1. Western vs. Eastern Religions
Western Religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)
Exclusivity – what does this mean?
You cannot combine faiths - you have to pick one
Communal Prayer
weekly services where people pray together.
Rigid Doctrine
Teachings are established and are not to be challenged.
Eastern Religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Daoism)
Open doctrine
Can be interpreted by people in many ways
Individual prayer
Prayer at any time, any place
Less belief in God’s role on Earth
Few prophets or belief in God interacting with man
Holistic
Every aspect of life is affected by the religion – including diet, exercise, architecture, art

2. Judaism

3. Judaism Basic Facts One of the oldest religions in the world
One of the first monotheistic religions
15 million Jews in the world today
Is that a lot of people?
Why is such a small religion considered “major”?
Judaism has had a major impact on the world
Law, ethics, history, other religions
Judaism is a culture and a religion

4. Judaism – Beliefs and Practices
What does it mean to be Jewish?
God chose the Jewish people for a special covenant
Worship God properly and he will guide, protect and reward them
A messiah (savior) will be sent by God to end this life and all the faithful Jews will have eternal life in heaven

5. Judaism - History Jewish History is proud but sad
Judaism began about 5,000 years ago
Abraham was the first Jewish prophet and founder of Judaism
God led him to a holy land and protected him and his descendants
The Egyptians and Babylonians enslaved them
Moses is seen as the greatest Jewish Prophet after Abraham
The Kingdom of Israel was founded 3,000 years ago
The Romans and Christians persecuted Jews for centuries
Hitler and the Nazis murdered 6 million Jews during World War Two

6. Judaism – Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a city in Israel and the Holy City for Jews
It was the capital of the ancient Kingdom Of Israel

7. Judaism – Beliefs and Practices
Holy Book – Torah – has rules and ethics to live by
Ten Commandments
Must care about your community
The Torah is also a history book.
Christians call it the “Old Testament”
No representation of God –
Why not?
Kosher laws – restrictions on diet

8. Judaism – Beliefs and Practices
Synagogues – Jewish place of worship.
For Jews the holy day (Sabbath) is Saturday
Holy days start at sundown the night before.
Jews go to synagogue on Friday night or Saturday

9. Judaism – Beliefs and Practices
Rabbis – Jewish spiritual leaders
Must be specially trained
Lead religious services, counsel and help others.
Can be male or female

10. Judaism – Kosher Laws
Kosher Laws outline rules about preparing and eating food.
Certain animals are seen as unclean and are prohibited
Pigs
Shellfish
Mice
Snakes
Birds of Prey (Eagles, Hawks, Owls, etc)
Certain Parts of animals are forbidden
Hindquarters
Foods must be prepared carefully
No blood (No rare meat)
Animals should be killed as painlessly as possible
No mixing blood and milk (dairy and meat)

11. Judaism - Ceremonies Bar and Bat Mitzvahs
This is when the child starts to assume responsibility for their own religious beliefs
Boys have Bar Mitzvahs at 13
Girls have Bat Mitzvahs at 12
Not all Jews believe in Bat Mitzvahs
Why?
The ceremony is held in a synagogue
Must read a passage from the Torah
Must answer questions about Judaism
Most have big parties to celebrate Bar/Bat Mitzvahs

12. Judaism - Ceremonies Death and Funerals
Tradition is for people to be buried within hours
Why so fast?
Sitting Shiva
Friends and relatives gather at the family home
People bring food and help each other grieve
Mirrors and clocks are often covered
At the funeral, people usually say something about the deceased and help bury the body with a handful of dirt

13. Judaism - Holidays There are three very important holidays
Passover, Rosh Hoshanah and Yom Kippur
Hannukah is important in the US
Why?
Jewish holidays follow the lunar calendar so they are never on the same day.
Easter follows the lunar calendar too.

14. Judaism - Holidays Passover In the Spring (around Easter time)
Celebrates God helping Moses lead the Jews out of Egypt.
A special meal (Seder) is held with foods that are symbolic of sadness, joy and new life.

15. Judaism - Holidays Rosh Hoshanah and Yom Kippur - early Fall
Rosh Hoshanah is the beginning of the Jewish New Year.
Yom Kippur –The Day of Atonement
Ten days after Rosh Hoshanah
During these ten days Jews are supposed to reflect on their lives and “atone” for their sins.
Yom Kippur is seen as the holiest day of the year

16. Judaism - Holidays Hannukah- December Festival of Light
Celebrates an ancient miracle where one day’s worth of lamp oil lasted eight days.
Bigger in America than anywhere else
Why?
Families light a Menorah each night and exchange gifts

17. Judaism – Types of Judaism
Every Religion has different types
Why would this be?
Over centuries and millenia people begin to have different views on how to follow a religion
There are four major types of Judaism
They differ on how strictly they follow the ancient laws
More Strict Less Strict
Orthodox Conservative Reconstructionist Reform

18. Judaism – Types of Judaism
Orthodox Judaism
The most strict form of Judaism
Believe that the rules and laws of the Torah MUST be followed.
No work on Sabbath at all (no driving, no cooking)
Kosher laws must be followed (separate refrigerators)
Synagogues segregated (men downstairs, women upstairs)
No Bat Mitzvahs for girls
Men perform all religious duties
Some even have strict dress codes (Hasidic Jews)

19. Judaism – Types of Judaism
Conservative Judaism
The Torah must be followed but not as strict as Orthodox
Observe the Sabbath but driving and cooking are okay
Kosher laws are important
Synagogues not segregated but men still run everything.
Some allow girls to have Bat Mitzvahs

20. Judaism – Types of Judaism
Reconstructionist Judaism
The newest and smallest form of Judaism
Believe that the Torah is important but everyone can modify the rules for their lives.
Do not believe that God chose the Jewish people
Believe that the traditions are very important.
Sabbath and Kosher rules are important but not completely necessary to be a good Jew.
Allow Bat Mitzvahs and Female Rabbis

21. Judaism – Types of Judaism
Reform Judaism
Least strict form
Orthodox Jews say Reform Jews aren’t really Jewish
Found mostly in the US
Believe many of the Torah laws are outdated
The Torah is a guide to live your life, not essential
Working on the Sabbath is not bad.
Kosher laws aren’t that important
Girls can have Bat Mitzvahs
Women can be Rabbis