1. What are the central beliefs of Judaism?
Belief in one God
Obedience to the Ten Commandments;
Code of ethics justice and righteousness Kindness, fairness
Ethical and moral systems, as set forth in the Torah and Ten Commandments

2. Jewish Sacred Texts-Torah, Talmud
In Torah (first five books of the Bible), containing religious, moral and social law which guides the life of a Jew
the Hebrew Bible does not include the New Testament

3. As a way of life, Judaism is based on…
613 commandments found in Torah (“Written Law”)
Talmud (“Oral Law”) – commentary of ancient rabbis that elaborates on how to apply God’s Law in everyday life through:

4. Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher) Dress and other symbols
Prayer and devotion to the one God
The Temple and Temple rites
Observance of Holy days
Proper social relations between male and female, in business, judicial rulings, etc.
Thus sanctifying life, blessing it in every way

5. 13 Principles of Faith G-d exists G-d is one and unique
G-d is incorporeal
G-d is eternal
Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other
The words of the prophets are true
Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets
The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses
There will be no other Torah
G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men
G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked
The Messiah will come
The dead will be resurrected

6. JEWISH ATTITUDES TO NON JEWS
You don't have to be Jewish to find favor in G-d's eyes • G-d gave only seven basic commandments to gentiles • Yiddish words for gentiles are goy, shiksa and shkutz • Judaism does not approve of interfaith marriage, but it is very common • Jews do not proselytize, but it is possible to convert to Judaism

7. The Early Hebrews
The Hebrews were the ancestors of the Jews, and most of what we know, including the laws and requirements of their religion, Judaism, comes from their later writings.
The Torah
Abraham, father of the Hebrews
God’s covenant
12 Tribes of Israel
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were patriarchs
Israelites in Egypt
Hebrew Fathers
Slaves in Egypt
Moses
Pharaoh, plagues
Exodus
Israelites out of Egypt
Passover
The Ten Commandments
Moses and Exodus
Israelites in desert
Canaan
Land of “milk and honey”
Israelites battled for land
Canaan = Israel
Promised Land

8. History Abraham and Sarah: Isaac married Rebecca-Jacob

9. Jacob Marries 2 Sisters

10. Joseph and the amazing technicolour Dream Coat Part 1

11. Joseph: Part Two

12. Jacob fathered 12 sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph and Benjamin.
They are the ancestors of the tribes of Israel, and the ones for whom the tribes are named. Joseph is the father of two tribes: Manasseh and Ephraim

13. The Story of Joseph Part One

14. Part 2

15. Part 3

16. Baby Moses

17. Moses and the Burning Bush

18. Summary of whole story

19. Abba fun summary

20. Some key events in early Israelite history?
Sequencing
Some key events in early Israelite history?
Abraham traveled to Canaan, 1800 BC;
Moses appeared among Hebrews in Egypt,
1200s BC;
the Exodus; delivery of Ten Commandments to Moses; Hebrews wander desert for 40 years; invasion of Philistines to Israel,
mid-1000s BC; Saul named first king of Israel,
mid-1000s BC; David named second king of Israel, 1000 BC; Solomon named third king of Israel, 865 BC

21. Click view Moses
A modern film discussing the historical evidence to prove the existence of Judaism.

22. WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE?
Judaism does not have a formal mandatory beliefs • The most accepted summary of Jewish beliefs is Rambam's 13 principles of faith • Even these basic principles have been debated • Judaism focuses on the relationships between the Creator, mankind, and the land of Israel

23. WHO IS A JEW? In the Bible, Jews were called Hebrews or Children of Israel • The terms "Jew" and "Judaism" come from the tribe or kingdom of Judah • "Jew" now refers to all physical and spiritual descendants of Jacob • A person can be Jewish by birth or by conversion • Traditionally, Jewish status passes through the mother, not the father

24. Ultra Orthodox: Modern Orthodox:
Orthodox Jew: Believe exactly in the law and try to
stay away from outside world.
Ultra Orthodox:
Believe in all this but isolate themselves completely from society: Chasidic
Modern Orthodox:
more conservative, wear normal clothes. More artistic Yarmulke

25. TYPES OF JEWS
Ashkenazic: Descendants of Jews from France, Germany and Eastern Europe Sephardic: Descendants of Jews from Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East Mizrachi: Descendants of Jews from North Africa and the Middle East • Other subgroups are Yemenite, Ethiopian and Oriental

26. THE ROLE OF WOMEN
In Judaism, G-d is neither male nor female • The Talmud says both good and bad things about women • Women are not required to perform certain commandments • Certain commandments are reserved specifically for women • The first of the month is a minor festival for women • Men and women sit separately in traditional synagogues

27. Rabbis, Priests, and Other Religious Functionaries
Rabbi: Teacher and decider of matters
of religious law
Chazan: Cantor, who leads
congregation in prayer
Gabbai: Volunteer who assists with
Torah readings What is a Rabbi?

28. SYNAGOGUES, SHULS AND TEMPLES
A Jewish "church" is called a synagogue, shul or temple • A synagogue is a place of worship and study, and a "town hall" • There are several important ritual items found in the synagogue • Non-Jews may visit a synagogue, but dress and should behave appropriately • The Temple is the ancient center of Jewish worship where sacrifices were performed

29. Modern Synagogue

30. Neil Diamond the Jazz Singer

31. Virtual tour: cartoon
Flash Tour of synagogue
Jewish Games

32. Torah in the narrowest sense refers to the first five books of the Bible • In a broader sense, Torah includes all Jewish law and tradition • Torah was given to Moses in written form with oral commentary • The oral component is now written in the Talmud • There are additional important writings

33. SIGNS AND SYMBOLS Mezuzah, tzitzit and tefillin are reminders of the commandments

34. The menorah (candelabrum) is the ancient universal symbol of Judaism

35. The Jewish star of David (Magen David) is a modern universal Jewish symbol.

36. Jews wear a skullcap (yarmulke) as a pious custom

37. Chai, found on jewellery, is the number 18, which is a favourable number

38. Shabbat (Sabbath) Weekly Day of Rest (“Observe” & “Remember”)
Fri. before sunset to Sat. nightfall (ca. 25 hours)
God "ceased work" on 7th day of creation (Gen 2:1-3)
No work allowed (39 types of “work”; how strict?)
Home/Family: 2 candles; 3 festive meals; wine/bread
Shabbat Services
Several different synagogue services (min. 10 men)
Readings from Torah & Prophets (annual cycle)
Prayers, Blessings, Sermon, etc.
Lots of Psalms prayed/chanted

39. Macabeats sing Shabbat Shabbat is a joyful day of rest Shabbat has two commandments: to remember and to observe • A traditional dish is cholent, slow-cooked stew

40. PASSOVER /Pesach/Seder
Significance: Remembers the Exodus from Egypt Observances: Avoiding all leavened grain products and related foods; Family or communal retelling of the Exodus story Length: 8 days (Some: 7 days)

41. Sedder

42. Major Jewish Feasts (Overview):
Rosh Hashanah / Jewish New Year
Yom Kippur / Day of Atonement
Sukkot / Tabernacles/Booths
Pesach / Passover
Shavu'ot / Weeks/Pentecost
Hanukkah / Feast of Lights
Purim / Feast of Lots
Simchat Torah / Rejoicing in the Torah
Tisha B’Av / 9th of Av: Destruction of Two Temples

43. Purim Significance: Remembers the defeat of a plot to exterminate the Jews Observances: Public reading of the book of Esther while "blotting out" the villain's name Length: 1 day Customs: Costume parties; drinking; eating fruit-filled triangular cookies

44. Hanukkah / Feast of Lights

45. Hanukkah
Need to go into the file Music and play directly from there

46. Peace Song-Need to go into the music file and play directly from there

47. Rituals of Judaism Life cycle celebrations:
Bris – ritual circumcision, sign of the covenant
Bar/Bat Mitzvah – full adult status and responsibility within the religion
Marriage - "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:22)
Death – funerals, mourning (sitting “Shiva”), and memorials (“Yartzeits”)

48. Jewish Funerals
In Judaism, life is valued above almost all else. Death is not viewed as a tragedy, even when it occurs early in life or through unfortunate circumstances. For Jewish people there is an afterlife, where those who have lived a worthy life will be rewarded. Jewish funerals are governed by a set of rituals and traditions that particularly apply to the seven immediate family members: the spouse, mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister.

49. Jewish Death Rituals According to Jewish Law
The body of the deceased is washed thoroughly.
The deceased is buried in a simple pine coffin.
The deceased is buried wearing a simple white shroud (tachrichim).
The body is guarded or watched from the moment of death until after burial.

50. Just before a funeral begins, the immediate relatives of the deceased tear their garments or the rabbi does this to them or hands them torn black ribbons to pin on their clothes to symbolize their loss.
Upon hearing about a death, a Jew recites the words, "Baruch dayan emet," Blessed be the one true Judge.

51. Every Jewish community has a burial society called a Chevra Kadisha who prepare the body for burial and help make the funeral arrangements. Jewish burials are usually held within 24 hours of death, but may be delayed if immediate family members have to travel long distances. Most Jews are buried in a cemetery and some communities consider cremation a desecration of the body.

52. At the cemetery, the family and friends congregate in a room with the coffin. A symbolic small tear (Keriah) may be made in the mourner's clothes which represents a broken heart. A eulogy (hesped) is given by the rabbi or close family friend. The Kaddish, an ancient prayer for the dead, is recited in Hebrew and again after the coffin has been interred.

53. How is Judaism related to Christianity?
Judaism predates Christianity – it is the foundation of Christianity but is not a part of it
Jesus was Jewish, as were his followers and the Apostles
Jews do not believe that Jesus was anything more than a good and wise man who lived and died 2000 years ago – Jews still await their messiah
The Jewish messiah would not be divine. He would be a political figure who restores the Hebrew monarchy and causes peace to reign on Earth
Jews are not concerned about salvation and the “world to come”

54. What are Jews really concerned about?
Tikkun Olam - “repairing this world” through justice and righteousness; through “deed, not creed”
The heart of Judaism is in the home and family, social responsibility and doing Mitzvot (“good deeds” based on God’s commandments)
Through education and hard work we make our lives, the lives of others, and the world, what God intended it to be – Holy!

55. Web resources
Judaism 101: ”an online encyclopedia of Judaism, covering Jewish beliefs, people, places, things, language, scripture, holidays, practices and customs”
ReligiousTolerance.org on Judaism:
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