Group Questions1. List all of the facts that you know about

JUDAISM…See how many you can list.

2. See if you can reconstruct a basic historical timeline of the Jewish people from Creation to the First Century.

Judaism in The World~ 14 Million

Judaism in America• Orthodox 1,000,000• Conservative 2,000,000

• Reform 1,300,000

Folk ReligionThe lived, everyday practices of religion by common laypersons.

(May be very different from the “official” definitions of the religion by professionals)

JUDAISM OT History

• Early Period• The Patriarchs• Egypt & Sinai• Conquest & Judges• The United Kingdom• The Divided Kingdom• Exile & Restoration• Greek Occupation & Hasmonean Kingdom• Roman Occupation

JUDAISM• Biblical Writings

• The Mishnah• Halakah – deals w/ application of laws

• The Talmud• Authoritative source of Jewish law & tradition• Haggadah – stories illustrating the application

of law

JUDAISMKEY PERSONS

Abraham

KEY PERSONS Abraham Moses

JUDAISM

Moses

KEY PERSONS Abraham

DATE about 2000 BCLOCATION Middle East

JUDAISM

KEY WRITINGS The Tanakh (Old Testament),

especially the Torah (first five books of the Old Testament)

The Talmud (explanation of the Tanakh)

Teachings of each branch: Orthodox Conservative Reform

Writings of sages, such as Maimonides

JUDAISM

WHO IS GOD? God is spirit.

To Orthodox Jews, God is personal, all-powerful, eternal, and compassionate.

JUDAISM

God is spirit. To Orthodox Jews, God is

personal, all-powerful, eternal, and compassionate.

WHO IS GOD?

Bible

“Yahweh,” the sacred name of God, as written in Hebrew

To other Jews, God is impersonal, unknowable, and defined in a number of different ways.

There is no Trinity.

JUDAISM

Jesus is seen either as an extremist false messiah or a good but martyred Jewish rabbi (teacher).

Many Jews do not acknowledge Jesus at all. Jews (except for Messianic Jews and Hebrew

Christians) do not believe Jesus was the Messiah or the Son of God, or that he rose from the dead.

Orthodox Jews believe the Messiah will restore the Jewish kingdom and eventually rule the earth.

Bible

WHO IS JESUS?JUDAISM

Some Jews believe that the Holy Spirit is another name for God’s activity on earth.

Others say that the Holy Spirit is God’s love or power.

Bible

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?JUDAISM

Some Jews believe that prayer, repentance, and obedience to the Law are necessary for salvation.

Other Jews believe that salvation is the improvement of society.

HOW TO BE SAVED

Bible

JUDAISM

Some Jews believe there will be a physical resurrection.

The obedient will live forever with God; the unrighteous will suffer.

Some Jews do not believe in a conscious life after death.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH

Bible

JUDAISM

OTHER BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Meeting in synagogues on the Sabbath (Sabbath is Friday evening to Saturday evening).

Circumcision of males.

JUDAISM

OTHER BELIEFS AND PRACTICES Many holy days and festivals,

including… Passover Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication) Rosh Hashanah (New Year) Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Purim

Jerusalem is considered the holy city.

JUDAISM