Transcript Judaism * History, Covenant, Faith

Judaism –
History, Covenant,
Faith
Western/Semitic religion
Abrahamic
People of the Book
Strict monotheism
• Using your notes from the slideshow and the handouts, put the events together
with the dates: See pages 151 – 168 in the Great Religions of the World text
1000 BCE
970 – 922 BCE
721 BCE
587 BCE
515 BCE
400 BCE
70 CE
300’s CE
600’s
1135 – 1204
1290
1700’s
1930’s
1940 – 45
1948
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Romans destroy Temple (all but Western Wall)
Nazi party takes control of Germany
Persecution. Many Jews flee to Poland, etc.
Assyrian Empire defeats northern kingdom
Solomon’s reign. Temple built
King David captures Jerusalem
Temple rebuilt. Some Jews return
Holocaust
Roman Empire becomes Christian
Pogroms in Russia (formerly Poland)
Growth of Islam
Torah recognized as Jewish Scripture
State of Israel established
Babylonians defeat Judah. Temple destroyed.
Maimonides working in Spain.
Jewish Beliefs
• Read pages 226-229 in Exploring World Religions and the article “What
Do Jews Believe?” and create your own note.
• At the very least, your note should include:
Definitions: shema, gerut, mitzvah/mitzvoth
• A summary of:
• Who the Jews are (how Jewish heritage is established)
• Philo’s 5 Fundamental Concepts
• Maimonides’ 13 Articles of Faith, including the 3 that are absolute (and an
explanation of the authority of the rest) – from the article “What do Jews
Believe?”
• How the covenant between the Jews and God is demonstrated (a chart
would be helpful here to show the two sides of the covenant)
• The significance of the name of God
• Read page 232, “Kashruth” and “Shabbat” and add the concepts to your 6
traits.
Covenant
• The Jewish people believe that God chose them for a special
relationship with him – responsibilities and privileges.
• They believe that they keep this covenant through moral living
– following God’s mitzvot.
• This term is translated often to be “laws” or “commandments”
but means “guidance”.
• Jews believe that the holiness of their lives should reflect the
holiness of God.
• Living according to the mitzvot (aka following Halakhah) helps
people to live in a right relationship with God. (Living a life that
is pleasing to God)
• Expressed as a chart, it would look like this…
The Covenant
The Jewish People
God
• the people worship only one
God
• follow God’s laws (613
commandments)
• perform mitzvoth (good works,
follow the commandments)
• (for the Orthodox) - observe
laws, including chukkim (which
are the true test of faith
because some are
unexplainable) – wearing mixed
fibres, kosher laws – observed
for holiness, separateness,
obedience
• God cares for the people
(“Chosen People”) – God will
provide,
• God saves His people (e.g.
Exodus)
• God will send a Messiah to
bring peace (Jews expect this
leader to be a king and
military leader)
• God will provide a future time
of peace and prosperity
• God promises a land, which
the Jews believe to be Israel
The 10 Commandments
• God gave the mitzvoth to Moses, the summary of which is the
10 commandments.
• In addition to the 10, many Jews try to follow as many of the
other 613 mitzvoth as they can
• The laws were clarified by Maimonides - 12th century –also
wrote a list of main Jewish beliefs (read these)
• Failure to live by the covenant (that is, failure to follow the
mitzvoth) is the Jewish definition of sin.
• Sin stands in the way of a relationship with God.
• While the Temple existed, rituals and sacrifices were carried
out to repair the relationship with God.
• Yom Kippur fills that role today.
Covenants in Jewish history
• Jewish covenants with God have been initiated by several
people – Abraham, Noah, Moses and others
• These covenants describe what those who love God will do –
especially what is appropriate morally.
• Sexuality is seen as a blessing from God and meant to be
enjoyed.
• Halakhah states that sexuality belongs in marriage.
• Orthodox Judaism’s emphasis on modesty protects the dignity
of sexuality
• Moral values do vary slightly by branch (Reform Jews will share
some cultural values of the culture where they live)
Jewish Family Life
Family life
• The home is the main place for Jewish prayer
• The mother is responsible for family purity (e.g. kosher, niddah
laws)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJlO4Ge5yVk – Oprah visits a
mikvah
• Children are educated in the faith at home – e.g. all meals begin
and end with prayer
• The most important prayers are on Shabbat in the home
• The mother lights 2 candles, offers a silent prayer for her family
and waves her hands over the candles – this welcomes in the light
of Shabbat
• How to light Shabbat candles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kb-LcBU1Y4
• Special blessings are said over wine – to thank God and to
welcome a holy Shabbat
Shabbat
• Mealtime is important especially on Shabbat
• Shabbat is observed in varying levels of strictness
depending on branch – what defines work?
• All branches follow Halakhah (living a moral life that is
pleasing to God) – they differ in how they interpret and
carry out the requirements.
• Shabbat – Jew in the City http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHtM6mDbUzM
Women in Judaism: Family Customs –
matchmaking, niddah
• Hasidic Marital Customs and Matchmakers - Oprah's Next
Chapter - Oprah Winfrey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsshqthTTOk
• Jewish Women Dirty? – Jew in the City
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUlfjvIC5sQ
• Are Orthodox Jews Sexist? – Jew in the City
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLfZ2tmM3vY
• Role of Women in Hasidic Judaism – Oprah
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsshqthTTOk
Shabbat and Kosher
– Jew in the City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHtM6mDbUzM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsshqthTT
Ok - How to light Shabbat candles with Alana
Kosher food – more than just Jewish cuisine
Kashrut
• The term “kashrut” applies specifically to dietary laws,
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while “kosher” could apply to other objects.
Kosher = “fit”, “appropriate”, or “proper”
Laws include not eating pork or shellfish, not combining
milk and meat, among others
There are more laws during Passover
Some homes that keep kosher have separate sets of
dishes, pots, and utensils for dairy and meat.
Kashrut law fits into a class of laws called “chukkim”,
meaning Jews observe them simply because it is
commanded in the Torah