2. Judaism
Adherents: Smallest major world religions, making up 0.2 % human race
Roots: dating back approximately 4000 years= origins of Judaism, Islam and Christianity (recorded in the Old Testament)
Three patriarchs: Abraham, Jacob, Isaac
Leaders: Moses and Joshua
History of persecution: Babylonian Captivity, Exodus, Romans, Spanish Inquisitions, Holocaust

3. Ancient Israel Birthplace of Judaism is also
birthplace to Islam and Christianity

4. What is in a name?
Hebrew means “From across”- name given to Abraham and his followers
Israelites: Abraham’s grandson Jacob renamed Israel which means “he who has wrestled with God”. His descendants were called “Israelites”
Jews: named after Jacob’s son Judah, ancient father of tribe of King David’s dynasty

5. Tracing Roots of Israel’s History
Nomadic tribes wandered into Palestine from east in approximately 1900 BCE
Mesopotamian society dominated by polytheism
God (Yahweh) appeared before Patriarch Abraham and told Abraham “to go and raise a great nation”
This began the monotheistic tradition of the Hebrew faith with the establishment of the “Covenant”, “Chosen People” and “Promised Land”
Abraham settled in Canaan
Story: Sacrifice of Abraham

6. Patriarchs to Judaism Abraham
Abraham- around 2000 BCE received a vision from God that instructed him to leave his home in Ur (Mesopotamia) and more to Haran and later Canaan.
-began monotheisitic tradition
Abraham
God told Abraham to go to Haran then Canaan and “make of him a great nation”
Began monotheistic tradition
Covenant with God
The story of the Sacrifice of Abraham

7. Moses For an illustrated story of Moses: click here

8. Leaders Moses “Let my people go” Exodus “the land of milk and honey”
10 Commandments
Joshua
Led Israelites to Promised Land
Moses received revelations from God: burning bush, rod / staff, 10 plagues, parting of the Red Sea
End of 13th century BCE- Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt during Rames II reign called the EXODUS
Moses led the 12 Tribes of Israel to Mount Sinai where Yahweh gave him the 10 Commandments, uniting the Hebrews under one God
Moses and Hebrews searched for the “Promised Land” or the land of milk and honey, however they wandered in the desert for 40 years

10. Key Concepts
Covenant
solemn and binding agreement between God and Abraham (humanity) as God as the Creator and the Chosen people
Chosen People
Jews considered themselves to be God’s Chosen People as God chose Abraham and led him to monotheism
Jews were instruments of God’s will
God chose Jews (humanity); humanity must choose God
Promised Land
Gained significance during Moses’ life as Hebrews sought to keep covenant and develop a community in the Promised Land. Jews believe this is Israel.

11. Development of Judaism
Judges: tribal leaders
Kings: King Saul, King David, King Solomon (built temple)
Division: Northern tribes = Israel; Southern tribes = Judah
Prophetic Tradition: word of God spoken through prophets “Love God and keep the covenant with Him”
Exile in Babylon= Temple of Solomon destroyed; creation of synagogues and rabbis and concept of Messiah “anointed one”
Diaspora: dispersal of Jews outside of Israel and Hellenization
Maccabean Revolt: temple rededicated to God
Expansion of Roman Empire and rule: destroying of the temple leaving only the Western Wall; rabbinic Judaism (interpretative commentaries)
1230 BCE, Israelites guided by Joshua, invaded Canaan (Promised Land)
1020 BCE: first king of Israelites was Saul, then David, then Solomon
Under King David the Israelites captured city of Jerusalem
King Solomon built the Temple of Jerusalem, to house the Arc of the Covenant (sacred box to hold Torah)
Solomon’s Temple was destroyed during Babylonian invasion, rebuilt in 6th century BCE, and destroyed again in 70 CE by the Romans
Only remaining part of Solomon’s Temple is the Western Wall

12. Beliefs Monotheistic Oneness of Creator God
Human obligation to worship God
God is immaterial and indivisible
God is refered to as YHWH or YAHWEH “I am that I am”
Lineage
People are born a Jew (through mother) or can convert (gerut)
Mitzvah
act of performing a good deed or commandment (ie. 10 Commandments)
Bible contains total of 613 mitvoth (some positive, some negative)
Jesus
View of Jesus = born a Jew a preacher and teacher
Jesus was not the Son of God; the Messiah is still to come
Suffering
suffering is heightened because as the Chosen People, Jews expect to suffer for all of mankind
Death and Afterlife
on death, body returns to earth (dust to dust) but soul return to God who gave it
body will be Resurrected and reunited with soul at a later time (therefore no cremation)

14. TORAH
consists of Five Books of Moses written on parchment scroll in ancient form by hand and kept in Ark
Torah means “law” but more accurate is “revelation”, “teaching” or “instruction”
Torah is divided into 54 sections and one portion is read each week (2 weeks of year have a double portion) so that the entire Torah is read from beginning to end in a year

15. Sacred Texts
Tanukh
Jewish Bible, consisting of Torah (Law of Moses), the Prophets, and the Writings
Talmud
second most important source of rabbinic Jewish law based on Mishnah, which complements and interprets the Torah and applies scripture to everyday life and observance
Mishnah
Early rabbinic teachings on how to live according to Torah

16. Practices Holy Ark & Torah Blessings and prayer Minyan Kashruth
Shabbat
Circumcision
Shofar
Bar / Bat Mitvah
Marriage
Death & Shiva
(Sabbath)= important ritual that is based on creation stories of Genesis and time is set aside for prayer, family and friends (Friday sunset – synagogue- lighting of candle “let there be light”, Sabbath dinner (kiddush) songs and prayer)
Sefer Torah & Holy Ark
Blessings and prayer
Minyan= 10 males (or females) over age of 13 in communal prayer of worship
Kashruth (kosher)= distinctiveness of group and food laws show humility and humanity (in killing of animals and gratitude to God for food)
Shabbat Circumcision
Shofar= ram’s horn sounded to call people together
Bar / Bat Mitvah
Marriage
Death & Shiva

17. Holidays
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Hanukkah
Passover

18. Symbols
Star of David= shape of King David’s shield; symbol adopted by Zionists
Menorah= ancient source of light
7 branched= Sabbath
9 branched= Hanukah

19. Denominations
Orthodox
Conservative
Reform
Reconstructionist
Messianic

20. Western Wall
The Western Wall in the midst of the Old City in Jerusalem is the section of the Western supporting wall of the Temple Mount which has remained intact since the destruction of the Second Jerusalem Temple (70 CE)
It became a centre of mourning over the destruction of the Temple and Israel's exile
communion with the memory of Israel's former glory and the hope for its restoration
it became known in European languages as the "Wailing Wall".

21. Interesting Facts
The Israeli flag is rooted in Jewish tradition. The white background symbolizes purity. The symbols on the flag are two stripes—one on the top and one on the bottom—and the Star of David emblem adorning the centre. The stripes and blue colour are inspired by the techeileth dye of the tallit (Jewish prayer shawl)
Jews have regarded the Land of Israel as their homeland, both as a Holy Land and as a Promised Land. The Land of Israel holds a special place in Jewish religious obligations, encompassing Judaism's most important sites — including the remains of the First and Second Temples

22. Judaism In Modern World
Anti Semitism
in Kingston and World
Zionism
movement originally for re-establishment of Jewish nation in Israel
Holocaust
(Heb., sho'ah) which originally meant a sacrifice totally burned by fire
the annihilation of the Jews (6 million) and other groups of people of Europe (5 million) under the Nazi regime during World War II
Middle East Conflict
Issue of who has the rightful claim to Jerusalem

23. “The Eternal Jew” Depiction of a Jew holding gold coins in one hand and a whip in the other. Under his arm is a map of the world, with the imprint of the hammer and sickle. Posters like this promoted a sharp rise in anti-Semitic feelings, and in some cases violence against the Jewish community.
This Nazi propaganda poster reads, ‘Behind the enemy powers: the Jew.