1. Overview: What is Judaism?
The Least You Need to Know

2. A. 4,000ish Year Old Tradition i
A. 4,000ish Year Old Tradition i. Focuses on… - What it means to be human. - How to make the world better. - Celebration of life and EVERY SINGLE DAY. - The Covenant. - The Torah (Jewish Written Law) - Talmud (“Oral Law”) – commentary on how to apply God’s Law in everyday life in various ways.

3. B. History is linked to the history of Israel. i
B. History is linked to the history of Israel. i. Was a Hebrew monarchy until 6 BCE; in 1946 became Israel again. ii. “Promised Land” C. World’s 1st monotheistic religion. i. Emphasized w/ predetermined worship and traditions. ii. God is personal. D. Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob i. Descendants of Abraham (same w/ Islam). ii. 1st of the 3 Abrahamic religions.

4. E. God formed a covenant with Abraham. i
E. God formed a covenant with Abraham. i. God called forth a people (known as the Jews), to receive God’s revelation both through this sign of the Covenant (their agreement) and the Law (Torah and 10 Commandments). - Jews known as the “chosen people”. F. Prophets (i.e. Moses) were chosen to remind people of God’s love and the necessity of their obedience to the Law. i. God used the Prophets (ESPECIALLY MOSES) to spread the word of the Torah (Jewish Holy book) and the 10 Commandments.

5. Moses doin' his thang

6. ii. Torah (“Written Law”) = religious, moral and social law which guides the life of a Jew. - The chief texts of the law, history, prophecy, and wisdom literature. - Prayer can equal studying the Torah because it is the word of God. iii. Then came the Talmud… - Talmud (“Oral Law”) – commentary from ancient rabbis on how to apply God’s Law in everyday life in various ways. *** Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher), Dress and other symbols, Prayer and devotion to the one God, The Temple and Temple rites, Observance of Holy days, and Proper social relations between male and female, in business, judicial rulings, etc.

7. G. HUGE EMPHASIS on the Torah and 10 Commandments. i
G. HUGE EMPHASIS on the Torah and 10 Commandments. i. Their end of the bargain. H. Distinctively a community-based tradition. i. Huge emphasis on worshipping together. ii. Became very group based because of the tremendous persecution through the years and the covenant. iii. United by a common heritage; an “ethnic” religion.

8. I. Their Messiah… i. Jesus. -Nope. Was a wise and good guy tho. ii
I. Their Messiah… i. Jesus? -Nope. Was a wise and good guy tho. ii. Waiting for their messiah still. iii. Will not be divine… like Jesus was. - Will be a political leader. - Restores Hebrew monarchy. - Peace then reigns on earth. J. Jews are not necessarily concerned with salvation as Christians are. i. Repair the world through deed, not creed.

9. K. Three Branches of Judaism i. Orthodox ii. Conservative iii
K. Three Branches of Judaism i. Orthodox ii. Conservative iii. Reform iv. *** Psst, draw the spectrum.

10. Branches of Judaism in Jeruselum
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