What are the beliefs, history, and influence of Judaism?
Origins of Judaism
Judaism is the religion of the Hebrews and dates back to around 2000 BCE
Judaism developed in the land of Canaan also known as the Levant (modern-day Israel and Palestine)
The city of Jerusalem is considered the birth-place
Judaism is often regarded as the first monotheistic religion
They believe in an all-powerful single god
Origins of Judaism
The religion traces its root back to Abraham and his covenant with YHWH (Yahweh—I am that I am)
Yahweh is Hebrew for God
The Covenant as told by God to Abraham states that Abraham will be the father of a great nation as long as he and his people obey God’s commands
Origins of Judaism
Jews are an ethnoreligious group—meaning one can be born Jewish (ethnic group) or one can convert to Judaism (which is a difficult process)
Beliefs of Judaism
The Jews are God’s chosen people
The Ten Commandments as given to Moses are the law code of the Jews
Males are circumcised at 8 days old
One must observe and keep the Sabbath
Eat Kosher foods—dietary laws, regulations and customs
Beliefs of Judaism
Belief in the messiah—the belief that a great king (descended from David) will bring the Jews back to the land of Israel, construct the third temple, and bring back peace
Jews believe in the after-life but it is not a primary focus nor is there much written about the subject
Sacred Texts
The Torah is the foundational text of Judaism and is part of a larger text known as the Tanakh
The Torah is also the first 5 books of the Old Testament (Christian Bible)
Other texts include the Talmud and Mishnah
Holy Days
Rosh Hashanah—marks the start of the Jewish New Year and beings a 10 day period of atonement leading up to Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur—is the day of atonement and the holiest day in Judaism
Hanukah—Known as the “Festival of Lights” marks the re-dedication of the Temple
How did Judaism spread?
The spread of Judaism was mostly involuntary
The Jews have been forced into exile several times throughout their existence
Upon exile began the diaspora or the scattering of the Jews
Today roughly 40% of Jews live in Israel, another 40% live in North America, and the remaining Jews primarily live in Europe
