Judaism is a religion, culture and ethnicity. It originated with Abraham and his descendants and is based on teachings from the Torah and Moses. Judaism involves following commandments, celebrating holidays and Shabbat, and maintaining Jewish identity and traditions even if not religious. While related through shared origins and scriptures, Judaism and Christianity are distinct, as Jews do not believe Jesus was the messiah and still await his coming.

1. judaism
What is judaism?
Is this a religion?
Is this a civilization?

2. Table of Contents
What is judaism?
Origin

3. Judaism is not just a religion
• Judaism is a religion, but it is also a culture
and a people.

4. A culture and a people
Judaism does not
represent any
single race, belief,
or viewpoint, let
alone values and
politics

5. A Religion of Action
• Judaism is a religion
of action more than
beliefs.

6. Important to know
• At the outset, it is important to note that there is a distinction between
the Jewish people and the religion of Judaism; not all Jewish people are
religious. Many profess to be atheists or agnostics. There are also Jews
who are religious, yet have converted to other religions.
• Of the some 15 millionJewish people in the world today:
• around 4.5 million are in Israel
• some 7 million are in North America
• approx.1 million are in countries that were part of the former Soviet
Union
• approx. 2 million are spread throughout European countries
•

7. Is “Jewish” a Religiousor Ethnic Identity?
• Yes andno. BeingJewishcan mean you are a partofa religiousmovement.
However, the great majorityofJewsbecome a partofthe religiousmovement
throughbirthand not due to theirbeliefsoractions. Inthis way,being Jewishis
likebeing a citizen of a religiousmovement. A Jewishidentity isautomatically
bestowed onthe babies ofJewishmothers. Andthis identity stays withthem
throughout life no matterwhat theybelieve or how they act.
• A personwhowas borntoa Jewishmother or has gone throughthe conversion
process is considered a Jew evenif heorshe does not believein Judaism and
does not observe Jewishpractices. Thus, thereare non-religiousJewsorsecular
Jews.
• A personwhowas notborn to a Jewishmother orhas not gone throughthe
conversion process is notconsidered a Jewevenifheor she believesinJudaism
and observes Jewishpractices. Thus, the conversion processis a very
meaningful because itis the only way for a non-Jew tobecome Jewish.

10. Origins
• Adam and Eve – First humans created by God
disobeyed Him and were forced to leave the
Garden of Eden
• They continue to procreate to make the human
race but humanity is very sinful
• Noah and family (wife, sons and their wives) are
chosen to survive along with male and female
animals on the Ark as God destroys the world
with a flood
• God makes peace with humanity but it continues
in its sinfulness

11. Abraham – Father of the Hebrew
people
Lived near Ur in Mesopotamia (between
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)
Obeyed a command by God to leave his
relatives and take his wife and household
westwards to the land God wanted him to
have
God appeared to him in a dream and told
him that his descendants would be as
numerous as the stars in the sky and the
sands of the beach

12. Abraham and Sarah
Abraham was visited by three angels, who told
him that by the following year his wife Sarah
would be pregnant.
Sarah was believed to be barren. She told
Abraham to sleep with her servant Hagar, who
bore him Ishmael. Perhaps, this is what God
intended.
Not so, eventually Sarah conceived and bore
Abraham a son, who was named Isaac.
Sarah regretted telling Abraham to be with
Hagar and feared that Ishmael would take
Isaac’s inheritance. She pestered Abraham
until he sent Hagar and Ishmael away.
According to Islamic tradition, Abraham and
his son Ishmael were the founding fathers.

13. Abraham and Isaac
• While Isaac was still a boy, God commanded
Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.
• Abraham was going to follow through with it.
• God sent an angel to stop Abraham before he
killed Isaac. This act of obedience was credited as
obedience to Abraham.
• Abraham and God made a covenant (agreement).
Abraham would make sure all his descendants
were circumcise their sons, and God would bless
them. This would be an outward sign of their
cleanliness, holiness, and dedication to God.

14. Sacrifice of Isaac (Brunelleschi

15. Basic Worldview
• Universe is made by G-d but is an arena for
humans to live in and enjoy, exercising free
will, in cooperation with G-d’s guidance.
• G-d is the omnipotent, sovereign, personal,
all-good Creator.
• People were created by G-d to follow His Will
which can improve the human condition until
a paradisal age is reached

16. Destiny of the World
Will be led by God through various historical
periods
A messiah that has been prophesied about
will come in and lead the world into a
paradisal state

17. What Is Expected of Humans
To honor and serve G-d by following the
Law of Moses in letter or spirit
To maintain the identity of the people
To promote the ethical vision of the great
prophets and humanitarians
Jewish customs are followed in the home
as well as in the place of worship.

19. The Ten Commandments
• I am the Lord your God – no other gods besides me
• No graven image or any likeness of anything – not
to bow or serve others; for I am a jealous god for
those who hate me…but showing love for those
who love me and keep my commandments
• Don’t take the name of your God in vain
• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy

20. • Honor your father and mother
• No killing
• No adultery
• No stealing
• No false witness/shahaadah against your neighbor
• Don’t covet/want your neighbor’s house, or his
wife, or his manservant, or maidservant, or his ox,
or anything
– Tabernacle of God: Holy Shrine – contains two stone
tablets marked with the terms of the Covenant.

21. • Arrival of Moses to the borders of Can’aan
• Rebellion against Moses and God
• Under Moses’ successor Joshua, jews reached
Can’aan
• In 11th century BCE under king David, they captured
Jerusalem
• Building of Temple by David’s son Solomon

24. Torah
• 1st 5 books of Hebrew
Bible
• Most holy of sacred
writings in Judaism

25. Moses
• Led Hebrews out of
slavery from Egypt
• Moses’ mother hid him
along Nile
• Lived with Egyptian
princess
• Never forgot religion

26. Moses was the greatest prophet, leader and teacher that Judaism
hasever known. In fact, one of the primary Principles of Faithis
the belief that Moses‘ prophecies are true, and that he was the
greatest of the prophets. He iscalled "Moshe Rabbeinu," that is,
Moses, Our Teacher/Rabbi. Interestingly, the numerical value of
"Moshe Rabbeinu" is 613: the number of mitzvot that Moses
taught the Children of Israel! He is described as the only person
who ever knew God face-to-face(Deut. 34:10) and spoke
directly to God (Num. 12:8)
Moses

27. 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”

40. The Marriage Contract
• A woman could only
get a divorce if the
man agreed to give
her one. Pictured
here is a traditional
marriage contract,
called a Ketubah.

42. Judaic Teachings
– To be chosen is a gift and also a responsibility from
God to fulfill the Covenant
• Responsibilities:
– Not to profane God’s name
– Not to worship idols
– Not to commit murder
– Not to steal
– Not to commit adultery
– Not to be unjust
– Not to cut limbs from living animals

43. 2. Existence of God
• First sentence of Jewish Scripture:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth” (Genesis 1:1)
• First quotation of Exodus:
“I am what I am” or “I will be what I will be”

44. 3. Unity of God
Deutronomy 6:4 says:
“Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One”

45. 4. Attributes of God
• Two main Attributes are:
– Divine Mercy and Divine Justice
• Love, Mercy, Grace of God, His anger, Justice
• Source of both good and evil

46. Good & Evil
• Every good and bad are from God
• Similarly God has placed ‘the drive’ in all human
beings to do evil or to do good.
• It was Adam’s ‘drive’ that made him to go against
God’s command
• Every man can commit sin and will be punished not
because of Adam’s sin but because of his own sin

47. 5. Messianic Age
• Since long, Jews believe that a Messiah will come to
free humankind and to establish God’s kingdom on
earth
• Messiah will be human being and not a divine being
• Messiah will be the descendant of the house of
David
• He will bring truth, peace, morality, social and moral
order etc.
• He will make Jews to return to their promised land
• He will bring a universal religion

48. 6. Promised Land
• Promised land of the Covenant that God made
to Abraham and his people
• Cana’an (modern Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and
Israel)

49. Jewish Practices
1. Rites of Passage:
–Circumcision of male children eight days after
birth
–Religious practices in marriage ceremonies
–Detailed ceremonies on death occasion

50. 2. The Sabbath:
• Hebrew word ‘Shabbat’ means rest
• From Friday evening till Saturday sunset
• candles, wine, bread, etc

51. 3. Devotional Acts:
to recite the basic prayer twice a day from their
scripture (Shema: Hear)
“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our god is one Lord; and
you shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your
might.”