1. an introduction to Judaism, Jewish culture, and the Jewish community UNDERSTANDING JUDAISM:

2. OVERVIEW OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY  Approximately 14 million Jews world-wide (<0.2% of the world population, about 2% of US population)  In Nebraska, approximately 6,000 Jews  The Jewish community is ethnically, linguistically and religiously diverse

3.  One of the oldest world religions  First major religion to state that there is one God  Begun by Abraham, considered the father of the Jewish people  The Jewish Bible is called the Tanakh or Hebrew Scriptures  The Tanakh is made up of three parts:  Torah (Five Books of Moses)  Prophets  Writings JUDAISM

4. J udaism has changed and evolved through its 3,000 years of existence. Today, there are 4 major branches or movements within Judaism:  Orthodox Judaism  Conservative Judaism  Reform Judaism  Reconstructionist Judaism JUDAISM, cont.

5.  God  Torah  Israel (both the people Israel and the land of Israel) CENTRAL ASPECTS OF JUDAISM

6. Many Jews affiliate with a particular branch of Judaism, but some Jews simply identify themselves as “Jewish” or only identify culturally, rather than religiously, with being Jewish. Even within each major branch of Judaism, there is a variety in emphasis and practice depending on the local context and culture, and individual choice. NOTE:

7. IN A NUTSHELL: One God – all powerful, all knowing God created the universe and everything in it God has definite expectations for all human beings, and especially Jews How do we know?  The Bible (either written by God or divinely inspired)

8. RULES FOR RELATIONSHIPS Relationship between Humans and God Examples - rest on Sabbath, observing holidays, rules of kashrut (kosher) Relationship among Humans Examples - social justice (giving charity, caring for widows and orphans, the poor), visiting the sick, comforting mourners, rejoicing with brides and grooms on their wedding day Relationships between Humans and Nature Examples - respect for animals, awe for natural wonders, imperative to plant trees, special relationship to the land of Israel

9. MORE “BIG PICTURE” IDEAS Judaism is focused on life and living. Jews traditionally believe that if they follow God’s ways they will be blessed in this lifetime (health, happiness, prosperity, fertility) and if they do not follow God’s commands they will be cursed in this lifetime (sickness, poverty) Judaism believes in an afterlife, but does not dwell on it. Each person is obligated to look at the world around them and find a way to make it better.

10. OTHER TOPICS & THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT JUDAISM Any questions before we move on?

11.  Jewish place of worship  Communal institution of Jewish life  Space where many public activities and life cycle events of Jewish life take place  Rabbi: trained scholar in Judaica, teacher of Jewish texts and traditions. Rabbis often lead prayer services, though any learned Jew can lead the service.  Cantor/Hazzan: specially trained singer who chants the worship service and leads the musical and vocal parts of the prayers. SYNAGOGUE

12. “Uniform” of Jewish prayer:  Kippah or yarmalka: head-covering (Some Jews wear these all the time)  Talit: prayer shawl  Tefillin: phylacteries (worn in morning prayers, not used during holidays) WORSHIP

13.  Judaism is a communal religion. A minyan (quorum of ten adults/men) is required to recite certain prayers.  Observant Jews pray three times a day.  Most prayers are recited in Hebrew, although in Reform synagogues, many of the prayers are in English. WORSHIP, cont.

14.  Part of the 613 commandments in the Torah  Dictate the slaughter of animals, preparation of food, and prohibit certain foods  Jews follow these laws to differing degrees depending on their level of observance  Kosher food is often marked with one of the following symbols: KASHRUT (JEWISH DIETARY LAWS)

15. MAJOR ASPECTS OF KEEPING KOSHER INCLUDE:  Separation of meat/poultry from dairy products (when eating, as well as dishes, utensils, etc.)  No pork or shellfish (including by-products, such as lard)  Only meat/poultry that is slaughtered and prepared according to Jewish law Note: The best way to accommodate Jewish dietary needs is to buy packages goods marked kosher, or mark foods containing meat or dairy, or provide fresh vegetables or fruit (as they are always kosher).

16. The Jewish (Hebrew) calendar is a luni-solar calendar.  7 days per week  12 months per year (13 in a leap year)  29 or 30 days per month  354 days per year (384 in a leap year) Jewish days start at sunset and end at sunset, 24 hours later. Because of this - Jewish holidays begin at sunset. Currently the year 5774 in the Hebrew calendar. Use divisions of: B.C.E.= Before Common Era or C.E.= Common Era when referring to the Gregorian year. THE JEWISH CALENDAR

17. Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, is the most important of all holidays. Five major holidays:  Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year)  Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)  Sukkot (Festival of Booths)  Pesach (Passover)  Shavuot (Festival of Weeks) JEWISH HOLIDAYS

18. At sunset on Friday night, Jews may welcome the Sabbath by:  Lighting special candles and saying a prayer  Saying a prayer over a cup of wine or grape juice  Saying a prayer and eating a braided bread called challah  Attending Shabbat services at the synagogue These rituals are also used to begin all other major Jewish holidays. SHABBAT

19.  Begins every Friday at sunset and lasts until sunset on Saturday  Day of rest, reflection and rejuvenation  Many Jews attend synagogue services and the Torah is read  Labor and work are prohibited SHABBAT, cont.

20.  The Jewish new year  Falls sometime in September or October  Two day holiday  Begins a solemn 10-day season of self-examination and self-judgment in the life of a Jew  Jewish people attend synagogue at special services where the shofar (ram’s horn) is sounded.  Traditional to eat challah that has been formed into a circle to symbolize a full year. Also traditional to eat apples or challah dipped in honey to symbolize the hope for a sweet year. ROSH HASHANAH

21.  Day of Atonement  Ends the 10 days of repentance that began with Rosh HaShanah  Jewish people attend synagogue to pray for forgiveness from God and from anyone they have wronged  Jews must also ask for forgiveness directly from the people they may have wronged  Jews fast during this solemn holiday and usually mark the end of the fast and holiday with a celebratory meal  Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are known as the “High Holy Days” YOM KIPPUR

22. OTHER HOLIDAYS Sukkot (Festival of Booths – eight days) Recalls the Jews’ journey through the desert after being freed from Egyptian slavery, Jews build a sukkah (temporary booth) in which to dwell during the holiday Pesach (Passover) Commemorates the Exodus of the Jews from Egyptian slavery into Israel Shavuot (Festival of Weeks or Pentecost) Shavuot celebrates the receiving of the Torah and the late spring/early summer harvest

23. OTHER FESTIVALS OR COMMEMORATIONS  Hanukah (Festival of Lights, in December)  Tu B’Shevat (Jewish Arbor Day, late January or early February)  Purim (Festival of Lots, late February or early March)  Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day, late April or May)  Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day, late April or May)  Yom HaAtzmaut (Israeli Independence Day, late April or May)  Tishah B’Av (Commemoration of the Destruction of the Temple, mid-July to early August)

24. JEWISH LIFE CYCLE EVENTS  Brit Milah (Circumsion)  Bar/Bat Mitzvah  Marriage  Death  Commemorating the anniversary of a loved one’s death

25.  Bar Mitzvah for a boy, Bat Mitzvah for a girl  Rite of passage that Jewish boys and girls perform on their twelfth or thirteenth birthday to mark their transition into adulthood  Usually involves leading a Shabbat prayer service and reading from the Torah BAR OR BAT MITZVAH

26. FEATURES OF A JEWISH HOME  Mezuzah: a decorative container holding parchment inscribed with a passage from the Torah that is affixed at an angle to the right doorpost of a Jewish home. A mezuzah may also be placed on any doorpost in the home except the bathroom.  Tzedakah box: A collection box in Jewish homes that serves as a constant reminder of the need and responsibility to give to charity.

27. ISSUES OF CONCERN FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY  Antisemitism  The Holocaust  Israel

28. ANTISEMITISM  Prejudice and/or discrimination against Jews  Stereotypes of Jews are still prevalent and need to be addressed  Can be based on hatred against Jews because of their religious beliefs, their membership (ethnicity) and sometimes on the erroneous belief that Jews are a “race”

29. THE HOLOCAUST  Also known as the “Shoah”  Systematic, state-sponsored murder of 6 million Jews and millions of other people by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II  Watershed event in Jewish history  Important to be sensitive to the fact that members of the Jewish community may have had relatives who perished in or survived the Holocaust  Some people try to claim the Holocaust never happened, they are called “Holocaust-deniers”

30. ISRAEL  Central to Judaism and Jewish culture for as long as Judaism has existed  Israeli-Palestinian conflict primarily a political, not religious, conflict  Important to consider your sources to get accurate and balanced information when learning about Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

31. THANK YOU!