1. JUDAISM

2. Origins of Faith Judaism originated in ancient land of Canaan (modern day Israel) Started by the Hebrews (ancestors of the Jewish people), namely Abraham around 2,000 BC

3. Holy Books The Hebrew Bible The first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible = Torah  Most of early Hebrew history is in the Torah The Torah is considered the most sacred writings of the Jewish tradition  According to the Torah, God chose Abraham to be the “father” of the Hebrews The Talmud is another holy text and is the collection of Jewish laws and customs.

4. Concept of God Unlike many people around them, the Jewish people were monotheistic. They called their god “Yahweh” but it is a sin for a Jew to say his name Believed he had power over all people, everywhere. He was not a physical being, and no physical images were made of him. Protected the Jews because of the covenant with Abraham

5. The Covenant Abraham was from Mesopotamia but God told him to move to Canaan. According to Genesis 12:1-2 God said “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great.” Story of the Jews

6. STORY OF MOSES According to the Torah, the Hebrews fled Canaan for Egypt to escape a drought and famine. Eventually became slaves in Egypt. Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt because of a command he got from God. Sinai Peninsula->Mt. Sinai->Stone tablets= the TEN COMMANDMENTS Ten Com. became laws that formed a new covenant with Yahweh and the Hebrew people. Nomads for 40 yrs. After death of Moses they returned to Canaan

7. Jewish Afterlife Jewish beliefs focused more on the “here and now”, fulfilling duties to God The afterlife is vague in sacred Jewish texts  Dead will be resurrected  One will be reunited with loved ones  Reincarnation  Shadowy place of silence and darkness

8. Jews Today About 15 million Jews throughout the World Most live in U.S. (about 6 mil.) or Israel (about 6.8 mil.) During the Holocaust, six million Jews were murdered just for their religion Jews worship in synagogues led by a rabbi  Rabbi=master/teacher in Hebrew

9. Jewish Holidays Weekly Sabbath (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown) Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) Yom Kippur (day of atonement, “confession”) Hannukah (2 nd Temple in Jerusalem) Passover (Hebrews in Egypt)