Judaism

Republic of the Philippines

Week 4
Department of Education
National Capital Region
DIVISION OF CITY SCHOOLS
– MANILA

Module 4
Manila Education Center Arroceros Forest Park
Antonio J. Villegas St. Ermita, Manila

Introduction to World
Religions & Belief
Systems

Most Essential Learning Competency:

Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental
beliefs, practices, and related issues of Judaism.
 HOW TO USE THIS MODULE
Before starting the module, I want you to set
aside other tasks that will disturb you while enjoying
the lessons. Read the simple instructions below to
successfully enjoy the objectives of this kit. Have fun!

1. Follow carefully all the contents and instructions

indicated in every page of this module.
2. Write on your notebook the concepts about the
lessons. Writing enhances learning, that is
important to develop and keep in mind.
3. Perform all the provided activities in the module.
4. Let your facilitator/guardian assess your answers
using the answer key card.
5. Analyze conceptually the posttest and apply what
you have learned.
6. Enjoy studying!

PARTS OF THE MODULE

• Expectations - These are what you will be able to

know after completing the lessons in the module.

1
• Pre-test - This will measure your prior knowledge
and the concepts to be mastered throughout the
lesson.
• Looking Back to your Lesson - This section will
measure what learnings and skills did you
understand from the previous lesson.
• Brief Introduction - This section will give you an
overview of the lesson.
• Discussion - This section provides a short
discussion of the lesson. This aims to help you
discover and understand new concepts and skills.
• Activities - This is a set of activities you will
perform with a partner.
• Remember - This section summarizes the concepts
and applications of the lessons.
• Check your understanding - It will verify how you
learned from the lesson.
• Post-test - This will measure how much you have
learned from the entire module.

2
 Lesso

n 1 Judaism: Basic Beliefs

EXPECTATIONS

You will examine the brief history, core

teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and
related issues of Judaism.
Specifically, this module will help you to:
• Understand the history of Judaism and its
founders
• Analyze sacred texts which reflects the life and
values Jewish culture
• Articulate understanding of one’s religious
beliefs, and practices by exploring their own
origins

Let us start your journey in learning more on the brief history, core teachings, fundamental
beliefs, practices of Judaism. I am sure you are ready and excited to answer the Pretest.
Smile and cheer up!
 3

PRETEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and
write it on a separate sheet of paper.

1. A religion in which people believe in only one god

is known as
a. An atheistic religion c.apolytheistic religion
b. A monotheistic religion d.agnostic atheism
2. In a Jewish Faith, a __________ is both a teacher
and a leader of religious ceremonies.
a. Rabbi b. Sabbath c. Yorah d. Guru

3. One of the most important Jewish religious text

is the _________.
a. Torah b. Kabbalah c. Koran d. Yorah

4. Ten commandments gave people guidance for

___________
a. dietary procedure
b. self-restraint and appropriate behavior
c. setting up a city
d. cultural purposes
5. The Torah includes _______
4
a. commandments
b. recipes
c. articles
d. the first five books of the Jewish Bible
6. What did the early Jewish people call their God?
a. Yahweh b. Baal c. Allah d. Brahman
7. Who gave Judaism its fundamental laws?
a. Abraham b. David
b. c. Moses d. Isaac
8. According to the Torah, God promised Abraham
he would have as many descendants as there are
stars in the sky. The name Abraham means
a. Promise land c. Father of many
b. Keeper of the covenant d. Messiah
9. Moses received the Ten Commandments after
they left Egypt. What was their flight from Egypt
called?
a. The Crusade b. The Sabbath
b. c. The plague d. The Exodus
10. According to the Torah, how did the Hebrews
escape from the Egyptian army?
a. A plague of locusts killed the Egyptian army
 b. Moses parted the waters of the Red Sea long
enough for the Hebrews to cross
c. They left while the Egyptian soldiers were
5
resting and worshipping on the Sabbath.
d. Moses promised the Egyptian soldiers that
they will bring them to the Promised Land.
Great, you finished answering the questions. You may
request your facilitator to check your work.
4
Congratulations and keep on learning!

LOOKING BACK TO YOUR

LESSON

(Critical thinking, Communication)

To prove your understanding of the past lesson, you
should be ready to accomplish this
task. You may do the following.
Directions:
1. One of the most significant functions of religion is
that it encourages moral values. Now, how does it
help you become a better person?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
 BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. The

Hebrews maintained the 6monotheistic belief which
originated in the Hebrew Bible also known as Tanakh
and the other sacred writings such as Talmud, the
written version of Jewish oral law (Mishnah), and
explanations and interpretations of Mishnah (Gemara)
that were unique in the ancient world. Judaism as
considered by its religious leaders and followers is the
expression of the covenantal relationship God
established with the children of Israel.

This module provides you with an introduction to

the religion of Judaism. Specifically, the Jewish
religious history, its developments as well as sacred
texts which reflect the life and values of Jewish
culture.

DISCUSSIONS

Historical Background
Judaism claims a historical continuity spanning
more than 3,000 years. Judaism has its roots as a

7
structured religion in the Middle East during the
Bronze Age. Of the major world religions, Judaism is
considered one of the oldest monotheistic religions.
The Hebrews or Israelites were already referred to as
“Jews” in later books of the Tanakh such as the Book
of Esther, with the term Jews replacing the title
“Children of Israel”. Judaism’s texts, traditions and
values strongly influenced later Abrahamic religions,
including Christianity, Islam and the Baha’i Faith.
Many aspects of Judaism have also directly or
indirectly influenced secular Western ethics and civil
law.

The term Judaism derives from the Latin

Iudaismus , which derived from the Greek Ioudaïsmos
. This ultimately came from the Hebrew Yehudah or ”
Judah .” The first appearance of the term Judaism
appears in the book of Second Maccabees, dated to
the 2nd century BCE (https:U31T
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_history)U31T .

Jewish Groupings

Around the 1st century CE there were several

small Jewish sects: the Pharisees , Sadducees ,
Zealots , Essenes , and Christians . After the

8
destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, these
sects vanished.

• Christianity survived, but by breaking with

Judaism and becoming a separate religion.
• The Pharisees survived but in the form of
Rabbinic Judaism (today, known simply as
“Judaism”).
• The Sadducees rejected the divine inspiration of
the Prophets and the Writings, relying only on the
Torah as divinely inspired. Consequently, a
number of other core tenets of the Pharisees’ belief
system (which became the basis for modern
Judaism), were also dismissed by the Sadducees.
• The Samaritans practiced a similar religion, which
is traditionally considered separate from Judaism.
Like the Sadducees who relied only on the Torah,
some Jews in the 8th and 9th centuries rejected the
authority and divine inspiration of the oral law as
recorded in the Mishnah (and developed by later
rabbis in the two Talmuds), relying instead only upon
the Tanakh.

Over a long time, Jews formed distinct ethnic

groups in several different geographic areas —
amongst others, the AshkenaziT43 Jews (T43 of central

9
and Eastern Europe), the SephardiT43 Jews (43T of
Spain, Portugal, and North Africa), the Beta43T Israel
of Ethiopia , and the43T Yemenite43T Jews from the
southern tip of the Arabian 43T Peninsula. Many of
these groups have developed differences in their
prayers, traditions and accepted canons; however
these distinctions are mainly the result of their being
formed at some cultural distance from normative
(rabbinic) Judaism, rather than based on any
doctrinal dispute.

T31

Founder of Judaism
The origins of Jewish faith are explained
throughout the Torah. According to the text, God first
revealed himself to a Hebrew man named
Abraham, who became known as the founder of
Judaism. Jews believe that God made a special
covenant with Abraham and that he and his
descendants were chosen people who would create a
10
great nation. Abraham’s son Isaac, and his grandson
Jacob, also became central figures in ancient Jewish
history. Jacob took the name Israel, and his children
and future generations became known as Israelites.
More than 1,000 years after Abraham, the prophet
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt after being
enslaved for hundreds of years. According to
scriptures, God revealed his laws, known as the Ten
Commandments, to Moses11at Mt. Sinai.

Varieties of Judaism
In line with the diaspora of the Jews, contemporary
Judaism is not a singular religion but a number of
religions. Given the richness of its history it is not
surprising that there are cultural differences in Judaism.
There are certain culturally based groups, such as the
Sephardic Jews, who came from west Israel and
sometimes Spain; the Ashkemazic who came from central

Europe; the Falashas who are in Ethiopia (Molloy

2005, 327-328)
1. Orthodox Judaism. They are typically known for
their strict observance of traditional Jewish law
and rituals. For example, most believe Shabbat
 shouldn’t involve working, driving or handling
money. It is also known for its diverse sect that
includes several subgroups, including Hasidic
Jews. Hasidic Jews emphasize a mystical
experience with God that involves direct
communion through prayer and worship.
2. Reform Judaism is considered a liberal category of
the religion that values ethical traditions over
strict observance of Jewish laws. Followers of this
group promote progressive ideas and adaption.
3. Conservative Judaism. Followers of this form of
Judaism somewhere between Orthodox and
Reform Judaism while allowing for some
modernization
4. Reconstructionist Judaism. This sect believe that
Judaism is a religious civilization that is
constantly evolving. Reconstructionism dates
back to 1992 when Mordecai Kaplan founded the
Society for the Advancement of Judaism
5. Humanistic Judaism. Followers of this form of
Judaism celebrate Jewish history and culture
without an emphasis on God.
 While there are various denominations of
Judaism, many Jews don’t identify with a particular
classification and simply refer themselves as Jewish.

The Sacred Writings of Judaism

12
Judaism is the oldest of the Abrahamic religion,
and its primary text is the Tanakh, or the Jewish
Bible, which is composed of the Pentateuch (Torah),
the Prophets (Nevi'im) and the Writings (Ketuvim).
Tanakh is an acronym that stands for the three
sections of the Hebrew Bible. Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) is
an account of the Israelites’ relationship with God
from their earliest history until the building of the
Second Temple (c.535 BCE). Abraham is hailed as the
first Hebrew and the father of the Jewish people. As a
reward for his act of faith in one God, he was
promised that Isaac, his second son, would inherit the
Land of Israel (then called Canaan). Later, Jacob and
his children were enslaved in Egypt, and God
commanded Moses to lead the Exodus from Egypt.

According Rabbi Menachem Posner, an editor

staff at Chabad.org, the world’s largest Jewish
informational website, “studying these texts is a
sacred act in which one connects to God on the
deepest level”. He enumerates the list of sacred book
that can be found in a basic Jewish library:

1. Five Books of Moses

(Torah) – often
referred to as the
Torah, when in
scroll format. It is
the very foundation
of Judaism. Until
this very day, the text— which was written in
Hebrew over 3,000 years ago—has been
carefully preserved by the Jewish people. It
is also known as the Chumash or
Pentateuch (related to the respective Hebrew
and Greek words for “five”). The books were
written by Moses, as dictated by God
Himself. Jewish people view every letter and
nuance as a sacred communication from
God, laden with meaning and significance.
They contain 613 mitzvahs—Divine
commandments which shape the lives of
Jewish people everywhere.
2. Psalms (Tehillim)-
The Five Books of
Moses are followed
by 19 other books
which comprise the
14
Prophets (Neviim) and Writings (Ketuvim).
Collectively the set is known as Tanach. Each
of these
Source: https://www.chabad.org/library/article
books is a treasured revelation of the Divine
Wisdom, but one in particular has found a
special place in the Jewish heart: the Book of
Psalms (Tehillim). Its 150 chapters—
compiled by King David—express the deep
faith, yearning, and joy that are part and
parcel of being a Jew.
a. Nevi’im - The term is the pluralized form
of a Hebrew word that means prophet43T
. This section includes the historical
books in the T43 Hebrew Bible (e.g.
Joshua, 43T T43 Judges, I and II Samuel, I
and II Kings) along with the major
prophetic books (e.g. Isaiah, Jeremiah,
and Ezekiel) and minor prophetic books
 (e.g. Amos, Habakkuk, Joel, Obadiah,
etc.). It is about the stories and writings
of the Jewish leaders which recount
Jewish history and call for repentance
and obedience.
b. Kethuvi’in -The term is the pluralized
form of a Hebrew word that means
writingT43 . This section is more or less a
catch all for T43 various literary genres
including petitionary literature (Psalms
and Lamentations), wisdom Literature
(Proverbs, Job,
Ecclesiastes), and one apocalyptic text
(Daniel).

3. Megillah (Book of Esther) - One of the last

books added to the Biblical canon is the Book
of Esther, also known as the Megillah
(“Scroll”). One of five megillahs included in
the canon, Esther is the only one commonly
read from a handwritten parchment scroll. It
tells the dramatic Purim story, in which
Queen Esther is the Divinely-placed heroine
through whom the Jewish people who live in
the sprawling
 Persian empire are saved from Haman’s evil
scheme of annihilation. The Megillah is read
twice every Purim, once in the evening and
again in the morning

4. Mishnah-
Throughout 16
the years, the
sages developed a
body of oral
traditions to
accompany the laws of the Torah. In the
tumultuous years following
the destruction of
the
Second Source: https://www.chabad.org/library/article
Temple in Jerusalem, Rabbi Judah the
Prince compiled many of these rabbinic
traditions into a wide-ranging text, known as
the Mishnah (“repetition” or “learning”).
Divided into six “orders” (volumes), the
Mishnah is the foundational text of rabbinic
law.
5. Talmud The Talmud (/31T ˈtɑːlmʊd, 46T31 -4631T
məd,T 3146 ˈ3146T
tæl-/;31T Hebre31T
w:T31 ְַ
‫)ּתלְמּוד‬ is the
central text of
Rabbinic31T Judaism
a31T nd the primary
17
source of Jewish religious law (halakhT31 a)31T
and Jewish theologT31 y.T31 The Talmud was
the centerpiece of Jewish cultural lif31T e T31
and was foundational to "all Jewish thought
and aspirations", serving also as "the guide
for the daily life" of Jews. It has two
components; Source:
https://www.chabad.org/library/article the
Mishna31T h T31 (Hebrew: ‫משנה‬, c. 200), a
written compendiu31T m T31 of Rabbinic
Judaism's Oral Tora31T h;31T and the GemarT31
a 31T (Hebrew: ‫גמרא‬, c. 500), an elucidatioT31 n
31T of the Mishnah and related 31T Tannaitic
31T writings that often ventures onto other
subjects and expounds broadly on the
Hebrew31T
Bible.31T
6. Zohar - One of the
preeminent sages of the
Mishnah was Rabbi
Shimon ben Yochai, who
flourished in Israel during
the era of Roman
oppression. He was also a
master teacher of the Kabbalah, the “hidden”
18
part of Jewish tradition. Many of his
teachings, especially those from right before
he passed away, were collected into the
Zohar, an Aramaic text that typically fills
three volumes and has been arranged to
correspond Source:
https://www.chabad.org/library/article to the
weekly Torah portions.
7. Mishneh Torah is also called “Torah Review”,

is an organized encyclopedia of halachic

rulings culled from all rabbinic literature

created by Rabbi Moses Moimonides to

provide layman who could not

access to practical guidance for day-to-day

living (halachah).
8. Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law)

Known in Hebrew as Shulchan Aruch (“Set

Table”), the Code of Jewish Law provides
day-to-day instructions extracted from
Maimonides’ code and other commentaries. It
was written by Rabbi
19 Yosef Caro (1488-
1575), a Sephardic sage who lived in the holy
city of Safed in the north of Israel. Shortly
after it was published, Rabbi Moshe Isserles,
an Ashkenazi rabbi in Krakow, Poland, added
glosses in which he notes anytime
Ashkenazic tradition differs from Rabbi
Caro’s rulings.
9. Siddur (Prayerbook)
The Jewish prayers were composed by
the Anshe Knesset Hagedolah,“Men of the
Great Assembly”—a panel of 120 prophets
and sages comprising the ultimate religious
authority at the onset of the Second Temple
Era. In addition to the Amidah (“Silent
Prayer”) and other compositions, the Jewish
prayers include sections of Scripture, notably
the Shema a selection of Psalms.
 10. The Tanya - provides a roadmap to the
soul and invaluable advice for maintaining
joy, inspiration, and consistency throughout
life’s challenges.

20

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1. Create a Pie Graph

Objective: To compare and analyze the different
monotheistic religions in the world
Directions:
1. Identify some of the important monotheistic
religions and create a pie graph in which you
show the relative size of each religion.
2. Write your answer on a separate paper (short
bond paper) for submission. Use short folder.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. What does your pie graph tell you? How does it
influence you in your relationship with your God?
 2. What are your realizations or discoveries when
doing the task? (Include this answer in your
folder)

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

21

What do you believe?

Directions: Considering your knowledge about

Judaism and the Jewish people belief in one true God,
you too will prove such faith by:

1. Describing your personal belief through a collage,

poem or a song. These beliefs may link to a
religion, moral values or even a belief in the best
basketball team etc.,

2. Answering the guide Questions:

a. What do you believe and why?
 b. Who influenced you holding such belief/s?
(e.g. parent, friend, other influences etc.).
And what role do they play in believing such
faith?

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Based on the activity, what are your

realizations or discoveries when doing the
task? (Include this answer in your folder)

22

REMEMBER

 Judaism is considered one of the oldest

monotheistic religions.
 Jews are an ethno-religious group and include
those born Jewish and converts to Judaism. The
largest Jewish religious movements are Orthodox,
Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism.
 Traditional Judaism maintains that a Jew,
whether by birth or conversion, is a Jew forever.
Thus a Jew who claims to be an atheist or
 converts to another religion is still considered by
traditional Judaism to be Jewish
 Jewish ethnic groups in several different
geographic locations the AshkenaziT43 Jews (T43
of central and Eastern Europe), the Sephardi43T
Jews (T43 of Spain, Portugal, and North Africa), the
Beta43T Israel of Ethiopia , and theT43
Yemenite43T Jews from 43T the southern tip of the
Arabian Peninsula.
 Different classification of Judaism based on their
observances: Orthodox
Judaism, Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism,
Reconstructionist Judaism, Humanistic Judaism
 Judaism is the oldest of the Abrahamic religion,
23
and its primary text is the Tanakh, or the Jewish
Bible, which is composed of the Pentateuch
(Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im) and the Writings
(Ketuvim).
Tanakh is an acronym that stands for the three
sections of the Hebrew Bible.

POST TEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and
write it on a separate sheet of paper.
1. One of the most important Jewish religious
text is the _________.
a. Torah c. Kabbalah
b. Koran d. Ketuvim
2. Tanakh or Jewish Bible is composed of
__________.
a. Pentateuch or Torah
b. Nevi’im (the prophetic books
c. Ketuvim (Writing))
d. Genesis
3. These books were written by Moses as
dictated by God Himself
a. Shemot c. Nivi’im
b. Ketuvim d. Pentateuch
24
4. A religion in which people believe in only one
god is known as
a. an atheistic religion
b. a monotheistic religion
c. a polytheistic religion
d. an agnostic atheism
5. The Torah includes _______
a. The first five books of the Jewish Bible
b. Commandments
c. Recipes
d. Articles
6. This form of Judaism maintains that a Jew,
whether by birth or conversion, is a Jew
forever
a. Traditional Judaism
b. Orthodox Judaism
c. Reform Judaism
d. Conservative Judaism
7. Followers of this form of Judaism believe
that celebration of Jewish history and
culture can be celebrated without an
emphasis on God.
a. Humanistic Judaism
b. Conservative Judaism
c. Reform Judaism 25

d. Traditional Judaism
8. This refers to the historical books in the
Hebrew Bible.
a. Megillah c. Torah
b. Ketuvim d. Nivi’im
9. He is the founder of Judaism
a. Abraham c. Isaac
b. Moses d. Ishmael
10. It is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism
and the primary source of
Jewish religious law
 a. Talmud c. Zohar
b. Mishnah d. Siddur

Lesso Judaism: The Covenant in

n 2 Practice

26

EXPECTATIONS

You will examine the brief history, core

teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and
related issues of Judaism.
Specifically, this module will help you to:
 • Analyze the fundamental beliefs, and practices
of Judaism
• Develop students’ appreciation for the Jewish
culture and traditions
• Conduct a comparative study on commonalities
of the Jewish practices and other religious
practices that can be found across religious
traditions.

Let us start your journey in learning more on the brief history, core
teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices of Judaism. I am sure you are
ready and excited to answer the Pretest. Smile and cheer up!

27

PRETEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and
write it on a separate sheet of paper.
1. According to Judaism, the ideal of life is.
a. Living harmony with c. Strictly t
the will of God adhering o
Jewish dogma
b. Achieving balance and
d. eliminating
desire
harmony with nature
2. Which holiday represents the Jewish New Year?
a. Passover c. Rosh
hashanah
 b. the Sabbath d. Hanuka

3. The first king who build the first temple to show

that Israel was the greatest nation was
a. Saul c. Solomon
b. David d. Abraham
4. The Jewish book ____________ includes what
Christians refer to as Old
Testament
a. The tanakh c. the Shofar
b. The Talmud d. the covenant
5. The story of __________ has become a reminder to
all Jews of God’s protection
28 and his special
relationship to them.
a. Exodus c. revelation
b. Genesis d. Leviticus
6. The first covenant that God made was with
____________.
a. Noah c. Jesus
b. Moses d. Abraham
7. What is the most sacred text of Judaism?
a. Talmud c. Bible
b. Tenakh d. Torah
8. What is a Jewish place of worship?
a. Synagogue c. mandir
b. Church d. Mosque
 9. The person considered the father of the Jewish
people
a. Abraham c. Solomon
b. Moses d. David
10. The Hebrew believed in one God. This is
called
a. Polytheism c. capitalism
b. Monotheism d.imperialism

Great, you finished answering the questions. You may

request your facilitator to check your work. Congratulations and keep on learnin

29

LOOKING BACK TO YOUR

LESSON

To prove your understanding of the past lesson, you

should be ready to accomplish this task. You may do
the following.
Directions: Explain that Judaism is truly a
monotheistic religion. Use separate sheet of paper for
your answer.

Directions:
 1. Explain that Judaism is truly a monotheistic
religion. Use separate sheet of paper for your
answer.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

BRIEF INTRODUCTION
In the previous lesson you have learned that
Judaism is the religion of the
Jewish people, based on principles and ethics
embodied in the TaNaKh or Jewish Bible. It is one of
the first recorded monotheistic
30 religion and among the
oldest religious traditions still in practice today. And
its origin dates back to Abraham, the Patriarch and
progenitor of the Jewish people.

In this module, we will discuss Judaism’s beliefs,

practices and traditions. Also, this module will provide
you opportunity to compare and contrast the Jewish
culture and traditions with other cultures and
practices that you have learned in the previous
lessons.

DISCUSSIONS
Major beliefs and Teachings

God and His Nature

In Judaism, God has been conceived in a variety
of ways. Traditionally, Judaism holds that YHWH, the
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the national
God of Israelites, delivered the Israelites from slavery
in Egypt.

In Jewish thought, God is understood in many

forms. The table below shows the traditional
interpretations of the concept of God and its influence
to the Jewish beliefs and culture.
31

Influence of
Nature What do Jews Source of Belief (how
of believe wisdom and does this
God authority affect
(Evidence) Jewish
beliefs,
attitude,
behaviour,
actions?)
God as God as one In Exodus when - Jews
One means that God gave Moses believe
God is always the 10 that God
present in Commandments should be
people’s lives, he said ‘I am praised so
every sight they the Lord your they will
go to the
see, sound they God”. This
Synagogue
hear, and shows he is one. to pray.
experience they
are aware of is
 regarded as a
meeting with
God.
God as - Jews believe Genesis 1 says - Jews
Creator that God “When God remember
created the began to create the
universe out the seventh
of nothing. heaven and day
He created it earth..” In of creation
exactly how Genesis it because
he wanted it says God made
to be. it holy.

32
- The Book of “Let us make - This
Genesis in man with our reminds
the Torah image and them
- describes the likeness….in every
creation week that
the image of
story. It God is
God he
took four important
created him.” and is the
days for God
to get the creator.
universe fit
to support
life and a
further two
days to
create all
living
creatures.
On the
seventh day
God rested
and made it
holy.
God as - Jews believe In Exodus - By
lawgiver that God gave God obeying
them free gave Moses the
will. God the 10 mitzvot
wanted to Commandme Jews
help the Jews nts believe
to choose to that they
like ‘Do not
do the right are doing
kill’ and
thing with what God
their free will ‘Keep the requires
so he gave Sabbath day of them
them holy.’ and
commandme fulfilling
nts his will
(mitzvot). on earth.

God as - Jews believe 33 The Ten - Jews will

Judge that God not Commandme celebrate
only gave nts Rosh
them laws to (Exodus 20:1- Hashana
follow, but h by
15)
also judges reflecting
them for how on their
well they behaviour
follow these over the
- laws. They year and
believe that to say
God judges sorry for
everyone – anything
whether they they have
are Jew or done
not – based wrong.
on their
actions,
behavior and
beliefs.
 Jews believe
there are
two main
times when
God judges
them:
during the
festival of
Rosh
Hashanah
(the Jewish 34
new year) and
after death.
The - Jews believe - God - Shekhina
Divine that God is appeared h can
Presence present on as a help
(Shekhina earth and burning Jews
this is what bush when understa
h)
the word he spoke to nd
Shekhinah Moses. suffering,
means. - When God as it
• In the Torah gave Moses means
God is also the 10 God is
sometimes Command alongside
described as a ment them.
cloud or a s he
pillar of fire. appeared as
This was a a dense
symbol of cloud.
God’s
presence
among his
people. .
Source: https://www.st-gregorys.org.uk/140/y11-re-exam-revision-information/83
Religious Observance, Festivals,
35 and Days of
Significance

Ceremonies and Rites

Different life-cycle events are important to Jewish

people, it shows their unending search toward
kedushah (meaning “sanctification”), which is a goal of
Jewish religious living.

a. Birth
The birth of a child is regarded as a blessing
from God and an occasion for deep gratitude.
Traditionally, a daughter would be named in the
synagogue on the first Sabbath following her
birth. A son is named at the Brit Milah ("Covenant
of Circumcision") on the eighth day. The
circumcision is performed by an official called a
mohel. Through the ceremony of circumcision the
child is brought into the Covenant of Abraham
and enters into the
Community of Israel. When young people reach
the age of 13, there is a special ceremony among
the Orthodox for boys only and among Reform
and

36
 Conservative Jews for girls as well. The young
person is called to the reading of the Torah and
may be counted henceforth in the minyan for the
congregational worship. A boy is called a Bar
Mitzvah ("Son of the
Commandment"), and a girl is called a Bat
Mitzvah or Bas
Mitzvah ("Daughter of the Commandment").
b. Marriage
The Jewish marriage ceremony takes place
under a canopy (chupah), which is a symbol of the
bridal chamber. The traditional ceremony begins
with a blessing of betrothal (engagement) and is
followed by the kiddushin, in which the groom
places a ring on the index finger of the bride's
right hand and says,
"Behold, thou are consecrated unto me with this
ring according to the Law of Moses and Israel."
Liberal Jews will often use two rings, allowing the
bride to recite her formula to the groom. A
traditional marriage contract (ketubah) is then
read. Written in Aramaic, it lists the
responsibilities of the husband for the care and
support of the bride. In Liberal ceremonies the

37
 traditional ketubah may be replaced by a personal
statement of the bride and groom to each other.

c. Death
Jews believe death as part of God’s Plan.
They believe that Jews should not die alone, if
possible. The dying person’s family should visit
and look after them. It is considered an act of
kindness to be with someone when they die and
to close the dead person’s eyes. Following death
and burial, the immediate family enters a seven-
day period of mourning (shivah) during which
they remain at home except for the Sabbath,
when they may attend the synagogue. After the
seven days, and until the 30th day, the mourning
customs are eased and the bereaved begin a
return to normal life.
d. Conversion to Judaism
Judaism welcomes those who wish to accept
the Jewish faith. A ceremony of conversion (gerut)
is conducted by three rabbis who determine the
candidate's preparation. Traditional Jews require
a visit to the ritual bath (mikvah) for a woman and
circumcision for a male. Reform Judaism does not
officially require either, although many Reform

38
 rabbis request this of those they have instructed.
Upon conversion the new convert, or proselyte
(ger), is considered a Jew in every respect.

e. Dietary restrictions
Food that complies with Jewish law is called
kosher. Pork and shellfish are forbidden, and
other meats should normally be slaughtered
according to strict rules, by a qualified person
(schochet). Meat and dairy foods are not eaten,
cooked or kept together; after consuming meat or
poultry, an observant Jew waits some time before
eating dairy foods. It is good practice to check
directly with a person about their dietary
restrictions.

The Sabbath and Holy Days

Since biblical times the Sabbath has been a day of

utmost importance. It was set aside because God
completed the creation of the world in six days and
made the seventh day a day of holiness and blessing. It
is also a reminder that the Children of Israel were once
slaves in the land of Egypt and that Jews were therefore
obliged to free their servants and slaves from labor on
the Sabbath. The day is also
39 referred to as a "sign of the
covenant" between God and the Children of Israel. While
no work is to be done on the Sabbath, rest is not its
main purpose. Its goal is holiness, and the day is set
apart in each week for prayer and study.

In his book, “An Introduction to Judaism” de

Lange, (2000), enumerates major holidays of the
Jewish culture:
a. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and
lasts two days in early autumn. Together with
Yom Kippur, it is considered the holiest of
Jewish holidays.
b. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement and falls
ten days after Rosh Hashanah. By fasting and
praying all day in synagogue, Jews take time to
contemplate life, repent and make changes for
the new year.
c. Passover is a festival of freedom that takes
place in spring to commemorate the historical
Exodus of Jews from Egypt. It lasts for eight
days and is celebrated on the first night with a
ritual meal called a seder.
d. Chanukah falls in mid-winter. Also known as
the Festival of Lights, it is a gift-giving holiday
that lasts eight days,40 over which time eight
 candles are lit on a special nine-branch
candelabra called a Chanukah. Rites of
passage: All cultures and religions mark
important life transitions. The following are a
few that involve Jewish children:
- Circumcision: Jewish boys are generally
circumcised when they are eight days old.
- Bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah: Around the
ages of 12 or 13, boys mark their
transition from childhood to adolescence
with a bar mitzvah and girls with a bat
mitzvah.

Other important religious practice in Judaism

Historically women have been excluded from

participation in the observance of Judaism. The notion
of female rabbi is unacceptable. However, with the
foundation of liberal Judaism, and especially in the
progressive Reconstructionist movement, the subject
of women’s role in the covenant became an issue of
increasing importance. The Reform movement in the
USA ordained its first woman rabbi in 1972, and three
years later a female cantor. Following this lead, other
branches of Judaism began
41 to initiate reforms,
allowing women to participate in rituals and as
witnesses, and bringing in bat mitzvah ceremonies
(the female equivalent of the bar mitzvah). Women
were finally admitted to rabbinical schools in the
1980s. Today, only Orthodox Judaism still holds out
against the ordination of women rabbis, but in all
branches of the faith, women are taking an
increasingly active, if not leading, role in the
synagogue. (the book of Religions: 2013, 199).

ACTIVITIES

Activity 2
Textual Analysis
Objective: Analyze the given text about the Jewish
culture
Directions: Judaism is a religion that values so
much their children. There is even a saying that a
Hebrew child is and must be raised with Jewish
Values (Serapio: 2016). Now, analyze the Hebrew
saying and answer questions below

A child of five (5) is my master…

A child of ten (10) is my servant…
42
 A child of fifteen (15) is either my friend or my
enemy…

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. What do you think is the meaning of this Old

adage (well-known saying) of the Hebrews?
2. How will you relate this to our Filipino culture in
terms of rearing and valuing our children or our
youth?
3. Do you think parents are big factors to the
success or failure of their children in the future?
What learnings/insights did you get from this
Hebrew saying?

Note: Use separate sheet of paper for your answer

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

As Filipinos, we look forward to celebrate different festivals every year such as

the feast of the black Nazarene in Quiapo attended by

43
several millions of devotees expressing their
undeniable faith and sense of gratitude after receiving
numerous miraculous blessings and other
celebrations with roots in pagan times such as the Ati-
atihan festival which preserves the costumes and
rituals that reflect our Christians beliefs. Jewish
people also celebrate holidays throughout the year. To
name a few, one is Passover, which commemorates
the exodus from Egypt. Another is what is called
Shabuoth also known as the Festival of the First
Fruits. And last, the Simchat Torah (“Rejoicing of the
Torah”) and it states the completion of the annual
cycle of weekly scripture readings from the Torah
scroll.

Directions:
A. Look into various practices that can be found
across religious traditions. For example, Passover
and Easter tend to fall around the same time of
year, same as Chanukah and Christmas. And
another religious traditions in form of fasting:
Ramadan in Islam, Yom Kippur in Judaism and
Lent in Christianity (Zanna: 2002)
B.Share your personal narrative that highlights:
 1. Commonalities between Judaism and other
religion (e.g. Christianity, & Islam), such as
cultural practices,
44 socio-economic,
geographical, linguistic and other
characteristics.
C.Write your answer on a separate paper (short
bond paper) for submission. Use short folder.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Based on the activity, what are your

realizations or discoveries when doing the
task? (Include this answer in your folder)

REMEMBER

 Nature of God- Jews are monotheistic, they

believe in only one God - God as one means
that God is always present in people’s lives,
every sight they see, sound they hear, and
experience they are aware of is regarded as a
meeting with God.
 - God as creator – a belief that God
created the universe out of nothing.
He created it exactly how he wanted it
45
to be.
- God as lawgiver – a belief that believe
that God gave them free will. God
wanted to help the Jews to choose to
do the right thing with their free will
so he gave them commandments
- God as Judge – a belief that God not
only gave them laws to follow, but also
judges them for how well they follow
these laws.
 Jewish’s ceremonies and rites are events that
are very important to
Jewish people in their search toward kedushah o
meaning“sanctification”.
 Sabbath is considered a day of utmost
importance. It is celebrated because God
completed the creation of the world in six
days and made the seven day a day of
holiness and blessing. It is also a reminder
that the children of Israel were once slaves in
the land of Egypt and that Jews were

46
 therefore obliged to free their servants and
slaves from labor on the Sabbath.
 Holy Days are observed during fall season of
the year. These are days of reverence and
awe and a time to look into one’s heart and
begin a new religious year as a better person.

POST TEST

Directions: Choose the letter of the best

answer and write it on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What is most sacred text of Judaism?
a. Torah c. Bible
b. Tenakh d. Talmud
2. It is considered the holiest of Jewish holidays
a. Rosh Hashanah c. Chanukah
b. Passover d. Bar Mitzvah
3. Which holiday represents the Jewish New Year?
a. Hanukah c.Rosh Hashanah
b. Sabbath d. Passover
4. The Hebrew believed in one God. This is called
a. Polytheism c. Capitalism
b. Monotheism d. Imperialism
5. The Jewish book ____________ includes what
Christians refer to as Old
Testament
a. The Tanakh c. The Bible
 b. The Talmud d.The Covenant
6. Judaism holds that there is one eternal God,
who created the universe, 47
and who remains
master of it. This refers to _______.
a. God as lawgiver c. God as Creator
b. God as One d. God as Judge
7. A belief that God is present on earth
a. Shekhinah c. Simchat
b. Kedushah d. Shabuoth
8. It is a festival of freedom that takes place
during spring to commemorate the historical
Exodus of Jews from Egypt.
a. Passover c. Sabbath
b. Chanukah d. Shekhinah
9. It is Jewish festival that lasts for eight days in
which candles are lit on a special nine-branch
candelabra. It is also known as the Festival of
lights.
a. Chanukah c. Kedushah
b. Shekhinah d. Simchat
10. It is a Jewish custom being observed with
reverence and awe during fall of the year with
the hope of becoming a better person.
a. Sabbath Day c. Hanuka
b. Passover d. Holy Day

48
 REFERENCES
Online Sources
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-fscj

worldreligions/chapter/history-

https://www.history.com/topics/religion/judaisT31 m

31T https://www.history.com/topics/religion/judais31T

m https://www.chabad.org/library/articl31T e 31T

https://www.s31Tt-gregorys.org.uk/140/y11-re-exam-revision-
information/83 31T

https://www.etymonline.com/word/religioT31 n T31

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_geography#cite_not
31T e-Kong2010- 31T

h31T ttp://marripedia.org/effects_of_religious_practice_on_society

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Judaism#:~:text=
Traditionally%2C%2 0Judaism%20holds

Books:
Cornejo, Nigel L., et al. Fundamentals of World Religions.
MaxCor Publishing
House, Inc., 2019
Cornelio, Jayeel S. et al. Introduction to World Religions
and Belief Systems.
Rex Books Store, 2017 49
Nicolas de Lange, An Introduction to Judaism
(Cambridge University Press,
2000
The book of Religion. Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2013
Serapio, Maria Perpetua Arcilla. Introduction to World
Religions for Senior High School. Mindshapers Co., Inc.
2016

Acknowledgements

Writer: Gener C. Irinco

Editor: Amalia C. Solis - EPS
Reviewers:, Paciano B. Ferrer, Alejandrino C. Alac, Jeriel G. Apurillo
(content) Virginia Pike (language)
Management Team: Maria Magdalena M. Lim-Schools Division
Superintendent-Manila, Aida H. Rondilla-Chief Education Supervisor
Lucky S. Carpio-EPS and Lady Hannah C. Gillo, Librarian II-LRMS

50
REFLECTIVE LEARNING SHEET
Name ____________________________________________
Grade and Section ___________
School: ______________________ Date: _____________
Subj. Teacher: _____________________________________
Quarter: 1 Module No.: 4
Week No.: 4.1
MELC: * Examine the fundamental beliefs,
teachings, practices of Judaism Objectives: To be
able to articulate understanding of one’s religious
beliefs, and practices by exploring their own origins-
including the elements they share with others and those
that differ.
Topic: Fundamental beliefs, teachings,
practices of Judaism Direction:

1. Visit a local synagogue or church, if this is not

possible complete a virtual tour of a synagogue or
church. Focus on the similarities and differences
between them.
2. During your visit or virtual tour answer the
following questions:
a.How and why are synagogues/churches
different?
b.What happens in a synagogue/church?
51
c. When do people visit a synagogue/church?
 3. Take photographs or print-screen the key
symbols and objects within the synagogue or
church you visit.
4. Write your answer on a separate paper (short
bond paper) for submission.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Based on the activity, what are your

realizations or discoveries when doing the task?
(Include this answer in your folder)

REFLECTIVE LEARNING

SHEET

Name ____________________________________________
Grade and Section ___________
School: ______________________ Date: _____________
Subj. Teacher: _______________

Quarter: 1 Module No.: 4

Week No.: 4.2
MELC: Examine the fundamental beliefs, teachings,
practices of Judaism.
Objectives: To develop students’ appreciation for the
Jewish culture and traditions52
Topic: Fundamental beliefs, teachings, practices of
Judaism
Directions: Write your answers and thoughts on the
following questions (use separate sheet of paper for your
answer).

1. What makes Passover special to the Jews?

2. What do you think is the most special part of the
Passover and why?
3. Is family time important? Why?
4. What questions do you still have about Passover?

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Based on the activity, what are your realizations or

discoveries when doing the task?

Note: Write your answer on a separate paper (short bond

paper) for submission. Use short folder.

53

Lesson 1
PRETEST POST-TEST

1. B 1. A
2. A 2. A
3. A 3. D
4. B 4. B
5. D 5. A 6. A
6. A 7. A
7. C 8. D
8. C 9. A
9. D 10.A
10.B

Lesson 2

PRETEST POST-TEST
1. C 2.
1. A
C
3. C 2. A
4. A 3. D
5. A 4. B
6. D 5. A
7. D 6. C
8. A 7. C
9. A 8. A
10.B 9. A
10.D

54