“my webCT” login Bible Outline Chronology

Online Reading Judaism 101 by T. Rich Go to table of contents, –In “Words” section, read “Torah”. –All of “Life Cycle” section.

Sacred Foundations Patriarchs –Who were they? Exodus –How is this central to Jewish belief? Exile / Restoration –How is this central to Jewish belief?

Second temple period 538 to 70 CE Biblical Texts Emphasis on texts grew.

DIASPORA. 2 nd Temple Period Ends 70 CE: Failure of rebellion against Rome. HOW TO BE JEWISH WITHOUT JUDAH AND THE TEMPLE? Hillel and Shammai looked for answers

Post-70 CE Judaism reforms under leaders authorized by Rome “Rabbis”: scholars of sacred text, preserve and interpret tradition, innovate. Older emphasis on texts grows as the basis of Jewish life.

“Rabbinic” Judaism The kind of Judaism formulated by the Rabbis of the first several centuries of the Common era. Emphasis on sacred text and tradition.

Rabbinic Judaism Centres on the development of ritual, tradition, and ethics from the Rabbinic discussions about the God’s revelation to Moses.

Rabbinic Judaism is “Judaism of the 2 Torahs” The inherited Torah-scrolls that open the Bible is the Written Torah The recorded teaching and discussions of the ancient Rabbis is the Oral Torah.

Persistence of Rabbinic Judaism Rabbinic Judaism developed over centuries: by the 600’s the main texts of the Oral Torah were complete: the Talmud. Rabbinic Judaism was the predominant form of Judaism until the 1800’s when it underwent serious challenges from modernity.

Main Jewish denominations now Orthodox (closest to Rabbinic Judaism) –Hasidic Judaism, part of Orthodox “Ultra- Orthodox” Reform Conservative Reconstructionist Zionist

Jewish Distribution, 1997 N. Am. 6 mill Israel 4.6 mill S. Am. 1.2 mill Russia 0.7 mill Africa 0.3 mill Oceania 0.9 mill ~~~~~~~~~ Canada 330,000 Calgary ca Edmonton ca. 5000

Jewish Beliefs One God: –YHWH hwhy –Name is NOT to be pronounced. –“Adonai” “L ORD ” is pronounced when YHWH is encountered in biblical texts. –“HaShem” “The Name” is often found in prayerbooks –“G-d” is sometimes written.

Shema: Prayer Begins: Hear, Oh Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One… Most important prayer in Judaism. Quotes from the Bible.

Principles of Faith Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon ( ) RAMBAM Moses Maimonides Determined 13 principles to be the core beliefs of Judaism.

13 Principles: 1 God exists 2God is one and unique 3God is incorporeal 4God is eternal 5Prayer is to be directed only to God

13 Principles: 6The words of the prophets are true 7Moses's prophecies are true, Moses was the greatest prophet 8The Written Torah (first 5 biblical books) and Oral Torah (Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses. 9There will be no other Torah

13 Principles: 10God knows people’s thoughts and deeds 11God will reward the good & punish the wicked 12Messiah will eventually come 13The dead will be resurrected.

Jewish Bible = Tanakh T orah “Instruction” N evi’im“Prophets” K ethuvim“Writings”

Torah 5 Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers Deuteronomy. “Pentateuch” –Same in all Bibles, Jewish, Christian

Torah scroll 5 books written on a single scroll Ritual centre of Synagogue life.

Jewish Bibles Different Versions in very early period “Masoretic Text” MT (standard since 2 nd century CE) Hebrew and a little Aramaic

Prophets Former P. History Books Latter P. Books of Prophecy –Often poetic –Attributed to named individuals

Writings: Everything else Wisdom Literature Poetry / songs of Praise More history books

Ark in Krakow

Bimah in Krakow

Simhat Torah.

Jewish Tradition Oral Torah describes “Halakhah” (to Walk), Jewish “Law” or the proper way of life as understood by the great Rabbis. Civil, Family morals Ritual and other religious traditions.

Halakhah Discussed at great length in Oral Torah. Oral Torah: huge collection of books: –MISHNAH –TALMUD Continuous tradition of talking about tradition…

What does Halakhah regulate? What happens you are born to when you die What you do when wake up to when you go to sleep Weekly Annual

Sabbath / Shabbat