Name: _________________________ Grade/Track: _________________ Score: _______

School: ________________________ Teacher: ____________________

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

WEEK 4 – LAS 1

JUDAISM

A. WHAT’S NEW!
As a starter, let’s get to learn Judaism by answering the activity below.
Arrange the characteristics in order of importance with 1 as the most
important, and 10 as the least important. Write your ranking in column 2. In
column 3, rate yourself (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the highest).
Characteristics Ranking Self-evaluation
Imitate God and be an example
Love for one another
Serves other before my self
Respects all religions
Accept God and became His
ambassador
Contributed to the welfare of each
other
Never let fears decide for me
Recognize your gifts and those
others too.
Remind of your commitment to
help other for the common good.
Love yourself unconditionally

Answer the following questions.

1. How did you feel when you were answering the activity?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________.

2. Which came out to be the first and last in your ranking? Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________.

3. What is the most common idea among the given characteristics?

___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________.

1 | P a g e : I n t r o d u c ti o n t o W o r l d R e l i g i o n a n d B e l i e f s y s t e m s .
D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a ti o n , R e g i o n V B i c o l S e l f - l e a r n i n g m o d u l e
 4. Which characteristic should you grow more?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________.

B. WHAT IS IT!

God is the universal spirit and Creator of the world, the source of all salvation for
humanity, saving from the value of human existence. We have our own belief to show the
way by example to other people. The standard that God has already given us the example
of His commandment to love, He himself is the model of how we should love one another.
You are not just a child of God by name; you are asked to live the life of a Christian. You
should act out your faith in all areas.

Have you ever tried doing good deeds to others? How did you feel? How did people
react?

Defining characteristics and principles of Judaism

God promise Abraham to make of his offspring great nation (Hebrew Bible), many
generations later, he commanded the nation of Israel to love and worship only one God;
that is the Jewish nation is to reciprocate God’s concern for the world. He also
commanded the Jewish people to love one another; that is Jews are to imitate God’s love
for people. These commandments are but two of a large corpus of commandments and
laws that constitute this covenant, which is the substance of Judaism. And not only
ordinary things and occurrences bring them the experience, evil as good. God is like non
other, the occasions for experiencing Him.

Ethical
monotheism
is the central
in all sacred
or normative
texts of
Judaism.
Moreover,
some have
argued that
Judaism is a
https://www.history.com/topics/religion/judaism
Jews. non-creedal
religion that
does not
require one to believe in God (main article-Jewish
principle of faith).

2 | P a g e : I n t r o d u c ti o n t o W o r l d R e l i g i o n a n d B e l i e f s y s t e m s .
D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a ti o n , R e g i o n V B i c o l S e l f - l e a r n i n g m o d u l e
 Almost over 1000 to 100 BCE the Tanakh Jewish Holy
Books (which include the Torah) ancient collection of
writings that are sacred to the

The word Tanakh comes from the three first letters of the three books: the Torah, plus the
Nevi’im (prophets) and the Ketuvim (writings, which include histories, prophecies, poems,
hymns, and sayings). Talmud, a collection of teachings and commentaries on Jewish law,
was created. It contained the Mishnah and another text known as the Gemara (which
examines the Mishnah. It was first finalized around the 3rd century A.D. the second form
was completed during the 5th century A.D.

The Temples around 1000 B.C., King David ruled the Jewish people. His son
Solomon built the first holy temple in Jerusalem, which became the central place of
worship for Jews. Like other religion, you are encouraged to be a model to other people
through baptism; you accept God and become His ambassador. You represent Him in
every place and situation you are in. You carry His holy name in what you do and say.

The Ten Commandments written in the Torah:

1. Worship no other God but me.

2. Do not make images to worship.
3. Do not misuse the name of God. Observe the Sabbath Day (Saturday).
4. Keep it Holy.
5. Honor and respect your father and mother.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not accuse anyone falsely. Do not tell lies about other people.
10. Do not envy other’s possessions.

Three basic groups of Jewish people who have different understanding of the
interpretation of the Torah:

1. Orthodox Jews - believed that all of the practices in the Torah which is practical to
obey must be obeyed without question. Strict observance of traditional Jewish law
and rituals is followed.

2. Conservative and Reform Jews - believed that ancient laws and practices must be
interpreted for modern life with inclusion of contemporary sources and with more
concern with community practices than with ritual practices. Typically,
conservative Jews honor the traditions of Judaism while allowing for some
modernization.

3 | P a g e : I n t r o d u c ti o n t o W o r l d R e l i g i o n a n d B e l i e f s y s t e m s .
D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a ti o n , R e g i o n V B i c o l S e l f - l e a r n i n g m o d u l e
 3. Reform Jews - also allow everyone to sit together, men and women, and both
Hebrew and the local language are spoken in services. Followers promote
progressive ideas and adaptation.

The Good, the Right, and the Morality of Judaism

In the English language, “good” and “right,’’ when used in moral context, designate
two related but very different aspects of moral experience. Each person has the right to
choose beliefs in a common good. They are part of a uniqueness of each person. Value
your fruits ripen just as God gives the grace of growth.

Like the purpose of Torah is to provide the “instructions”, life skills to humanity by
helping everybody to live according to the principle of “Love your Friend as Human’s
nature is considered to have two contrasting tendencies: a good impulse and an evil
impulse. ‘’Missing the mark’’ basically means choosing to follow the ‘’evil impulse’’. The
cause of this problem is disobedience. Although responsiveness is expressed on many
levels, it is most explicitly called for within interpersonal relationships. Humans are
ethically responsible creatures who are responsive to the presence of God in nature and in
History. Humans keep cultivating the same thought patterns and resulting to physical
reactions called emotions, which have made them suffer, because they keep falling to
realize that they themselves are the cause. To seek, to know God better is to open
ourselves to a marvelous adventure of a lifetime. Though it may lead to some frustration,
it can also lead us to grow and achieve inner peace. Knowing and appreciating life and the
mystery of God’s love is true happiness.

Before Judaism: Belief and Practice: An Introduction to the Jewish Religion, Faith
and Traditions, has bridging statements like the one given as an example.

Judaism originated in Israel around 4000 years ago; the oldest Abrahamic religion.
They are about 15 million followers that are called Jews. Jews believe that there is a
single God who not only created the universe, but with whom every Jew can have an
individual and personal relationship. The Place of Origin was in Israel. Abraham the
founder. The sacred called: The TeNaCh (Torah, Nevi'im, Ket... Their Sacred Building was
called the Synagogue. The Torah is the most important holy book of Judaism. The laws
and teachings of Judaism come from the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible
and oral traditions. Some of these were first oral traditions and later written in the
Mishnah, the Talmud, and other works. Both Christianity and Islam are similar to
Judaism. These religions accept the belief in one God and the moral teachings of the
Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), which includes the Torah or " ‫תורה‬."

Moral Ethical code, Beliefs and Rituals of

Judaism

4 | P a g e : I n t r o d u c ti o n t o W o r l d R e l i g i o n a n d B e l i e f s y s t e m s .
D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a ti o n , R e g i o n V B i c o l S e l f - l e a r n i n g m o d u l e
 Loving-kindness and compassion. Simon taught, "The world rests upon
three things: Torah, service to God, and showing loving-kindness (chesed)" (Pirkei Avot
1:2).
Loving-kindness is the core ethical virtue.

Loving-kindness is closely linked with compassion in the tradition.

•
www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk › religion › jewish

The Jewish moral code is a complex set of ideas sourced from many writings and
schools of thought, including the Torah and the Talmud. The 613 mitzvot are found in the
Torah and fit into one of the categories of ten positive and negative commandments. Belief
in bodily resurrection requires burial; cremation and embalming are prohibited. The
importance of communal burial societies: "Purification" (cleansing) of corpse, covering it in
simple white shroud and recitation of "Kaddish, affirmation of faith in God.

Laws and Ethics Important in Judaism

“Ethics” is important because they help define the difference between good and
bad/or ethical act (=godly act) as opposed to a bad and unethical act.

... Ethics is our moral compass and those defined in the Torah are
objective, not subjective. The three main beliefs at the center of Judaism are
Monotheism, Identity, and Covenant (an agreement between God and his
people). The most important teaching of Judaism is that there is one God,
who wants people to do what is just and compassionate.

Teachings on Judaism and the Environment

1. God created the universe.

2. God's Creation is good.
3. Human beings are created in the image of God.
4. Humanity should view their place in Creation with love and awe.
5. The Sabbath and prayer help us to achieve this state of mind.
6. The Sabbath and prayer help us to achieve this state of mind.
7. The Torah gives an obligation to save human life.
8. The Torah prohibits the wasteful consumption of anything.
9. Environmental Justice is a Jewish value.
10. Tikkun Olam: The perfection/fixing of the world is in our hands.

The symbol of Judaism

The Star of David is a symbol of Judaism as a religion,
and of the Jewish people as a whole. And it also
thought to be the shield (or at
least the emblem on it) of King
5 | P a g e : I n t r o d u c ti o n t o W o r l d R e l i g i o n a n d B e l i e f s y s t e m s .
D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a ti o n , R e g i o n V B i c o l S e l f - l e a r n i n g m o d u l e
David. Star of David, Hebrew Magen David (“Shield of David”), Magen also spelled Mogen,
Jewish symbol composed of two overlaid equilateral triangles that form a six-pointed star.
The yellow badge that Jews were forced to wear in Nazioccupied Europe invested the Star
of David with a symbolism indicating martyrdom and heroism.
In Jewish Symbol

Jewish Observances and Rituals

• Circumcision (covenant of Abraham)

• Adulthood: Bat-mitzvah, bar mitzvah.
• Menstrual purification (Mikvah--purification bath) Marriage.
• Death and Mourning: Belief in bodily resurrection requires burial; cremation and
embalming prohibited.
• Dietary laws (Kosher foods):
• Daily prayer: Morning, afternoon, and evening.

Jewish people believe in Torah, which was the whole of the laws given to the
Israelites at Sinai. They believe in following God’s laws which govern their daily life.
Abraham a Hebrew man is considered the father of the Jewish faith that there is one God.
Sarah, the wife of Abraham who was old and childless, was told by God that their children
would be as plentiful as the stars in the sky. At that time, many people worshipped God in
the Middle East. Isaac, son of Abraham had a son, Jacob It took many years for the
Israelites to finally get to what they thought was the promised land-Canaan. The Israelites
once again found themselves enslaved, this time by Babylonians. Most of the Jews
scattered all over the region eventually moved from the region to avoid persecution which
continuous to this day. Beginning in the 1880’s Jews began returning to their homeland
in growing numbers because they believe that in order for their culture to survive, they
have to live in their own country.

Today nearly fourteen million Jewish people live all over the world. Approximately,
half of them live in the United States, one quarter live in Israel, and a quarter are still
scattered around the world. Anyone born to a Jewish mother is considered a Jew.

The Jewish view of God

1. God exists.
2. There is only one God.
3. There are no other gods.
4. God can't be subdivided into different persons (unlike the Christian view of God).
5. Jews should worship only the one God.
6. God is Transcendent.
7. God doesn't have a body.

6 | P a g e : I n t r o d u c ti o n t o W o r l d R e l i g i o n a n d B e l i e f s y s t e m s .
D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a ti o n , R e g i o n V B i c o l S e l f - l e a r n i n g m o d u l e
 8. God created the universe without help.

C. ASSESSMENT!
Let’s try what you have learned from the topic. Read and understand each item
carefully. Identify the following:

__________ 1. They believe that God continues to work in the world, affecting
everything that people do.

__________ 2. Monotheistic religion developed among the ancient Hebrews.

__________ 3. They usually lead the services and a cantor leads the laity in singing.

__________ 4. This is important because they help define the difference between
good and bad.

__________ 5. They believed that all of the practices in the Torah which is practical
to obey must be obeyed without question.
__________ 6. Is the central in all sacred or normative texts of Judaism.
__________ 7. It is the Jewish Holy Books (which include the Torah) ancient
collection of writings that are sacred to the Jews.
__________ 8. A collection of teachings and commentaries on Jewish law was
created.
__________ 9. Is a Greek origin (synagein, “to bring together”) and means “a place of
assembly.” and in modern times the word temple is common among some Reform
and Conservative congregations.
__________ 10. It is the most important holy book of Judaism

7 | P a g e : I n t r o d u c ti o n t o W o r l d R e l i g i o n a n d B e l i e f s y s t e m s .
D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a ti o n , R e g i o n V B i c o l S e l f - l e a r n i n g m o d u l e