Judaism 101

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Judaism 101
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Who Is Jewish?

• Any person whose mother was Jewish or any person
  who has gone through the formal conversion
  process.

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What is Judaism?

• Is it a religion?
• Are Jews a race?
• Is it a culture or ethnic group?

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History of Judaism

• G-d promises 2 things to Abraham
• Land-important for a nomad
• Descendents
• Moses receives the commandments and the people
  accept them and the relationship.
• 613 commandments
• Prayer shawl has 613 knots
• Must be worn when Torah is read

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History of Judaism

• Babylonia takes over North and South Kingdoms of
  Israel
• Israelites exiled
• Cultures and practices go with them
• First temple is torn down so build synagogues
• 70 AD Romans destroy second temple
• As Jews are forced to move some new traditions
  develop and some are given up

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Jewish Movements

• Movements are the denominations, branches or
  sects of Judaism
• Orthodox- one of the major movements of Judaism
  that believes that Jewish law comes from G-d and
  can not be changed
• Conservative-modern stream of Judaism that arose
  out of the intellectual currents of Germany in
  the mid-1900s.
• Reform- spectrum of beliefs , practices and
  organization associated with reform Judaism in
  North America and the United Kingdom

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Separate Cultural Traditions

• Sephardic Judaism- Jews of Spain and Portugal
• Mizrachim-North Africa and the Middle East
• Ashkenazic- Jews of France, Germany and Eastern
  Europe

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Beliefs of Judaism

• Judaism does not have an Apostles Creed or
  Nicene Creed that states this is what we believe.
• Do not believe in original sin
• Follow the Torah
• First five books of the Bible
• Judaism cover head as a sign of respect, Gentiles
  remove hats as sign of respect

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Beliefs of Judaism

• Orthodox Jews believe facial hair was a gift from
  G-d to distinguish males from females
• Do not shave

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Kosher and Dietary Laws

• What does kosher mean?
• General Rules
• Certain animals may not be eaten at all. This
  restriction includes the flesh, organs, eggs and
  milk of the forbidden animals.
• Must have hoofs and chew cud
• Of the animals that may be eaten, the birds and
  mammals must be killed in accordance with Jewish
  law.

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Kosher and Dietary Laws

• All blood must be drained from the meat or
  broiled out of it before it is eaten.
• Certain parts of permitted animals may not be
  eaten

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Kosher Dietary Laws

• Fruits and vegetables are permitted, but must be
  inspected for bugs
• Grape products made by non-Jews may not be eaten
• Meat cannot be eaten with dairy.

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Kosher Dietary Laws

• Utensils that have come into contact with meat
  may not be used with dairy, and vice versa.
  Utensils that have come into contact with
  non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food.
  This applies only where the contact occurred
  while the food was hot.

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Shabbat

• The most important ritual observance in Judaism.
• Shalom Hebrew word that literally means peace. A
  way of saying "hello" or "goodbye."

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Jewish Holidays

• Passover
• Rosh Hashanah
• Jewish New Year

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Jewish Holidays

• Yom Kippur
• Day of Atonement
• Chanukkah
• the festival of lights
• Yom Ha-Shoah
• Holocaust Memorial Day