1. Oldest Monotheistic Faith
Roots of Judaism
Oldest Monotheistic Faith

2. Origins
Founders: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Prophets ) - origins of the Hebrew people (ca BCE)
Enslaved in ancient Egypt and freed by Moses (ca. 1300s BCE) – plagues, received “10 Commandments from God” as ethical code of behavior. Crossed Red Sea to …
“Promised Land” (The Land of Israel) – part of a covenant (agreement with God) that Jews would have this land and be the chosen people of God.

3. Where Judaism Practiced
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
Israel
= where Judaism is practiced
= where Judaism originated

4. Major Beliefs
Monotheist – Belief in one God (Yahweh), creator of the universe, personal but non-corporeal
Covenant – as Chosen People (so little effort at conversion)
Importance of Family
10 Commandments – ethical code of conduct

5. Founders/Leaders God = Yahweh
Founders = Prophets like Abraham and Moses
Leaders/Teachers = Rabbis

6. Holy Books
Torah was revealed to the Hebrew people (first five books of the Bible), containing religious, moral and social law which guides the life of a Jew
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

7. Holy Book (cont)
Talmud - a huge collection of doctrines and laws compiled and written before the 8th Century, A.D., by ancient Jewish teachers

8. Holy Places
Temple of Jerusalem in Israel. Only part left is Western or Wailing Wall (temple will be destroyed by Romans)
Synagogues – religious temple for worship.
B'nai Shalom – This reform congregation, located at 420 Whitehall Road in Albany

9. Holy Symbols/Sacred Days
Star of David
Menorah (Hanukah)
Sabbath - a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening
Rosh Hashanah—The Jewish New Year
Yom Kippur—Day of Atonement.

10. Influences ….
Although little emphasis on conversion or missionary work.
Helped formed
Christianity (Jesus was Jewish)
Islam (the Prophet Muhammad considers Jews as “People of Book” to be respected)

11. Historical Concerns
Diaspora – the Jewish people have often been forced from their homeland “dispersal” – Babylonian Captivity by Assyrians, movement of Jews during the Holocaust
Targeted for Persecution – Romans destroyed Temple of Jerusalem, during Black Death persecuted, Holocaust
Contemporary political concerns over Israel – promised Israel as national home for Jews by British Balfour Declaration in 1917, but Muslim Palestinians claim
same land as their land.
Has caused a half-century of war.