Teachings of Judaism

Review of Origins:Origin of Judaism Review Video

Judaism vs. Other Monotheistic Religions

Exile in Babylon• Hebrews forced to leave homeland after

Kingdom of Judah conquered by Neo-Babylonians

• While in Babylon, the religion of these Judeans became known as “Judaism”

• Exile (being separated from home) = central theme in Judaism

• Beginning of Jewish Diaspora – scattering of the Jewish people outside of single homeland

The Temple• Temple of Solomon central place

of worship• Burned down by Neo-

Babylonians, rebuilt by King Herod

• After Great Jewish Revolt, Jerusalem and Temple burned down again by the Romans, Jewish land seized and Jews forbidden to enter city

• Only remains were the western wall of temple = “wailing wall” still sacred site by Jews today

Stone carving showing the Romans carrying treasures and items from the Jewish Temple (note the menorah)

Wailing Wall/Western Wall in Jerusalem (note the Dome of the Rock Muslim shrine on top of the area above the wall known as the Temple Mount).

Which three religions consider Jerusalem a holy site?

How is this problematic?

Preservation of the Faith• With Temple destroyed and Jewish people scattered,

how would the religion survive?– Establishing schools for training of rabbis = teachers of

Jewish faith– Establishment of synagogues in any community with at

least 10 adult males• Houses of worship• Place of study• Meeting place/social center

– Any adult male can read sacred texts, not just rabbis• These steps establish community and culture for

Jews wherever they settled

Sacred Writings

• Tanakh– Torah = Five books of Moses– Nevi'im = books of the prophets– Ketuvim = Psalms/Proverbs & other “writings”

• Talmud = commentaries of learned rabbis on the Hebrew Bible & Jewish teaching

• Combine narrative, law, morality, & tradition

Central Beliefs• Monotheism – single God who is all-knowing

(omniscient) and all-powerful (omnipotent)• God is source of morality (right & wrong)• Duty of humans: honor/obey God –based on

Covenant• Equality among all people• Prayer essential for maintaining relationship

with God; certain prayers for certain times and events

Law (Halakha)• Found in the Torah and

Talmud• 613 Mosaic laws

– 248 positive (what you should do)

– 365 negative (what you should not do)

• Includes Ten Commandments

Ten Commandments1. You shall have no other gods2. You shall not create false idols3. You shall not take God’s name in vain4. Keep holy the Sabbath5. Honor your father & mother6. You shall not murder7. You shall not commit adultery8. You shall not steal9. You shall not bear false witness10.You shall not covet

Examples of Law in Practice• Observing the Sabbath from

sunset Friday to sunset Saturday – prayer & rest

• Kosher Laws – foods prepared in certain ways, eaten in certain order, some foods avoided (pork, shellfish)

• Prayer– Made at certain times of

day (ex. Shema)– Wearing of kippah on head

and tefillin on forehead and left arm

Jewish Men praying in a ceremony for the Blessing of the Sun

Other Traditions• Celebration of holy days

– Passover: freedom from Egypt– Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year– Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement– Shavuot: giving of the Torah– Sukkoth: wandering in the desert

• Life events– Naming ceremonies– Bar/bat mitzvah: coming of age– Weddings– Mourning practices for the death of loved ones

Group Investigations1.) Passover: freedom from Egypt

2.) Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year

3.) Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement

4.) Shavuot: giving of the Torah

5.) Sukkoth: wandering in the desert