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What is Judaism?A few things you need to know
Holidays
Why do Jewish holidays keep changing dates?
The Jewish calendar The Chinese calendar works the same way The Muslim calendar is also similar
Holidays
When does a Jewish Holiday Start and End?
How long is a Jewish holiday? A Jewish "day" starts at sunset, and
holidays start the evening before the day on your secular (everyday) calendar.
"Erev Passover"
Holidays: Passover Commemorates the Exodus from Egypt Celebrated for seven or eight days Usually overlaps with Easter, though
occasionally occurs a month after Easter
Holidays: Passover Almost all American Jews observe
Passover to some extent Most American Jews avoid bread and
grain products in memory of the fact that our ancestors left Egypt in a hurry and didn't have time to wait for their bread to rise
Holidays: Passover Strictly observant Jews Jewish law requirement Most American Jews ignore law Similar to Thanksgiving
Holidays: Rosh Hashanah The Jewish New Year Between Labor Day and Columbus Day Happy, festive holiday A time to look back A time to prepare for Yom Kippur "Twice-a-year Jews"
Holidays: Yom Kippur The Jewish day of atonement
fasting repentance
Near Columbus Day Most Jews take off from work or school How do you pronounce the name of this
holiday? "Yom" rhymes with "home" and “ Kippur" sounds like "key poor" with emphasis on the
"poor."
Holidays: Chanukkah Chanukkah is the festival of lights Celebrates the rededication of the Temple in
Jerusalem Victorious Jews needed to light the Temple's
menorah (candelabrum) Only enough oil to last one day It would take eight days to prepare more oil. The oil lasted for eight days.
Begins between Thanksgiving and Christmas
Holidays: Chanukkah Almost all Jews light candles with their families Almost nobody takes off from work or school Not a Jewish Christmas!
Very minor holiday NOT about
Joy to the world Peace on Earth Presents
IT IS about Lighting candles Playing games Eating food
Holidays: Chanukkah So why the gifts?
So children don’t feel left out!
Is Chanukkah important? No, because
It is not a big deal Yes, because
It asserts Jewish identity
Other Jewish Terms
Zionism A political movement dedicated to the
creation of a Jewish state NOT a religious movement The Holocaust increased need The British were unable to come up with a
solution
Other Jewish Terms
Zionism In 1947, they handed the problem to the
newly-founded United Nations Developed a plan
The surrounding Arab nations Did not recognize the validity of Israel Fought wars
Other Jewish Terms Torah Means different things in different contexts
Refers to the Five Books of Moses: Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy
Also refers to the whole body of Jewish law and teachings
Other Jewish Terms
The Talmud Basically an "Oral Torah"
Explains what the scriptures mean How to interpret them How to apply the Laws
From Moses to present day
Other Jewish Terms
The Talmud Not easy to read
Like class notes Gaps in reasoning Concepts are in shorthand Biblical verses referenced by only two or
three words
Preserves a variety of views
Other Jewish Terms Kabbalah (or Cabbala) Helps find answers to important
questions Is there a heaven and hell? What happens to the soul after death? What is the nature of God and the universe?
In Judaism, these questions are wide open to personal opinion
Other Jewish Terms
Kabbalah (or Cabbala) Mysticism in Judaism Since the earliest days Many mystical stories
Visitations by angels Prophetic dreams Visions
Other Jewish Terms
Kabbalah (or Cabbala) Some take mysticism very seriously Others take mysticism with a grain of
salt The mystical school of thought came to
be known as Kabbalah, from the Hebrew root meaning "to receive, to accept."
Credits
All information in this PowerPoint was obtained from www.jewfaq.org