Iwrbs Week 4

Introduction to World Re
zligions and Belief Systems
Judaism
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, you should be able

to:
Understand brief history and core

teachings, fundamental beliefs and
practices and related issues of Judaism.
VOCABULARY LIST
Judaism - monotheistic religion developed among the
ancient Hebrews. It characterized by a belief in one
transcendent. God who revealed himself to Abraham, Moses,
and the Hebrew prophets. The cultural, social, and religious
beliefs and practices of the Jews.
Tanakh - is what Christians refer to as the “Old

Testament“ (though the term is considered mildly insulting to
Jews – “Hebrews Bible” is preferred). The religion derived
from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture,
and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic and
Protestant Bodies.
Torah - are the first 5 books of the Tanakh: Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
Hebrew - the scripture, though the more common

religious “word” for it is (Tanakh), an acronym for the
three parts into which Jews divide the Hebrew Bible, Torah
(the Pentateuch), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim
(Writings)a member of an ancient people living in what is
now Israel and Palestine and, according to biblical tradition,
descended from the patriarch Jacob, grandson of Abraham.
Jewish - an ethnoreligious group originating from Israelites
and Hebrews of Israel and Judah. Judaism is the ethnic
religion of the Jewish people, while its observance varies from
strict observance to complete nonobservance.
Morality - principles concerning the distinction

between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. A
particular system of values and principles of conduct,
especially one held by a specified person or society.
Values - a belief about good behavior and what things are
important of a person or society. A collection of guiding
principles; what one deems to be correct and desirable in life,
especially regarding personal conduct.
Salvation - contains the truth, the way, and the life.

After we attain salvation, there is no longer any more
pain, tears, or sorrow, nor any more feelings of
helplessness. We live with more purpose and
meaning, and we live within the promises and
blessings of God.
Wisdom - the body of knowledge and principles that
develops within specified society or period. The ability to
know what is true or right or the collection of one’s
knowledge.
Ethical - relating to moral principles or the branch of

knowledge. For someone who is honest and follows
good moral standards. It describes a person or
behavior as right in the moral sense-truthful, fair, and
honest.
Commandment - a rule that must be
obeyed, especially one handed down by
God. A divine rule given by God to Moses
such as the rule that “Thou shall not
kill’’ is an example of a commandment.
Arrange the characteristics in order of importance with 1 as the most
important, and 10 as the least important. Write your ranking in
column 2. In column 3, rate yourself (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the
highest). Copy this in your journal.
Answer the following questions in your journal.
1. How did you feel when you were answering
the activity?
2. Which came out to be the first and last in
your ranking? Why?
3. What is the most common idea among the
given characteristics?
4. Which characteristic should you grow more?
Have you ever tried doing good deeds
to others?
How did you feel?
How did people react?

DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS AND
PRINCIPLES OF JUDAISM
The word Tanakh comes from the three first
letters of the three books: the Torah, plus the
Nevi’im (prophets) and the Ketuvim (writings,
which include histories, prophecies, poems,
hymns, and sayings). Talmud, a collection of
teachings and commentaries on Jewish law, was
created. It contained the Mishnah and another text
known as the Gemara (which examines the
Mishnah. It was first finalized around the 3rd
century A.D. the second form was completed during
the 5th century A.D.
The Ten Commandments written in the Torah:
1. Worship no other God but me.
2. Do not make images to worship.
3. Do not misuse the name of God. Observe the Sabbath Day
(Saturday).
4. Keep it Holy.
5. Honor and respect your father and mother.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not accuse anyone falsely. Do not tell lies about other
people.
10. Do not envy other’s possessions.
Three basic groups of Jewish
people who have different
understanding of the
interpretation of the Torah:
SUBDIVISIONS
Being one of the oldest religions in the world, Judaism has undergone various
changes in response to changing times and cultures brought about by key
historical events or philosophical upheavals.
Orthodox s e rv a t i v e
Re f or Co n
m J u d a i sm
1. Orthodox Jews - believed that
all of the practices in the Torah
which is practical to obey must be
obeyed without question. Strict
observance of traditional Jewish
law and rituals is followed.
2. Conservative Jews - believed that
ancient laws and practices
must be interpreted for modern life with
inclusion of contemporary sources
and with more concern with community
practices than with ritual practices.
Typically, conservative Jews honor the
traditions of Judaism while allowing for
some modernization.
3. Reform Jews - also allow
everyone to sit together, men
and women, and both Hebrew
and the local language are
spoken in services. Followers
promote progressive ideas and
adaptation.
The Good, the Right, and the
Morality of Judaism
In the English language, “good”
and “right,’’ when used in moral
context,
designate two related but very different
aspects of moral experience. Each person
has the right to choose beliefs in a common
good.
Judaism originated in Israel around 4000
years ago; the oldest Abrahamic religion.
They are about 15 million followers that are
called Jews. Jews believe that there is a
single God who not only created the
universe, but with whom every Jew can have
an individual and personal relationship. The
Place of Origin was in Israel. Abraham the
founder.
The sacred called: The TeNaCh (Torah,
Nevi'im, Ket... Their Sacred Building was
called the Synagogue. The Torah is the most
important holy book of Judaism. The laws and
teachings of Judaism come from the Torah,
the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and
oral traditions. Some of these were first oral
traditions and later written in the Mishnah, the
Talmud, and other works.
Both Christianity and Islam
are similar to Judaism. These
religions accept the belief in one
God and the moral teachings of
the Hebrew Bible (Old
Testament), which includes the
Torah or ".‫" תורה‬.
Moral Ethical code, Beliefs and Rituals
of Judaism
The Jewish moral code is a complex set of ideas
sourced from many writings and schools of thought,
including the Torah and the Talmud. The 613 mitzvot
are found in the Torah and fit into one of the
categories of ten positive and negative
commandments. Belief in bodily resurrection requires
burial; cremation and embalming are prohibited. The
importance of communal burial societies:
"Purification" (cleansing) of corpse, covering it in
simple white shroud and recitation of "Kaddish,
affirmation of faith in God.
Laws and Ethics Important
in Judaism
“Ethics” is important because they help define
the difference between good and bad/or ethical
act (=godly act) as opposed to a bad and unethical
act.
... Ethics is our moral compass and those defined in
the Torah are objective, not subjective. The three
main beliefs at the center of Judaism are
Monotheism, Identity, and Covenant (an agreement
between God and his people). The most important
teaching of Judaism is that there is one God, who
wants people to do what is just and compassionate.
THE SYMBOL OF JUDAISM
The Star of David is a symbol of Judaism as a
religion, and of the Jewish people as a whole. And it
also thought to be the shield (or at least the emblem
on it) of King David. Star of David, Hebrew
Magen David (“Shield of David”), Magen also
spelled Mogen, Jewish symbol composed of two
overlaid equilateral triangles that form a six-pointed
star. The yellow badge that Jews were forced to wear
in Nazi occupied Europe invested the Star of David
with a symbolism indicating martyrdom and heroism.
Jewish Observances and Rituals
• Circumcision (covenant of Abraham)
• Adulthood: Bat-mitzvah, bar mitzvah.
• Menstrual purification (Mikvah--purification
bath) Marriage.
• Death and Mourning: Belief in bodily
resurrection requires burial; cremation and
embalming prohibited.
• Dietary laws (Kosher foods):
• Daily prayer: Morning, afternoon, and evening.
Today nearly fourteen million Jewish
people live all over the world.
Approximately, half of them live in the
United States, one quarter live in Israel,
and a quarter are still scattered around
the world. Anyone born to a Jewish
mother is considered a Jew.
Reflect on what you have learned today by doing the activity
below: In this activity, write your new learning on the
importance of beliefs of Judaism that lead them to grow and
make a balanced person.
1. Prepare 10 small sheets of paper
2. Recall the 10 Commandments as written in the Torah
3. Arranged them according to the belief of Jews
4. Pick out 5 sheets of paper
5. Read them quietly
6. Reflect on each commandment and write what you feel
about it at the bottom part of the paper

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Introduction to World Re

zligions and Belief Systems

At the end of the lesson, you should be able

Understand brief history and core

Tanakh - is what Christians refer to as the “Old

Hebrew - the scripture, though the more common

Morality - principles concerning the distinction

Salvation - contains the truth, the way, and the life.

Ethical - relating to moral principles or the branch of

How did you feel?

How did people react?

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