Judaism God’s Chosen People. Basic Information What is a Jew? ▫Racial ▫Religious ▫Political What is the Torah? ▫Jewish Law ▫Pentateuch ▫“Word”

JudaismGod’s Chosen People

Basic Information

•What is a Jew?▫Racial▫Religious▫Political

•What is the Torah?▫Jewish Law▫Pentateuch▫“Word”

Basic DataChristianity Judaism

Adherents 2 billion (32%) 13.75 million (.2%)

Leading Person Jesus Abraham

Holy Book Bible Tanakh

Clergy Bishops, Priests Rabbis

House of Worship

Church Synagogue

Theology Monotheistic-Trinitarian Monotheistic

Soteriology Passion of Christ; Baptism

Keeping the Decalogue

Holidays EasterChristmasPentecost

Yom KippurPassoverSukkot

Basic Information

•What is the difference between “Temple” and “Synagogue”?▫Temple is a place of sacrifice▫Synagogue is a place of prayer and study

NOTE: Some synagogues have the word “temple” in their name (e.g., Temple Beth El)

•Does Judaism have “denominations”?▫Ultra-Orthodox, Orthodox, Conservative,

Reform, Hasidic, Kabbalah

History of

Judaism

Time Chart BCE1900-1700 Abraham, the first patriarch

1200 Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt

1010-970 David, King of Judah & Israel

960-930 Solomon builds the First Temple

586 First Temple is destroyed; Exile to Babylon

515 Second Temple is built; Exiles return

430 Ezra reads the Torah to the public; rededication

330 Alexander the Great conquers Israel

250 Septuagint translation of Torah; rise of Sadducees

165-160 Maccabean revolt

63 Rome conquers Israel

Before Abraham

•Stories in the Pentateuch record the etiologies▫Etiology = historical or mythical

explanation of origins or the reason for something

•Monotheism clearly stated▫Elohim = plural name for singular God▫God described in His names

Name Meaning Name Meaning

Adonai Master; Lord El Shaddai Almighty

Elohim God Elyon Most High

Yahweh I AM; LORD Avinu Father

Abraham

•Foundational: Covenant with Abraham▫Promised Land▫Great Nation▫Many Kings (promise of Messiah)

•“Chosen People” •Passed on to Isaac, not Ishmael•Abraham the Sojourner

▫Establishes the first mindset of Judaism

Moses

•A persecuted people▫Establishes the second mindset of Judaism

•Hero of Judaism▫Releases Israelites from bondage

•Restores the covenant (Promised Land)•The three major feasts come from this

event

Moses: The Major Feasts

•Passover – the first major festival in Judaism▫Pesach – escape from Egypt

•Pentecost – second major festival▫Shavuot – when God gave the Torah ▫7 days (8 diaspora), 50 days after Pesach

•Feast of Booths – third major festival▫Sukkot – recalls wandering in wilderness ▫Late September to early October

•All three are pilgrimage festivals”

King David

•Unites warring tribes, forming the Nation or Kingdom of Israel

•Expands borders to the greatest extent•Covenant

▫Your kingdom shall have no end▫Promise of the Temple

King Solomon

•Ushers in “golden age” of Judaism▫Wealth▫Prestige▫Wisdom Literature

•Builds the First Temple▫Built of finest materials▫Takes decades to complete▫Dedicated by King Solomon

The First Temple

The First Temple

Divided Kingdom

•Kingdom divided after Solomon’s death▫North: Israel▫South: Judah

Retains the Davidic line•Israel

▫Establishes its own religious tradition▫Destroyed by Assyrians▫Samaritans are remnants of the remaining

tribes Over 1 million during Christ’s time Now only 751 people

Divided Kingdom

•Judah conquered by Babylon▫Solomon’s temple is destroyed▫Leading citizens exiled

Stories of Daniel occur in Babylon▫Babylon conquered by Persia▫The word “Jew” first appears

•Exiles permitted to return home•Jerusalem rebuilt•Second Temple built

Second Temple

Second Temple

Occupation & Rebellion

•Greeks conquer Israel & Middle East▫Alexander the Great

•Reign of Antiochus Epiphanes▫Temple defiled

Antiochus orders an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple (167)

Antiochus forbids the practice of Judaism•Maccabean Revolt (167-160)

▫Hanukkah – commemorates rededication of temple

Occupation & Revolt

•Romans occupy Israel & Middle East in 63 BC

•Herod(s) installed as Kings▫Not from Davidic line, but from Edomic

(Esau) line•Jerusalem & Temple destroyed in 70 AD

▫Masada is last hold out; destroyed 73 AD▫Seen as a sign that God has withdrawn

from His people

Time Chart AD

70 Jerusalem & Temple destroyed

90-200 Rabbinic Judaism (“Judaism”) forms

200 Mishnah compiled

600 Talmud completed

135 Jews disperse (diaspora); especially to Europe & Russia

1100 Crusaders massacre Jews in Europe

1500 Expulsion of Jews from Spain

1555 Ghettos of Jews in Italy and Germany

1850-1900 Jewish pogroms in Russia & Eastern Europe

1881 Jews emigrate to North America

Modern Judaism

Early History

•Known as “Rabbinic Judaism”•Two events lead to emergence of Modern

Judaism▫Destruction of Temple (70 AD)▫Loss of autonomy (132-135 AD)

•Most significant was destruction of Temple▫Main ritual changes▫Temple sacrifices stop▫Worship transferred to synagogues

(prayers)

Key Changes: Leadership

•Leader was High Priest▫Destruction of temple signals the end of

priests▫Priests are needed for sacrifice

•Rabbis become main leaders▫Teacher & Expert in Torah▫Preach, lead prayers▫Help govern the life of ordinary Jews

Key Changes: Synagogues

•Synagogues▫Begun in Babylon as a replacement for the

Temple▫Place of learning▫Place of prayer

•Kept alive the Jewish faith for those who could not go to temple

•Become primary as Jews await the building of the Third Temple

Key Changes: Messiah

•Originally▫Son of David▫Innocent “Son of God”▫Sacrifice himself to redeem, reconcile and

restore▫For all nations (light to the Gentiles)

•In Rabbinic Judaism▫“Son of David” – metaphorical ▫No longer savior for all; now one who frees

Jews from occupation

Key Changes: Messiah

•“The mashiach will bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people”▫Return to Israel▫Restore Jerusalem▫Establish a government in Israel

Center of all world government For Jews and gentiles

Key Changes: Messiah

▫Rebuild the Temple Third Temple Re-establish sacrifices

▫Restore the religious court system of Israel Establish Jewish law as the law of the land

Key Changes: Messiah

•Shimeon ben Kosiba (Bar Kokhba)▫Fought a war against the Roman Empire▫Established a provisional government and

began to issue coins in its name. This is what the Jewish people were looking

for in a mashiach▫The Roman Empire crushed the revolt and

killed Bar Kokhba (135 AD)▫After his death, all acknowledged that he

was not the mashiach.

Key Changes: Messiah

•Latest: Menachem Mendel Schneerson ▫Born in Russia 1902▫Died in Manhattan June 12, 1994▫Hassidic Rabbi

Key Changes: Ghetto

•Two key mindsets/themes/viewpoints harden▫We are a wandering/traveling people▫We are a persecuted people

•Begin to insulate themselves in their own neighborhoods▫For protection▫Due to anti-Semitism▫To keep faith pure

Key Changes: Ghetto

•Laws of Kosher▫To follow Torah▫To keep faith and tradition alive

•Include separation from Goyim•Includes rules about intermarriage

Key Changes: What is a Jew?

•A Jew is any person whose mother was a Jew

•“A Jew has nothing to do with what you believe or what you do.”

•A person born to non-Jewish parents who has not undergone the formal process of conversion but who believes everything that Orthodox Jews believe and observes every law and custom of Judaism is still a non-Jew

Key Changes: What is a Jew?

•A person born to a Jewish mother who is an atheist and never practices the Jewish religion is still a Jew, even in the eyes of the ultra-Orthodox.

•Judaism is more like a nationality than like other religions, and being Jewish is like a citizenship.

Diaspora: Middle Ages

•Jews forced to emigrate•Settle in Europe & Russia•Tolerated or persecuted

▫Varies from century to century▫Varies from place to place

Holocaust / Shoah

•Holocaust▫Sacrifice by fire

•Shoah▫Catastrophe

•Result▫Many Jews reject God, saying he has

abandoned them▫Some still keep Jewish customs as

“cultural”

Movements in

Judaism

Origins

•Movements within Judaism begin forming in the 1700s.▫“Movement” is the term that Jews prefer

instead of “denomination”•These movements react to:

▫Ghetto conditions▫Enlightenment changes (theology,

philosophy)▫Emigration to US and elsewhere

•These movements are found mostly in US

Hassidic

•Hassidic Judaism▫Forms 1700▫Emphasizes personal experience and

mysticism rather than education▫Revolves around a Rebbe (enlightened

spiritual leader)▫Insular – adherents live in same

neighborhood(s)▫Seems to be influenced by Pietism

Reform

•The Reform Movement▫Forms in 18th century Europe▫A way to escape the ghetto▫Institutes “modern” changes to practices,

liturgy and doctrines▫Largest Jewish movement in US

Orthodox

•Orthodox Judaism▫Opposed Reform and Hassidic movements▫Keeps the older ways in liturgy, practice

and doctrine▫Considers itself the “traditional” Judaism▫Second largest Jewish movement in US

Coservative

•Conservative Judaism▫Formed in US in 1913▫Middle way between Reform and Orthodox ▫Keeps some traditional ways, modernizes

others▫Small and shrinking

Secular Jews

•Reconstructionist•Humanist

Comparing TeachingsIssue Orthodox Conservative Reform

Origin of Torah

Given by God as is

Divine Inspired by God, but humans interpret God’s meaning

Authority of Torah

Absolute Some are more important than others

Generally not binding today

How Torah is Lived

As perfectly as possible

Rabbis follow laws, but laypeople do not need to

The ethical laws are followed closely but in a modern sense

JewishTheolog

y

Rabbinic Judaism

•Judaism changed from “Temple Judaism” to “Rabbinic Judaism”

•Key Events▫Destruction of the Temple (70 AD)▫Loss of Autonomy (135 AD)▫Rise of Christianity (30-150 AD)

•Key Theological Changes▫Torah is de-personalized▫Trinitarian hints are de-emphasized▫Definition of “Messiah” changes

Thirteen Principles of Faith

•The 13 Principles of Faith are most accepted summary of Jewish beliefs ▫No set of formal mandatory beliefs▫Even these basic principles have been

debated•Formulated by Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon

▫Known to the secular world as Maimonides▫Great Jewish scholar and philosopher

•State the minimum requirements of belief•Accepted by nearly all Jewish Movements

Thirteen Principles of Faith

I. G-d exists

II. G-d is one and unique

III. G-d is incorporeal

IV. G-d is eternal

V. Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other

Thirteen Principles of Faith

VI. The words of the prophets are true

VII. Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets

VIII. The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses

IX. There will be no other Torah

Thirteen Principles of Faith

X. G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men

XI. G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked

XII. The Messiah will come

XIII. The dead will be resurrected

Thirteen Principles of Faith

•Very basic and general principles. •The necessity of believing each one of

these has been disputed at one time or another

•Liberal movements of Judaism dispute many of these principles. ▫Reform ▫Reconstructionist▫Humanist▫Some Conservatives

Not Speculative

•No mandated, official, definitive belief on these subjects:▫The nature of G-d, ▫The nature of man▫The nature of the universe▫The nature of life and the afterlife

•Exception: Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism▫Hassidic

Focus: Relationships

•Judaism focuses on the relationships between the Creator, mankind, and the land of Israel▫the relationship between G-d and mankind▫between G-d and the Jewish people▫between the Jewish people and the land of

Israel▫between human beings.

•Focus: The stories in the Tanakh that describe these relationships

Focus: Relationships

•Mutual obligations created by these relationships are most important▫Various movements of Judaism disagree

about the nature of these obligations.•Day to day, the focus in on family•Sabbath is about being with family

▫Everything is dropped (work, school, sports, etc) in order to be with family

Actions More than Beliefs

•Judaism is concerned about actions more than beliefs

•According to Orthodox Judaism, these actions include 613 commandments given by God in the Torah as well as laws instituted by the rabbis and long-standing customs.

Important Deeds• Worship one God

▫Shema Israel• Love for God

▫You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead; inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Important Deeds

•The sacredness of human life•Suffering and Faith

Jewish Practice

s

Sabbath

•Saturday•Family Day•Begins Friday evening•Prayers in the home and synagogue

Sabbath• In addition to, or instead of, going to a service welcoming

the Sabbath, observant families usually begin the Sabbath eve with a special Friday night dinner. The mother lights candles to bring in the Sabbath light; the father recites a blessing over the wine. Special braided bread, challah, is shared as a symbol of the double portions of manna in the desert. The rituals help to set a different tone for the day of rest, as do commandments against working, handling money, traveling except by foot, lighting a fire, cooking, and the like. The Sabbath day is set aside for public prayer, study, thought, friendship, and family closeness, with the hope that this renewed life of the spirit will then carry through the week to come.

Kosher

Daily Prayer Customs

•Phylacteries (t’fillin)▫On arm and forehead

•Talit▫Prayer shawl

•Yarmulke▫Head covering for men

•Prayers said every morning and evening•Daily blessings

Bar Mitzvah

Jewish Holiday

s

•The most important Jewish holy days are the Sabbath, the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot) and the two High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). It is forbidden to work on any of these days.