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The Origins of Judaism. Ancient Israel . Has also been called Canaan and Palestine Historic homeland of Hebrews, the ancestors of modern day Jews Largest and most important city in Ancient Israel was Jerusalem : a symbol of the Jewish religion and a destination for pilgrimages today. .
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Ancient Israel Has also been called Canaan and Palestine Historic homeland of Hebrews, the ancestors of modern day Jews Largest and most important city in Ancient Israel was Jerusalem: a symbol of the Jewish religion and a destination for pilgrimages today.
Roots of Judaism • Torah: one of the oldest religious texts in history • Tells stories and legends of the Ancient Hebrews and contains Jewish teachings • Oldest part of the Tanach: Hebrew Bible • Abraham: was called by God to establish a new nation for Hebrews in Canaan • Was 1st person to practice monotheism • God made covenant or agreement with Abraham that if Abraham would worship only him then Abraham and his descendants would inherit the nation of Israel • Covenant establishes 1st monotheistic religion, and forms the basis of other monotheistic religions that would follow in the years afterwards (Christianity and Islam) • Abraham’s son Isaac would officially found the nation of Israel
Persecution, Exodus, and Laws According to the Torah, a great famine swept the middle east, and many Hebrews went to Egypt, where there was food Due to the influx of Jews into Egypt, the pharaoh enslaved them Moses would lead the Jews out of Egypt and back to Israel While in the desert, God gave Moses the 10 commandments at the summit of Mount Sinai
The 10 Commandments Judaism is a religion based on law Hundreds of rules, moral codes, etc. are in the Torah’s book of Leviticus The heart of Jewish law is the 10 commandments
In Brief… Judaism was founded by Abraham when he made a covenant with God. His son Isaac founded the nation of Israel. 1stMonotheistic religion Tanach is Hebrew Bible…Torah is holy text within Tanach Religion of Law…heart of law is the 10 Commandments Jerusalem: site of 1st Jewish temple, city of historic and religious significance
Sabbath Writings in the Torah include rituals and traditions that guide how Jews live their daily lives and how they practice their religion Keeping the Sabbath is an important part of this According to the Torah, God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th…7th day of the week is the Sabbath and is meant to be kept holy Saturday is reserved for worshipping and prayer in the synagogue and studying the Torah
Diversity and Division There are a variety of beliefs and interpretations of Jewish laws and rituals Different groups within Judaism practice their beliefs in different ways There are also differences WITHIN these groups 3 main groups: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative
Orthodox • Most traditional branch • Emphasizes strict observance of moral and ritual obligations of traditional Jewish law • Much diversity within orthodoxy • Most Orthodox Jews engage in daily worship, strict dietary laws, gender segregation in the synagogue, strict observance of the sabbath, and strict interpretations of modesty • Some sects of the Orthodox community believe in living completely separate from the rest of the population • Divisions within the Orthodox branch: • Modern Orthodoxy • Haredi Judaism • Hassidic Judaism
Reform Ethical laws are binding, but ritual laws can be adapted to fit modern society Individuals are encouraged to maintain traditional practices that they find meaningful Traditional Jewish laws are interpreted to be general guidelines rather than a list of restrictions to be followed in a literal sense Largest Jewish denomination in North America
Conservative Middle ground between Orthodox and Reform Jews should seek to conserve Jewish tradition rather than reform or abandon it Seeks to preserve structure of traditional Jewish beliefs and practices Some adaptations are allowed to meet modern circumstances in order to ensure that Jewish traditions can survive in modern times.
Example: Tzniut (Modesty) Jewish laws pertaning to conduct in general and between the sexes, and also women’s dress Are interpreted differently depending on sect/denomination and also based on cultural considerations Orthodox: men and women are required to substantially cover their bodies, many men wear long coats, long sleeves, trousers, and hats, and most women wear skirts below the knee, thick stockings, and hair coverings. Conservative: modest dress required, but not observed on a day-to-day basis. Most commonly required when attending synagogue, and there may be specific dress requirements to receive synagogue honors. Reform: No specific dress code is required, but one can choose to observe modesty in dress especially when attending synagogue.