Torah

Torah means "teaching" and refers to the 5 books of moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

A Torah scroll is made from sheets of Parchment, which is made from the skin of a Kosher animal.
It is Written by hand in Hebrew by a professiona scribe, called a Sofer Hewbrew is read right to left.

The Sofer takes at least one year to write out the Torah
He is not allowed to write from memory. He must copy from a book of the torah and keep checking for mistakes. Letters must not be smudged or touched but another letter.

If the Sofer makes a mistake, he scrapes off the letters using a glass tool.
The most sacred word that he writes is the Hebrew name for God. He cannot correct this, he must start the whole sheet of parchment again. The sheet with the error is buried in a Jewish Cemetery.

When all the sheets of Parchment are finished they are sewn together and wound around wooden rollers
The Torah is regerded as hold and is decorated as beautifully as possible.

Judaism Questions

1. What language do the Jewish people speak?

Hebrew

2. How do the Jewish people read Hebrew?

Right to left

3. Why is Israel important to the Jewish People?

It is the promised land, that was promised to Abraham from God

4. When was the present state of Israel formed?

1948

5. What makes it unique in the world?

Only Jewish state in the world

6. Who is the chosen prophet if Judaism?

Moses

7. What do the Jews believe God thinks of their people?

That they are the chosen people

8. How do the three main religions differ in their view of Jesus?

        To Christians Jesus is known as the Messiah, in Islam and Judaism he is a prophet

9. Why do the Jewish people not celebrate Christmas?

Because they do not see Jesus as the saviour, but as a prophet.

10. What festival do they celebrate instead?

Hanukkah

11. What event is celebrated at this festival and what is the significance of the number 8?

The Festival of lights is celebrated and they light candles every night for 8 days, just as the oil lasted for 8 days instead of 1

12. What is the name of the sacred text of the Jewish people?

Torah

It is the Same as the Christian Old Testament part of the Bible

14. How many commandments do the Jewish people have to follow?

613, that has been narrowed down to 13 main rules

15. What is the name of the leader of a Jewish religion?

Rabbi

16. What is a Talis?

A garment one can wear to create a sense of personal space during prayer

17. What is a Tefilin?

Small black boxes worn by Jewish males containing scrolls, each weekday morning

18. What is a Kippah?

       Skull cap worn by Jewish males

19. What is the word used to describe the food Jewish people can eat?

Kosher

20. Where is the only Kosher Mc Donalds?

Israel and Argentina

21. Why is a Cheese burger not Kosher?

      As it combines beef and Cheese

13. How is their text similar to the Christian Bible?

Core Beliefs - Judaism

Being Jewish
The term "Jewish" can be used to describe a race and culture rather than a religion, so some who identify themselves as Jewish may have little interest in beliefs and practices associated with the religion of Judaism.

The Torah
The Jews believe in the teaching of the Jewish Bible, known as the Torah. This is the First Testament of the Christian Bible. There is no second Testament or new Bible of Jews. They do not believe in Jesus. The first five books are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

Written Law and Oral Law
613 commandments found in Torah ("Written Law")
Talmud ("Oral Law") - commentary of ancient rabbis that elaborates on how to apply God's Law in everyday life through:

• Dietary rdules (Kashrut/Kosher)
• Dress and other symbols
• Prayer and Devotion to the one God
• The Temple and Temple rights
• Observance of Holy Days
• Proper social relations between male and female, in business, judicial rulings, etc.

Core Beliefs
Jews Firmly believe that there is only one God, there are 13 main beliefs in, they include;

• God exists
• God is one and Unique
• God is eternal
• Prayer is to God only
• the Prophets spoke the truth
• Moses was the Greatest of the Prophets
• The written and Oral torah were given to Moses
• There will be no other Torah
• God will Reward the good and Punish the wicked
• The Messiah will come
• The dead will be resurrected

The Family
The Heart of Judaism is in the home and family, social responsibility and doing Mitzvot ("good deeds" based on God's Commandments)
Through education and hard work we make our lives, the lives of others, and the world, what God intended to be  - Holy

Star of David

Torah

old testement books

Genesis – Story of creation

Adam & Eve/God

It is important as it is the story of creation and the original sin

Exodus – exit

Moses: most important prophet to the Jews asks for the slaves to be let go. He leads his people from slavery in Egypt. They are heading to the ‘promise land’ – ties to Abraham’s covenants

Samuel - David and Goliath

After wondering the desert the Jews have a new King, King David – Star of David

Revelations - Apocalypse/judgement day                                 

When you die, you are judged by God and either go to Heaven, Purgatory (7 stages of cleansing), and hell (7 deadly sins).

Judaism

Introduction


Origins

• Judaism is one of the three Prophetic Monotheisitic Religions in the world, the other two are Christianity an Islam
• It is Prophetic as there were numerous Prophets who predicted the coming of Messiah, Monotheistic as they believe in one God - Mono (one) Theology (belief/study of god)

History

• Jews are an ancient people of around 3000 years old, their history is told in the Bible and is traced back to Abraham of around 1900 BC (before common time era)
• The Jews have been known as Jews, Israelites and Hebrews. (Jesus was a Jew, however the Jews accept Jesus as a wise man, but not the chosen Messiah as Christians believe, hence Judaism predates and heavily influences Christianity, but is not a part of Christianity.) 

Abraham

• Abraham is on of the first recorded leaders of the Hebrews in the bible. He was a wealthy man who was called by God to leave his land and move from Ur to Canaan, or Israel as it is called today
• Abraham heard the call of the Lord to stop believing in Pagan Gods (like God of wind, God of Mountains etc) and he followed God's request and led his people Mesopotamia to Canaan. this Journey is recorded in the book on Genesis. We can map his Journey here.

Who is Abraham? the first Jew, founder or Judaism
What did Abraham Believe? How was is different to the people of the time? He believed in one God, while all others believed in many gods.
What do you think a Covenant is? What Covenant did god make with Abraham. A Covenant is a promise, God Promises Abraham three things, To make a great nation/ father of many nations, To boss everyone in his name and promise him land.
What Sacrifice was Abraham requested to make? Why did god ask this of Abraham? God asked Abraham to Sacrifice his son Isaac.
The word Patriarchs means father of the religion, Abraham - Isaac and Jacob