11
INTRODUCTION
TO WORLD
RELIGIONS AND
BELIEF
SYSTEMS
SECOND SEMESTER
Quarter 3 – Module 4:
Judaism
Jerime M. Pestaño
Compiler/Contextualizer
1
THIRD QUARTER
MODULE 4, WEEK 4
Judaism
Content Standard : The learner demonstrates an understanding of the
elements of Judaism:
a. Founders: Abraham (2000 B.C.) and/ or Moses
(1391-1271 B.C.)
b. Sacred Texts: Torah, Poetry, Prophets, Talmud,
Mishnah
c. Doctrines: Ten Commandments, 613 Rules
d. God: Yahweh/Jehovah
e. Sects: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform Liberal
Performance Standard : The learner demonstrates an understanding of the
elements of Judaism: learner identifies a story from
that demonstrates the Jewish belief in one God (ex.
Story of Samson)
Learning Outcomes : The learner demonstrates an understanding of the
elements of Judaism: learner identifies a story from
that demonstrates the Jewish belief in one God (ex.
Story of Samson)
Upon completion of the module, the student is
expected to:
a. Memorize the Ten Commandments as stated in
the Old Testament (Exodus 20)
b. Identify a Jewish custom or tradition as
demonstrated in a movie (Ten Commandments,
Ben Hur)
c. Explain: The core teaching of Judaism as the
covenant of one God with a chosen people vs.
other people with many Gods.
What I Know
Let us try to check what you have known about religion and its belief by
answering these few questions. Write the letter of your answers on a separate sheet
of paper.
1. The oral Torah is called ____.
a. Ketuvim b. Mishnah c. Nevim d. Talmud
2
2. The wife of Abraham was ____.
a. Narum b. Rachel c. Rebecca d. Sarah
3. Abraham was born in the city of _____.
a. Canaan b. Sodom c. Gomorrah d. Ur
4. The “people of the book” were called _____.
a. Gentiles b. Jews c. Lebanese d. Muslims
5. The Father of a Great Nation is called ____.
a. Abraham b. Isaac c. Jacob d. Noah
6. The most important day in the Jewish calendar is the ______.
a. Pesach b. Sabbath c. Shofar d. Shukot
7. It is considered as the most liberal expression of Judaism that subjects
religious laws and customs to human judgment.
a. Hasidic b. Liberal c. Reform d. Orthodox
8. An ancient monotheistic religion that traces its origin as an organized belief
system during the Bronze Age in West Asia.
a. Christianity b. Hinduism c. Islam d. Judaism
9. A subdivision of Judaism that gives prime importance to asceticism and
experiences as a result of love and humility before God.
a. Hasidic b. Liberal c. Reform d. Orthodox
10. The Torah was given by God to Moses at _____.
a. Mt. Hesbon c. Mt. Moriah
b. Mt. Mizar d. Mt. Sinai
11. A set of laws given by God to Moses is called ____.
a. Mishnah c. Principles of Faith
b. Mitzvot d. Ten Commandments
12. The three notable founding figures of Judaism were:
a. Adam, Noah & Abraham c. Abraham, Saul & Ezekiel
b. Abraham, Isaac & Jacob d. David, Saul & Goliath
13. Judaism, Christianity, Islamic faiths are the first _____ religion.
a. Agnostic c. Monotheistic
b. Animistic d. Polytheistic
14. It pertains to the methodical, bureaucratic and state-sponsored persecution
and execution of around six million Jews by the Nazi regime?
a. Holocaust c. Romani Gypsies attack
b. Anti-Semitism d. Heinrich Himmler massacre
3
15. A term which pertains to hostility and discrimination towards the Jewish
people that was strongly felt in France, Germany, Poland, and Russia in the
late 19th century was called ____.
a. Anti-Semitism c. Mass Annihilation
b. Black Propaganda d. Mein Kampf
Good job! You focus quite well on this activity.
What I Need To Know
Welcome Senior High School students to this module, your journey to the
frontier of West Asia will enable you to learn how the Abrahamic religion of Judaism,
Christianity and Islam, known as the first monotheistic religion, came about. This
module will guide you in essentially understanding the role of patriarch Abraham
and his descendants in the foundation of the faiths of the Jews, Christians, and
Muslims. Since these religions came from the same region, it is not surprising that
they share common beliefs.
It’s quite an exciting lesson, isn’t it? For you to further understand the entire
lesson, let me share to you the learning objectives of this module. At the end of this
lesson, you will be able to: (a) examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental
beliefs, practices and related issues of Judaism; (b) memorize the Ten
Commandments as stated in the Old Testament (Exodus 20); (c) identify a Jewish
custom or tradition as demonstrated in a movie (Ten Commandments, Ben Hur); and
(d) explain: The core teaching of Judaism as the covenant of one God with a chosen
people vs. other people with many Gods.
What’s In
Hello Senior High School students! It is time for us to check what you have
learned from the Positive and Negative Effects of Religion. I would like you to be
engaged in the sample questions below and write your answers on a separate sheet
of paper. Work as honestly as you can!
1. Do you agree with Karl Marx’s idea that “religion is the opium of the masses”?
Why? Why not?
2. In what way does religion impede scientific success and development? Give a
concrete example.
3. Do you agree that most often than not religious conflicts are being used for
political reasons? Why? Why not?
4. How do you define trepanning? Do you think it is still practice today? If yes,
cite an example.
4
5. Choose three positive and three negative effects of religion and give specific
examples of each based on your personal experience.
15 minutes is given for you to answer those questions. (Think hard and well!)
Your answers to those questions would tantamount to your understanding of
the previous lesson. May you never forget how religion: positive and negative effects
make an impact in our world today.
Now, let’s thread together with the old Father Abraham and see how he obeyed
his calling despite the perilous journey from Ur to Haran down to Egypt.
Figure 1. Abraham’s Journey From Ur to Haran down to Egypt
5
What’s New
Activity 1: Guess the picture name!
Instruction: The pictures below are Abraham’s treasure. Try to guess the names of
the pictures and place
What’s New them all on Father Abraham’s treasure chest. Fill in the
missing letter to complete the treasures’ names. Please write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper. Let the games begin!
1. T_R_H 2. S_A_R_H
3. S_A_ O_ D_V_D 4. P _ N _ A _ E _ C _
5. T _ N C_M_A _D _ E _ T _
6
What Is It
Judaism is an ancient monotheistic religion that traces its origin as an
organized belief system during the Bronze Age in West Asia. The religion of the Jewish
people, Judaism is one of three Abrahamic religions that also include Christianity
and Islam. What’s Neware known as the “people of the book” in reference to their
Jewish people
sacred text written covering nearly a thousand years and formalized as a canon of
teaching by the end of the first century C.E. The Torah which is the most important
text of the Jewish people contains the “Five Books of Moses” and many sacred laws.
It is quite difficult to study key events in the historical foundation of Judaism
without discussing the history of the Jewish people from the time of the Hebrews’
mass departure from Egypt or the Exodus. During the 20th century, the growth in
their population has remained sluggish for quite a long time as it grew to only 25%
after the catastrophic event called Holocaust.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
It is quite difficult to separate
the history of Judaism from the
history of the Jews themselves
(Parrinder,1971). The ancestors of the
Jews were groups of Semites called
Hebrews whose origin can be traced in
the desert lands of Arabia (Brown
1975). The origin of the Jewish people
and the beginning of Judaism are
recorded in the first five books of the
Hebrew bible, the Pentateuch. As a
religion and culture, Judaism has
three notable founding figures or
patriarchs, namely, Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob. These biblical patriarchs
are the physical and the spiritual
forebears of the Jewish people and
their narratives can be found in
Figure 2. The Pentateuch Genesis 12-50 of the scripture.
THE TEACHINGS OF JUDAISM
The most important teaching of Judaism is that there is one God, who wants
people to do what is just and merciful. Judaism teaches that a person serves God by
studying the scriptures and practicing what they teach. Both Christianity and Islam
7
developed from Judaism. These teachings include both ritual practices and ethical
laws. Judaism teaches that all people are created in the image of God and deserve to
be treated with dignity and respect.
The covenant with God is a special agreement that Jews believe God made
with Abraham, the ancestor of the Jewish people. Abraham and Sarah his wife
took a long journey from Ur to Haran in order to obey God’s leading for them.
According to the Bible, God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants if they
worshipped and remain faithful to God. God renewed this covenant with Abraham’s
son Isaac and Isaac’s son, Jacob. Jacob was also called Israel, and so his
descendants became known as the children of Israel or the Israelites.
SACRED SCRIPTURES
The Jewish people have been called the “people of the book” in reference to
the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh or Mikra) that has been the authority, guide and
inspiration of the many forms of Judaism that have evolved throughout the different
periods of time and in various places (Parrinder 1971). Composed over a period of
almost a thousand years, collections within the Holy Bible became established in its
full canonical form by the end of the first century C.E. (Parrinder 1971). The Hebrew
Bible is divided into three principal sections, namely the Torah, Nevi’im and
Ketuvim.
The foundational text Torah (teaching) have been authored by Moses in Mt.
Sinai. These include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The
Pentateuch narrates the history, religious statutes and moral regulations for the
individual and the society, ceremonial rites, and creation stories by YAHWEH and
the origin and growth of mankind.
Meanwhile the Nevi’im (Prophets) is subdivided into Earlier
Prophets, Later Prophets and Twelve Minor Prophets.
Prophets served as spokesperson who criticizes the
hypocritical practices of Jewish rituals. They were
specifically chosen by God to preach his message to the
people.
Figure 3. Nevim
8
Another sacred writing of Judaism is the Talmud (oral
Torah) which means to study. It is an authoritative collection
of rabbinic interpretations of the sacred scriptures. It
contains material of law and moral codes.
Figure 4. Talmud
Lastly, Ketuvim (Writings) it contains work on poetry,
temple ritual, private prayer, philosophical explorations,
and other canonical works. Around the second century C.E.,
this oral law was compiled and written down as Mishnah.
Mishnah also known as Gemara in the next few centuries
includes legends, folklores, and sayings.
Figure 5. Ketuvim
BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES:
In Judaism, there are 613 list of the Mitzvot (commandments). It is based
primarily in the Torah, a list of commandments like prayer & blessing, punishments,
idolatry, Gentiles, temple sarcifices, offering, ritual purity, injuries, damages,
criminal laws and more were taught.
JEWISH PRINCIPLES OF FAITH
1. God exists.
2. God is one and unique.
3. God is incorporeal.
4. God is eternal.
5. Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other.
6. The words of the prophets are true.
7. Moses’ prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets.
8. The written Torah and the Oral Torah were given to Moses.
9. There will be no other Torah.
10. God knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
11. God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
12. The Messiah will come.
13. The dead will be resurrected.
9
Those statements of belief were eventually constructed as credo with every
article beginning with “I believe” and then later versified, set to music, and
included in prayer books.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
The Ten Commandments are a set of absoute laws given by God to Moses at
the biblical Mount Sinai that shall govern the life of every Israelite.
The Ten Commandments
in Exodus 20:2-17
1. I am the LORD your God, who brought
you out of the land of Egypt, out of the
house of bondage. You shall have no other
Gods before Me.
2. You shall not take the name of the LORD
your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold
him guiltless who takes HIS name in vain.
3. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it
holy.Six days you shall labor and do all
your work but the seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord your God.
4. Honor you father and your mother, that
your days may be long upon the land which
the LORD your GOD is giving you.5. You
shall not murder.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your Figure 6. Moses at Mt. Sinai
neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female
servant, or his ox or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.
WORSHIP and OBSERVANCES
The Jewish community utilizes a lunar calendar with twelve months, each
beginning at the new moon of 29 or 30 days. Every festival and Sabbath commences
and terminates at dusk (sunset) rather than midnight in adherence to the biblical
pattern. The Jewish calendar is followed in observance of festivities, holidays,
community and family celebrations.
▪ SABBATH
The most important day in the Jewish calendar is the Sabbath (Shabbat)
which commemorates God’s completion of the creation of the universe and his rest
after the six days of creation. Filipinos on the other hand, celebrate Sunday as the
Sabbath day.
10
▪ THE DAYS OF AWE
Tishri is the seventh month in the ecclesiastical year of the Jewish calendar.
The first ten days of Tishri are called the “Days of Awe” (Yamim Noraim) wherein the
first two days comprise the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the tenth day as the day
of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
In our own Gregorian calendar this kind of worship falls on the month of
September to October.
PILGRIMAGE FESTIVALS
▪ Pesach- is an eighth-day festival that originally marked the beginning of the
barley harvest. Its principal purpose is to commemorate and recreate the
Exodus of the Jews from Egypt. In Gregorian calendar, Pesach is celebrated
during the months of March and April.
▪ Shavuot- is a two day festival that was originally a celebration of the wheat
harvest. Presently,it is now being held to commemorate the revelation of the
Torah to Moses at Mt. Sinai. In English, it is otherwise called the day of the
Pentecost which generally falls on May 14 and June 15 of the Gregorian
calendar.
▪ Sukkot-is a nine day festival commemorating the autumn harvest and the
forty years of the Israelites stay in the desert wilderness subsisting solely on
the bounty of God.
▪ Hanukkah Purim is the Independence Day of the State of Israel. Hanukkah
(“Festival of Lights or “Feast of Dedication”) is a celebration to commemorate
the victory of Jewish fighters against the Seleucid Empire in 165 B.C.
Purim(“Feast of Esther”) celebrates the deliverance of the Jews during the
Persian empire, from the vile Haman who wanted to kill all the Jews as
recorded in the Book of Esther. In Gregorian calendar it falls on November or
December and is equivalent to Christmas Holiday.
The Branches of Judaism:
a. Orthodox Judaism – continues traditional Jewish beliefs and ways of life.
They strictly observe all traditional Jewish laws, including dietary rules and
the laws for keeping the Sabbath. Orthodox Jews pray three times daily-in the
morning, in the late afternoon, and after sunset. The men wear hats or
skullcaps (yarmulkas or kipot) at all times as a sign of respect to God.
b. Reform Judaism - began during the early 1800’s at the time, some Jews
started to question the traditional teachings of how the sacred writings of
Judaism came into being. They considered the oral law a human creation
rather than the revelation of God, and so its authority was weakened for them.
They founded the Reform Judaism, claimed that Judaism is defined
principally by the Bible.
11
c. Conservative Judaism - developed during the mid-1800’s. They consider
Talmud as much an authority as the Bible. However, they believe that Jewish
practice may be changed to fit the times. They believe that in this way,
Judaism can remain relevant for each generation. The Conservative movement
requires observance of most traditional Jewish laws and customs.
The Selected Issues of Judaism:
a. Women in Judaism
Women’s role in the Jewish religion is determined by the Tanakh, the written
Torah, Talmud the oral Torah and the Jewish customs.
b. Jewish Diaspora and the Zionist Movement
The Zionists believed that Jews as the chosen people of God will be reunited
from dispersion or exile back to their rightful homeland. Diaspora is the dispersion
of Jewish communities outside Israel in history. The term Zion, also a Jewish
synonym for Jerusalem, came from a name of a mountain where Solomon’s temple
in Jerusalem was located. Zionists are the supporters of this movement.
c. Holocaust
From the Greek word that means “sacrifice by
fire”. In history, holocaust pertains to the
methodical, bureaucratic, and state -
sponsored persecution and execution of
around six million Jews by the Nazi regime
and its collaborators from 1933 to 1945.
Heinrich Himmler, Adolf Hitler’s chief of police
directly responsible for the Holocaust.
d. The Anti- Semitism Figure 7. The Holocaust
The term Anti-Semitism pertains to hostility
towards and discrimination against the Jewish
people that was strongly felt in France,
Germany, Poland, and Russia in the late
nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The term
was popularized in Germany. The planned
extermination of the entire Jewish race during
the time of the holocaust was the most extreme
form of anti – Semitism. Other forms of anti –
Semitism activities include the persecution
and massacre of Jews throughout history.
Figure 8. Anti-Semitism
12
What’s More
Activity 2: REFLECTION!
Instruction: On a separate sheet of paper, choose one Jewish Pilgrimage Festival
and compare it to your own faiths’ festivity. Make sure to point out in
your reflection paper the similarities and comparison of such festivities.
What I Have Learned
Activity 3: IDENTIFY WORDS
Instruction: Challenge yourself by arranging the jumbled letter words. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. IOZN 6. RAOHT 11. CNANAA 16. BHRAAMA
2. SICAA 7. SEOSM 12. TVKMEIU 17. MOYPPKIRU
3. BBLEI 8. WEJSHI 13. UDISAMJ 18. OOOXRDHT
4. RIMUP 9. HCEPAS 14. THASBBA 19. THOSLUOAC
5. RHAAS 10. XSEOUD 15. ASDIORAP 20. TANEPEUTCH
What I Can Do
Activity 4: “My Learning Journey”
Instruction: Answer the questions on a short bond paper
1. How does Judaism embody the importance of actions over belief?
2. How is Jewish history reflected in the observances and holidays of Judaism?
3. How do the various denominations of Judaism differ from one another?
4. What important roles were played by the patriarchs in laying the foundation
for the establishment of Judaism?
5. What was the greatest lesson that you learned from the Holocaust? How can
we prevent such acts of brutality in world history ?
13
Assessment
How are you Senior High Students? I hope that you have unlocked yourself after
exploring the module. Read and analyze each item and carefully select the correct
answer by writing the letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. The name Sarah means ____.
a. Slave b. Widow c. Princess d. Handmaid
2. The oral Torah is called ____.
a. Nevim b. Talmud c. Ketuvim d. Mishnah
3. The wife of Abraham was ____.
a. Eve b. Leah c. Sarah d. Rebecca
4. The Father of a Great Nation is ____.
a. Noah b. Isaac c. Jacob d. Abraham
5. Abraham was born in the city of ____.
a. Ur b. Sodom c. Canaan d. Gomorrah
6. “The people of the book” were the _____.
a. Jews b. Gentiles c. Muslims d. Lebanese
7. The name Israel was taken from the patriarch _____.
a. Lot b. Esau c. Isaac d. Jacob
8. Judaism, Christianity and Islamic faith are the first _____ religion.
a. Agnostic b. Animistic c. Polytheistic d. Monotheistic
9. It has been the authority, guide and inspiration of the many forms of Judaism.
a. b. Gemara b. Tanakh c. Mishnah d. Old Testament
11. A sacred scripture which is divided into earlier, later & twelve minor prophets
is called _____.
a. Nevim b. Talmud c. Ketuvim d. Mishnah
12. A sacred scripture that contains work on poetry, temple ritual and other
canonical works is called _____.
a. Nevim b. Talmud c. Ketuvim d. Mishnah
10. An ancient monotheistic religion that traces its origin as an organized belief
system during the Bronze Age in West Asia is called _____.
a. Islam b. Judaism c. Hinduism d. Christianity
14
13. A form of Judaism which enable women to actively participate in Jewish
rituals thereby minimizing legal disparity between men and women.
a. Reform b. Diaspora c. Orthodox d. Conservative
15. Who were the three notable founding figures of Judaism?
a. David, Saul & Goliath c. Adam, Noah & Abraham
b. Abraham, Isaac & Jacob d. Abraham, Saul & Ezekiel
16. The origin of the Jewish people and the beginning of Judaism are recorded in
the first Five Books of the Hebrew bible called _____.
a. Pesach c. Old Testament
b. Pentateuch d. New Testament
Additional Activities
Kudos Senior High Students! You are almost done with Module 4.
Activity 5: BOOKMARK MAKING (TEN COMMANDMENTS)
Instruction: From recyclable materials, make a bookmark (2” X 7”) that shows the
Ten Commandments.
Criteria:
Creativity - 30 points
Use of recyclable materials - 30 points
Skills/Craftmanship - 30 points
Neatness - 10 points
TOTAL - 100 points
15
16
What I Know
1.d 6. b 11. d
2.d 7. a 12. b
3.d 8. d 13. c
4.b 9. a 14. d
5.a 10. d 15. a
What I Have Learned
1. Zion 11.Canaan
2. Isaac 12.Ketuvim
3. Bible 13.Judaism
4. Purim 14.Sabbath
5. Sarah 15.Diaspora
6. Torah 16.Abraham
7. Moses 17.Yom Kipur
8. Jewish 18.Orthodox
9. Pesach 19.Holocaust
10. Exodus 20.Pentateuch
Answer Key
References
Books:
Cornelio et.al (2016). Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems.
Quezon City, Philippines: Rex Book Store Inc.
Ong, Jose P. (2016). Introduction to World Religions & Belief Systems. Quezon
City, Philippines: Vibal Group Inc.
Online:
http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm- Judaism 101
https://www.bing.com/search?q=pictures+of+Abraham+journey&cvid=2618
7a57189747c8a5f1c588afbab6ce&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=HCTS
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=torah%20picture%20black%20an
d%20white&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-
1&ghc=1&pq=torah%20picture%20black%20and%20whi&sc=0-
27&cvid=B4DC45708D5B4B3CACBC86C4DAD63BC0&first=1&scenario=Im
ageBasicHover
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=star%20of%20david%20black%20
and%20whitw&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-
1&pq=star%20of%20david%20black%20and%20whitw&sc=1-
29&cvid=A8A6ADF1248642C4B16BC502ABBBAA2A&first=1&scenario=Ima
geBasicHover
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=ten%20commandments%20black
%20and%20white&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-
1&ghc=1&pq=ten%20commandments%20black%20and%20white&sc=2-
32&cvid=B41F6C1CE511452586DD7E0E8B79C1D6&first=1&scenario=Ima
geBasicHover
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pentateuch%20black%20and%20
white&qs=n&form=QBIR&sp=-
1&pq=pentateuch%20black%20and%20white&sc=0-
26&cvid=B1170807E91C4B8E9E3B8898DDA9B25D&first=1&scenario=Ima
geBasicHover
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=DDyc0Owu&id=
07412FF9CDA363261F759C0421AE0FE71CC1D4F1&thid=OIP.DDyc0Owua
RHt3vy8PoR8fAHaJ3&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2ffanyv88.com%3a443%2fhttp%2fgrace.silvanon.com%2fimag
es%2fSarah-Wife-of-Abraham-
big.jpg&exph=933&expw=700&q=sarah+picture+abraham%27s+wife&simid=
608027323107377896&ck=035A02023E7B9F0668C515EE09A971AC&selec
tedIndex=55&FORM=IRPRST&ajaxhist=0
Retrieved on August 8, 2020
17
