Friday, July 29, 2011

The Torah

Torah means “teaching” and refers to the five books of Moses- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
A Torah scroll is made from sheets of parchment, which is made from the skin of a kosher animal.
It is written by hand in Hebrew by a professional scribe, called a sofer. Hebrew is read from right to left.
The sofer takes at least one year to write out the Torah.
He is not allowed to write from memory. He must copy from a book of the Torah, and keep checking for mistakes. Letters must not be smudged or touch another letter.
If the sofer makes a mistake; he scrapes of the letters using a glass tool.
 
The most sacred word that he writes is the Hebrew name for God. He cannot correct this-he must start the whole sheet of parchment again. The sheet with the error on it is buried in Jewish cemetery.
When all sheets of parchment are finished they are sewn together  and wound around wooden rollers.
The Torah is regarded as holy and is decorated as beautifully as possible.

Questions on Judaism

  1. What language do the Jewish people speak?
Jewish people speak Hebrew.
  1. How do the Jewish people read Hebrew?
It is read from right to left.
  1. Why is Israel important to the Jewish People?
Israel is important to the Jewish people because it was the Promised Land, promised to Abraham and Moses by God.
  1. When was the present state of Israel formed?
The present state of Israel was formed in 1948.
  1. What makes it unique in the world?
Israel is the only Jewish state in the world.
  1. Who is the chosen prophet if Judaism?
Moses is their chosen prophet.
  1. What do the Jews believe God thinks of their people?
They believe God thinks they are the Chosen people who have a special covenant with God.
  1. How do the three main religions differ in their view of Jesus?
In Judaism it is believed that Jesus was not the Messiah, in Christianity it was believed that Jesus was the peoples saviour.
  1. Why do the Jewish people not celebrate Christmas?
Jewish people do no celebrate Christmas because Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ the saviour and the Jewish do not believe Jesus was the saviour/Messiah.
  1. What festival do they celebrate instead?
Hanukah is celebrated by Jewish people instead of Christmas.
  1. What event is celebrated at this festival and what is the significance of the number 8?
The number 8 is significant because the after Greek soldiers seized the Jewish temple in 168 B.C.E it was regained and then cleansed by burning ritual oil for 8 days. It was said that the oil they had would only last 1 day, but miraculously it lasted the full 8 days.

  1. What is the name of the sacred text of the Jewish people?
The Torah is the sacred Jewish text.
  1. How is their text similar to the Christian Bible?
It is the same as the Old Testament of the Christian bible
  1. How many commandments do the Jewish people have to follow?
There are 613 commandements.
  1. What is the name of the leader of a Jewish religion?
A Rabi is a Jewish priest.
  1. What is a Talis?
A Talis is a Jewish ‘prayer shawl’.
  1. What is a Tefilin?
A Tefilin is a box holding a Torah.
  1. What is a Kippah?                                                                            
A Kippah is a cap worn on the head by Jewish men.
  1. What is the word used to describe the food Jewish people can eat?
The food Jewish can eat is called Kosher.
  1. Where is the only Kosher Mc Donalds?
The only Kosher McDonalds is in Israel.
  1. Why is a Cheese burger not Kosher?
A cheese burger is not Kosher because dairy and meat can’t be eaten in the same meal.





The History of Religion

What is religion?

It has many different definitions but its basics are:
  • the worship of a God or gods
  • guidelines about how to behave
  • answers to life's biggest questions

What are beliefs?
Beliefs are what one follows; they are a set of rules or guidelines followed by person of religion. However it is also and individual or groups' values on how they commit to life and what they do.

Animism: The earliest kind of religion that was developed while humans were living as hunter-gatherers. It is the belief that humans/animals have spirits.
Polytheism: Belief in many gods. The first human civilisations followed different types of polytheism.
Pantheism: The belief that everything is part of one god. Hinduism is more Pantheism than Polytheism.
Monotheism: Belief in only one God.  This was what the Jews started following and is in the Old Testament.
Agnosticism: Uncertainty about God or Gods. Some Greek thinkers were moving away from religion and developing ideas in science and philosophy.
Atheism: Belief in no Gods

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Old Testament Stories

Genesis-Story of creation

When did it occur?
3000BC

Who are the main characters?
Adam, Eve and God

What happened?
God creates man (Adam) and Eve is created from one of Adams ribs and they live in the Garden of Eden. A snake tempts Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and they do eat it against Gods word. They are then banished from the Garden.

Why is it important?
It is the story of creation. Adam and Eve create the original sin which everyone is born with.

Exodus-Exit

When did it occur?
1200BC

Who are the main characters?
Moses

What happened?
Moses leads his people from slavery/Egypt and heads to the Promised Land.

Why is it important?
He was the most important phrophet to the Jews. Like Abraham God tells Moses he will give him the Promised Land. Gos also tells him the commandments.

Samuel-David and Goliath

When did it occur?
900BC

Who are the main characters?
David and Goliath

What happened?
David lost his name to the throne and then slayed Goliath to become king again.

Why is it important?
The star of David was established.

Revelations-Judgement Day

What Happened?
The apocalypse. People would be punished for there sins.

Why is it important?
It is something that couuld destroy mankind.




Sunday, July 17, 2011

Judaism Introduction

Origins
Judaism is one of the 3 Prophetic Monotheistic Religions in the world, the other two are Christianity and Islam.


It is prophetic as there were numerous Prophets who predicted the coming of a Messiah, Monotheistic as they believe in one God-mono (one) Theology (belief/ study of God).
 
History
Jews are an ancient people of around 3000 years old, their history is told in the bible and is traced back to Abraham of around 1900 BC (before common time era)


The Jews have been known as Jews, Israelites and Hebrews. (Jesus was a Jew, however the Jews accept Jesus as a wise man, but not he chosen Messiah as Christians believe, hence Judaism predates and heavily influences Christianity, but is not part of Christianity).


Abraham 
Abraham is one of the first recorded leaders of the Hebrews in the Bible. He was a wealthy man who was called by God to leave his land and move from Ur to Canaan, or Israel as it is called today.


Abraham heard the call of the Lord to stop believing in pagan Gods (like God of wind, God of Mountain etc.) and he followed God's request and led his people from Mesopotamia to Canaan. This journey is recorded in the book of Genesis. We can map his journey here.


Genesis
Day 1- Day and Night
Day 2- Waters and Earth
Day 3- Plants
Day 4- Light and Dark
Day 5- Fish, Bird and Animals
Day 6- Man
Day 7- Relaxes


Abraham


Who is Abraham?
Abraham is the father of the Jewish, Christian and Islam religions. He was the first Jew to worship one God.


What did Abraham believe? How was it different to the people of the time?
Abraham believed in one God and that God was the only creator. In comparison to Abraham's beliefs in one God; other Jews believed in many Gods and worshipped different idols.


What do you think a Covenant is and what Covenant did God make with Abraham?
A covenant is a understanding, promise or a committment. God promised Abraham to make a great nation, to make him a father of many nations, to bless everyone in his name and the promised land.


What sacrifice was Abraham requested to make and why did God ask this of Abraham?
He was asked him to sacrifice (kill) his son, Isaac for him. God asked this of Abraham to see if he truly loved him and was loyal/devoted. Patriarch means father.  



What does the word Patriarchs mean? http://www.jewfaq.org
Patriarch means father. The three Patriarchs are Abraham, jacob and Isaac.