Transcript Judaism and Islam

Cultural Diversity
ELDER Project
Fairfield University School of Nursing
Jewish and Islam Religions
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Nursing Grant#D62HP06858
Judaism and Islam
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the
participants will be able to ….
 Compare and contrast the belief systems of Judaism and
Islam.
 Discuss the role of religion, traditional health care beliefs,
social values, and family structure of Judaism and Islam
and the impact these factors have on health care.
 Identify specific culturally sensitive practices that can be
incorporated into your work with Jewish and Muslim
patients.
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Nursing Grant#D62HP06858
Judaism and Islam
Introduction:
 Judaism and Islam are known as Abrahamic faiths since
they trace their lineage from Abraham in the Torah (the
Five Books of Moses)
 Both accept the idea of one creator and the importance of
written scripture.
 Both religions are very rich and diverse with numerous
cultural inferences.
 Although they do share some similarities, many differences
exist in their practices and beliefs.
 The backgrounds of these different groups have influenced
the way they respond to illness and other life crises.
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Judaism
History:
 Jews were dispersed after an insurrection against Roman
authority and lived all over the world until founding the
State of Israel in 1948.
 Much of Jewish history has been marveled by persecution
by other societies, from ancient Egypt and Babylon to the
expulsion of the Jewish people from Spain in the 15th
century and the Holocaust of World War II.
 They developed various subcultures with distinct histories,
languages, religious practices, customs and cuisine.
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Judaism
History:
 Groups within the U.S. include:
 Orthodox (believe Jewish law is unchanging and
mandatory),
 Conservative (believe God’s laws change and evolve over
time),
 Reform and Reconstructionist (laws are guidelines that the
individual can choose to follow or not).
 Many Jews are also secular or atheist and for them, Judaism is
a culture rather than a religion.
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Judaism
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Judaism
Origin of Name: Derived from the Hebrew - Yehudim or
Judah.
Founder: Abraham
Estimated Followers:
 14 million
 12th largest religion in the world
 The majority of the Jews live in the United States and
Israel.
Original Language: Hebrew
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Judaism
Holy Book:
 The Hebrew Bible - Tanakh, the Old Testament: inclusive
of the Torah (Five Books of Moses).
 The Talmud is an oral tradition explaining and interpreting
the Tanakh.
 It includes the Mishnah, a code of Jewish law
Clergy: Rabbis, Cantors
House of Worship: Synagogue (aka: Temple, Shul)
Main Day of Worship:
 Sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night.
 All holidays begin the night prior in this manner
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Judaism
Rituals:
 Circumcision of the newly born Jewish male,
 Bar/Bat mitzvah- ceremony marking the coming of age (13)
for Jewish boys (bar) and girls (bat) mitzvah,
 Shabbat observance,
 Prayer - held in high regard, the Jewish prayer book is
called the siddur.
Religious Law:
 Halakhah, which covers prayer and ritual, diet, rules
regulating personal status and observances of holidays.
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Islam
History:
 Began in Mecca and was developed from the Judeo-
Christian tradition and cultural values of Nomadic Bedouin
tribes of Arabia.
 Islam spread to North Africa, Europe into Central Asia, as it
expanded the new Islamic societies and adopted many of
the customs they encountered.
 There are two main denominations:
 Sunni (90%) and Shi’ite (10%)
 Muslims in the U.S. come from many different cultures and
schools of thought.
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Islam
Top 10 largest Muslim populations
#
Country
Muslims
1. Indonesia
188,619,000
2. Pakistan
144,788,000
3. India
131,213,000
4. Bangladesh
118,512,000
5. Turkey
67,864,000
6. Iran
67,610,000
7. Egypt
64,647,000
8. Nigeria
54,891,000
9. Algeria
31,729,000
10. Morocco
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31,642,0
Islam
Origin of the Name: Derived from an Arabic word for
submission.
Founder: Mohammed
Followers:
 1.57 billion
 Second largest religion in the world
Original Language: Arabic
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Islam
Holy Book:
 The Quran or Koran which was revealed to the prophet
Mohammed over a period of about 20 years.
 It is believed to be the final revelation given by Allah to
mankind.
 The Hadith is a collection of traditions/sayings of the
prophet Mohammed and functions as a supplement to the
Quran, giving guidance to Muslims for daily living.
Clergy: Imams
House of Worship: Mosque
Main Day of Worship:
Friday
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Islam
Religious Law: Sharia – the code of conduct
Rituals:
 Five important rituals (the pillars of Islam ) which include:
 Shahadah -profession of faith,
 Salat –
Prayer 5 times a day on a prayer mat facing in the direction of Mecca.
 Prayer includes movements such as bowing, prostrating and sitting.
 It can be done in bed or sitting if the person is ill.
 Zakat –alms giving
 Sawm –fasting during the holy month of Ramadan

 Hajj –


The annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Required once
in a lifetime
if physically and
financially able.
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Judaism and Islam
Important Dates and Holidays:
 Both religions follow the cycle of the moon (Lunar
calendar) to determine when a holiday will occur, thus each
year the holidays begin differently on the Gregorian
calendar.
 The Jewish calendar is adjusted each year to correspond with
the seasons by adding a leap year occurs every few years.
 The Islamic calendar does not adjust, thus holidays will
appear at no certain time during the Gregorian calendar.
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Judaism
Important Dates and Holidays:
 Pesach (Passover) –
 Eight day celebration in commemoration of the escape
of the Jewish people from Egypt.
 Ritual dinner is conducted (Seder) that avoids bread and
grain products in memory of the urgent departure from
Egypt.
 The name originated from the 10th plague that God sent
upon the Egyptians killing the first born.

Israelites marked their homes with blood of sacrificial lamb
and the angel of death “passed over” them, sparing their
children.
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Judaism
Important Dates and Holidays:
 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) –
 Occurs in September/October.
 It is a celebration of the Jewish New Year and a time to reflect
on the past year.
 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) –
 Special day of fasting and repentance to reconcile with the
creator all mistakes over the last year.
 Second holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
 Occurs ten days after the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
 Purim Commemorates events in the Book of Ester in the Hebrew
bible which describes how the Israelites avoided
extermination.
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Judaism
Important Dates and Holidays:
 Hanukkah Eight day festival of lights that is celebrated by lighting
candles each night.
 It celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after
the Maccabean Revolt; it is considered a minor holiday.
 Occurs sometime in November/December.
 Shabbat Holiest day of the Jewish calendar: day of rest and spiritual
enrichment.
 Represents the 7th day of creation when God rested from his
work.
 Observed from
sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.
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Islam
Important Dates and Holidays:
 Ramadan Holiest period in the Islamic year signifying when the Qur’an was
revealed to Muhammad.
 Followers do not eat or drink anything from dawn until dusk.
 They may consume a pre-dawn meal before fasting during the
day.
 Usually occurs in the 9th month of their calendar year.
 Eid al-Fitr Festival of breaking the fast that is celebrated on the final day of
Ramadan where the fast is broken and people gather in the
community to celebrate with a community meal.
 The head of each household pays annual alms to a charity of their
choice.
 May see decorations
and
gift giving being
done.
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Islam
Important Dates and Holidays:
 Eid al-Adha The festival of the sacrifice.
 It occurs during Hajj (pilgrimage) that celebrates the willingness of
Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael.
 Al-Hijra First day of Islamic New Year celebration.
 Marks the end of the period of persecution in Mecca and the transition to
a recognized faith community in Medina.
 Milad al-Nabi Celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
 Some sects do not celebrate this day.
 Ashura Day of mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of
Muhammad.
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Family
Judaism
Islam
 Strong family ties.
 Emphasis is on respect for
 Grandparents are
older people.
 Children have special
responsibilities towards
their parents.
 Communal obligation to
care for the elderly.
respected and offer
financial support to young
families and become
dictators of family matters.
 Grandmother is in charge
of household chores.
 Male parent has the
authority in family
matters.
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Diet and Food
Judaism
Islam
 Practice kosher laws or Kashrut, which
 Follow a halal diet, they will not
describe how meat needs to be
prepared (slaughtered) according to
Jewish law.
 Can only eat meat from animals that
part the hoof and are cloven-footed
and chew the cud, such as cattle,
sheep, and goats.
 Other types of meat such as pork and
rabbit are forbidden (traif)
 Sea creatures with fins and scales are
allowed, but shellfish and crustaceans
are not.
 Most non-predatory fowl like chicken
and turkey is allowed.
 Can only eat eggs from kosher fowl
consume the following:
 pork,
 alcohol,
 animals that were dead prior to
slaughtering,
 animals that have not been
slaughtered according to Islamic
rites,
 blood or blood products,
 carnivorous animals,
 birds of prey,
 land animals without external
ears.
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Diet and Food
Judaism:
Islam:
 All fruits and vegetables are
 Followers will not take any
kosher, but must be washed
thoroughly.
 Cannot cook or eat dairy
products with meat.
 This is based on a biblical law
that prohibits boiling a kid in its
mother’s milk.
 Use separate dishes, utensils, and
pots for meat and dairy dishes.
 Also wait a number of hours after
eating meat before consuming
any dairy products.
 Practice ritual hand washing
with associated blessings over
various foods.
medications that contain alcohol
or pork by products unless they
are life-saving drugs with no
substitutes.
 Will wash hands before and after
meals.
 Use of the right hand to eat and
drink.
 If they need to be fed, use the
right hand if you have to touch
the food.
 Either hand is appropriate to use
if using utensils.
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Modesty/Dress
Judaism:
Islam:
 Jewish modesty (tznuit) is
not just about how a man and
a woman dresses, but how
they behave.
 Modesty implies a sense of
humility and downplaying
one’s attributes.
 In the more traditional
groups, women will cover
their torso up to the neck,
along with their arms and
legs when in public.
 Muslims also practice modesty (hejab)
when in public or when they are in the
presence of non-family members of the
opposite sex.
 Modesty is described as one of the five
pillars of faith which includes restriction
on dress, privacy and mentioning of
anything related to bodily functions.
 Modesty of dress includes:
 Clothing must cover the entire body,
including the neck and head.
 Clothing should not be form-fitting, sheer
or eye-catching.
 Men keep the area between their navel and
knees covered.
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Modesty/Dress
Judaism:
Islam:
 Keeping covered is a way of





separating oneself from regularity or
mediocrity and increasing the
individual to a higher level of respect.
It is also a way to protect their inner
sense of who they are.
Orthodox women cover their hair as
well – either with a scarf or a wig.
Orthodox men wear a hat or skull cap
called a yarmulke/kippah
Orthodox men and women will sit
separately in public.
Orthodox women do not wear pants.
 Women only expose their face,
hands and feet.
 A veil may be worn as a symbol of
modesty.
 A locket containing religious
writings is sometimes worn around
the neck in a small leather bag.
 It is kept for protection and strength and
should not be removed by healthcare
workers without permission.
 Body exposure can prevent some
from seeking health care.
 Eye contact is not made between
members of the opposite sex.
 Touching is also not allowed between
opposite genders.
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Judaism and Islam
Note:
 Both religions prefer the same gender healthcare
practitioners in order to follow rules of modesty.
Healthcare workers should ask permission to uncover
parts of the body out of respect.
 They should also knock on the door before entering in
order to provide the patient time to cover themselves.
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Illness
Judaism:
Islam:
 View illness as a part of a natural
order that God sets in motion, but
does not control.
 They recognize that illness and
suffering can strike anyone.
 They believe in actively seeking
healing through medical treatment.
 Prayer is also an important means of
healing.
 They believe that visiting the sick is
an important element of healing.
 Their custom of performing a good
deed (a mitzvah) is viewed as a
religious obligation in which the
community is supposed to comfort
and care for the sick.
 Do not have any specific codes for
medical treatment of physical
illnesses in the Qur’an.
 The Islamic tradition recognizes
the difference between health and
illness as balance or imbalance.
 Historically there has been a close
relationship between religion and
medicine and its practices.
 Muslims use home-made herbal
and medicinal tonics, dietary
restrictions and amulets to ward
off bad spirits.
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Illness
Islam:
 Male circumcision, cupping,
bloodletting, cauterization and
ligation can be used.
 The contemporary Muslim approach
to healthcare is based strongly on
preventative measures such as
personal hygiene, dietary restrictions
and avoidance of addictive habits like
smoking or overeating.
 Some Muslims may perceive a sudden
death or illness as a sign of
punishment or test from God.
 They tend to find strength in prayer
and meditation.
 Spiritual healing is sought by reciting
from the Qur’an.
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Judaism and Islam
Conclusion:
 Religion, like culture, consists of patterns of beliefs,
values and behaviors acquired by members of a
society.
 There are different interpretations of principles and
meanings within all religions.
 Diversity in America includes the rich heritages and
cultures that are seen in our population, that make up
our country and coexist to create a nation.
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Reference

Christianity in View. Retrieved March 6, 2011 from http://christianityinview.com/xncomparison.html.

Healthcare Providers’ Handbook on Muslim Patients. Retrieved January 9, 2011 from
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/support_tools/islamgde2ed-s2.pdf

International Strategy and Policy Institute. (1999). Guidelines for Health Care Providers Interacting with Muslim
Patients and Their Families. Retrieved February 26, 2011 from http://www.ispi-usa.org/guidelines.htm.

Taheri, N. (2008). Health Care in Islamic History and Experience. Retrieved January 9, 2011 from
http://ethnomed.org/cross-cultural-health/religion/health-care-in-islamic-history-and-experience.

The Muslim World. Retrieved April 15th, 2010 from http://btw.imb.org/news_map.asp

Religion Statistics: Jews by Country. Retrieved April 15th, 2010 from http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_jewreligion-jews

World Muslim Population Density. Retrieved April 15th, 2010 from
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/maps/muslim.html
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Power Point Presentation
Created by:
Joyce Cunneen, MSN, RN
Fairfield University School of Nursing
ELDER Project Education Coordinator
Monica Starr, BSN, RN
Fairfield University School of Nursing
ELDER Project Program Coordinator
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant#D62HP06858