Chapters 11-12

Judaism

Geography

• Canaan became known as Israel

• When Israel was divided after King Solomon’s rule, Judah was the southern half and Israel was the upper half

• In later times, the land just west of the Sea of Galilee was known as Galilee

• Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho were/are cities in Judah

Languages of Judaism

• Hebrew – ancient language of the Jews and the Torah

• Yiddish – language of European Jews

• Combination of Old German (80%), Hebrew (10%) and Slavic languages (10%)

• There are many Yiddish phrases in use today

Names for God

• Jews do not believe in saying or writing God’s name, from Leviticus 24:16.

• G-d• Adonai (“My Lords”)• Yahweh – transliteration of Hebrew letters

Monotheism

Monotheism:

• God is all-powerful and all-knowing.

• God is the source of morality (standards of right and wrong)

Polytheism:

• Gods have human qualities, good and bad

Mitzvah (plural Mitzvot)

• Meaning: God’s commandments• There are 613 Mitzvot in the Torah

– 248 Positives (“do”)– 365 Negatives (“do not’s”)

• Mitzvah has also come to mean any act of human kindness

Shabbat

• Begins Friday at sunset with lighting two candles (done by the woman)• Kiddush – blessing (done by the man)• Challah – traditional braided egg bread• “Shabbat Shalom” – traditional greeting – “Peace to you on the Sabbath”• Day of rest and rejuvenation

Holidays

• Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year• Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement• Sim Chat Torah – celebration of the Torah • Passover – celebrates that Jews’ sons in Egypt were spared from tenth plague• Hanukkah – “Festival of Lights” – related to

Macabees’ victory over Greeks• Purim – “Jewish Mardi Gras” – celebrates

Esther’s saving of Jews• Sukkot – Harvest festival or “festival of booths”• Tu B’Sh’vat – New Year of the Trees

Passover

• Spring cleaning • Seder dinner• Matzo

Branches of Judaism

• Orthodox– Take Torah literally

• No work on Shabbat – walk to synagogue

– Keep Kosher laws– May dress in orthodox garb

• Conservative• Reform

Movements in Judaism

• Chasidism• Kabala – mystical movement

Great Temples

• “First Temple” was built by King Solomon

• It was destroyed by the Babylonians under Nebuchadrezzar • “Second Temple” was built after the Jews were released from Babylon• It was destroyed by the Romans

Persecution of the Jews

• Known as anti-Semitism• Jews did not accept Jesus as their Messiah• Jews followed different customs that others didn’t understand (i.e. Kosher food laws)• Jews were barred from owning land and from most occupations, so they engaged in occupations that were forbidden to Christians by the Bible (money lending).

Symbols of Judaism

• Star of David• Mezuzah – box containing prayer scroll, attached to doorways• Yarmulke – skull cap• Tallit – prayer shawl with fringes on ends• Tefillin – small leather prayer boxes that remind Jews to pray with their head and heart

Kosher Laws

• Milk and meat dishes may not be eaten at the same time; must not be prepared with the same utensils; and must be eaten on different dishes.• Certain foods are forbidden (i.e. pork, shellfish)• Animals are slaughtered in a certain way, to cause the least amount of pain, and drain their blood, which is too sacred to be eaten.