We are now done with the world religions in China.

We have discussed so many things

about their religions and two of which are Confucianism and Taoism. These two are the
products of China's long struggle for unification. Now, it is time to leave East Asia and
set our journey toward the Middle East. This module will discuss Judaism, a religion that
began in Israel.

In this module, you will see that Judaism shares some distinct commonality with Islam
and Christianity. The reason behind this is because Judaism, together with Christianity
and Islam, belongs to what we call the "Abrahamic religions." This means that these
religions trace their origins to Abraham – the man considered to have discovered and
made a covenant with the One God, YHWH (read Yahweh or Yehowah). The term
Abrahamic is often used to refer to these religions because of the emphasis they give to
Abraham. These three religions all believe in one God. However, despite this
relatedness, these religions remain unique in the way they interpret their faith. Jews,
Christians, and Muslims all believe that they worship the same God, but that does not
imply that their traditions preach the same message. The ethics of these world religions
may converge, but their doctrines, laws, and mythologies do not.

The people who worship Judaism are called Jews. If we look at the world's history, we
can say that this religion has already been through a lot of challenges. Unfortunately,
one event of the modern world that is always associated with Judaism is the Holocaust,
where 6 million Jews were exterminated by Nazi Germany for just simply being Jews.
However, despite this devastating event, this religion still maintains its relevance and
continues to flourish up to this day.

Star of David

A common misconception in Judaism is that the Star of David, a hexagram, a

compound of two equilateral triangles, usually depicted in blue, had always been a
Jewish trademark. Historically, this symbol has been used in many different religions. In
Hinduism, the star has been used as a symbol of Shiva and Shakti, or male and female.
It is also used in Mormonism to symbolize heaven and earth. There is no definitive
evidence as to when Judaism adopted the symbol, but one of the first instance was in
the 13th century when it was put by Jewish people in Prague on a red flag. The Star of
David’s status as a trademark of Judaism only took off during the 19 th century when the
Jewish people tried to make a distinction of their community from others. The use of the
of David could also probably be an attempt to create a highly religious symbol that is
similar to the cross of Christianity.

Origin and History

Perhaps most of you are unaware that the history and origin of Judaism are contained
in a collection of sacred texts known through the acronym TNK, also known as the
Hebrew bible. Christians also consider this scripture as divinely inspired. The origin of
Judaism does not only involve the story of one person. Rather, it is a long list of events
involving numerous people from different generations. One thing that we do not know
and realize about the Bible is that it is a historical book filled with many great stories.
Many events that happened in the Hebrew Bible have been used as a reference for
several movies. The story of Noah's Ark, the escape of Moses from Egypt, and the story
of Samson and Delilah are only some of the many events that can be seen in the
scripture. This only shows the richness of Judaism's origin story.

The following are represented by the acronym TNK:

Torah - which means law

Nevi’im - which means prophets

Ketuvim - which means writings

The Patriarchs

Abraham

The TNK starts with the story of creation found in the book of Genesis, which is also
the first book of Torah. In this story, it was emphasized that YHWH is the only creator
and that He made man in His image and likeness. Because of this, all human beings
are considered as stewards of God's creation because they are superior compared to
other living things. The history of man and woman can also be found in this book
through the story of Adam and Eve who are believed to be the first man and woman.
The following chapters of the book of Genesis feature how Adam and Eve were
expelled from the Garden of Eden because they disobeyed YHWH's order. The book of
Genesis also tells the story of Noah's ark wherein the Earth was destroyed by a flood
because the world has grown wicked.

The next chapters of the book of Genesis feature the story of Abraham. This man has
an important role to play in history and the formation of several religions. Because of the
obedience of Abraham to YHWH's command, he was chosen to be the father of many
nations. A covenant between YHWH and man was formed. YHWH promised Abraham
that his children and his children's children will be made a great nation. Maybe some of
you are not familiar with the term covenant. To enlighten you, this word may mean a
pact, deal, contract, etc. So in essence, YHWH and Abraham agreed. Their deal states
that Abraham must obey YHWH's commands and, on the other hand, YHWH will
continue to bless and deliver his promise to Abraham.
 From Mesopotamia, which is today known as Iraq, Abraham and his wife Sarah
traveled to a land which was to become Israel. It is in this place where they settled. The
covenant was renewed in each generation, starting from Abraham's son, Issac, then to
Isaac's son, Jacob, who was later named Israel. Jacob had 12 sons who became the
ancestors of the 12 tribes that comprise the nation of Israel.

Jacob's favorite son was Joseph. The sons of Jacob did not like this and felt jealous of
Joseph. Because of this, Joseph's older brother sold him to slavery in Egypt to get rid of
him. This is where the book of Genesis ends, and this event would pave the way to the
story of the second book of the Bible - Exodus.

Moses

The second book in the Bible is Exodus. This book narrates the journey of Moses in
leading the Israelites and the descendants of Abraham in their escape out of Egypt after
many long years of slavery and persecution. This escape from Egypt was a prayer
answered for the Israelites because for a long time, they were asking YHWH to help
them get away from the shackles that the Pharaoh of Egypt imposed on them. If you are
familiar with the crossing of the Red Sea, this is the specific event where the story was
taken from.

The mission of Moses did not just end with their escape from Egypt. Delivering them
into the "Promised Land" was the ultimate goal. However, contrary to the initial ideas of
the Israelites or Hebrews, as we know them now, the journey to the "Promised Land"
was not smooth. It was a long journey and most of them doubted if YHWH was true to
His promise or not.

In Moses' experience of the burning bush in the book Exodus, it was revealed
that the sacred name for the Jewish deity is YHWH, which is a tetragrammaton
containing four Hebrew consonants. In English, the term "Lord" is used when YHWH
appears in the text. For the Jews, the tetragrammaton is a symbol of God's holiness and
transcendence. Therefore, it has an incommunicable property. YHWH is not
pronounced by the Jews. Instead, the Hebrew term for lord or adonai is used whenever
YHWH appears in the text. God's supremacy over all his creation is manifested in the
commandments and the prayers recited by the Israelites.

During their journey to the "Promised Land," while they were on Mount Sinai, the
covenant of YHWH and Israelites was renewed through the Ten Commandments and
other laws given to Moses. These laws and the Ten Commandments became the
foundation of the new covenant. YHWH promised to protect and be loyal to His people
only if they, the Hebrews, followed the Ten Commandments and the laws entrusted to
Moses.
 In the remaining books of Torah – Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy – the
experience of the Israelites in Mount Sinai were continued to be narrated. These books
recount how the laws and commands were given to the Hebrews to fulfill their end of the
bargain. Their journey in the Torah consists mainly of wandering in the wilderness in
search of the Promised Land. They brought with them the Ark of the Covenant wherein
the Ten Commandments, which were given in tablets were kept. This Ark of the
Covenant was kept inside a tent as prescribed by the Torah. Good things happen
whenever they obey the commandments, like winning wars against the opposing tribes.
However, bad things happen when they disobey. Because of this, Hebrews lived by the
belief that if they follow YHWH's covenant, they will be brought to a land flowing with
milk and honey no matter how difficult it is. This kind of relationship is somehow similar
to the relationship between a parent and a child. If the child obeys his or her parents,
gifts and expression of approval are given to reinforce the same kind of behavior. But
when the child commits bad actions, sanctions are imposed to discourage the same
kind of behavior. However, as the cliché goes, "No parent can stand seeing their child
suffer." No matter how disobedient and stubborn a child has been, parents shall never
turn away from their suffering child. This is also true with the relationship between the
Hebrews and YHWH. Despite the constant grumbling and infidelity of the Hebrews,
YHWH has delivered on his promise.

As you can see by now, the main theme of the Torah is about the laws and
commandments that YHWH has established over his people. Also, the Torah is Mosaic
in origin which is why it is also called the book of Moses. This is the main reason why it
was called Torah or law. This theme is present in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
and Deuteronomy. Torah is also known as Pentateuch, which means "five books."

Kings and Prophets

Before we proceed with this part of the discussion kindly click on the link and watch the
video. How to Read the Bible: The Prophets

Overview: 1-2 Kings

The story of the Hebrews continued in the Nevi'im or the book of prophets. After almost
40 years wandering in the desert, the Hebrews finally reached the Promised Land. The
books of Joshua, Judges, first and second Samuel, and first and second Kings tell us
the story of the Hebrews from their conquest in the land of Canaan to the establishment
of Israel around the 10th century BCE.

The Hebrews were first ruled by King Saul. After Saul's death, he was replaced by a
shepherd named David. This king is famous for his battle against the giant, Goliath. He
was then succeeded by his son Solomon. During their reigns, Israel flourished because
of their wisdom. However, the decline of Israel as a nation came after Solomon's reign
for failing to sustain the unity of the northern kingdom in Israel and the southern
kingdom in Judah. Because of this, Israel and Judah became easy prey for other
nations. As a result, the Hebrews were again conquered by the Assyrians and the
Babylonians. After 50 years, the Persians deposed the Babylonians and let the Jewish
exiles return to their homeland under the rule of the Persians. Some Jews returned to
the ruined Promised Land, while others went to Egypt and other lands. Those who did
not return to the Promised Land were called the "Diaspora Jews."

Based on the story of the Jewish people, Israel flourished when they remained faithful to
YHWH and catastrophe happened when they disobeyed. Because of this, most Jewish
people became preoccupied with staying faithful to the covenant to maintain their status
as YHWH's chosen people. This is also the reason why the era of the prophets
occurred. The prophets, during the time of the Hebrews, were not foretellers of the
future but were the people that reminded and challenged the Hebrews to stay faithful to
the covenant to avoid the day of the Lord.

The last part of the TNK is the Ketuvim. This part consists of different types of literature
like poetry and narratives that are extensions of the prophetic stories.
The Ketuvim represents the most artful and creative literary works in the TNK.

Birth of Judaism

The term that we now know as Judaism was only formed after Israel vanished as a
nation as this was conquered by other civilizations. This term originally just refers to the
believers of the religion in the Persian province of Judea, while the term "Jew" was only
used after the Babylonian exile. It referred to the people of Israel and Judea who spread
through the Mediterranean – the Diaspora Jews.

Overall, the background of Judaism as a religion is found in the TNK. However, TNK is
only the beginning of the story of Judaism. Different writings are still discovered and
continue to help shape the religion that is Judaism today.

The Holocaust
Another event that immensely impacted the religion of Judaism is the infamous
Holocaust. For those of you who are not aware of what the Holocaust is, it is the
extermination of all Jews living in Germany during World War II. More than 6 million
Jews, which is about 66% of their whole population in Europe, were killed by the Nazis.
Many of the survivors were barely breathing when they were rescued. The reason
behind the persecution is because of Hitler's idea that the Jews were the reason why
Germany lost during the first world war. He accused them of being a traitor. Also, the
ideology of the Nazis was flawed. They viewed the Aryan race and their race of origin
as superior compared to every nation. They saw themselves as
an "Übermensch," which means superman or overman. This means that they believed
that they were higher human beings compared to others and treated non-Aryans,
especially the Jews, as "Untermensch" – an inferior person or someone lesser than a
human being. As a result, Jews – men, women, old, and young – were mercilessly killed
and some even became subjects of various inhumane experiments. However, the
Holocaust ended the long persecution of Jews in Europe for simply being Jews. This
was the final test that Judaism faced to be accepted in modern Europe.

Through this, we can see how a wrong understanding of our nature as humans can
affect our view of good and evil. It also influences how we treat other people. The ironic
thing with the Nazis is that they were too proud of their status as Übermensch, but still
managed to commit one of the most horrendous crimes in human history. This
happened because of their misplaced understanding of their nature as humans. This is
the reason why we, your religion and values education teachers, try our best to make
you aware of our nature as humans. We do not just discuss morality to show how bad
you are as a person. Neither do we teach you values to show you that we are perfect
because the reality is that we are not. We will never be, but this does not remove the
fact that there will always be an idea of goodness and badness that you and I will
always be subjected to. Unaware as we are, the seemingly boring and uninteresting
lessons we learn from our religion and values education classes that we often ignore
are necessary to prevent another horrible thing, like a Holocaust from happening again.

This Holocaust became a nightmare for the Jews and up until this day, its effects are
still felt. This also left a long-term consequence on the religion of Judaism. Some
believers inevitably changed their perspective on the existence of YHWH. Where was
God when 6 million Jews were being killed? However, some Jews just saw it as another
terrible punishment for their infidelity, and that obeying the covenant will spare them
from another punishment.

Judaism Today

After the second world war, the Jews who stayed in their homeland – those who
returned to Israel after the Babylonian exile – saw the realization of their dreams. The
modern state of Israel was established, wherein the Jews were free to live and were
able to express their identity as Jewish people. This event encouraged other Jews to
return home. Hence, there was a massive influx of Jews from different countries to
Israel.

This event did not end the problems of the Jews. Instead, another problem arose.
Because of the massive migration, the tension between the Jewish people and the
Arabs, who were at that time and place, started to build up. For the Jews, the land
where they settled in Israel was claimed by the Arabs, which they called Palestine. In
other words, these two groups of people found themselves disputing over their territory,
and living together with different beliefs made the situation even worse. The United
Nations even intervened in their conflict and suggested to just separate the land –
creating a Jewish State of Israel and an Arab State of Palestine. However, this did not
work well with both sides. Until now, war has been their only way to resolution.

Traditions

Branches of Judaism

Over time, several groups have branched out from traditional Judaism. From a formerly
one and unified religion, Judaism has now several different traditions. Events and
factors, like the American and French revolutions, Western Enlightenment and
Modernity, and even Christianity are some of the major reasons that influenced other
groups of Judaism to be formed. According to records, at the turn of the millennium,
there were around 14 to 18 million Jews. Most of these still follow the traditional way of
following the Torah, while some have chosen to adhere to a newer practice called
"Reform Judaism."

The following are the branches of Judaism:

1. Reform - This type of Judaism has spread from Germany to Europe and to the
United States where it is now particularly prominent. This tradition was greatly
influenced by modernization in Germany during the 19th century. The German
influence is apparent in the language that their spiritual leaders called "rabbis"
used during their worship. Instead of Hebrew, they read their Sabbath liturgy in
German. Compared to traditional Judaism, this movement is more lenient when it
comes to following the Torah. They also abandoned the idea that there will be a
messiah that will restore the Jews in Israel. Because of this, they also believe
that Israel is not their homeland, but instead accepted their place of birth as their
native land.
2. Orthodox - This tradition is a counter-movement to Reform Judaism. This means
that the people who formed this type of Judaism did not agree to the practices of
Reform Judaism because they were too progressive and too liberal. For them,
the Torah is the word of YHWH, which means that it must be strictly observed.
Also, they believe that it is obedience to the Torah that makes them Jews. In
summary, the firm observance of the law is the ultimate determiner of their
identity as Jews. This branch is further divided into two sub-groups: the
separatists and the integrationists.
1. Separatist - These people live a life of fidelity to the Torah. However, they
practice their faith away from society. There is only a small portion of this
specific group and most of them reside in Israel and other countries.
2. Integrationist - This group of people believes that they can still be Jews
even if they participate in society. Most Orthodox Jews follow this strand.
3. Conservative - This branch stands between the Reform Jews and the Orthodox
Jews. Therefore, it is like the middle way between the two aforementioned
branches. Like the Reform Jews, they also use the vernacular or their everyday
language in worship. This movement also does historical research on traditional
teachings that make them like the Orthodox Jews. They balance the commitment
to the Torah and the constant evolution of the modern world in their practice of
faith. They ordain women rabbis, which is a practice of the Reform Jews, but not
of the Orthodox Jews.
4. Reconstructionist - This movement was born from the tradition of Conservative
Jews. They consider Judaism as a civilization. They believe that the key to the
well-being of Jews is to practice the Jewish culture. Creating spaces and places
where Jews from different orientations can celebrate and continue the culture is
one of their main ideas. Some Reconstructionist movements in the United States
hold meetings inside individual houses instead of synagogues, which are the
traditional Jewish place of worship.
5. Religious Experience
6.
7. Repentance
8.
9. The goal of most religions in the Middle East is for humans to repent. One of
those is Judaism. This religion believes that when the covenant or the
relationship of YHWH with His people is broken, repentance is necessary to
restore that relationship. The meaning of repentance here does not only mean
regretting one's mistakes but also implies that one should again follow the will of
YHWH.
10. This concept of repentance has two dimensions: the individual and societal
dimensions. The individual repentance commonly happens before death and the
idea of an afterlife is what encourages people to repent. Judaism believes that
those who repent will have their consolation through salvation and bliss, while
those who refuse will continually be alienated even in the afterlife.
11. Many Orthodox Jews focus on the societal dimension. They are more interested
in the restoration of Israel as a state. They believe that the Messiah – the person
who will deliver the Jewish nation – will only come if they repent and follow the
 laws of the Torah. This plays a big part in the political and religious status of
Israel and Judaism in general.
12.
13. Furthermore, the reason why repentance is a very important practice is because
of their anxiety that the day of the Lord might suddenly arrive. This is the time
when everyone will be judged according to what they have done. To better
understand this concept, kindly watch the video on the link: Day of the Lord. Note
that only the scenes before Jesus apply to Judaism. The Jews do not
acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, but only as a regular Jew. This day of the
Lord must not only be understood as the end of the world. The Jews also see it
as the day when they will be punished for their infidelity. An example of the day
of the Lord would be the destruction of Israel and the Holocaust.
14. Spirituality
15.
16. The Torah
17.
18. The Torah serves as a guide for the Jews on how they should live their lives. It
functions both as scripture and law. The written Torah is considered as their
scripture and the Oral Torah is a series of guidelines that have been deliberated
by Jewish teachers in the interpretation of the written law. However, how
the Torah should be understood is still up for debate until this day. Nevertheless,
the Jews still follow the Torah in whichever way it is interpreted.
19.
20. Probably most of us see laws as a restrictive source of hassle in our lives. For
example, we find it hard to obey the simple rules of our parents because we like
to do things differently. It is always easier and more comfortable if we live our
lives the way we want to do. However, this is not the case for the Jews. One
incredible and amazing thing about their spirituality is that they find joy in their
obedience to the Torah. They do not see these laws as liabilities. For them, the
law is YHWH's gift to their religion and culture. The Orthodox Jews believe that
the Torah is the actual word of YHWH. Therefore, following the Torah is
considered as an expression of gratitude to YHWH.
21.
22. Sabbath
23.
24. The Sabbath is at the heart of the Jewish calendar which is a 25-hour period
which starts at the sunset of Friday. The Sabbath is like a reenactment of the day
when YHWH rested in the creation story. It is also a commemoration of YHWH's
mercy in the Israelite exodus from Egypt. Therefore, the Sabbath is scripturally-
based and it recalls the key moments of YHWH's involvement with Israel. In their
original tradition, the Sabbath Day is allotted for everyone to rest. Usually, if the
sabbath is celebrated at home, a blessing, which they call kiddish, is
performed. This blessing is done over bread and wine which are the Sabbath
meals and the lighting of the Sabbath candles. To commemorate the goodness
of YHWH, two loaves of bread are used that symbolize the manna that came
down from heaven during the Israelite journey to the Promised
 Land. Havdalah, which means "separation," ends the celebration of Sabbath.
This activity is a farewell to the holy day and a distinction from the rest of the
days of the week.
25. Moreover, the celebration of the Sabbath varies through each branch of Judaism.
The Orthodox and Conservative Jews observe the Sabbath during Saturday
mornings. Passages from the TNK are read as prescribed by a set yearly cycle.
Being the most traditional, the Orthodox Jews extremely observe this day. Even
riding automobiles, lighting, and putting out lights are prohibited. Likewise, the
Conservative Jews are also somehow strict, but give an exception to necessary
activities, like driving to the synagogues. The Orthodox Jews believe that the only
place of worship is the temple in Israel which is set for rebuilding once the
Messiah arrives. Whereas, the Reform Jews, being the most lenient, are at
liberty to choose which commandments they will observe. They worship in
buildings called "temples."
26.
27. Taking part in the Sabbath rituals is a traditional practice for the Jews. Praying
three times a day is mandatory. Further, there are also required dress codes.
Male Jews wear a leather box containing passages and scriptures, which they
call "tefilins." They place one tefillin on the forehead while the other one is on the
left arm, which signifies that the TNK is in the mind and heart of the believer. A
shawl, which they call "talit," is worn over the head and body to signify humility
before YHWH. Also, a kippah is worn by men through their waking hours to
symbolize reverence for YHWH.
28. In this module, we have discussed the religion of Judaism. Our discussion
focused mainly on its history and events that shaped the religion we now know
as Judaism. Also, the different branches of Judaism were tackled. Lastly, its
forms of spirituality were also explained.
29. There are many things we can get from this religion. However, the most
significant one is the emphasis of this religion on the relationship between YHWH
and His people. The story of the Jews shows that if they obey the laws of YHWH,
they get rewarded but if they disobey, punishment always comes next. This
leaves us with a good reflection – Does YHWH punish us or is it just our
wrongdoing that places us in a bad situation?