 13 PRINCIPLES OF FAITH G-d exists G-d is one and unique G-d is incorporeal G-d is eternal Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other The words of the prophets are true Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses There will be no other Torah G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked The Messiah will come The dead will be resurrected

RITUALS Shabbat- 25 hour observance, begins on Friday during sundown and ends on Saturday during nightfall. On Friday evening candles are lit and they have a meal. (Kabbalat Shabbat) During Shabbat they are only allowed to do Torah study, eating, relaxing, and sleeping

RITUALS CONT. Use “code of holiness”-  the dietary laws, or kashrut, that prohibit the consumption of any of the species of animals, birds, and fish classified by scripture as unclean; and the laws of family purity (taharat ha-mishpacha) that require menstruating women to avoid intimate contact with their husbands until a week after the end of their period and following their immersion in a mikvah, or ritual bath

CEREMONIES The very most important ritual of the Jewish is the circumcision of all baby boys at the age of eight days old Stared when God commanded Abraham to circumcise himself and all the male members of his household as an eternal sign of the Divine Covenant between God and Abraham’s progeny, or “the chosen people”

Shiva During the loss of a loved one the relatives enter a week of mourning (or shiva) in where they do not participate in any activity. Mourners are not supposed to work or even to cook for themselves during this week so visitors come and cook for them. After the week of shiva, a period of less intense mourning is continued during which the bereaved are prohibited from participating in public celebrations, such as weddings parties or musical concerts.  Men are prohibited from shaving during the first thirty days of mourning, known as sheloshim

SYMBOLISM the seven-pronged Menorah, or candelabra, and an image of the tablets of law very popular image that recalls the height of the Kingdom of David (c. 1000 B.C.E.) Synagogue

APPAREAL The beanie that covers a Jewish man's head or Kippah in Hebrew covers their heads during prayer, eating and studying as a sign of respect toward God, who is above you. Religious Jews will wear it all the time Orthodox Jewish women shop in stores like Macy's and H&M to find modern versions of their traditional dress