JUDAISM

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JUDAISM

• THE WORLDS FIRST MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION

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ROOTS OF JUDAISM

• Torah (1st five books of Old Testament)
• Abraham is Patriarch of Jews
• Believe in Abraham, Moses and Noah as Prophets
• Believe in Decalogue (10 commandments)
• Believe in covenants with God through Abraham

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History of Judaism

• Adam and Eve
• Abrahamic Covenant
• After Kings Saul, David and Solomon, Jews divided
  and conquered by Assyria and Babylon (6th and
  7th Century BC)
• Jews return home but Rome in control of Jerusalem
• Temple destroyed around 70 A.D.
• Jews scattered around Europe and world

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Fundamental Beliefs

• There is one and ONLY one God
• Each personal has individual relationship with
  God
• Prayers addressed to God
• God is ultimate authority and possesses final
  dominion over the Universe
• Life is Holy

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Fundamental Beliefs, cont.

• Torah is a guide to correct living
• Studying Torah equivalent to prayer
• Group worship and prayer are indispensable
• Jews share collective destiny and purpose
  regardless of nationality
• No acceptance of Idolatry.

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Modern Judaism

• Orthodox Tradition Jews are bound to preserve
  ritual, tradition and doctrine as received from
  rabbis of the past
• Conservative Judaism Past traditions important,
  but try to hold on to as many old traditions as
  possible while still making accommodations with
  social realities

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Reform Judaism

• Most pragmatic
• Tries to retain as much as possible of ancient
  traditions, but only those that make sense in
  contemporary world
• Most popular is US and Europe

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Dietary Law

• Kosher that which is in accordance with
  established standards of Jewish ritual is
  relation to food and its preparation
• Deals with cleanliness and avoiding unclean
  animals
• See Deuteronomy in Christian Old Testament or
  Torah and/or Talmud

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Jewish Holidays

• Shabbat day of rest after 6 days of work
• Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year
• Yom Kippur Day of Atonement where fasting
  occurs all day
• Chanukah celebration of victory of Maccabees
  over Syrians
• Passover celebration of Jewish deliverance from
  Egypt