2. Group Questions
List all of the facts that you know about JUDAISM…See how many you can list.
See if you can reconstruct a basic historical timeline of the Jewish people from Creation to the First Century.

3. Judaism in The World
~ 14 Million

4. Judaism in America Conservative 2,000,000 Reform 1,300,000
Orthodox 1,000,000
Conservative 2,000,000
Reform 1,300,000

5. Folk Religion
The lived, everyday practices of religion by common laypersons.
(May be very different from the “official” definitions of the religion by professionals)

6. JUDAISM Early Period The Patriarchs Egypt & Sinai Conquest & Judges
OT History
Early Period
The Patriarchs
Egypt & Sinai
Conquest & Judges
The United Kingdom
The Divided Kingdom
Exile & Restoration
Greek Occupation & Hasmonean Kingdom
Roman Occupation

7. JUDAISM Biblical Writings The Mishnah The Talmud
Halakah – deals w/ application of laws
The Talmud
Authoritative source of Jewish law & tradition
Haggadah – stories illustrating the application of law

8. JUDAISM
KEY PERSONS
Abraham

9. JUDAISM
KEY PERSONS
Abraham
Moses

10. JUDAISM KEY PERSONS DATE about 2000 BC LOCATION Middle East Abraham
Moses

11. JUDAISM
KEY WRITINGS
The Tanakh (Old Testament), especially the Torah (first five books of the Old Testament)
The Talmud (explanation of the Tanakh)
Teachings of each branch:
Orthodox
Conservative
Reform
Writings of sages, such as Maimonides

12. JUDAISM
WHO IS GOD?
God is spirit.
To Orthodox Jews, God is personal, all-powerful, eternal, and compassionate.

13. JUDAISM WHO IS GOD? God is spirit.
To Orthodox Jews, God is personal, all-powerful, eternal, and compassionate.
“Yahweh,” the sacred name of God, as written in Hebrew
To other Jews, God is impersonal, unknowable, and defined in a number of different ways.
There is no Trinity.
Bible

14. JUDAISM
WHO IS JESUS?
Jesus is seen either as an extremist false messiah or a good but martyred Jewish rabbi (teacher).
Many Jews do not acknowledge Jesus at all.
Jews (except for Messianic Jews and Hebrew Christians) do not believe Jesus was the Messiah or the Son of God, or that he rose from the dead.
Orthodox Jews believe the Messiah will restore the Jewish kingdom and eventually rule the earth.
Bible

15. JUDAISM
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Some Jews believe that the Holy Spirit is another name for God’s activity on earth.
Others say that the Holy Spirit is God’s love or power.
Bible

16. JUDAISM
HOW TO BE SAVED
Some Jews believe that prayer, repentance, and obedience to the Law are necessary for salvation.
Other Jews believe that salvation is the improvement of society.
Bible

17. JUDAISM Some Jews believe there will be a physical resurrection.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH
Some Jews believe there will be a physical resurrection.
The obedient will live forever with God; the unrighteous will suffer.
Some Jews do not believe in a conscious life after death.
Bible

18. JUDAISM
OTHER BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
Meeting in synagogues on the Sabbath (Sabbath is Friday evening to Saturday evening).
Circumcision of males.

19. JUDAISM OTHER BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
Many holy days and festivals, including…
Passover
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication)
Rosh Hashanah (New Year)
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Purim
Jerusalem is considered the holy city.