Judaism Essay

Katarina Josifov

Judaism

Judaism at a Glance Founded by Moses (although Abraham is considered the actual founder), Judaism began in the Middle East about 3500 years ago. In general, Jews attempt to bring holiness into every aspect of their lives in exchange for God’s work. Their most cherished religious document is the Torah and the interpretation of the laws of the Torah is called halakhah. Spiritual leaders are called Rabbis. Jews worship in Synagogues.

Beliefs Jews believe in a single God, it is a covenant relationship. Family and community are the main aspects of the religion. They belive that God is personal and accessible and interested in each individual, and he doesn’t have a from or a body (not male or female)

Customs  Every week Jews observe the Sabbath (the Jewish holy day) and keep its laws and customs. Tefillin are cubic black leather boxes with leather straps that Orthodox Jewish men wear on their head during morning prayer. Orthodox Jewish men always cover their heads by wearing a skullcap known in Hebrew as a kippah or in Yiddish as a yarmulke.

History  The early part of the story is told in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), it describes how God chose the Jews to be an example to the world. The birth of the Jewish people is told in the first 5 books of the Bible. Abraham is regarded as the first Patriarch of the Jewish people and he taught the idea that there was only one God. Moshe Rabbenu is the channel between God and the Hebrews, through whom the Hebrews received a basic charter for living as God's people. During the first half of the 13th century the attitude of the Church towards Jews hardened from disapproval to loathing. On 22 July, 1306 King Philip IV of France expelled all Jews from his kingdom.

The Holocaust  was a plan was carried out by the Nazi government of Germany and their allies. During the Holocaust 6 million Jewish people were murdered, 1 million of them children.

Holy Days: Major Jewish festivals: Days of Awe, Hanukkah, Passover, Purim, Rosh Hashanah, Sabbath, Shavuot, Sukkot, Tisha B'av, Tu B'Shevat (Tu Bishvat), Yom Hashoah, Yom Kippur. 

Ethics Do not support abortion, not in favour of capital punishment, not a fan of contraception, animals are important

People: Abraham, David, Isaiah, Joseph, Joshua, Moses, Moses Maimonides

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