The Origins of Judaism

The Origins of Judaism

Ancient Israel

Has also been called Canaan and Palestine

Historic homeland of Hebrews, the ancestors of modern day Jews

Largest and most important city in Ancient Israel was Jerusalem: a symbol of the Jewish religion and a destination for pilgrimages today.

Roots of Judaism

Torah: one of the oldest religious texts in history Tells stories and legends of the Ancient

Hebrews and contains Jewish teachings Oldest part of the Tanach: Hebrew Bible

Abraham: was called by God to establish a new nation for Hebrews in Canaan Was 1st person to practice monotheism

God made covenant or agreement with Abraham that if Abraham would worship only him then Abraham and his descendants would inherit the nation of Israel

Covenant establishes 1st monotheistic religion, and forms the basis of other monotheistic religions that would follow in the years afterwards (Christianity and Islam)

Abraham’s son Isaac would officially found the nation of Israel

Persecution, Exodus, and LawsAccording to the Torah, a

great famine swept the middle east, and many Hebrews went to Egypt, where there was food

Due to the influx of Jews into Egypt, the pharaoh enslaved them

Moses would lead the Jews out of Egypt and back to Israel

While in the desert, God gave Moses the 10 commandments at the summit of Mount Sinai

The 10 Commandments

Judaism is a religion based on law

Hundreds of rules, moral codes, etc. are in the Torah’s book of Leviticus

The heart of Jewish law is the 10 commandments

In Brief…

Judaism was founded by Abraham when he made a covenant with God. His son Isaac founded the nation of Israel.

1st Monotheistic religionTanach is Hebrew Bible…Torah is holy text

within Tanach Religion of Law…heart of law is the 10

CommandmentsJerusalem: site of 1st Jewish temple, city of

historic and religious significance

Sabbath Writings in the Torah include

rituals and traditions that guide how Jews live their daily lives and how they practice their religion

Keeping the Sabbath is an important part of this

According to the Torah, God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th…7th day of the week is the Sabbath and is meant to be kept holy

Saturday is reserved for worshipping and prayer in the synagogue and studying the Torah

Diversity and Division

There are a variety of beliefs and interpretations of Jewish laws and rituals

Different groups within Judaism practice their beliefs in different ways

There are also differences WITHIN these groups

3 main groups: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative

Orthodox Most traditional branch Emphasizes strict observance of

moral and ritual obligations of traditional Jewish law

Much diversity within orthodoxy Most Orthodox Jews engage in

daily worship, strict dietary laws, gender segregation in the synagogue, strict observance of the sabbath, and strict interpretations of modesty

Some sects of the Orthodox community believe in living completely separate from the rest of the population

Divisions within the Orthodox branch: Modern Orthodoxy Haredi Judaism

Hassidic Judaism

Reform Ethical laws are binding, but

ritual laws can be adapted to fit modern society

Individuals are encouraged to maintain traditional practices that they find meaningful

Traditional Jewish laws are interpreted to be general guidelines rather than a list of restrictions to be followed in a literal sense

Largest Jewish denomination in North America

Conservative Middle ground between

Orthodox and ReformJews should seek to conserve Jewish tradition rather than reform or abandon it

Seeks to preserve structure of traditional Jewish beliefs and practices

Some adaptations are allowed to meet modern circumstances in order to ensure that Jewish traditions can survive in modern times.

Example: Tzniut (Modesty)

Jewish laws pertaning to conduct in general and between the sexes, and also women’s dress

Are interpreted differently depending on sect/denomination and also based on cultural considerations

Orthodox: men and women are required to substantially cover their bodies, many men wear long coats, long sleeves, trousers, and hats, and most women wear skirts below the knee, thick stockings, and hair coverings.

Conservative: modest dress required, but not observed on a day-to-day basis. Most commonly required when attending synagogue, and there may be specific dress requirements to receive synagogue honors.

Reform: No specific dress code is required, but one can choose to observe modesty in dress especially when attending synagogue.