2nd Quarter:

Judaism
 INTRODUCTION:
It is quite difficult to separate the history of Judaism from the history of the
Jews themselves Parrinder (1971). The ancestors of the Jews were groups of
Semites called Hebrews whose origin can be traced in the desert lands of
Arabia Brown (1975). The origin of the Jewish people and the beginning of
Judaism are recorded in the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the
Pentateuch. As a religion and culture, Judaism has three notable founding
figures or patriarchs, namely, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These biblical
patriarchs are the physical and spiritual forebears of the Jewish people and
their narratives can be found in Genesis 12-50 of their scripture. Judaism is
anchored upon God’s revelation to Abraham that he is the founder and ruler
of the universe. God choses Abraham and his Family from all the people living
on earth as recorded in Genesis 12.
God entered to a covenant to Abraham promising him that he could become
the Father of the great nation. From the previous lessons, you studied the
negative and positive effects of religion. Religion can be described as a two-
edged sword; it can have both positive and negative effects on society. It has
played a really important role within the development of societies by
integrating and stabilizing them; however it's also created conflicts. This
module will provide you with information and activities that help you to
understand what Judaism is. At the end of this module, the students should
be able to study the Jewish faith, heritage of law, and culture.
OBJECTIVES OF THE LESSON:

Learners should be able to:

• recall the history of Judaism;
• discuss the core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues;
• study the significance of Judaism.
Tanakh – the Hebrew Bible, constituting the entire canon of divinely revealed
scripture
in Judaism. Hebrew bible (Old Testament) for Christians it contains 24 collection
of books with 3 parts the following are: Torah/Pentateuch (teaching or law),
Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (writings)also called Written Torah

1. Torah/Pentateuch - The term Torah means “teachings and instructions.”

composed
the first “Five Books” of the Pentateuch traditionally believed to have been
authored by Moses through divine instruction in Sinai. It could mean as the
whole body of Jewish laws or teachings. It narrates the history, religious statues,
and moral regulations for individuals and society, ceremonial rites and creation
stories by Yahweh, and the origin and growth of mankind.
Five Books are the following:
◘ Genesis (Origin) ◘ Leviticus ◘ Deutoronomy
◘ Exodus ◘ Numbers
2. Prophets/Nevi’im - is one who was called by God to
communicate His word to the King and to the people. (One
important Jewish belief- belief in the words of the prophets) and
served as spokesperson who criticize the hypocritical practices of
Jewish rituals.
Prophets
Joshua Samuel Isaiah Ezekiel
Judges Kings Jeremiah
Minor Prophets
Hosea Zephaniah Haggai
Amos Zechariah Malachi
Jonah Joel Micah
3. Ketuvim/Writings - contains works of poetry, temple
ritual, private prayer,
philosophical explorations, and other canonical works the
following are:
Psalm Ruth Daniel
Proverbs Lamentations Ezra-Nehemiah
Job Ecclesiastes Chronicles
Song of Songs Esther
Talmud (Oral Torah) - it means “study”. It contains all the studies and
interpretations done by Jewish rabbis or teachers of Torah. It is an
authoritative collection of rabbinic interpretations of the sacred scriptures. It
contains materials of law and moral codes. The Talmud contains the Mishnah
and another text known as the
Gemara.
a. Mishnah- compilation of oral law or a resentment of the law by
respected
opinion. (Compilation of Talmud)
b. Gemara - it examines the legal and ethical commentaries on the
Mishnah
Mishnah Gemara
Shofar- a ram's-horn trumpet used by ancient Jews in religious ceremonies and as a battle
signal, now sounded at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur is one of the two High Holy Days, or Days of Awe
(Hebrew yamim noraim), alongside Rosh Hashanah (which falls
nine days previously). According to Jewish tradition, on Rosh
Hashanah God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year
into the Book of Life, and waits until Yom Kippur to "seal" the
verdict.
• A mezuzah (Hebrew: " ‫ ְמזּוזָה‬doorpost"; plural: ‫ ְמזּוזֹות‬mezuzot) is a piece
of parchment inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Torah, which
Jewish followers of Rabbinical Judaism affix to the doorposts of their
homes.[1] These verses are the Biblical passages in which the use of a
mezuzah is commanded (Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21); they also
form part of the Shema prayer.
• In mainstream Rabbinic Judaism, a mezuzah must generally be placed in
every doorway in the home,[2] with some exceptions such as bathrooms
(which are not a living space) and small closets.
Tzitzit are specially knotted ritual fringes, or tassels, worn in antiquity by Israelites and
today by observant Jews and Samaritans.
Talit-A tallit is a fringed garment worn as a prayer shawl by religious Jews. The tallit has special twined and
knotted fringes known as tzitzit attached to its four corners. The cloth part is known as the beged ("garment")
and is usually made from wool or cotton, although silk is sometimes used for a tallit gadol.
Minorah - a candelabrum used in Jewish worship, especially one with eight branches and a
central socket used at Hanukkah.