INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

Lesson 2: Judaism

JUDAISM is one of the world’s oldest religions, originating around 3,500 years ago. Despite its
relatively small population (with respect to other religions) around the globe and in the country, it has
influenced Western civilization. (Morrison and Brown 1991, 6). The two biggest monotheistic,
Christianity and Islam, affirm the Torah of Judaism as God’s revelation, and therefore as good news
for everybody. Throughout Judaism’s history, their followers have been called many names, and these
names are often confused with one another. “ Hebrews ” refer to those who accepted Yahweh as their
God, and much of their history is written in the Hebrew bible, or the Old Testament of the Christian
Bible. “Israelites” refer to the descendants of the Hebrews, which originated from Abraham. His
grandson, Jacob, had 12 sons, and their descendants became known as the 12 tribes of Israel. Later,
Israel was established as a nation-state, and “Israelites” or “Israeli Jews” could also refer to citizens of
the land. “Jew” comes from Yehudah or Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel. Now, it is used to refer
to someone who practices Judaism and takes part in Jewish culture (Morrison and Brown 1991, 8).

JUDAISM’S PRACTICES

 Dietary Practices – One of the areas of Jewish life heavily influenced by the laws from
Torah is their food. “ Food consumption and handling must be done according to religious
laws”. For example: All blood must be drained before the meat is cooked and eaten,
because blood which give life, is sacred to God” (Molly 2005, 325).
 Sabbath – The veneration of Sabbath day originates with the creation story; God rested
in Sabbath. It was also one of the Ten Commandments that Moses received in Mt. Sinai:
 Messiah – One of the most fundamental Jewish beliefs is that a Messiah, or savior, will
come (Morrison and Brown 1991, 11).
 Passover – The Jews have many Holy Days throughout the year, but perhaps the most
important for them is the Feast of the Passover, which commemorates the liberation of
the Hebrews from Egypt. One of the parts of the Passover is Seder, or the Paschal meal
shared by the family on the eve of the first day of the feast ( Demann 1961,95).

VARIETIES OF JUDAISM

Orthodox Judaism tries to observe the traditional practices and beliefs of Biblical Judaism. They are
strict in implementation of such laws and hesitant to revise any practices.

Reform Judaism aims to modernize Judaism, by integrating themselves in European culture (Molloy
2005, 331-332). Some of their ideas are “progressive revelation, a religion without dogmas and subject
to the criteria of reason, the predominance of moralism, a liberal humanism, hostile to all particularism”.
In short they emphasize change. They consider the Torah as a statement of eternal principles with a
particular historicity, and believe that it can changed to respond to new conditions; indeed, they
abandon much of the original Torah as no longer relevant.

Conservative Judaism “recognizes that change has always been part of the religion”, but they discern
carefully with changes must be accepted (Molloy 2005, 331).
 INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

Name :_____________________________ Grade Level & Section:________________
Teacher :_____________________________ Activity No. :________________
Due Date:_____________________________ Date Submitted :________________

ACTIVITY 1:

Identification: Identify the correct answer described by the statement.

_______________1. Refer to those who accepted Yahweh as their God.

_______________2. One of the world’s oldest religions, originating around 3,500 years ago.
_______________3. Could also refer to citizens of the land.
_______________4. Comes from Yehudah or Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel.
_______________5. One of the parts of the Passover or the Paschal meal shared by the family on
the eve of the first day of the feast.
_______________6. Aims to modernize Judaism, by integrating themselves in European culture.
_______________7.
_______________8. What are the Judaism’s Practices?
_______________9.
_______________10.

ACTIVITY 2:

Give at least 5 countries that deals with the practice of Judaism.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.