Senior High School

VP GREEN VALE ACADEMY, INC

17C, HAGKOL, VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON

SCHOOL
First ID: 405069
Semester
(Final Module)
Module: Judaism
Date Submitted: _____________ Rating:_____________
Objectives:
 Recite the Ten Commandments as stated in the Old Testament
 Identify a Jewish custom or tradition demonstrated in a movie
 Justify: the core teaching of Judaism is the covenant of one God with a chosen people vs. other people with many
gods
 Identify a story from the Old Testament that demonstrates the Jewish belief in one God

LESSON/LECTURE:

J udaism is an ancient monotheistic religion that traces its origin as an organized belief system during the
Bronze Age in West Asia. The religion of the Jewish people, Judaism is one of three Abrahamic religions that also
include Christianity and Islam. It is the religion professed by the Jews known as the ―people of the Book‖ in
reference to their sacred text written covering nearly a thousand years and formalized as a canon of teaching by
the end of the first century C.E. The picture below is the Torah which is the most important text of the Jewish
people. It contains the ―Five Books of Moses‖ and many sacred laws. The Jews consider themselves as the
people chosen by God to serve as an exemplar of devotion and purity to humankind.
It is quite difficult to study key events in the historical foundation of Judaism without discussing the history of
the Jewish people from the time of the Hebrews’ mass departure from Egypt or the Exodus. During the 20th
century, the growth in their population has remained sluggish for quite a long time as it grew to only 25% after the
catastrophic event called Holocaust.
According to a 2014 report, there were around 14 million Jewish people representing 0.2% of the entire world
population. The largest concentration of Jews can be found in Israel, North America (United States and Canada),
and Central Europe. Other countries with sizable Jewish population include France, United Kingdom, Russia,
Argentina, Germany, and Australia.
Torah which in the hif'ilconjugation means "to guide/teach,‖ is the central reference of the religious
Judaic tradition.
ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING
1. Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world that originated in West Asia.
2. The Jewish people consider themselves as the chosen people of God as they must provide an example to the world of their moral behaviour

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 MOTIVATIONALACTIVITY
Challenge yourself by arranging the jumbled letter words.

1. ENGSIES 6. WEJSHI
2. BHRAAMA 7. SOMES
3. CNANAA 8. ISIAN
4. TANEPUETCH 9. BWEREHS
5. COBAJ 10 . UDISAMJ

CONCEPTMAP

JUDAISM

Sacred Worships Beliefs and

Scriptures and Doctrines Subdivisions
Observances

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
It is quite difficult to separate the history of Judaism from the history of the Jews themselves (Parrinder 1971).
The ancestors of the Jews were groups of Semites called Hebrews whose origin can be traced in the desert lands
of Arabia (Brown 1975). The origin of the Jewish people and the beginning of Judaism are recorded in the first
five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Pentateuch. As a religion and culture, Judaism has three notable founding
figures or patriarchs, namely, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These biblical patriarchs are the physical and spiritual
forebears of the Jewish people and their narratives can be found in Genesis 12-50 of their scripture.
Judaism is anchored upon God’s revelation to Abraham that He is the creator and ruler of the universe, and
that He loves His creatures and demands righteousness from them (Losch 2001). God chose Abraham and his
family from all the people living on earth as recorded in Genesis 12. After a series of tragic events involving
humankind, God entered into a covenant with Abraham promising him that he would become the father of a great
nation and would possess vast tracts of land. Abraham, in return, must remaindevoted to the covenant. He would
become the embodiment of uprightness and holiness to the world. Later on, he was succeeded by his son Isaac,
his grandson Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons (Hopfe 1983).

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 These patriarchs are depicted as nomads in biblical stories. According to tradition, Abraham’s original name
was ―Abram‖ who was born in the city of Ur of the Chaldeas around 1800 B.C.E. Questioning the folly of idol
worship, Abram left his home and family to heed the call of God en route to Canaan situated on the western side
of the Fertile Crescent. The Jewish people believe that they descended from a tribe in Canaan located in the
eastern Mediterranean presently occupied by Israel, Jordan, and Syria (Bowker 1997).
A covenant has been established between God and Abram, and Abram must prove his worth to this agreement
by way of tests of faith throughout his lifetime. While Abram and his wife Sarai were initially childless, Abram bore
a son to Sarai’s Egyptian handmaid Hagar. He was named Ishmael who is considered as the ancestor of the
Arabs. However, Ishmael was not the heir to God’s promise. God changed Sarai’s name to ―Sarah,‖ meaning
―princess‖ or ―noblewoman.‖ Later in life, the old Abram and Sarah had a son named Isaac, the heir to God’s
covenant and the ancestor of the Jewish people. Abram’s name was changed to ―Abraham‖ or the ―the father of
many nations.‖ Abraham’s story is narrated in Genesis 11-25 of the Hebrew Bible.
The most difficult trial given to Abraham came when God commanded that he sacrifice his own son Isaac at an
altar in Mount Moriah. Abraham obeyed by building a fire and tying up Isaac. With Abraham’s obedience being
put to the test, an angel stopped him and he was eventually reunited with his son. A ram was instead sacrificed in
place of Isaac.
Later on, Isaac married Rebecca who bore him twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Always in constant strife, the
younger Jacob bought Esau’s birthright and tricked his father Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing as the eldest
son (Bowker 1997). Jacob fled to his uncle’s house to escape Esau’s fury. Later on, Jacob returned home and
reconciled with Esau. A close encounter with an angel merited him a change of name from Jacob to ―Israel‖ which
means ―the one who wrestled with God.‖ The Jewish people are referred to as the ―children of Israel.‖ Among four
different women, Jacob fathered twelve sons and one daughter. The twelve sons who became the ancestors of
the tribes in Israel were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph,
and Benjamin. After being sold to slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph was brought to Egypt where his ability
to see and interpret visions earned him a place in the court as a vizier, a position next only to the pharaoh. As
famine struck Canaan, Jacob and his family were forced to settle in Egypt.
While the book of Genesis ends with a great nation emerging from Abraham’s descendants, the book of Exodus
begins with them crying out for deliverance from Egyptian bondage (Hopfe 1983). They were not in Canaan as
initially promised but were under enslavement in Egypt. As centuries passed and the descendants of Israel grew
in number, the alarmed pharaoh decreed that all male children be put to death by throwing them to the river.

GUIDE QUESTION
What important roles were played by the patriarchs in laying the foundation for the establishment for Judaism?

A woman from Levi’s tribe, Jochebed, secretly placed her youngest child in a woven basket and sent him down
the Nile River. The pharaoh’s daughter, Bithia, found the child, rescued him, and reared him as her own.
Jochebed volunteered to nurse the child, now named Moses, who was raised within the Egyptian royal family.
At the age of forty, Moses killed an Egyptian in defense of a slave and fled to the Sinai desert where he spent
the next forty years as a shepherd (Hopfe 1983). On Mount Horeb, Abraham’s God revealed himself to Moses as
he spoke through a burning bush that was not consumed. Revealing God’s name as ―Yahweh,‖ he commanded
Moses to return to Egypt and demand the release of Israelites from slavery. After his initial refusal, the Egyptian
pharaoh conceded after the ten miraculous and horrific plagues were inflicted by God upon Egypt and its people,
most especially the plague on the firstborn. While the firstborn sons of every Egyptian household would die, sons
of Israelites would be saved if they marked their door posts with the blood of lamb killed in sacrifice. In that fated
night, the lamb must be cooked and eaten with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. This is known as the
Passover, an important Jewish festival.
The Israelites were banished from Egypt with Moses leading them across the Red Sea (Yam Suphor ―Sea of
Reeds‖ in some accounts). When the pharaoh changed his mind and began to pursue the fleeing Israelites,
Moses parted the Red Sea that allowed them to cross the water and reach the dry lands of Sinai. Meanwhile, the
pursuing Egyptian chariots were drowned after the waters receded. This event called Exodus became part of
Jewish history that manifested Yahweh’s intervention to deliver his chosen people (Hopfe 1983).
Another significant event in Jewish history was the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. These
supreme laws, which are basic to the Jewish people, were communicated to the Israelites through Moses during
their time in the wilderness. Moses eventually united the different tribes into one group and consecrated to the
worship of the one living god (Brown 1975). Forty years after the Exodus, Moses died in the desert within reach of
the ―Promised Land.‖

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SOCIO-POLITICAL DYNAMICS OF JUDAISM
The Old Testament gives us ideas on socio-political dynamics of Judaism. Understanding the Jewish concepts on
politics and society would help us understand the historical development of Judaism as one of the world’s
religions and see its relevance in contemporary times.
The Jewish concept of leadership based on the Old Testament directs us to certain types of leadership, one of
which is kingship as the ideal form of government. This can be deduced from the chronicles of the Kings of Israel
and Judah, as well as in the Book of Deuteronomy, which stated, ―Let me put a king over me like all the nations
that are around me‖(Deut. 17: 14-15). In relation to the idea of kingship, the concept of ―covenant‖ between the
ruler and the ruled is equally important as well in Judaism. Just as God the Fatherentered into a covenant with
His people (such as the covenant between God and Abraham), the same should also be true for the King and his
subjects. Thus, socio-political dynamics can also be described as following the model of tribal federation in which
various tribes and institutions shared political power. Although they practice communal living, there were certain
people who hold important positions in society with regard to their roles in Judaism, such as the rabbi who
functions as a teacher and interpreter of the Jewish law and customs. Thus, it can be deduced that for the Jews,
politics, society, culture and religion are all interconnected, thus Judaism is not only considered as a religion but
as a way of life as well.

MOVIE REVIEW
Watch one of these films: Exodus: Gods and Kings, Ten Commandments, Prince of Egypt, and Moses.
Write a movie review based on your knowledge about the story of Moses. Was the film biblically
accurate? Discuss the movie and share your insights.

SACRED SCRIPTURES
The Jewish people have been called the ―people of the Book‖ in reference to the Hebrew Bible (Tanakhor Mikra)
that has been the authority, guide, and inspiration of the many forms of Judaism that have evolved throughout the
different periods of time and in various places (Parrinder 1971). Composed over a period of almost a thousand
years, collections within the Bible became established in its full canonical form by the end of the first century C.E.
(Parrinder 1971).
According to the Jewish tradition, the Hebrew Bible is divided into three principal sections, namely the Torah,
Nevi’im, and Ketuvim. The foundational text Torah (―Teaching‖) is composed of the first ―Five Books‖ or the
Pentateuch traditionally believed to have been authored by Moses through divine instruction in Sinai. These
include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Apart from containing basic laws for Jewish
self-understanding, the Pentateuch also narrates the history, religious statues, and moral regulations for
individuals and society, ceremonial rites and creation stories by Yahweh, and the origin and growth of mankind
(Braswell 1994). Meanwhile, the Nevi’im(―Prophets‖) is subdivided into Earlier Prophets, Later Prophets, and
twelve minor prophets. Prophets served as spokespersons who criticize the hypocritical practices of Jewish
rituals. They were specifically chosen by God to preach his message to the people. Lastly, the
Ketuvim(―Writings‖) form the third section of the Tanakhthat contains works on poetry, temple ritual, private
prayer, philosophical explorations, and other canonical works.
In the strictest sense, Torah refers to the ―Five Books of Moses.‖ However, it can also pertain to the entire
Hebrew Bible known as the Old Testament to non-Jews but Tanakh(or the ―Written Torah‖) to the Jews. Broadly
speaking, Torah could mean the whole body of Jewish laws and teachings.
Another sacred writing of Judaism is the Talmud (or the ―Oral Torah‖) which means ―study.‖ All studies and
interpretations done by Jewish rabbis or teachers of the Torah are contained in the Talmud. In short, the Talmud
is an authoritative collection of rabbinic interpretations of the sacred scriptures. It contains materials of law and
moral codes. Around the second century C.E., this oral law was compiled and written down as Mishnah or a
restatement of the law by a respected opinion. The next few centuries witnessed the writing of an additional
strand of commentaries in Jerusalem and Babylonia about the Mishnah. Known as Gemara, it includes legends,
folklores, and sayings (Brasswell 1994). The Mishnah and Gemaracomprise the Talmud that was completed in
the 5th century C.E. Serving as the foundation for all Jewish laws codes, the whole Talmud contains 63 tractates
that is often printed over 6,200 pages long. Apart from being a book of law, the Talmud is also a fountain of
religious thought and inspiration similar to the Pentateuch (Jurji 1946).

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The Pentateuch is the single most important scripture for the Jewish people that became the source of their
inspiration and direction for centuries. It became the foundation of other essential Jewish writings, such as the
Talmud and Mishnah. With all these codified laws and legal materials, Judaism has become a religion of the law
and the Jews as the chosen people have shown obedience to God’s covenant throughout their long and
tumultuous history (Hopfe 1983).

BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES

In Judaism, actions are more significant than beliefs. However, while Judaism has no dogma, there is definitely a
place for belief within the religion since it focuses on the worship of one god, the practice of good deeds, and the
love of learning (Brasswell 1994). For the Jews, there is one everlasting god who created the universe in its
entirety and remains the master of it (Parrinder 1971).
Human beings were created by God who provided them the capacity to decide what is right and wrong, and
gave them the freedom and responsibility for their own actions (Losch 2001). Humans have the ability to restrain
their evil intentions because of their propensities for both good and evil (Parrinder 1971). For Jews, all human
beings are created equal. While God can communicate with humans through revelations, humans can also
commune to him by means of prayers and meditations.
With regard one’s Jewishness, a Jew is someone whose mother is a Jew, although some sectors recognize
the children of Jewish fathers as Jews, too. While a Jew may not lose one’s technical status as a Jew by
converting to another religion, he or she loses the religiosity emanating from his or her Jewish identity. A person
may also convert to Judaism, but he or she has to undergo numerous rituals.

WEBLINK
Choose and read one story in the Talmud and report it in class. Visit http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/293976/jewish/From-the-Midrash.htm.
You may also retell the story through role-playing or making ashort video.

ARTICLES OF FAITH
Perhaps the closest approach in having an acceptable creed in Judaism was proposed by the eminent medieval
Jewish philosopher Moshe ben Maimon (also known as Rambam or Moses Maimonides) during the latter part of
twelfth century C.E as an appendix to his commentary on the Mishnah. According to Moshe ben Maimon, the
minimum requirements of Jewish belief as listed in his thirteen principles of faith are as follows:

Jewish Principles of Faith

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

Source: “What Do Jews Believe,” Judaism 101, http://www.jewfaq.org/beliefs.htm

These statements of belief were eventually constructed as credo with every article beginning with ―I
believe‖ and then later versified, set to music, and included in prayer books (Jurji 1946). Though controversial
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 when first formulated and evoked much criticism or even disregarded for many centuries, these principles
are generally accepted nowadays by the Jewish community.

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments are a set of absolute laws given by God to Moses at the biblical Mount Sinai that shall
govern the life of every Israelite. Most scholars consider this period as the official beginning of Judaism as an
organized and structured belief system. These laws are twice mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, particularly, in
Exodus and in Deuteronomy.

The 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:2-17

―I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
You shall have no other gods before Me.
―You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For
I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquityof the fathers upon the children to the third and
fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My
commandments.
―You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes
His name in vain.
―Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh
day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor
your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six
days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.
Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
―Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is
giving you.
―You shall not murder.
―You shall not commit adultery.
―You shall not steal.
―You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
―You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his
female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.‖

The 10 Commandments in Deuteronomy 5:6-21

―I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have
no other gods before Me.
―You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For
I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and
fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My
commandments.
―You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes
His name in vain.
―Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor
and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you,
nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey,
nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant
may rest as well as you. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God
brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God
commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
―Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be
long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
―You shall not murder.
―You shall not commit adultery.
―You shall not steal.
―You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
―You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male
servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.‖
Source: “10 Commandments List,” Life Hope & Truth. https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/10-commandments/the-ten-
commandments/10-commandments-list/

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 Inscribed on two stone tablets, these commandments present God’s complete and enduring standard for
morality. These include instructions to venerate only one god, to honor one’s parents, and to observe the Sabbath
as a holy day. Meanwhile, some proscribed acts that are pointed out in the commandments include idolatry,
infidelity, murder, theft, and deceit. For more than three thousand years, the Ten Commandments have been
embraced by almost two thirds of the entire world population.
Apart from the Ten Commandments that form the theological basis of other commandments, there are also 613
mitzvotor laws found within the Torah (as identified by Rambam) that guide the Jewish people in their daily living.
Traditionally, there are 248 positive and 365 negative commandments within the Torah (Parrinder 1971). These
include laws about the family, personal hygiene, diet, as well as duties and responsibilities to the community.

WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

The Jewish community utilizes a lunar calendar with twelve months, each beginning at the new moon of 29 or 30
days. Every festival and Sabbath commences and terminates at dusk (or sunset) rather than midnight in
adherence to the biblical pattern. The Jewish calendar is followed in observance of festivities, holidays, and
community and family celebrations (Brasswell 1994). Jewish holidays are special days observed to commemorate
key events in Jewish history and other events that depict the special connections with the world, such as creation,
revelation, and redemption.

Sabbath
The most important day in the Jewish calendar is the Sabbath (or Shabbat) which commemorates God’s
completion of the creation of the universe and his rest after the six-day toil (Parrinder 1971). This is the fourth law
within the Ten Commandments. It begins a few minutes before sunset on Friday and runs until an hour after
sunset on Saturday or almost 25 hours to be precise. At Friday sundown, Sabbath candles are lighted and
kiddush(―sanctification‖) is recited over wine or grape juice. Children are then blessed by their parents. Jews must
abstain from work and must study the Torah. Some work prohibitions include lighting fires, using money, and
writing. The Sabbath ends through the symbolic ritual of havdalah(―division‖) done by dousing wine on candles
and smelling sweet spices.

The Days of Awe

Tishri is the seventh month in the ecclesiastical year of the Jewish calendar. The first ten days of Tishri are called
the ―Days of Awe‖ (YamimNoraim) wherein the first two days comprise the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the
tenth day as the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the ten-day period of
penitence leading to the Yom Kippur and is distinguished from other days by blowing a ram’s horn trumpet
(shofar) in the synagogue and eating apples dipped in honey which is symbolic for a sweet new year. Using the
shofar, a total of one hundred notes are soundedeach day. All Jews must undergo self-reflection and make
amends for all the sins they have committed. Rosh Hashanah is also a day of judgement wherein God assesses
one’s deeds and decides what lies ahead of him or her in the following year. These deeds are recorded in the
―Book of Life‖ and sealed on Yom Kippur. Work is not permitted during the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur is the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish calendar that brings the period of repentance to its
conclusion. The eve of the day is called KolNidrei(―all vows‖) which are the opening words of a prayer. The words
and music of the KolNidreiare said to be the most powerful single item in the Jewish liturgy. A day of fasting and
praying for absolution of one’s sins, it provides every Jew an opportunity for both personal and communal repen-
tance (Parrinder 1971). One must also refrain from eating and drinking, even water. Additional restrictions include
washing and bathing, using perfumes, wearing leather shoes, and engaging in sexual relations. Symbolizing
purity, it is customary for the Jews to wear white during the holiday. An entire day must be spent in the synagogue
while reciting prayers. Another blowing of the ram’s horn ends the final prayer service.

Pilgrimage Festivals
During the olden days, the Torah commanded the ancient Israelites to go to Jerusalem on three pilgrimage
festivals and participate in the worship at the Temple. Also called the ShaloshRegalim, these are Pesach
(Passover), Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost), and Sukkot (Tabernacles). These festivals spiritualize human life and
merge nature and history in a divine pattern (Jurji 1946).

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 Pesach is an eight-day festival that originally marked the beginning of the barley harvest (Parrinder 1971). Its
principal purpose is to commemorate and recreate the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt. A festive meal (seder) is
celebrated wherein the story of Exodus is narrated by the heads of the family to the children.
Shavuot is a two-day festival that was originally a celebration of the wheat harvest. Presently, it is now being
held to commemorate the revelation of the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai.
Sukkot is a nine-day festival commemorating the autumn harvest and the forty years of the Israelites’ stay in the
desert wilderness subsisting solely on the bounty of God. Temporary booths or structures (sukkah) are built in
homes with a roof through which one can see the stars in the sky. This is an attempt to recreate Israelite life in the
desert.

Other Important Days

There are many feasts and festivals celebrated by the Jewish people. The family assumes the principal
responsibility for worship, religious education, and moral behavior (Braswell 1994). Rituals and ceremonies are
done both at home and in the synagogue.
Other important events in the Jewish calendar include the Hanukkah, Purim, and the Independence Day of the
State of Israel. Hanukkah (―Festivalof Lights‖ or ―Feast of Dedication‖) is a celebration to commemorate the
victory of Jewish fighters against the Seleucid Empire in 165 B.C.E. Purim (―Feast of Esther‖) celebrates the
deliverance of the Jews during the Persian Empire, specifically from the vizier Haman who wanted to annihilate all
Persian Jews as recorded in the Book of Esther.
A brief outline of important dates and holy days in the Jewish calendar is presented below with their
approximation in the Gregorian calendar.

Jewish Months and Festivals

Nisan (March or April)
14 – Passover Eve
15-21 Passover
Iyyar (April or May)
5 – Israel’s Independence Day
Sivan (May or June)
6, 7 – Shavuot
Tishri (September or October)
1 – Rosh Hashanah
10 – Yom Kippur
15 – Sukkot
21 – Hashanah Rabbah
22 – SheminiAtzeret
23 – Simchat Torah
Kislev (November or December)
25 – Hanukkah begins up to the second of Tebet (December or January)
Adar (February or March)
14 – Purim

Source: George W. Braswell, Jr., Understanding World Religions, p. 89.

Halakha
Because Judaism is also a comprehensive way of life, Jewish people follow a set of rules and practices that
govern their everyday living. Collectively called halakhawhich translates as ―the path that one walks,‖ these are
Jewish religious laws derived from the ―Written Torah‖ and ―Oral Torah‖ including the 613 mitzvot. Jewish laws
contain directions on how to revere God and treat other people and animals. Halakhainstructs Jews what to do as
they wake up in the morning, what foods to eat, what clothes to wear, who to marry, and how to observe Sabbath
and holy days. When properly observed, halakhaincreases one’s spirituality as even mundane acts become
essential to his or her existence.
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Synagogues
Synagogues are Jewish temples of worship, instruction, and community fellowship that contain separate rooms
designed for specific activities, such aspraying and studying. In Orthodox Judaism, men and women sit
separately at the synagogues; in Reform Judaism, they sit altogether in temples.
Similar to a Christian church, synagogues have seats facing an elevated platform with one or two lecterns or
chair. The central feature at the platform (bimah or tebah) and the holiest spot inside a synagogue is the ark
where the Torah scrolls are kept. Reminiscent of the original Ark of the Covenant, an ark inside a temple is
normally placed in a manner that when people face the ark, they are facing in the direction of Jerusalem. An
ornate curtain (parochet) veils the ark while a lamp or lantern (nertamid) burns before it symbolizing the
constantly lit six-branched lampstand (menorah) in the Temple of Jerusalem (Braswell 1994).
While a Jewish layman may lead a prayer service during Sabbath if there are 10 adult males present (minyan),
the religious leader is oftentimes a trained rabbi. He delivers sermon and interprets the Torah. The rabbi serves
as a pastor, administrator, and counselor.

The Temple
Around 1003 B.C.E., David conquered Jerusalem and made it his capital. Bringing with him the ―Ark of the
Covenant,‖ David intended to build a temple to become the first and fixed place of worship for the Jews. However,
God told David that it would be one of his sons who will have the privilege of accomplishing this task.
The Hebrew Bible acknowledged Solomon, David’s son, as the builder of the First Temple in Jerusalem around
1000 B.C.E. which was also known as Solomon’s Temple. Within the temple, the most important room was the
―Holy of Holies‖ where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. The ark contained the tablets of the Ten
Commandments and the Pentateuch. The First Temple became the focus of Jewish worship for four hundred
years until Nebuchadnezzar II and the Babylonians completely destroyed the structure in 587 B.C.E during the
siege of Jerusalem. Allegedly located in Temple Mount or Mount Zion, the remains of the First Temple have never
been found and the ―Ark of the Covenant‖ has continually been shrouded in mystery.
In 353 B.C.E., the Jews began to rebuild their temple under the Persian king Darius who ratified their effort.
The Second Temple was completed in 349 B.C.E. and was substantially altered under Herod around 20 B.C.E.
(Douglas 2007). This Second Temple lasted for about 420 years until the Romans razed Jerusalem in 70 C.E. All
but a portion in the western section was completely destroyed. Presently, this is the famous ―Western Wall‖
(―Wailing Wall‖ or Kotel) that has been a popular site of prayer and pilgrimage for the Jews throughout many
centuries.
For Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, a Third Temple will be established before the coming of the messiah.
Prophesized in the Book of Ezekiel, it will be known as ―Ezekiel’s Temple‖ that will become a lasting structure and
serve as permanent abode of the God of Israel. The concept of messiah or mashiach(―anointed one‖) in Judaism
pertains to a great political humanleader descended from David who shall accomplish prearranged things in the
coming future, such as bringing of Jews to Israel, rebuilding a new temple in Jerusalem, and establishing Jewish
law as the law of the land (Jurji 1946).

SUBDIVISIONS
Being one of the oldest religions in the world, Judaism has undergone various changes in response to changing
times and cultures brought about by key historical events or philosophical upheavals. While there are certain
beliefs shared by most adherents, differences and diversity in faith also abound among Jewish denominations
and sects. Within Judaism are three present-day movements that emerged in response to the modern and
secular culture of Europe and America. These are Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative Judaism. Two other
smaller sects, namely Hasidism and Kabbalah, are mystical approaches to the Jewish religion that emphasize
spiritual experiences over rational knowledge.
Orthodox Judaism is the most traditional of modern Judaism that adheres to the authority of the entire Torah
as given to Moses by God at Mount Sinai. The Torah is the sole authority that must be strictly followed until the
present time. As it considers itself the sole and genuine heir to the Jewish tradition, it rejects all other Jewish
movements as undesirable deviations from the original Jewish religion.
Reform Judaism (Liberal or Progressive Judaism) is considered the most liberal expression of Judaism that
subjects religious laws and customs to human judgment. To a certain extent, it developed due to internal changes
in Judaism as well as other factors operating within society. Members of this denomination sought to adhere to
the original teachings of Judaism while allowing some changes in their traditions. For example, services were
permitted to be conducted in mixed Hebrew and English, no longer conducted solely in the Hebrew language.
Moreover, women were also accorded equality in terms of sitting together with men in synagogues and allowing
them to become rabbis unlike in other denominations.
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 Largely developed in the 20th century, Conservative Judaism seeks to conserve the traditional elements of
Judaism while at the same time allowing for modernization that is less radical than Reform Judaism. The
application of new historical methods of study in the light of contemporary knowledge but within the limits of
Jewish law may be applied to safeguard Jewish traditions. Gradual change in law and practice is allowed only if
such occurrence is in harmony with Jewish traditions. Because Conservative Judaism falls halfway between the
two other major Jewish denominations, it is sometimes described as traditional Judaism without fundamentalism.
Hasidism or Hasidic Judaism emerged in Germany during the twelfth century. It was largely a spiritual movement
that gives prime importance to asceticism and experience as a result of love and humility before God. During the
eighteenth century, a modern Hasidic movement was started in Poland by Baal Shem Toy (―Master of the Good
Name‖) as a reaction to the excessive legalistic nature of Judaism during that time.
Lastly, Kabbalah is another mystical form of Judaism that attempts to penetrate deeper into God’s essence itself.
While Kabbalists believe that God moves in mysterious ways, they also hold that genuine knowledge and
understanding of that inner process is achievable. In the end, the most fulfilling relationship with God can be
accomplished. One important commentary on the Torah that underpinned Kabbalah is the Zohar (―Splendor‖ or
―Radiance‖) that first appeared in Spain in the thirteenth century.

SELECTED ISSUES
Women in Judaism
Women’s role in the Jewish religion is determined by the Tanakh, the ―Oral Torah,‖ and Jewish customs. Mishnah
instructs that women must follow nearly all the negative commandments except trimming the beard and viewing a
dead body. Women must also follow all positive commandments not structured by time but are exempted from
those that are restricted by time. The reason here is quite simple, that is, to release women from laws that they
find difficult or impossible to perform given their traditional domestic roles, such as giving birth, taking care of the
family, and accomplishing household chores. In addition, women have the right to be consulted on matters
concerning marriage. Judaism offers tremendous respect to roles given to women as wives and mothers. Even
Jewishness or the question of Jewish self-identification is passed down through the mother.
For Orthodox Judaism, there exist different roles for men and women in their religious lives. For example, it is
sufficient for any woman to understand the practical nature of the Torah, but she is traditionally excused from
furthering her education beyond that knowledge. In addition, she is dissuaded from studying the Talmud and
other complex Jewish writings up until the twentieth century. However, provision for education for Jewish women
has progressed rapidly in the past century. One interesting phenomenon in Judaism is the concept of agunotor
married women who wish to divorce their husbands but whose husbands decline to do so. In Orthodox Judaism,
only the husbands are given this privilege.
Meanwhile, Conservative Judaism has acted upon several areas that enable women to actively participate in
Jewish rituals thereby minimizing legal disparity between men and women. For example, women can now read
the Torah in public and be counted as part of a minyan.
Lastly, Reform Judaism affirms that men and women should be equal in terms of performing their duties within
the Jewish community. Prayer books have been revised in order to avoid words and pronouns that appear male
in character. Jewish patriarchs and matriarchs must be placed side by side whenever they are mentioned in
prayer books. While men and women generally sit separately in most synagogues, Reform Judaism has allowed
women to sit together with men.
It is also worth mentioning that in Judaism, God is neither male nor female. The Talmud likewise mentions both
positive and negative remarks about women. The presence of women in the Hebrew Bible is also noticeable. For
example, Miriam, the elder sister of Moses and Aaron, is considered one of the liberators of the children of Israel.
In addition, Deborah, being one of the judges, is the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. Finally, seven out
of the 55 prophets of the Bible were women, namely, Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, and
Esther. Numerous feminist leaders of the twentieth century are also Jewish, including the two American activists
Gloria Marie Steinem and Betty Friedan. Respect to women has always been part of the Jewish culture.

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Jewish Diaspora and Zionist Movement
In the 16th and 17th centuries, there had been calls to persuade the Jews to return to Palestine. During the late
18th century, the Haskalah(―Jewish Enlightenment‖) movement promoted Jewish assimilation to Western secular
culture (Parrinder 1971). In the early 19th century, the idea of Jewish returning to Palestine was kept alive by
Christian millenarians or believers of divine intervention that will ultimately bring a new world order. However,
these movements failed in their objectives. In 1881, a state-supported mob attack or pogrom against the Jews
occurred in Ukraine. While a pogrom was aimed to persecute religious, racial or national minorities, this violent
riot became frequently directed at Jews. From 1881 to 1884, over 200 pogroms occurred in the Russian Empire.
As a result, Russian Jews emigrated to the US and Western Europe (Perry 1988).
At the end of the nineteenth century, the Hungarian journalist and political activist Theodor Herzl founded the
Zionist movement that advocated the return of Jews to EretzYisraelor ―Land of Israel.‖ The term zion, also a
Jewish synonym for Jerusalem, came from the name of a mountain where Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem was
located. Originally secular in nature, supporters of this movement are called Zionists.
The Zionists believed that Jews as the chosen people of God will be reunited from dispersion or exile back to
their rightful homeland. The dispersion of Jewish communities outside Israel that have continually occurred since
ancienthistory is called diaspora. Leon Pinsker, another Zionist pioneer and activist, published his work Auto-
Emancipation in 1882 that urged the Jewish people to strive for independence and appealed for the
establishment of a Jewish colony in Palestine.
Eventually, Zionist activities in the US became influential in garnering American congressional and presidential
support that led to the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. Since that time of establishment, the Zionist
movement has come to promote the development and protection of Israel.

Holocaust
The term Holocaust is of Greek origin that means ―sacrifice by fire.‖ In history, Holocaust pertains to the
methodical, bureaucratic, and state-sponsored persecution and execution of around six million Jews undertaken
by the Nazi regime and its collaborators from 1933 to 1945. For the Hitler-led Nazis, the Germans were racially
superior and considered themselves as the master race as compared to the Jews who were seen as inferior
people. Hitler’s police chief, Heinrich Himmler, also believed in Aryan superiority leading to the enslavement and
extermination of ―non-Aryans‖ and the inferior race (Perry 1988). He was one of the German officials directly
responsible for the holocaust.
Another high-ranking German official, ReinhardHeydrich, became the chief planner of the Nazis to wipe out the
Jews in Europe (Perry 1988). Other groups that were considered inferior were the Romani (or gypsies), some
Slavic peoples (such as the Poles and Russians), and even the physically and mentally handicapped.
Nonetheless, the Jews were perceived as the major threat to the German racial community that had to be
exterminated en masse especially since there were over nine million Jews in Europe by 1933.

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Hungarian Jews being selected by Nazis to be sent to the gas chamber at Auschwitz concentration
camp.

From 1941 up until 1945, Heydrich’s plan called the ―Final Solution to the Jewish Problem‖ was implemented by
the Nazis with the main objective of annihilating European Jews through genocide or murder of an entire group of
people (Parrinder 1971). It came to be known as holocaust. Jews were arrested, brought to death camps,
became victims of mass shootings, and placed in gas chambers, while others were beaten, starved, and tortured
to death. Still others became subjects of ruthless medical experiments (Perry 1988). Apart from the six million
Jews who lost their lives, around 200,000 Romani and 200,000 disabled patients became victims of Nazi policies.
The Nazis also targeted Jewish children for extermination to create a biologically pure Aryan society. The killing of
Jewish children aimed to prevent the emergence of a new generation of European Jews. As a result, about one
and a half million children were murdered all across Europe.

Anti-Semitism
The term anti-Semitism pertains to hostility towards and discrimination against the Jewish people that was
strongly felt in France, Germany, Poland, and Russia in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The term was
popularized in Germany around 1870s. The most common manifestations of anti-Semitism were the many violent
riots or pogroms undertaken against the Jews. The planned extermination of the entire Jewish race during the
time of the holocaust was the most extreme form of anti-Semitism. Other forms of anti-Semitic activities include
the persecution and massacre of Jews throughout history.
Political parties that were anti-Semitic in character were founded in Germany, France, and Austria. Quite notable
was the Nazi Party formed in 1919 that provided political articulation to theories of racism and achieved popularity
through dissemination of anti-Jewish propaganda. Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf (My Struggle) called for the removal
of Jews from Germany. These deplorable activities continued with the Nazi’s rise to power as the party that called
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 for economic boycotts against the Jews, burned Jewish books and enacted laws that were anti-Jew. On the night
of November 9, 1938, coordinated deadly attacks were carried out by the Nazis that destroyed synagogues and
shop windows of Jewish-owned stores throughout Germany and Austria. More than a thousand synagogues were
burned and over seven thousand Jewish businesses were destroyed or damaged. The event was known as
Kristallnachtor ―Night of Broken Glass,‖ referring to the shards of broken glass that littered the streets.

Summary
• The origin of the Jewish people and the beginning of Judaism are recorded in the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the
Pentateuch.
• Judaism has three notable founding figures or patriarchs, namely, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These biblical patriarchs are
the physical and spiritual forebears of the Jewish people.
• Judaism is anchored upon God’s revelation to Abraham that he is the creator and ruler of the universe, and that he loves
his creatures and demands righteousness from them.
• The Jewish people have been called the ―people of the Book‖ in reference to the Hebrew Bible (Tanakhor Mikra) that is
divided into three principal sections, namely the Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim.
• Jewish beliefs and doctrines are manifested in the Articles of Faith, in the Ten Commandments, and in the 613 mitzvotor
laws.
• Jewish holidays are special days observed to commemorate key events in Jewish history and other events that depict the
special connections with the world, such as creation, revelation, and redemption. These include Sabbath, Days of Awe,
and pilgrimage festivals.
• Synagogues are Jewish temples of worship, instruction, and community fellowship.
• At present, the three major denominations of Judaism are Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative Judaism.

ASSESSMENT

Write the letter of the correct answer on the blanks provided.

_____ 1. The rabbinic interpretation of the sacred scriptures a. Anti-Semitism

_____ 2. Philosopher who formulated the ―13 Principles of Faith‖ b. Heinrich Himmle
_____ 3. Eve of the Day of Atonement c. Sukko
_____ 4. Form of discrimination against Jewish people d. Rambam
_____ 5. The police chief of Adolf Hitler during the Holocaust e. Torah
_____ 6. The most important scripture of Jewish people f. Pentateuch
_____ 7. Nine-day feast which recreates the 40-year stay of g. Talmud
Israelites in the desert
_____ 8. Contains basic laws for self-understanding, origin of h. Reform Judaism
mankind, and Yahweh’s creation story
_____ 9. The denomination of Judaism that promotes women i. Kol Nidrei
equality in synagogues and in being a rabbi
_____ 10. The pharaoh’s daughter who raised Moses j. Bithia

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REFERENCE

BOOKS
Adams, Charles J. (ed.) A Reader’s Guide to the Great Religions (Second Edition). New York: The Free Press, 1965.

Bowker, John. World Religions. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 1997.

Braswell, George W. Understanding World Religions (Revised). Tennessee: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994.
Brown, David A. A Guide to Religions (TEF Study Guide 12). Quezon City: New Day Publishers, 1987.
Douglas, David. The Atlas of Sacred and Spiritual Sites: Discover places of mystical power from around the world.
London: Godsfield Press, 2007.
Hopfe, Lewis M. Religions of the World (Third Edition). New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1983.
Jurji, Edward J. The Great Religions of the Modern World. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1946.

Losch, Richard R. The Many Faces of Faith: A Guide to World Religions and Christian Traditions. Michigan: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2001.
Murphy, John. The Origins and History of Religions. Manchester : Manchester University Press, 1949.
Parrinder, Geoffrey (ed.). World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present. New York: Facts On File, 1971.
Perry, Marvin. A History of the World (Revised Edition). Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1988.
The Desk Encyclopedia of World History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

INTERNET SOURCES
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November 19, 2015)
―Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews,‖ Judaism 101. http://www.jewfaq.org/ashkseph.htm (accessed November 19,
2015)―Babylonian Talmud,‖ Jewish Virtual Library. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Talmud/talmudtoc.html
(accessed November 17, 2015)
―Children and the Holocaust,‖ BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holocaust/children_1.shtml
(accessed November 19, 2015)
―Intermarriage Q&A,‖ Jewish Outreach Institute. http://www.joi.org/qa/denom.shtml (accessed November 17, 2015)

―Introduction to Holocaust,‖ Holocaust Encyclopedia. http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005143

(accessed November 19, 2015)
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