At the end of this lesson, you will…At the end of this lesson, you will…

Know who founded Know who founded JudaismJudaism

Understand the Understand the geographic origins geographic origins of Judaismof Judaism

Know some Know some essential Jewish essential Jewish stories, customs stories, customs and holidays.and holidays.

World Religions: Judaism World Religions: Judaism

Why put Judaism first?Why put Judaism first?

Because…of the top Because…of the top three, this is where three, this is where it all began…4000 it all began…4000 years ago!years ago!

History of JudaismHistory of Judaism Back in the “old days” – 4000 years Back in the “old days” – 4000 years

ago and beyond – most people ago and beyond – most people believed there were a lot of different believed there were a lot of different gods or goddesses that controlled gods or goddesses that controlled things.things.

This concept is called This concept is called polytheismpolytheism (belief in many gods)(belief in many gods)

History of JudaismHistory of Judaism

The start of Judaism is The start of Judaism is actually found in the actually found in the first five books of the first five books of the Bible.Bible.

These books are These books are called the called the TorahTorah and and they make up the they make up the Hebrew Bible.Hebrew Bible.

The founder of JudaismThe founder of Judaism A man named Abram A man named Abram

(later changed to (later changed to Abraham) was inspired Abraham) was inspired by God to spread the by God to spread the word that there was word that there was only ONE god.only ONE god.

He convinced his He convinced his immediate family to immediate family to stop worshipping idols stop worshipping idols and begin following and begin following One God (One God (monotheismmonotheism))

Jews led to the “Promised Land”Jews led to the “Promised Land” Because their beliefs – in ONE God – Because their beliefs – in ONE God –

were so out-of-step with everybody were so out-of-step with everybody else, Abram’s family was else, Abram’s family was persecutedpersecuted (harassed).(harassed).

In addition to the persecution, a In addition to the persecution, a famine struck the area.famine struck the area.

Jews led to the “Promised Land”Jews led to the “Promised Land” God told Abram to God told Abram to

leave, that He leave, that He would guide them would guide them to a place where to a place where they could practice they could practice their faith openly.their faith openly.

This place was This place was called “called “the the Promised LandPromised Land””

Along the way…Along the way… The Jews (as they The Jews (as they

were now called) were now called) traveled for many traveled for many years. years.

Along the way, they Along the way, they settled in Egypt where settled in Egypt where they were made to they were made to become slaves to the become slaves to the Egyptian pharaoh.Egyptian pharaoh.

Egyptian SlaveryEgyptian Slavery While they were While they were

slaves, they were slaves, they were made to work very made to work very hard. The Jews hard. The Jews were persecuted were persecuted and mistreated to and mistreated to the point where the point where many died.many died.

Holy Moses!Holy Moses! At the time, a new Pharaoh had At the time, a new Pharaoh had

come into power. This new Pharaoh come into power. This new Pharaoh decided to kill all the Jewish newborn decided to kill all the Jewish newborn boys to keep the Jewish people from boys to keep the Jewish people from coming into power.coming into power.

Moses was born a Hebrew (Jew) but Moses was born a Hebrew (Jew) but was given up as a baby by his was given up as a baby by his mother to protect him from harm. mother to protect him from harm.

Holy Moses!Holy Moses! Moses was placed Moses was placed

in a basket made in a basket made of reeds and of reeds and floated across the floated across the Nile River towards Nile River towards the Pharaoh’s the Pharaoh’s palace.palace.

Holy Moses!Holy Moses! Later that day, the Princess (the Pharaoh's Later that day, the Princess (the Pharaoh's

daughter) came down to the water. She daughter) came down to the water. She saw the basket. When she saw the baby, saw the basket. When she saw the baby, she knew that he was a Jewish baby and she knew that he was a Jewish baby and was supposed to be killed. was supposed to be killed.

She took him home anyway, called him She took him home anyway, called him Moses, and raised him in the palaceMoses, and raised him in the palace

Holy Moses!Holy Moses! Moses became Moses became

very popular and very popular and well-liked within well-liked within the palace. He the palace. He could have become could have become a Pharaoh himself a Pharaoh himself but then…but then…

““Essential Story”Essential Story” He saw an Egyptian hitting a Jew. Moses He saw an Egyptian hitting a Jew. Moses

became angry and hit the Egyptian back, became angry and hit the Egyptian back, killing him.killing him.

Moses ran away into the desert where he Moses ran away into the desert where he became a shepherd. became a shepherd.

Then one day, while tending the sheep, he Then one day, while tending the sheep, he saw a bush that was burning. He went to saw a bush that was burning. He went to have a closer look, the fire went out, and have a closer look, the fire went out, and then… then…

““Essential Story” (cont’d)Essential Story” (cont’d) ……strangely enough, strangely enough,

he looked at the bush he looked at the bush and it wasn’t burnt at and it wasn’t burnt at all. He thought this all. He thought this was very oddwas very odd

Suddenly, he heard a Suddenly, he heard a voice saying “Stop! voice saying “Stop! And take your shoes And take your shoes off, for this is sacred off, for this is sacred ground." ground."

““Essential Story” (cont’d)Essential Story” (cont’d) God then spoke to Moses God then spoke to Moses

and told him to go back to and told him to go back to Egypt, back to the Pharaoh, Egypt, back to the Pharaoh, and ask him to let the Jews and ask him to let the Jews go free.go free.

Moses did so, but the Moses did so, but the Pharaoh told him “No!”Pharaoh told him “No!”

““Essential Story” (cont’d)Essential Story” (cont’d) Moses told him if he Moses told him if he

didn’t, God would didn’t, God would punish him severely.punish him severely.

The Pharaoh didn’t The Pharaoh didn’t care. And so God sent care. And so God sent Ten Plagues (bad Ten Plagues (bad things) to happen to things) to happen to Pharaoh and his Pharaoh and his armies.armies.

““Essential Story” (cont’d)Essential Story” (cont’d)The Ten Plagues of Egypt were as follows:The Ten Plagues of Egypt were as follows:

1st plague: God changed water into blood.1st plague: God changed water into blood.

2nd plague: God made frogs appear everywhere.2nd plague: God made frogs appear everywhere.

3rd plague: God put lice everywhere.3rd plague: God put lice everywhere.

4th plague: God sent flies everywhere.4th plague: God sent flies everywhere.

5th plague: All livestock were mysteriously killed.5th plague: All livestock were mysteriously killed.

““Essential Story” (cont’d)Essential Story” (cont’d)The Ten Plagues of Egypt were as follows:The Ten Plagues of Egypt were as follows:

6th plague: The Egyptian people developed gross sores.6th plague: The Egyptian people developed gross sores.

7th plague: Hailstones and fire destroyed crops. 7th plague: Hailstones and fire destroyed crops.

8th plague: God sent locusts to eat the crops 8th plague: God sent locusts to eat the crops

9th plague: Darkness everywhere EXCEPT where the Jews 9th plague: Darkness everywhere EXCEPT where the Jews werewere..

10th plague: The oldest son in every Egyptian family died.10th plague: The oldest son in every Egyptian family died.

Finally…Finally… Pharaoh gave up and allowed Pharaoh gave up and allowed

the Jews to leave.the Jews to leave.

The Jews were so excited to The Jews were so excited to leave that they didn’t even wait leave that they didn’t even wait for their bread to rise…which is for their bread to rise…which is why unleavened “flat bread” is why unleavened “flat bread” is so important to the Jewish so important to the Jewish story.story.

Jewish Culture and CustomsJewish Culture and Customs

Jewish celebrations Jewish celebrations are often centered are often centered around Jewish around Jewish historical events.historical events.

HanukahHanukah Hanukah is NOT the Jewish version of Christmas!!Hanukah is NOT the Jewish version of Christmas!!

Instead, Hanukah celebrates Hanukkah is the Instead, Hanukah celebrates Hanukkah is the festival of lights. festival of lights.

Jewish temples have “eternal lights” which are Jewish temples have “eternal lights” which are lamps that are always lit.lamps that are always lit.

The Jewish temple was rededicated after a period The Jewish temple was rededicated after a period of persecution and the eternal light was rekindled of persecution and the eternal light was rekindled but there was only enough oil for a few days. but there was only enough oil for a few days.

HanukahHanukah

The oil lasted for The oil lasted for eight days, until eight days, until more oil could be more oil could be found.found.

That’s why you see a That’s why you see a Menorah (a 9 pillar Menorah (a 9 pillar candlestick)candlestick)

Bar (or Bat) MitvahBar (or Bat) Mitvah Bar Mitzvah takes place Bar Mitzvah takes place

when a boy turns when a boy turns thirteen.thirteen.

Bat mitzvah is the same, Bat mitzvah is the same, but for girls.but for girls.

The first act of adulthood The first act of adulthood is reading from the Torah is reading from the Torah scroll during services scroll during services

The Jewish SabbathThe Jewish Sabbath All Jewish holy days begin at All Jewish holy days begin at

sundown and end at sundown. sundown and end at sundown.

The Shabbat (Sabbath) begins The Shabbat (Sabbath) begins at sundown each Friday and at sundown each Friday and lasts until dark on Saturday. lasts until dark on Saturday.

There is a special Sabbath There is a special Sabbath meal which includes special meal which includes special foods, songs and readings and foods, songs and readings and prayers. prayers.

Test TimeTest Time

How much do you remember?How much do you remember?

Answer the following questions to find Answer the following questions to find out just how much you really KNOW!out just how much you really KNOW!

(click the navigation buttons)(click the navigation buttons)

Question One:Question One:

Who is the founder of Judaism?Who is the founder of Judaism?

Answer One:Answer One:

Abraham (Abram)Abraham (Abram)

Question Two:Question Two:

The name of the area that was The name of the area that was promised to the Jewish people by promised to the Jewish people by

God; now known as Israel…God; now known as Israel…

Answer TwoAnswer Two

The “Promised Land” The “Promised Land” (also known now as (also known now as

the country of the country of Israel)Israel)

Question Three:Question Three:

Known as the Festival of Lights, this Known as the Festival of Lights, this holiday celebrates that the oil in the holiday celebrates that the oil in the temple lasted for eight days, instead temple lasted for eight days, instead of just one day…of just one day…

Answer ThreeAnswer Three

HanukahHanukah

Question FourQuestion Four

Who led the Jews from slavery in Who led the Jews from slavery in Egypt? Egypt?

(hint: he was personally given the Ten (hint: he was personally given the Ten Commandments by God)Commandments by God)

Answer FourAnswer Four

MosesMoses

Question Five:Question Five:God changed water into blood.God changed water into blood. God made frogs appear everywhere.God made frogs appear everywhere.God put lice everywhere.God put lice everywhere. God sent flies everywhere.God sent flies everywhere.All livestock were mysteriously killed.All livestock were mysteriously killed.The Egyptian people developed gross sores.The Egyptian people developed gross sores.Hailstones and fire destroyed crops.Hailstones and fire destroyed crops.God sent locusts to eat the crops God sent locusts to eat the crops Darkness everywhere EXCEPT where the Jews wereDarkness everywhere EXCEPT where the Jews were..The oldest son in every Egyptian family diedThe oldest son in every Egyptian family died

What were these called?What were these called?

Answer Five:Answer Five:

The Ten Plagues of EgyptThe Ten Plagues of Egypt

Bonus Question:Bonus Question:

What is Polytheism?What is Polytheism?

Bonus Answer:Bonus Answer:

Belief in many gods, Belief in many gods, not just one.not just one.