The Absolute

1
The Absolute

• The creed of Judaism, the Shema
• Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord
  alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all
  your heart and with all your soul and with all
  your might.
• Most sacred part of the Bible, the Torah
• The Torah presents a very advanced concept of God
• Expresses the nature of the Lord in the analogy
  of a person
• Emphasizes covenant with God

2
Rambams Thirteen Principles of Faith

• 1. G-d exists
• 2. G-d is one and unique
• 3. G-d is incorporeal
• 4. Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone
• 5. The words of the prophets are true
• 6. Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the
  greatest of prophets
• 8. The Written Torah and the Oral Torah were
  given to Moses
• 9. There will be no other Torah
• 10. G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men
• 11. G-d will reward the good and punish the
  wicked
• 12. The Messiah will come
• 13. The dead will be resurrected

3
The Nature of G-d

• G-d exists
• Proof is not needed
• Torah begins by stating In the beginning, G-d
  created
• G-d is a necessary prerequisite for the existence
  of the universe

4
The Nature of G-d (cont.)

• G-d is one
• The Shema
• There is only one G-d (no other being
  participated in the work of creation)
• G-d is a unity. He is a single, whole, complete
  indivisible entity
• G-d is the only being to whom we should offer
  praise

5
The Nature of G-d (cont.)

• G-d is the Creator of Everything
• Everything in the universe was created by G-d and
  only G-d
• Rejects the notion that evil was created by Satan
  or some other deity
• All comes from G-d

6
The Nature of G-d (cont.)

• G-d is Incorporeal
• G-d has no body
• Any reference to G-ds body is simply a figure of
  speech
• Can not represent G-d in the physical form

7
The Nature of G-d (cont.)

• G-d is neither male or female
• G-d has no body, therefore no genitalia

8
The Nature of G-d (cont.)

• G-d is Omnipresent
• G-d is in all places at all times
• G-d fills the universe and exceeds its scope
• Not just the G-d of the Jews, but the G-d of all
  nations

9
The Nature of G-d (cont.)

• G-d is Omnipotent
• G-d can do anything
• The only thing beyond his power is the fear of
  him
• We have free will, and he cannot compel us to do
  his will

10
The Nature of G-d (cont.)

• G-d is Omniscient
• G-d knows all things
• Past, present, and future
• He knows our thoughts

11
The Nature of G-d (cont.)

• G-d is Eternal
• G-d transcends time
• Has no beginning and no end
• He will always be there to fulfill his promises

12
The Nature of G-d (cont.)

• G-d is both Just and Merciful
• G-ds justice is tempered by mercy
• Perfect balance between G-ds quality of justice
  and his quality of mercy

13
The Nature of G-d (cont.)

• G-d is Holy and Perfect
• Ha-Kadosh, Barukh Hu
• The Holy One, Blessed be He

14
The World

• The Genesis account of creation establishes the
  theme of the relationship God and the world
• The universe is subordinate to God and dependent
  on him
• Everything together is good
• The phenomenal universe is not God, but it is
  evidence for Gods creative power and love

15
The World (cont.)

• The universe was made for humans
• It is to be enjoyed with gratitude during a long
  life
• Human suffering is not attributed to the created
  nature of the universe
• Judaism rejects any worldview that sees nature as
  evil

16
The World

• The phenomenal world is Gods world
• He is present in the heavens, in the earth, and
  in the place of shadows under the earth
• The world is other than God, but not opposed to
  God
• When humans act responsibly to God they can enjoy
  the bounty of the earth

17
Humans

• Problems for Humans
• Solution for Humans
• Major Figures

18
Major Figures

• Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
• Both known as the patriarchs
• Both the physical and spiritual ancestors of
  Judaism

19
Abraham

• Born under the name Abram
• One true creator that Abraham worshiped called on
  him, made him an offer
• If he left his home/family, God would make him a
  great nation bless him
• Accepted this offer (covenant was established)

20
Isaac

• Ancestor of the Jewish people
• Was to be sacrificed by Abraham as a gift to God
• Supposedly he knew he was to be sacrificed, but
  did not resist
• Sons were Jacob and Esau

21
Jacob

• Angel blessed Jacob and gave him the name
  Israel
• Jewish people are generally referred to as the
  Children of Israel signifying their descent from
  Jacob
• Fathered 12 sons, 1 daughter, and had 4 wives

22
Moses

• Greatest prophet, leader, and teacher Judaism has
  ever known
• Completed writing of the first 5 books of the
  Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
  Deuteronomy)
• 120 yrs old at the time of his death
• Was not himself the deliverer of Israel

23
Humans

• Described as Gods highest creations
• Created in the image and likeness of God
• Each is a soul and body united
• Created for fellowship with God
• Humans are responsible
• Part of the covenant people of God

24
The Problem for Humans

• Being involved in sinful acts
• Torah describes the creation of Adam and Eve, and
  their rebellion against God
• Exclusion from the Garden of Eden accounts for
  miseries and frustrations humans must endure

25
The Solution for Humans

• Compliance with the covenant
• Cease sinful acts
• Help is sought from priests and God
• Belief in the Messiah, the savior

26
The Hebrew Bible

• The Bible is the foundation on which a Jewish
  life is built.
• The complete Jewish Bible is called the Tanakh.
• The most important part is the Torah.
• Comprised of the first 5 books of the Bible

27
Interpreting the Bible

• Conservative or Traditional view
• Bible is regarded as a document from God
• Seen as a reliable guide of Gods requirements
  and promises

• Liberal or Critical view
• Bible is a record of human encounters with God
• It is not the literal words of God

28
Birth

• Although soul exists before birth, human life
  begins at birth
• Child is born pure
• Immediately after birth, woman is sexually
  separated from her husband
• There are no formal religious requirements for
  naming a child
• Male circumcision

29
Bar Mitzvah/ Bat Mitzvah

• Bar Mitzvah literally means son of the
  commandment
• At age of 13 (12 for girls) children become
  obligated to observe the commandments
• Jewish boys automatically becomes a Bar Mitzvah
  at age 13
• The popular bar mitzvah ceremony is not required

30
Marriage

• Refraining from marriage is considered unnatural
• Soul mate (Bashert)
• Finding your bashert does not mean your marriage
  will be trouble free
• 2 stages of the marriage process kiddushin,
  nisuin
• Kiddushin is commonly translated as betrothal
• Nisuin is the full-fledged marriage

31
Wedding Ceremony

• Customary for bride and groom not to see each
  other for a week preceding the wedding
• Both fast the day before
• The kiddushin is represented by the bride
  approaching and circling the groom
• In the nisuin, the bride and groom stand beneath
  the chuppah

32
Jewish Attitudes Toward Sexual Actions

• Sex is only permissible within the context of
  marriage
• Having sex for selfish personal satisfaction,
  without regard for the partners pleasure, is
  wrong and evil
• A couple may not have sexual relations while
  drunk or quarreling
• It is a serious offense to use sex to punish or
  manipulate
• Sex is the womans right, not the mans

33
Life and Death

• Life is valued above almost all else
• Because it is so valuable, Jewish people are not
  permitted to do anything that may hasten death
• Death is viewed as a natural process
• A deceased person must not be cremated
• Open casket ceremonies are forbidden by Jewish law

34
Mourning

• When a close relative hears of the death of
  another relative, it is traditional to express
  initial grief by tearing ones clothing
• 4 periods of mourning
• Aninut from time of death to burial
• Shiva from day of burial to 7th day after
  burial
• Shloshim lasts until the 30th day after burial
• Avelut lasts for 12 months after the burial

35
Afterlife

• Torah indicates in several places that the
  righteous will be reunited with their loved ones
  after death
• Traditional Judaism believes in eventual
  resurrection of the dead in the messianic age
• The spiritual afterlife is referred to as Olam
  Ha-Ba

36
Signs and Symbols

• Mezuzah
• Placed upon doorposts of house
• Constant reminder of Gods presence and Gods
  commandments
• Menorah
• On of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith

37
Signs and Symbols (cont.)

• Magen David
• Shield of David or Star of David
• Most commonly associated symbol of Judaism today
• There are different views of its symbolism
• Today it appears on the flag of the state of
  Israel