By: Maria Parks

The roots of Judaism can be traced to a covenant through which God formed a permanent relationship with the Jews.

This was through the prophet Abraham who is seen as the father of the Jewish people and then the prophet Moses who was given the Torah law on Mount Sinai by God.

There is one Universal GodProphets (Abraham & Moses) God has given the Torah to the Jews as a

means of showing in practice what an obedient and holy life is like.

WWII Holocaust

A vast majority of the Jewish population in Europe was wiped out

Destruction of the Second Temple change from a Temple oriented religion

to a synagogue oriented religion.

Torah (Sacred Writings)Genesis ExodusLeviticus NumbersDeuteronomy

Also include books known as Nevi’im Which means of the Prophets

They fall into 3 categories:Historical

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel 1-2, Kings 1-2, and Chronicles 1-2

PoeticJob, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes , and

Songs of SolomonProphecy

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Ezra, Amos, Nehemiah, Jonah, Esther , and Minor Prophets  

Orthodox Jews believe the Torah and the Talmud Contain the actual words of God which must be Applied in all circumstances.

Orthodoxy also includes: Hasidim – Followers of the teaching of

Israel Ben EliezerHaredim – sometimes refered to as Ultra-

orthodox

Present Day Beliefs – Type One

Progressive They believe in the divine inspiration of the

TorahSince it was recorded by humans at a certain

point in history, it then became necessary to reinterpret the words in the context of present day times.

Includes:Reform Judaism – established in early

19thCenturyLiberal Judaism – originally an offshoot of

Reform

Present Day Beliefs – Type Two

Bibliographyhttp://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm

http://www.orthodox-jews.com/origin-of-judaism.html

http://www.simpletoremember.com/articles/a/start-of-judaism/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/history/history_1.shtml