Unit 4: Judaism

Lesson 4.3
Issues and Challenges in Judaism
Contents
Introduction 1
Learning Objectives 2
Explore 2
Discover 5
Jewish Sects 5
Orthodox Judaism 6
Conservative Judaism 7
Reform Judaism 9
Issues in Judaism 10
Zionism 11
Antisemitism 12
Holocaust 13
Judaism in the 21st Century 14
Wrap-Up 16
Try This! 17
Challenge Yourself 18
Reflect on This 19
Photo Credits 20
Bibliography 21
Unit 4: Judaism

Lesson 4.3

Issues and Challenges in Judaism

Introduction
Judaism is a religion that outstandingly influences the world. Though the number of
believers of this religion is just below 1% of the entire global population, Jewish traditions
and customs can be observed in many modern practices of different societies, most
especially in Europe and America. This religion plays a vital role in the contemporary life of
many of the world’s citizens.

The historical development of Judaism is one of the most drastic in all of the current major
religions of the world. From its beginning, the first followers of the faith have been battered
with chaos and war. The constant struggles in West Asia formed the traditions and beliefs
of the people; hence, Jews became resilient to the difficulties of the world. In recent
centuries, Judaism has had its fair share of issues and challenges that resulted in war and
international political conflicts.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 1

Unit 4: Judaism

Learning Objectives DepEd Learning Competency

Discuss the challenges and issues in Judaism.
In this lesson, you should be able to do the
following: This lesson serves as an enrichment lesson for the
following DepEd competency: Justify that the core
● Identify and differentiate the
teaching of Judaism is the covenant of one God
Jewish sects. with a chosen people vs. other people with many
gods (HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIId-4.3).
● Examine the historical key issues
of Judaism that affect its beliefs,
traditions, and its followers.
● Explain the issues and challenges
faced by 21st-century Jews.

Explore
Word Connect 10 minutes

Instructions
1. Identify the mystery term on each item by referring to the descriptions or picture
clues.
2. The mystery words are all related to Judaism.

a. He was an important Jewish prophet.

In Hebrew, His name means "to draw
out," which reflects what he did for
__ O __ __ S
the ancient Jews when he liberated
them from slavery.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 2

Unit 4: Judaism

b.

__ T __ __ __ F
D __ V __ __

c. A religious leader which literally

means “my master.” __ A __ B __

d.
An essential Jewish festival that
started during the captivity of ancient F __ A __ T OF
Jews in Egypt. __ __ S S __ __ _

e.

__ O __ __ H

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 3

Unit 4: Judaism

Guide Questions

1. Choose one word from the activity and explain the significance of the term to
Judaism.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

2. How important are these symbols to the Jews? Provide an example when Jews from
the past showed the importance of their faith.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Which terms are related to other world religions? Identify one and cite the
connection of the Jewish term to other religions.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 4

Unit 4: Judaism

Discover

Judaism is a dynamic religion that continuously

Words to Remember
progresses through time. Since the time of the ancient
● chosen people —
Jews, their faith has been influenced by various
people selected by
cultures and political powers. Assimilation is one of
God among the
the critical problems of the people, but the identity of
world’s many nations
being the “chosen people” kept the Jews and the
● assimilation —
tradition intact.
integration of a race
or group of culturally
While Jewish communities have successfully navigated
linked people to
the uncertain waters of modernity to remain relevant
other cultures,
in this day and age, the religion continuously faces
resulting in some
issues and challenges even today. Jews, like in the
degree of change and
olden times, have been scattered all throughout the
transformation of
world. This situation both positively and negatively
the race’s tradition,
influences religion.
customs, and culture.
● secularism —
What are the past and current separation of

issues of Judaism that religious practice,

tradition, views, and
continuously shape the religion?
customs in governing
society

Jewish Sects
Because of the political instability in West Asia, where the Promised Land is supposedly
found, many Jews emigrated to seek better living conditions. They created pockets of
communities in many nations to prevent total assimilation of the host nation's culture.
However, secularism is inevitable to many of these communities, which led to the
development of unique and different Jewish practices. In particular, this led to varying
interpretations of the practice of Judaism that resulted in other sects of the religion today.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 5

Unit 4: Judaism

Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism is a group within Judaism that strictly adheres to the written and oral
laws of the religion. Those who follow this Jewish sect believe that both of these laws were
revealed divinely by God. Changes and alterations to the laws are prohibited. In the 11th
and 12th centuries, Jewish scholars began to codify or write the oral laws to guide the
religion. The collection of written oral laws is called Halacha. The codification of the oral
laws is important for and distinct in each sect of Judaism.

Fig. 1. Orthodox Jews adhere to religious laws, even to the type of clothing they wear

The sect was formed in 1851 to emphasize that Judaism should always be following its
ancient laws strictly. It was the response to the changes of the reform movement that led to
the secularism of the religion. It is in Europe that the first followers of this Jewish sect
appeared. Samson Raphael Hirsch, a German intellectual, and Moses Sofer, a Hungarian
rabbi, were believed to be the intellectual forefathers of the sect. Both are influential in
combating the wrong interpretation of reformism in Europe hence, resulting in the sect’s
origin.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 6

Unit 4: Judaism

Figs. 2 and 3. The intellectual forefathers of Orthodox Judaism; Rabbi Samson Raphael
Hirsch (left) and Rabbi Moses Sofer (right).

One of the key principles of Orthodox Judaism is the interaction of religion in the modern
world. The sect safeguards the faith from the danger of assimilation to modern culture.
There is strict compliance to religious laws required of its members. One of the essential
elements of the sect is its dress code. Orthodox Jews strictly adhere the laws found in
Talmud and Halacha. In addition, strict observance of the sabbath is being practiced among
its followers.

Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism (also called Masorti Judaism) is a Jewish sect that believes in the
authenticity of written law or the Talmud as God's message to the people. Still, it puts some
reservation in the divine origin of the oral law and the Halacha. The call for modernity is
being considered in this sect, but there is caution in accepting many cultural aspects of
modern society that are not Jewish. It is regarded as the middle ground between the
Orthodox and Reform Liberal sects of Judaism.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 7

Unit 4: Judaism

Fig. 4. Conservative Judaism promotes the active participation of women

in reading and studying the Torah.

In the 1850s, German rabbi Zacharias Frankel claimed that the written law and Halacha
could be studied through modern sciences such as anthropology, sociology, and history.
According to Frankel, the meaning or message of these sacred texts are open to
interpretation through the Rabbinic tradition and the tool of science. It can, thus, provide a
deeper understanding of Judaism. The emigration of Orthodox Jews from Europe paved the
way to furthering the sect that wished to adhere to the strict religious law and respecting
the new world's prevalent culture. At present, Masorti Judaism is one of the most prominent
sects of Judaism in the United States.

Masorti Judaism, unlike the Orthodox sect, is not afraid of the changes of modern times.
Though Jewish traditions are the primary tool in interpreting the specific religious debate,
the sect is not afraid to employ modern science in its teachings, which Orthodox Jews
gravely frown upon.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 8

Unit 4: Judaism

Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism is a sect of the Jewish religion that completely abandoned many traditional
practices of the faith and embraced the many changes in society. The central principles of
the sect are the importance of God, Talmud, and Israel, but change is an inevitable
phenomenon. To survive, reformists tend to value adaptability to remain relevant in modern
times.

Fig. 5. A conference of liberal Reformist Jews

In the 17th and 18th centuries, many philosophers, scientists, and other prominent
intellectual figures such as Rene Descartes, Immanuel Kant, and Thomas Hobbes, were
preoccupied with putting humanity at the center of academic discussions. This paradigm
shift has been warranted by the long years of scholastic and theological intellectualism in
Europe. The enlightenment spilled over to the different aspects of society, even in the
world's major religions. The period has been preceded by the Jewish Emancipation that
clamored for a more dynamic and unorthodox approach to religious practice. It resulted in
many Jews abandoning numerous century-old traditions and embraced the signs of time for
a change to adapt to the ongoing social revolution in Europe.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 9

Unit 4: Judaism

One of the key aspects of Reform Judaism is the acceptance of inter-faith marriages that has
been prohibited in both Conservative and Orthodox Judaism. Furthermore, the relaxation of
adhering to other religious laws is encouraged, such as the observance of the Sabbath,
dress code, and other essential laws on worship and rituals.

Check Your Progress

Give one similarity and difference among Orthodox, Conservative,
and Reform Judaism.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Issues in Judaism
Judaism has been challenged with many societal encounters that blessed and cursed the
religion. Similar to the experience of early Jews as narrated in the Torah, both the old and
modern Jews dealt with persecution, prosperity, death, and life. In recent centuries, the Jews
have been a dynamic group that shaped the political and international arena for diplomacy
and conflict resolution.

Fig. 6. The Holy Mountain of Zion according to religious texts

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 10

Unit 4: Judaism

Zionism
Zionism is a nationalist movement that called for creating the State of Israel based on the
accounts in the Torah. Before May 14, 1948, Palestine was occupied by tribes that adhered
to the Islamic tradition. There was no political territory for the Jews, and they were
considered a stateless nation. In the 19th century, a call had been made for all Jews living
in Europe, North Africa, and the Americas to return to West Asia. There, the Palestinians
occupied the territory that claimed a historical right for the piece of land. The Jews, on the
other hand, put forward a claim that was based on the Torah.

In the 19th century, Theodore Herzl, a Hungarian activist, institutionalized the nationalist
movement of Zionism and clamored to the political leaders of the era to take into serious
consideration the creation of the Israeli state in Palestine. On July 3, 1904, he died without
seeing the fruit of his movement—the creation of the Israeli state in 1948. The campaign
encouraged the mass migration of Jews to Palestine. This, in turn, resulted in internal
conflicts with the Palestinian Arabs who reside in the area. The inequality among races and
opportunity were some of the issues of the movement.

Fig. 7. Zionist leader Theodore Herzl

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 11

Unit 4: Judaism

Antisemitism
In 1879, German journalist Wilhelm Marr coined the term antisemitism that described the
prevailing discrimination against the Semitic race, specifically the Jews. This term also refers
to a general hatred of Jews, which is sometimes described as Jewishphobia. Though the term
was introduced in the 19th century, Jewish discrimination was already happening since the
Middle Ages. During those times, Jews were prohibited from holding political office and
citizenship by many monarchies and states. These led to the creation of Jewish enclaves in
Europe. These were divided further between the European and non-European Jews. In
addition, Jews who engaged in commerce and business in the 12th century faced heavy
discrimination, often leading to their expulsion from the country unless they converted to
Christianity.

In modern Europe, antisemitism continued for quite some

time. In France, the hatred for Jews intensified because of
French nationalism in the 17th century. Though Napoleon
Bonaparte favored the Jews during his reign, the
emancipation of the Jews in the Napoleonic Empire did not
last long. In Russia, antisemitism grew as many prominent
Jews participated in the Russian Revolution. During the
world wars, antisemitism was prevalent in Eastern Europe.

The case of Germany's antisemitism is one of the most

prominent in modern history. Similar to the many European states and monarchies,
Medieval Germany had bitter overtones with the Jews. Some who were involved in
commerce were banished from society and are biased toward the non-Jew population.
Through Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion, Jews experienced emancipation from the German
culture, and the society became tolerant of the group. After the fall of the Napoleonic
empire, the Jews were once again persecuted in Germany but gained emancipation during
the German Unification in the late 19th century.

In the 20th century, the tides turned against the Jews, alongside its neighboring states, after
the Germans revived its antisemitic sentiments, which led to the assimilation of many Jews
into the German society because of Jewish reforms. Many German political leaders were

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 12

Unit 4: Judaism

viewing this as a threat to German nationalism—that Jews were polluting the authentic
culture of the Germans. It was aggravated with the prominence of power of the National
Socialist German Workers' Party, also known as the Nazi Party, that Adolf Hitler
infamously led. The political party clamored for racial purity among the German state and
eventually to the empire, hence segregating non-German races of the population. It had
been a big blow to the cultural integration effort of many reformed Jews who turned their
back to the strict adherence of their religious laws.

Holocaust
The term Holocaust came from the Greek words holos which means “whole” and kaustos
which means “burnt.” In the Torah, the term was mentioned to signify the lamb’s sacrifice to
please God. It has a religious undertone that links it to Judaism. Still, the National Socialist
German Workers’ Party used this term to denote the political action to exterminate the
Jewish population who lived in Germany in the early 20th century. It was based on the
political ideology of racial purity. Aside from the Jews, other races were also sanctioned in
this horrific extermination of life, including the Roma (Gypsies), Blacks, Slavs, Poles, Russian,
disabled, and homosexuals.

Fig. 9. The rail track and concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland

Many Jews were killed while imprisoned in gas chambers. The largest concentration camp

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 13

Unit 4: Judaism

was located in Auschwitz, Poland. Between 1.1 million to 1.5 million people died in the
concentration camps, and 90 percent were Jews. They were imprisoned in concentration
camps where they do forced labor. The camps ceased operations when the Nazis fell to the
Allied Forces in 1945.

Check Your Progress

How did Europeans treat the Jews during the Medieval Period?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Judaism in the 21st Century

Fig. 10. Israelis and Palestinians still have not reached a final peace agreement

There are still tensions experienced by modern-day Jews as remnants of the past. There is

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 14

Unit 4: Judaism

still an ongoing dispute between Israel and Palestine. The dispute stemmed from the
displacement of the Palestinians when Israel occupied their land and became a state in
1948. After World War II, antisemitism has been a taboo in many societies, but there are still
reported incidences in some parts of the world.

Another present-day issue of Judaism is secularism. While Orthodox and Conservative

Judaism have been very active in preserving religious laws, the new generation of Jews has
been allured by the secularist mindset. Aside from that, a growing number of younger Jews
identify themselves as agnostics or atheists. This phenomenon can be observed in Europe,
Israel, and the Americas, where Judaism is prevalent.

On the positive side, a series of inter-religious dialogues have been conducted to promote
regional peace, especially in Jerusalem and the rest of Palestine. Through the help of the
United Nations in the 1950s, the Jerusalem City government had been successful in
partitioning the old city based on the three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

In Philippine Context
Beth Yaacov is the only synagogue in the Philippines. It is located in Makati City, and it
serves as a home for the Jewish community in the Philippines. The three major sects of
Judaism are allowed to use the synagogue. Aside from being a house of worship, it also
hosts important religious events of the Philippine Jewish community, such as Bat Mitzvah.
The members of the community also spearhead philanthropic activities.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 15

Unit 4: Judaism

Fig. Inside a synagogue

Though there are also existing Jewish communities outside Metro Manila, such as in Cebu,
Davao, and Subic (Zambales), Beth Yaacov has become an iconic representation of
Judaism in the Philippines.

Wrap-Up
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
● There are three major sects in Judaism—Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform
Judaism:
○ Orthodox Judaism refrains from assimilation and the influence of
secularism to penetrate the Judaic traditions.
○ Conservative Judaism accepts science as a tool to interpret the letters of
the laws or the Talmud, Halacha, and other important religious books.
○ Reform Judaism accepts change as it will help the religion to stay relevant
to the ever-changing world.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 16

Unit 4: Judaism

● The three sects of Judaism accept the supremacy of the Torah but differ in the
understanding of the role of oral laws and Halacha.
● Zionism is a nationalist movement that urged the Jews from all over the world to
go back to Israel.
● Antisemitism is a view that explicitly showed hatred to Jews and their customs,
traditions, or origins.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Try This!
A. Matching Type. Match the personas in column A with the ideas in column B.

Column A Column B

_____________ 1. Napoleon Bonaparte a. German Conservative Jew

_____________ 2. Samson Raphael Hirsch b. French Emperor

_____________ 3. Moses Sofer c. German Orthodox Jew

_____________ 4. Theodore Herzl d. Hungarian Orthodox Jew

_____________ 5. Zacharias Frankel e. Hungarian Zionist Activist

e. Adolf Hitler

B. Identification. Write the correct answer on the space provided before each number.

________________ 1. It was the biggest Polish concentration camp.

________________ 2. It pertains to the collection of oral laws written during the 11th
and 12th centuries.

________________ 3. The empire that emancipated the Jews from German culture.

________________ 4. A Greek word that means “whole.”

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 17

Unit 4: Judaism

________________ 5. A term used by the Jews to denote a nation selected by God.

________________ 6. The year the State of Israel was established.

________________ 7. Another term for Conservative Judaism.

________________ 8. A term used to denote where society did not adhere to any
religion.

________________ 9. The year when the Allied Forces defeated the German Empire.

________________ 10. A Greek term that means “burnt.”

Challenge Yourself
Essay. Explain the importance of the following to the three Judaism sects: oral laws, written
laws, and changes.

1. Orthodox Judaism
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

2. Conservative Judaism
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Reform Judaism
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 18

Unit 4: Judaism

Suggested Rubric for Grading

The rubric below is a suggested one. Your teacher may modify it based on your needs.
Consult your teacher for the final rubric.

Performance Levels

1 2 3 Suggested
Criteria Score
Beginning Proficient Advanced Weight
Proficiency Proficiency

Completeness Answers had little Answers were mostly Answers were directly
relation to the related to the and completely related ×3
question. question. to the question.

Analysis There were no facts There were some There were accurate
and little details in facts and details in facts and details in the ×3
the analysis. the analysis. analysis.

Spelling and There were some There was a minimal There was no error in

Punctuation
spelling and error in spelling and spelling and punctuation. ×1
punctuation errors. punctuation.

Total Possible Score 21

Reflect on This
Answer the following question briefly.

What solution will you propose to finally end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in West
Asia?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 19

Unit 4: Judaism

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Photo Credits
The Torah, the Jewish Holy Book by Lawrie Cate is licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr.

Orthodox jewish by British Boardcasting Corporation is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via
Wikimedia Commons.

Rabot - Torah by ‫ תמי גוטליב‬is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Apocalypse 22. The Lamb on Mount Zion. Revelation cap 14 v 1-5. Mortier's Bible. Phillip
Medhurst Collection by Phillip Medhurst is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia
Commons.

Birkenau gate by Michel Zacharz AKA Grippenn is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia
Commons.

Another Jew against the Occupation of Palestine by Nissa Tzun is licensed under CC BY-SA
2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Abudarham Synagogue inside Gibraltar by Moshi Anahory is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via
Wikimedia Commons.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 20

Unit 4: Judaism

Bibliography
Burleigh, Michael. The Racial State: Germany 1933-1945. New York, NY: Cambridge University
Press, 1991.

Gupta, Shweta, and Thinley Kalsang Bhutia. “Conservative Judaism.” Britannica, 2020.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Conservative-Judaism.

Kehillot, Clear. Shamash Hadash, 2020. http://shamash.org/.

Parks, James W. Antisemitism. London, UK: Valentine, 1963.

Taylor, Alan. “World War II: The Holocaust.” The Atlantic, October 16, 2011.
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/10/world-war-ii-the-holocaust/100170/.

Tesch, Noah. “Zionism.” Britannica, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zionism.

Wistrich, Robert S. Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred. New York, NY: Pantheon Books, 1991.

4.3. Issues and Challenges in Judaism 21