(For G11 to 12)

Schools Division of Parañaque City

Humanities and Social Sciences
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
1st Semester
1st Quarter
Week Four
JUDAISM

Learning Competencies (Essential Competencies)

Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related issues
of Judaism.

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to;
1. trace how Judaism’s historical foundation shaped what it is today,
2. identify the teachings, beliefs, and practices of Judaism, and
3. appreciate the numerous contributions of Judaism in our society.

Let’s Recall (Review)

Direction: Analyze the situation in each number, and write P, if it is a positive effect of
religion, or N, if it is a negative effect of religion on your answer sheet.

1. Refusal to do evil out of reverence to God.

2. Hostility between Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Jerusalem
3. Religion playing a key role with India’s independence from Britain
4. A girl whose life is cut short due to cancer receives comfort by praying
5. Heavy rejection of the Big Bang theory by many religions despite evidences

Let’s Understand (Study the Concept)

History, Beliefs, and Traditions of Judaism

Judaism would lay the groundwork prominent in the two largest major religions in the
world today, Christianity and Islam. Archetypes such as an eternal all powerful God, concept
of the chosen people, the wait for a messiah, and promises of prophecies are just some
general ideas that heavily influence Christianity and Islam. As the oldest monotheistic
religion in the world, its people have experienced a rich history from the times of antiquity, to
the horrors of World War II (WWII), to the modern age.

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General Information:
a. Founder: Abraham (2000 Before Common Era) and/or Moses (1391-1271
BCE)
b. Sacred Texts Torah, Poetry, Prophets, Talmud, Mishnah
c. Doctrines Ten Commandments, 618 Rules
d. God: Yahweh/Jehova
e. Sects: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform Liberal

Brief History of Judaism

Jacob
One of two
Isaac fraternal twins
Abraham sons of Isaac Moses
Abraham's son -the most
(2000 BCE) born from
from Sarah important
-prompted by Rebecca. He
who became prophet of
God to depart came into
the second Judaism. He
Ur, Babylon, to conflict with his
patriarch of was born at a
go to Canaan. brother due to
Judaism. God time when the
As a return for inheritance of
tested hebrews are
this, God made birthright. They
Abraham by under egyptian
a covenant to would reconcile
asking him to rule. He would
Abraham after a period of
sacrifice Isaac later releas
promising him time and his
which was them from
land, a son, name changed
eventually Egypt
and blessing. into Yisrael,
stopped.
meaning the
champion of God
through an angel

When Abraham was urged by God to embark on his journey and father many
nations, he was already a hundred years old. He and his wife, Sarah, never had children
before as such she offered her slave, Hagar to Abraham. They conceived Ishmael who
would become the ancestors of the Arab people. It is from him that Muhammad traces his
lineage. In Judaistic text however, this was not what God promised and as such Abraham
and Sarah bore Isaac, from whom David and evetually Jesus will descend from.
Core teachings and Fundamental beliefs
There is only one true God who is Yahweh, the Hebrew name of God. In modern
times, Jews much prefer using God or Lord out of respect.
Yahweh is eternal, incorporeal, and exists in all places at all times.
While Yahweh is far beyond human comprehension, is still worthy of prayers and
worship.
Validation of the ancient prophets who received visions from God.
Moses was the greatest of all Yahweh’s prophets.
Yahweh observes everything in existence and by being able to see the deeds and
hearts of all humans; he rewards the good and punishes the wicked.
The Messiah was promised and hasn’t arrived yet.
Sacred texts
Tanakh the traditional Jewish scripture that is abbreviated by its three main
divisions, Torah, Navi’im(prophets), and Kethuvim(writings)

Torah Also called the Pentateuch, it is comprised of the first five books of the Old
Testaments, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The
Torah is considered the most sacred of all Jewish texts due to its
connection to Moses

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Prophets Also called Navi’im, the collection of sacred texts that details the life and
legacy of prophets of the old Testaments.
Writings Also called Kethuvim, this collection contains Hebrew poetries, worship
songs, wisdom literature, and short stories most prominently used in
Jewish Liturgy.
Talmud The collection of statements, studies, and teachings, of the greatest
Jewish Rabbis, the religious and spiritual leaders of Judaism. Unlike the
Torah, it is not revered but is greatly valued due to its insight sophisticated
analysis and interpretation of Jewish beliefs and experiences.
Mishnah The first attempts of preserving the oral traditions and teachings of
Judaism. It is the original written records of their law
Gemara The portion of the Talmud that focuses on discussions about the writings
preserve in Mishnah

Yom Kippur- the most important holiday in all of Jewish faith. According to Jewish lore, the
first Yom Kippur happened after Israel’s exodus from the Egypt. At Mount Sinai, God gave
Moses his Ten Commandments. The tablets containing the commandments were shattered
out of anger though when Moses discovered his people worshipping a Golden Calf. God
forgave their sins of creating an idol and even gave Moses a new pair of tablets.
Yom Kippur is also known as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths”. It is the culmination of the “Ten
Days of Awe” that is marked by the Jewish New year known as Rosh Hashanah until the
actual day of Yom Kippur. Jews undergo fasting, must refrain from work, and reflect upon
their lives and ask forgiveness for their sins. In the Gregorian Calendar, it is celebrated
between September and October.

Ten Commandments- sets of ethics and laws which Jews and Christians were received by
Moses from God at Mount Sinai
1. You shall have no other gods 5. Honor your father and your mother.
before Me. 6. You shall not murder.
2. You shall not make idols. 7. You shall not commit adultery.
3. You shall not take the name of the 8. You shall not steal.
LORD your God in vain. 9. You shall not bear false witness
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to against your neighbor.
keep it holy. 10. You shall not covet.
Other Holidays and Practices
Shabbat- a very important Jewish Holiday that is meant to remind God’s Creation of the
world and how he delivered His people from Egypt as mentioned in the book of Exodus. For
Jews, it starts at Friday evening and ends in Saturday evening. You can thank this holiday
for the popularization of the concept of weekends around the world.
Passover- A very sacred holiday for Jews that commemorates the book of Exodus where
God unleashed the angel of death unto the firstborn sons in Egypt. The angel was said to
have “passed over” Jewish homes if they lathered the blood of sacrificial lambs on their
doors.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah- Although not a holiday, it is an important event for the Jewish
community. It marks a coming of age for a Jewish child who turns 13. Bar Mitzvah is the
term for boys while Bat Mitzvah is the term for girls.
Related Issues and Conclusion
Today, the countries that host the largest population of Jews are the United States
and Israel. Despite being the originator of the Abrahamic religions, its number is greatly

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dwarfed by them with global estimates only accounting for less than 0.2% of the worldwide
population. One thing it does have over a lot of other religions is longevity. Judaism
managed to exist during ages when Egyptian and Greek pantheons were still being
worshipped. Whereas Ra and Zeus are now myths, Judaism persisted and remained an
important religion throughout history even today. Its monotheistic roots undeniably played a
key role here. Different eras saw different perceptions of being a Jew, whereas it
represented not just a religion, but also as a race, ethnicity, and nationality.
A common theme from the Jewish texts is the concept of endurance. This is very
fitting, considering Jews, throughout history, has experienced strife. The term Anti-
Semitism is used to describe hostility towards Jews as a religious and ethnic group. Even
today, there are still stereotypes and prejudice against them as being greedy. This probably
alluded to the harsh upbringing of its people having to fend in geographies with limited
resources. The numerous immigration of Jews between the 19 th and 20th century can also
give a slight explanation as to why people viewed them as selfish. Most of them who
migrated from their homeland were trying to find a better life and therefore must look out for
themselves. A good portion of the Jewish community in the United States descended from
these immigrants. They carried with them strong familial values. Finally, they were the
target of political propaganda that almost eradicated them, one of the horrors of WWII. And
yet, they still live today.

Let’s Apply
Story Reflection
Directions: Hanukkah is an important Jewish holiday. Read the short story
below to learn about it and to answer the questions that follow.

Hanukkah

The story of Hanukkah took place some 2,000 years ago in Israel, which at that time
was called Judea. It was under the rule of the Syrian king, Antiochus III. He allowed the
Jews to practice their religion. The peaceful days came to an end when his son took his
place.

Antiochus IV, the next king of Syria, outlawed the Jewish Religion and demanded
that the Jews worship the Greek gods. But he couldn't force the Jews to change, so he
attacked the Temple of Jerusalem, destroying many of their holy objects. Among this is the
menorah, a lamp with seven branches. In response to Antiochus IV's brutality, the Jews,
lead by a brave man named Judah Maccabee, fought back, and won after nearly two years.
Sadly, the temple was destroyed and desecrated.

When Judah entered the temple, he first restored the menorah. Jewish traditions
says that it must be always be lit, but there was only enough oil for one day. But then a
miracle happened, instead of lasting only a day, it burned brightly for eight days. To
commemorate this miracle today, Jews light a menorah candle for eight nights, until all are
lit. And that is why Hanukkah is celebrated.
__________________________________________________________________

Essay Writing: After reading the story, write a short essay on your answer sheet with the
following criteria in mind:
1. It must be between 3-5 sentences long.
2. You must answer the question below based on your experience and point of view:
“If you would ever be forced by someone else or others to change your beliefs as a
threat to your life, what would you do?” Would you:

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 a. Outright refuse and even fight for your beliefs.
b. Pretend to change your beliefs for the sake of living
c. Willingly change your beliefs in order to survive.
3. After choosing an answer for criterion #2, explain WHY.
Use the rubric below for further guidance.
Essay Rubric Scoring
Excellent Good Score
Standard
(5) (3)
The learner was able to write an
The learner was able to write a
essay that is NOT 3-5 sentences
Criterion 1 short essay that is between 3-5
long. EX: either 2 or less or 6 or
sentences long.
more.
The learner answered by choosing The learner answered by NOT
Criterion 2
any of the given choices. choosing any of the given choices.
The learner explained his/her The learner did NOT explain his/her
Criterion 3
answer for Criterion 2. answer for Criterion 2.
Total

Let’s Analyze
Directions: Analyze the following statements about Judaism. Write (H) on your answer
sheet if it represents history, (B) if it represents beliefs and teachings, (S) if it represents
sacred texts, and (P) if it represents practices and holidays.

1. The Messiah was promised and is yet to arrive.

2. For Jews, it is a grave sin to worship many gods.
3. Abraham has familial ties to both Islamic and Christian founders.
4. The Talmud is important for Rabbis’ search for deeper understanding.
5. The book of Psalms are used by Jews for singing their worship songs.
6. Judaism existed even during a time when polytheism is most common.
7. Serra’s family is preparing for her 13 th birthday to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah.
8. Hanukkah is a popular event commemorated by a simple lighting of candles.
9. The Ten Commandments given to Moses served as the law of the Hebrews.
10. Every religious Jew is expected to read the Torah at least once in his/her life.

Let’s Create
Goal: To create infographics about Judaism.
Role: You are a graphic designer assigned the task to create an infographics about Judaism
to spread accurate facts and awareness for people. You are expected to write up to 7 facts
and provide some form of illustrations by means of drawing or pasting pictures in a long
bond paper.

Audience: Your audience will be Grade 11 students and their parents.

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Situation: Limited knowledge about Judaism in a region that is predominantly Christian.

Product Performance: Infographics about Judaism.

Infographics are visual representations of information meant to be read clearly and quickly
using drawings, data, and diagram. Your work will first be checked by your teacher.
Afterwards, it will be shared to your classmates in your classroom group chat messenger to
expand knowledge about Judaism.

You are expected to use the following materials for consistency.

-Long Bond Paper in a landscape format.
-Pen for writing facts and information
-Pencil or pen for drawing or illustrations
-Cut-out pictures from newspapers, magazines or other sources if you prefer.
-Crayons as standard drawing materials.

Standard: Your performance as a graphic designer will be based on the rubrics below.
Read it carefully.
Infographics Rubric
Excellent Good Decent Score
Standard
(10) (5) (3)
The graphic designer The graphic designer The graphic designer
was able to share at was able to share at was only able to share
Content least 7 correct facts least 5-6 correct facts 1-4 facts about
about Judaism in his/her about Judaism in Judaism in his/her
infographics his/her infographics infographics
The graphic designer The graphic designer The graphic designer
provided 5 illustrations provided 3-4 provided 1-2
Creativity
or graphic organizers. illustrations or graphic illustrations or graphic
organizers. organizers.
Total:

Let’s Try (Evaluation)

Multiple Choice
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on your answer sheet.

1. Who is considered as the greatest prophet in Judaism?

A. Abraham C. Jacob
B. Isaac D. Moses
2. How is Islam connected to Judaism?
A. through lineages from King David
B. through Abraham’s firstborn Isaac
C. through the descendants of Ishmael
D. through Esau, fraternal twin of Jacob
3. What did the Jewish people wrote as their first attempt to preserve their oral traditions?
A. Mishnah C. Tanakh
B. Prophers D. Torah

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4. This is the coming of age ceremonies for Jewish girls who have reached the 13 th year of
age
A. Bar Mitzvah C. Hanukkah
B. Bat Mitzvah D. Shabbat
5. Why is Shabbat an important holiday for Jews?
A. It is when God made his covenant
B. It is their coming of age celebration
C. It is part of the Ten Commandments
D. It commemorates God’s creation of the world
6. Which of the following scenario best demonstrates Anti-Semitism?
A. Internalizing the belief systems of Judaism
B. Immigration of Jews from their homeland for better lives
C. Avoiding business with Jews out of the belief all of them are greedy
D. Appreciating the effects of the long history of Judaism to other religions
7. Identify which are listed in the original Ten Commandments.
I. You shall not murder
II. You shall not make idols.
III. You shall not die and multiply.
IV. You shall love god and your neighbor
A. I & II C. II, III, & IV
B. III, & IV D. I, II, & III,
8. Identify all the countries where Jews are most numerous.

I. Israel II. Philippines III. Saudi Arabia IV. USA

A. I & III C. III & IV
B. I, & IV D. I, III, & IV
9. Identify all core beliefs and teachings of Judaism.
I. Yahweh is the one true God
II. Yahweh is eternal, incorporeal, and exists in all places at all times.
III. The Messiah has already arrived in the form of Jesus Christ
IV. Abraham is the greatest of the prophets by being the first patriarch
A. I & II C. II, III, IV
B. II & III D. I, II, & IV
10. Identify the three main division of the Tanakh.
I. Nevi’im II. Talmud III. Torah IV. Writings
A. I & III C. I, III, & IV
B. I, II, & III D. II, III, & IV