Judaism
Founder
• Abraham was born under the name Abram in
the city of Ur in Babylonia in the year 1948
from Creation He was the son of Terach, an idol
merchant, but from his early childhood, he
questioned the faith of his father and sought the
truth. He came to believe that the entire universe
was the work of a single Creator, and he began
to teach this belief to others.
• When Abram was 100 and Sarai 90, G-d
promised Abram a son by Sarai. God changed
Abram's name to Abraham (father of many), and
Sarai's to Sarah (from "my princess" to
"princess"). Sarah bore Abraham a son, Isaac
(Yitzchak), a name derived from the word
"laughter," expressing Abraham's joy at having a
son in his old age. Isaac was the ancestor of
the Jewish people.
History
• Foundation lies in the original covenant made
between Abraham and God, circa 1900 BCE,
when Abraham was called to leave his home in
Ur and travel to Cannan (later known as
Palestine and Israel), a land which God
promised to give to his descendants. The second
and chief covenant was made 450 years later
when Moses led the Jews out of slavery in
Egypt (the exodus) back to the lands of Canaan.
• . The second and chief covenant was made 450
years later when Moses led the Jews out of
slavery in Egypt (the exodus) back to the lands
of Canaan. At Mt Horeb (Sinai), God gave the
Jewish people the 10 Commandants and other
rules to live by (contained in the Torah, the first
five books of the Bible), marking the
beginning of Judaism as a structured religion.
• Jewish civilisation after the exodus prospered in
the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, originally
headed by powerful kings like Saul, David and
Solomon, who built the first great temple in
Jerusalem. In 586 BCE, the Babylonians
overran Jerusalem, taking many captives into
exile and destroying the temple.
• A second temple was built when the Jews
returned about 538 BCE, to be destroyed by the
Romans in 70 CE. This destruction was decisive
for the future of Judaism, replacing a sacrificial
religion based around a temple with a tradition
of studying and learning centred around local
synagogues.
• By around 100CE, the canon of the Hebrew
Bible was fixed. Between 200 and 700 CE,
scholars compiled the Mishna, the definitive
code of Jewish law. The Talmud was compiled
and the rules for the Jewish calendar were laid
down. These scriptures and teachings were the
basis of the religious worship that was practised
around the world during the Jewish diaspora
(exile).
• The two defining modern events for this
community in exile were the Holocaust (1939-
45), in which over six million Jews were killed
by the Nazis, and the creation of the Jewish state
of Israel in 1948.
Sacred books
• Tanakh is an acronym of Torah, Nevi'im, and
Ketuvim.
• Torah is the name given to the first five books
— Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy — also called the Pentateuch.
• The Nevi'im and Ketuvim are the books of
history, prophecy, poetry, and other sacred
writings.
• The Talmud is also called the Oral Torah, and is
comprised of rabbinical commentary and
interpretation on the Torah.
Beliefs System
• Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion, and
the history of Judaism cannot be separated from
the history of the Jewish people
• Jews believe in the one living God who is
transcendent, omnipotent, just and who
reveals himself to human beings. The Hebrew
word for this one true God is JHWH, or
Yahweh.
• Jews refer to themselves as God's chosen
people, they do not believe that God chose the
Jews because of any inherent superiority.
According to the Talmud, God offered
 the Torah to all the nations of the earth, and the
Jews were the only ones who accepted it.
• Judaism is a faith of action and Jews believe
people should be judged not so much on what
they believe as on the way they live their faith
- by how much they contribute to the overall
holiness of the world.
• Judaism is primarily focused on life here and
now rather than on the afterlife, Judaism does
not have much dogma about the afterlife, and
leaves a great deal of room for personal
opinion.
• There is no instinctive evil, original sin or
fundamental impurity in human beings since
people are made in God’s image.
• Jews believe they have a special agreement
or covenant with God. In exchange for all the
good that God has done for them, Jewish people
keep God's laws and try to bring holiness into
every aspect of their lives.
• The seven commandments given to Noah
(1) to establish courts of justice;
2) not to commit blasphemy;
3) not to commit idolatry;
4) not to commit incest and adultery;
5) not to commit bloodshed;
6) not to commit robbery; and
7) not to eat flesh cut from a living animal).
Halakhah/ Jews Law
• The word "halakhah" is usually translated as
"Jewish Law," although a more literal (and more
appropriate) translation might be "the path that
one walks." The word is derived from the
Hebrew root Hei-Lamed-Kaf, meaning to go, to
walk or to travel.
613 Mitzvot
• There is also complete agreement that these 613
mitzvot can be subdivided into 248 "positive"
mitzvot and 365 "negative" mitzvot.
• Positive mitzvot are commandments to do
something, such as the commandment to honor
your mother and father.
• Negative mitzvot are commandments not to do
something, such as the commandment not to
murder. The Talmud explains that these numbers
have significance: there are 365 days in the solar
year, and 248 bones of the human male body
(Makkot 23b).
13 Principles of Faith
1. God exists
2. God is one and unique
3. God is incorporeal
4. God is eternal
5. Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no
other
6. The words of the prophets are true
7. Moses’ prophecies are true, and Moses was the
greatest of the prophets
8. 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
9. There will be no other Torah
10. God knows the thoughts and deeds of men
11. God will reward the good and punish the wicked
12. The Messiah will come
13. The dead will be resurrected
Signs and Symbols
Magen David
• The top triangle strives upward, toward God,
while the lower triangle strives downward,
toward the real world.
• Some note that the intertwining makes the
triangles inseparable, like the Jewish people.
• Some say that the three sides represent the three
types of Jews: Kohanim, Levites and Israel.
Some note that there are actually 12 sides (3
exterior and 3 interior on each triangle),
representing the 12 tribes
Chai
• This symbol, refers to the Living God; others
say it simply reflects Judaism's focus on the
importance of life
Hamesh Hand
• This hand pattern represents a protection against
the evil eye (a malignant spiritual influence
caused by the jealousy of others), and the evil
eye has historically been a popular superstition
among Jews.
Diet
• Ritual slaughter is known as shechitah, and the
person who performs the slaughter is called a
shochet. The method of slaughter is a quick,
deep stroke across the throat with a perfectly
sharp blade with no nicks or unevenness. This
method is painless, causes unconsciousness
within two seconds, and is widely recognized as
the most humane method of slaughter possible.
• Of the "beasts of the earth" (which basically
refers to land mammals with the exception of
swarming rodents), you may eat any animal that
has cloven hooves and chews its cud. Cattle,
sheep, goats, deer and bison are kosher.
• Rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and insects
(except as mentioned above) are all forbidden.
• Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat
anything that has fins and scales.
• For birds, the criteria is less clear.
The Torah provides a list of forbidden, but does
not specify why these particular birds are
forbidden. All of the birds on the list are birds of
prey or scavengers, thus the rabbis inferred that
this was the basis for the distinction.
Clothing/ Accessories
Mezuzah
• On the doorposts of traditional Jewish homes,
The words of the Shema are written on a tiny
scroll of parchment, along with the words of a
companion passage. On the back of the scroll,
a name of God is written. The scroll is then
rolled up and placed in the case, so that the first
letter of the Name is visible .
Tzitzit and Tallit
• They shall make themselves tzitzit on the
corners of their garments throughout their
generations, and they shall place on the tzitzit of
each corner a thread of techeilet. And it shall be
tzitzit for you, and you will see it, and you will
remember all the mitzvot of the Lord and do
them and not follow your heart or your eyes and
run after them. -Numbers 15:38-40
Tefillin
• Binding the arms and foreheads by a leather
pouches containing scrolls of Torah passages,
committing both intellect and physical strength
to the fulfillment of the mitzvot.
• The tefillin are removed at the conclusion of the
morning services.
• Jewish acupuncturist Steven Schram concluded
that the laying of tefillin was "a unique way of
stimulating a very precise set of acupuncture
points that appears designed to clear the mind
and harmonise the spirit."
Menorah
• A seven-branched candelabrum used in
the Temple. It has been said that the menorah is
a symbol of the nation of Israel and our mission
to be "a light unto the nations." (Isaiah 42:6).
The sages emphasize that light is not a violent
force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by
setting an example, not by using force.
Yarmulke
• It is an ancient practice for Jews to cover their
heads during prayer as a sign of respect to
for God.
• That a man shall not wear women's clothing.
That a woman should not wear men's clothing
.Not to wear garments made of wool and linen
mixed together.
Ceremony and Rituals
Yom Kippur
• The Day of Atonement, the last 10 days of
penitence which marks the opening of the New
Year.
Rosh Hashanah
• The beginning of the Jewish New Year
Sukkot
• A harvest festival giving thanks for the safe 40
year journey from Egypt to Israel
Simchat Torah
• Giving thanks for the Torah
Hanukkah
• An eight day festival which commemorates the
re-dedication of the temple in Jerusalem after
expelling the occupying Syrians in 164 BCE
Purim
• Celebrating the Saving of the Persian Jews, as
told in the biblical book of Esther
Passover (Pesach)
• Week long memorial retelling the Israelites’
release from Egypt
Shavuot
• Harvest festival celebrating the gift of the Torah
to Moses
Bar Mitzvah
• Coming of age for boys aged 13. In liberal
traditions, an equivalent ceremony (Bat
Mitzvah) is carried out for girls
Shabbat (Sabbath)
• Day of rest, worship and fasting, from sunset
Friday to sunset Saturday, requiring strict
observance for Orthodox Jews