What is Judaism? A few things you need to know

Holidays Why do Jewish holidays keep changing dates? The Jewish calendar The Chinese calendar works the same way The Muslim calendar is also similar

Holidays When does a Jewish Holiday Start and End? How long is a Jewish holiday? A Jewish "day" starts at sunset, and holidays start the evening before the day on your secular (everyday) calendar. "Erev Passover"

Holidays: Passover Commemorates the Exodus from Egypt Celebrated for seven or eight days Usually overlaps with Easter, though occasionally occurs a month after Easter

Holidays: Passover Almost all American Jews observe Passover to some extent Most American Jews avoid bread and grain products in memory of the fact that our ancestors left Egypt in a hurry and didn't have time to wait for their bread to rise

Holidays: Passover Strictly observant Jews Jewish law requirement Most American Jews ignore law Similar to Thanksgiving

Holidays: Rosh Hashanah The Jewish New Year Between Labor Day and Columbus Day Happy, festive holiday A time to look back A time to prepare for Yom Kippur "Twice-a-year Jews"

Holidays: Yom Kippur The Jewish day of atonement fasting repentance Near Columbus Day Most Jews take off from work or school How do you pronounce the name of this holiday? "Yom" rhymes with "home" and “ Kippur" sounds like "key poor" with emphasis on the "poor."

Holidays: Chanukkah Chanukkah is the festival of lights Celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem Victorious Jews needed to light the Temple's menorah (candelabrum) Only enough oil to last one day It would take eight days to prepare more oil. The oil lasted for eight days. Begins between Thanksgiving and Christmas

Holidays: Chanukkah Almost all Jews light candles with their families Almost nobody takes off from work or school Not a Jewish Christmas! Very minor holiday NOT about Joy to the world Peace on Earth Presents IT IS about Lighting candles Playing games Eating food

Holidays: Chanukkah So why the gifts? So children don’t feel left out! Is Chanukkah important? No, because It is not a big deal Yes, because It asserts Jewish identity

Other Jewish Terms Zionism A political movement dedicated to the creation of a Jewish state NOT a religious movement The Holocaust increased need The British were unable to come up with a solution

Other Jewish Terms Zionism In 1947, they handed the problem to the newly-founded United Nations Developed a plan The surrounding Arab nations Did not recognize the validity of Israel Fought wars

Other Jewish Terms Torah Means different things in different contexts Refers to the Five Books of Moses: Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Also refers to the whole body of Jewish law and teachings

Other Jewish Terms The Talmud Basically an "Oral Torah" Explains what the scriptures mean How to interpret them How to apply the Laws From Moses to present day

Other Jewish Terms The Talmud Not easy to read Like class notes Gaps in reasoning Concepts are in shorthand Biblical verses referenced by only two or three words Preserves a variety of views

Other Jewish Terms Kabbalah (or Cabbala) Helps find answers to important questions Is there a heaven and hell? What happens to the soul after death? What is the nature of God and the universe? In Judaism, these questions are wide open to personal opinion

Other Jewish Terms Kabbalah (or Cabbala) Mysticism in Judaism Since the earliest days Many mystical stories Visitations by angels Prophetic dreams Visions

Other Jewish Terms Kabbalah (or Cabbala) Some take mysticism very seriously Others take mysticism with a grain of salt The mystical school of thought came to be known as Kabbalah, from the Hebrew root meaning "to receive, to accept."

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