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Judaism Is : (Rabbi Harold Kushner, To Life)

Judaism is a 4000 year old monotheistic faith and civilization that originated with the Hebrew patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is based on the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, which contains religious, moral and social laws that guide Jewish life. Jews believe in one God who revealed the Torah through prophets like Moses. As both a faith and a people, Judaism is expressed through rituals, prayers, holy days and the sanctification of everyday life according to God's commandments in order to repair the world.

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Joslin Roz
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172 views

Judaism Is : (Rabbi Harold Kushner, To Life)

Judaism is a 4000 year old monotheistic faith and civilization that originated with the Hebrew patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is based on the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, which contains religious, moral and social laws that guide Jewish life. Jews believe in one God who revealed the Torah through prophets like Moses. As both a faith and a people, Judaism is expressed through rituals, prayers, holy days and the sanctification of everyday life according to God's commandments in order to repair the world.

Uploaded by

Joslin Roz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Judaism is

A 4000 year old tradition with ideas

about what it means to be human


and how to make the world a holy
place
(Rabbi Harold Kushner, To Life)

A covenant relationship between

God and the Hebrew people


A celebration and sanctification of
life
A faith, a people, a way of life

A 4000 year old


tradition
The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac,

Jacob (Israel) origins of the


Hebrew people (more than 3800
years ago)
Enslaved in ancient Egypt and freed
by Moses (more than 3300 years
ago)
Hebrew monarchy in the Promised
Land (The Land of Israel), ends 6th
century BCE

As a faith, Jews
Believe
In one God, creator of the universe,

personal but non-corporeal


In prophets of old especially Moses,
through whom Torah was revealed to
the Hebrew people
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

As a people, Jews are


A nation in Diaspora (dispersed)
15 16 million in worldwide population
United by a common heritage (an ethnic

religion), divided in contemporary practice:


Orthodox:
Modern
Chasidic (Ultra Orthodox)

Reformed

(18th century Germany)


Conservative moderates, response to
reform

Reconstructionalism (20th century America)

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 Gods Law
in everyday life through:
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

How does Judaism


sanctify life?
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)

How does Judaism


sanctify time?
The Jewish Holidays:

High Holidays:
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Sukkot, the Festival of Booths

(fall harvest festival)


Simchat Torah celebrating Torah
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights

More Holy Days


Purim (Lots) a carnival

(commemorates events told in book of


Esther)
Pesach (Passover) commemorates the
exodus from Egypt (events told in
Exodus)
Shavuot (weeks, Pentecost)
commemorates receipt of Torah at Sinai
Other, minor festivals
Shabbat (Sabbath, 7th day, on Saturday)
the Day of Rest

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

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 Gods
commandments)
Through education and hard work we
make our lives, the lives of others, and the
world, what God intended it to be Holy!

To Life!
To Life!
LeChai
m!

Web resources
Judaism 101: http://jewfaq.org/
an online encyclopedia of Judaism,
covering Jewish beliefs, people, places,
things, language, scripture, holidays,
practices and customs
ReligiousTolerance.org on Judaism:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/judaism.
htm
This P0werpoint presentation available at:
http://www.nvcc.edu/home/lshulman/Rel232/resource/j
udaism.ppt

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