1. Exploring the Religions of Our World
Chapter 2 Judaism

2. Chapter 2 Judaism A Living Religion
1. Judaism is the religion practiced by Jesus when he was living on earth.
2. Judaism is the religion of the Hebrew Bible and a religion still longing for God’s chosen one.
3. Being a Jew has both an ethnic and a religious connotation.
4. A religious Jew practices Judaism. An ethnic Jew may or may not practice Judaism.

3. Modern Period 1783 - present
Chapter 2 Judaism
Periods of Jewish History
1800 BCE – 323 CE
Biblical Period
Medieval Period CE
323 BCE – 637 CE
Rabbinic Period
Modern Period present

4. Chapter 2 Judaism
Periods of Jewish History
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5. Chapter 2 Judaism Modern Judaism
Reform Judaism – advocates full integration into the culture where one lives
Conservative Judaism – counteracts reformed Judaism, modifying Jewish traditions in a limited manner
Orthodox Judaism – the most traditional wing, insists its members strictly follow the Torah
Reconstructionist Judaism – advocates Judaism as a culture, not only a religion

6. Sacred Writings We will focus on TORAH Torah first five books Tanakh
The Hebrew Bible
Nevi’im
prophets
Ketuvim
writings

7. “TYPES” of TORAH-law
Written
Torah
613
commandments

8. WRITTEN TORAH
first five books of the Bible •includes Jewish law and tradition

9. ORAL LAW(TORAH)- called-Mishnah
Written and Codified 200 CE

10. Midrash- to examine or seek out the meaning of the text Biblical
TALMUD and MIDRASH
Commentaries or Learnings on Mishnah
Jerusalem
Talmud
Midrash- to examine or seek out the meaning of the text Biblical
interpretation
Babylonian
Talmud
Most
Authoritative

11. Examples of Midrash
According to R. Abba of Acco, it was the etrog, for it is said, "And the woman saw that the tree [its wood] was good for food" (Gen. 3:6). Go forth and see what tree there is whose wood, like its fruit, may be eaten. You will find none but the etrog.

12. From Genesis Rabba 19:3, Where Was Adam?
“And the woman said unto the serpent” (Gen. 3:2). Now, where was Adam during this conversation? Abba bar Guria said: He had fallen asleep. But the sages said: At that time the Holy One was taking him around the entire world, saying to him, “Here is a place fit for planting trees, here is a place fit for sowing grains.”

13. Ticket Out- Write the whole phrase and fill in the blanks/ Title it Sacred Texts
1. Written T__________ (First ___ books of OT) 2. Oral T___________called M________ 3. Commentaries of M__________ are ______________ and ___________