Background on Judaism
Transcript: Religious Literature and Sacred Writings Origin of the term Judaism The People Who Practice Judaism Key Beliefs of Judaism Background on Judaism Judaism has evolved, and currently shares more secular ties compared to its ancient version. Modern Judaism is referred to as Orthodox Judaism and seeks to merge the core Jewish values of the Torah with the belief systems of the secular world. Today there are approximately 600,000 Orthodox Jews in the United States, plus another 850,000 in Israel, and perhaps another 750,000 committed Orthodox in the rest of the world. This means that there are approximately 2.2 million Orthodox Jews who are indeed Orthodox - that is to say, wholly committed to Orthodoxy. Modern Judaism Original Practice of Judaism Abraham - Father of Judaism Moses - Lead Jews out of bondage; Wrote the Torah; Was given the 10 Commandments by God King Saul - First Jewish King King David - Establishes Jewish nation as God's powerful nation. King Solomon - Builds temple in Jerusalem to honor God; wisest man to live. The Maccabees - Founded Hasmonean dynasty; Reasserted Judaism and expanded Israel Jesus of Nazareth - Redefines God's will for man and brings a religious revolution to Jews and Judaism. Judaism has followed the same set of laws since they were formed at Mount Sinai - at the time of Moses. (Exodus 34:28) The major practical difference is that from the time of Moses to the time of the Babylonians there was a Temple where a number of Temple-related centered practices took place, and there was the land of Israel -- and a good number of Jewish laws applied specifically to the land. ( Exodus 20 – 31:11) Sivers, Peter Von, Charles Desnoyers, and George B. Stow. Patterns of world history. New York: Oxford U Press, 2012. Print "Judaism." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Feb. 2017. Web. 16 Feb. 2017. "BBC - Religion: Judaism." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2017. "BBC - Religions - Judaism: Moses." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2017. Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2017. According to Rabbinic Judaism, a Jew is anyone who was either born of a Jewish mother or who converted to Judaism in accordance with Jewish Law. God created the universe without help God is omnipresent: God is everywhere, all the time. God is omnipotent: God can do anything at all. God is beyond time: God has always existed God will always exist. God is just, but God is also merciful God punishes the bad God rewards the good God is forgiving towards those who mess things up. God is personal and accessible. God is interested in each individual God listens to each individual God sometimes speaks to individuals, but in unexpected ways. In-Depth Analysis of Judaism Judaism was the first tradition to teach monotheism, the belief that there’s only one God. As Judaism evolved, the idea of God evolved, too, focusing on One unknowable, universal, image-less Being, Who, because the universe is framed in Love, requires justice of human beings. The Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). God exists. There is only one God. There are no other gods. God can't be subdivided into different persons (unlike the Christian view of God) Jews should worship only the one God God is Transcendent: God is above and beyond all earthly things. God doesn't have a body Which means that God is neither female nor male. by Chad-Seth Greenidge Changes in Judaism Through the death of Jesus Christ approximately 2500 years ago, the sacrifices and land laws of original Judaism were no longer needed. Jesus Christ had created a new form a Judaism referred to as "exile Judaism". Exile Judaism is a form of Judaism that does not incorporate sacrifices and land rituals. History also suggests that Christianity has stemmed from the core beliefs of Judaism. This is suggested due to Christianity being based on the example of Jesus Christ who was a Jew. Founder of Judaism Jewish history begins with the covenant established between God and Abraham around 1812 BC, during the Bronze Age, in the Middle East. Abraham is considered as the father of the family of Jews. Moses, is also an important figure as he gave the Jews the Torah around 1250 B.C. The Torah contains the laws of God. The term Judaism derives from Iudaismus, a Latinized form of the Ancient Greek Ἰουδαϊσμός or Ioudaïsmos (from the verb ἰουδαΐζειν, "to side with or imitate the [Judeans]"), and it was ultimately inspired by the Hebrew יהודה, Yehudah, "Judah"; in Hebrew: יַהֲדוּת, Yahadut. Major Jewish Leaders 10 Commandments: Can be found in Exodus 20 Torah: First Five Books of the Hebrew Bible Jews associate the origins of Judaism to Palestine, a land that is considered the crossroad of trade between Asia, Europe, and Africa. The core beliefs and knowledge of Judaism were given to Abraham, by the God of Heaven. Historians suggest that Abraham was given enlightenment in his home city of Ur, and spread his beliefs during his journey to Canaan (Palestine). Bibliography