QUEZON MEMORIAL ACADEMY

Progresso St., Poblacion West, Umingan, Pangasinan

MODULE 1 (Week 4)

Abrahamic Religion
(Chapter 2)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

In this module, the student should be able to:

 Understand Abrahamic religion;

TOPICS:

1. Socio-Political Dynamics of Judaism

Introduction:

Judaism is an ancient monotheistic religion that traces its origin as an organized belief system
during the Bronze Age in West Aria. The religion of the Jewish people, Judaism is one of three
Abrahamic religions that also include Christianity and Islam. It is the religion professed by the Jews
known as the “people of the Book” in reference to their sacred text written covering nearly a thousand
years and formalized as a canon of teaching by the end of the first century C.E.

Motivational Activity:

Challenge yourself by arranging the jumbled letter words.

1.E N G S I E S 6. W E J S H I

2. B H R A A M A 7. S O M E S

3. C N A N A A 8. I S I A N

4. T A N E P U E T CH 9. B W E R E H S

5. C O B A J 10. U D I S A M J

JUDAISM

 Sacred Scriptures
 Worship and Observance
 Beliefs and Doctrines
 Subdivision
Historical Background

The origin of the Jewish people and the beginning of Judaism are recorded in the first 5 books of
the Hebrew Bible, the pentacheuch. As a religion and culture, Judaism has three notable founding
figures of patriarchs, namely, article of faith, beliefs and doctrines. 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 anchored upon God’s revelation to Abraham that He is the
creator and ruler of the universe, and that He loves His creatures and demands righteousness from
them. (Book of Genesis)

Socio-Political Dynamics of Judaism

The old testament gives us ideas on socio-political dynamics of Judaism. Understanding the
Jewish concepts on politics and society would help us understand the historical development of
Judaism as one of the world’s religious and see its relevance in contemporary times. The Jewish
concept of leadership based on the Old Testament directs us to certain types of leadership, one of
which is kingship as the ideal form of government.

(Movies to Review: Exodus:God’s and Kings, Prince of Egypt, and Moses)

Sacred Scriptures

The Jewish people have been called the “people of the book” in reference to the Hebrew Bible
(Tanakh or Mikra) that has been the authority, guide, and inspiration of the many forms of Judaism
that have evolved throughout the different periods of time and in various places. Composed over a
period of almost a thousand years, collections within the Bible became established in its full
canonical form by the end of the first century C.E.

According to the Jewish Tradition, the Hebrew Bible is divided into 3 principal sections, namely
the Torah, Neve’im, and Ketuvim. The foundational text Torah (Teaching) is composed of the first
“five books” or the pentacheuch traditionally believed to have been authored by Moses through
divine instruction in Sinai. These include Genesis, Exodus, Liviticus, Numbers, and Deutronomy.

Beliefs and Doctrines

In Judaism, actions are more significant than beliefs. However, while Judaism has no dogma,
there is definitely a place for belief within the religion since it focuses on the worship of one god, the
practice of good deeds, and the love of learning. For the Jews, there is one everlasting god who
created the universe in its entirety and remains the master of it.

Human being were created by God who provided them the capacity to decide what is right and
wrong, and gave them the freedom and responsibility for their own actions. Humans have the ability
to restrain their evil intentions because of their propensities for both good and evil. For Jews, all
human beings are created equal. While God can communicate with human through revelations,
human can also commune to Him by means of prayer and meditation.

Articles of Faith

Perhaps the closest approach in having an acceptable creed in Judaism was proposed by the eminent
medieval Jewish philosopher Moshe ben Maimon (also known as Rambam or Moses Maimonides)
during the latter part of twelfth century C.E as an appendix to his commentary on the Mishnah.

Jewish Principles of Faith

1. God exists.
2. God is one and unique.
3. God is incorporeal.
4. God is eternal.
5. Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other.
6. The words of the prophets are true.
7. Moses’ prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets.
8. The written Torah and the oral Torah were given to Moses.
9. There will be no other Torah
10. Go knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
11. God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
12. The Messiah will come.
13. The dead will resurrected.

These statement of belief were eventually constructed as credo with every article beginning with
“I believe” and then late versified, set to music, and included in prayer book. Though controversial
when first formulated and evoked much criticism or even disregarded for many centuries, these
principles are generally accepted nowadays by the Jewish community.

The Ten Commandments

The ten commandments are a set of absolute laws given by God to Moses at the biblical
Mount Sinai that shall govern the life of every Israelite. Most scholars consider this period as the
official beginning of Judaism as an organized and structured beliefs system. These laws are twice
mention in the Hebrew Bible, particularly, in Exodus and Deutronomy. The ten commandments in
EXODUS 20:2-17, DEUTRONOMY 5:6-21.

Worship and Observances

The Jewish community utilizes a lunar calendar with twelve months, each beginning at the
new moon of 29 or 30 days. Every festival and Sabbath commence and terminates at dusk (or sunset)
rather than midnight in adherence to the biblical pattern. The Jewish calendar is followed in
observance of festivities, holidays, and community and family celebrations. Jewish history and other
events that depict the special connections with the world, such as creation, revelation, and
redemption.

Sabbath

This is the fourth law within the ten commandments. It begins a few minutes before sunset on
Friday and runs until an hour after sunset on Saturday or almost 25 hours to be precise. At Friday
sundown, Sabbath candles are lighted and Kiddush (sanctification) is recited over wine or grape juice.
Children are then blessed by their parents. Jews must abstain from work and must study the Torah.
Some work prohibitions include lighting of fire, using money, and writing. The Sabbath ends through
the symbolic ritual of Havdalah (division) done by dousing wine on candles and smelling sweet
spices.

The day of Awe

Tishri is the seventh month in the ecclesiastical year of the Jewish calendar. The first ten days of
Tishri are called “Days of Awe” (Yamin Noraim) wherein the first two days comprise the New Year
(Rosh Hashanah) and the tenth day as the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Rosh Hashanah marks
the start of the ten-day period of penitence leading to Yom Kippur and is distinguished from the other
days by blowing a ram’s horn trumpet (shofar) in the synagogue and eating apples dipped in honey
which is symbolic for a sweet new year. Using shofar, a total of one hundred notes are sounded each
day. All Jews must undergo self-reflection and make amends for all the sins they have committed.
Rosh Hashanah is also a day of judgement wherein God assesses one’s deed and decides what lies
ahead of him or her in the following year. This deeds are recorded in the “Book of Life” and sealed in
Yom Kippur. Work is not permitted during the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Pilgrimage Festival

During the olden days, the Torah commanded the ancient Israelites to go to Jerusalem on three
pilgrimage festivals and participate in the worship at the temple. Also called the Shalosh Regalim,
these Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (weeks of Pentecost), and Sukkot (tabernacles). These festivals
spiritualize human life and merge nature and History in a divine pattern.

 PESACH-is an eight-day festival that originally marked the beginning of barley harvest.
Its purpose is to commemorate and recreate the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt.
 SHAVUOT-is a two-day festival that was originally a celebration of the wheat harvest
which commemorates the revelation of the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai.
  SUKKOT-is a nine-day festival commemorating the autumn harvest and the forty years
of the Israelites’ stay in the dessert wilderness subsisting solely on the bounty of God.

Jewish Months and Festivals

Nisan (March-April) 22-Shemini Atzeret

14- Passover Eve 23-Simchat Torah

15-21 Passover Kislev (November or December)

Iyyar (April-May) 25-Hanukkah begins up to 2nd of Tebet

5-Israel’s Independence day Adar (February or March)

Sivan (May-June) 14-Purim

6,7 Shavuot

Tishri (September or October)

1-Rosh Hashanah

10-Yom Kippur

15-Sukkot

21-Hashanah Rabbah

Halakha

Because Judaism is also a comprehensive way of life, Jewish people follow a set of rules
and practices that govern their everyday living. Collectively called halakha which translates as
“the path that one walks” these Jewish religious derived from the “Written Torah” and “Oral
Torah” including the 613 mitzuot. Halakha instructs Jews what to do as they wake up in the
morning, what foods to eat, what clothes to wear, who to marry, and how to observe Sabbath and
holy days. When properly observed, Halakha increases one’s spirituality as even mundane acts
becomes essential to his or her existence.

Synagogues

Synagogues are Jewish temples of worship, instruction, and community fellowship that
contain separate rooms designed for specific activities, such as praying and studying. In orthodox
Judaism, men and women sit separately at the synagogues; in reform Judaism, they sit altogether
in temples. Similar to Christian church, synagogues have seats facing an elevated platform with
one or to lecterns or chair. The central feature at the platform ( bimah or tebah )and the holiest
spot inside a synagogue is the ark where the torah scrolls are kept. Reminiscent of the original ark
of the covenant, an ark inside a temple is normally placed in manner that when people face the
ark, they are facing in the direction of Jerusalem. An ornate curtain ( parochet ) veils the ark
while a lamp or lantern ( ner tamid ) burns before it symbolizing the constantly lit six-branched
lampstand ( menorah ) in the temple of Jerusalem.

THE TEMPLE

“ the ark of covenant “. David intended to build a temple become the first and fixed place
of worship for the Jews. However God told David that it would be one of his sons who will have
a privilege of accomplishing this task.

The Hebrew bible acknowledge Solomon, David’s son as the builder of the first temple in
Jerusalem around 1000 B.C.E. which was also known as Solomon’s Solomon temple. Within the
temple, the most important room was the “ holy of holies” where the ark of the covenant was
kept.
SUBDIVISIONS

Being one of the oldest religions in the world. Judaism has undergone various changes in
response to changing times and cultures brought about by key historical events or philosophical
upheavals. while there are certain beliefs shared by most adherents, difference and diversity in
faith also abound among Jewish denominations and sects. Within Judaism are three present-day
movements that’s emerged in response to the modern and secular culture of Europe and America.
These are reform, orthodox, and conservative Judaism. Two other smaller sects, namely Hasidism
and Kabbalah, are mystical approaches to the Jewish religion that emphasize spiritual experiences
over rational knowledge.

Orthodox Judaism is the most traditional modern Judaism that adheres to the authority
of the entire Torah as given to Moses by God at Mount Sinai.

Reform Judaism is considered the most liberal expression of Judaism that subjects
religious laws and customs to human judgment. To a certain extent, it developed due to internal
changes in Judaism as well as other factors operating within the society.

Hasidism or Hasidic Judaism emerged in Germany during the twelfth century. It is

Lastly, Kabbalah is another mystical form of Judaism that attempts to penetrate deeper
into God’s essence itself. While Kabbalist believe that God moves in mysterious ways, they also
hold that genuine knowledge and understanding of that inner process is achievable.

Women In Judaism

Women’s role in the Jewish religion is determined by the Tanakh, the oral Toral and
Jewish customs. Mishnah instructs that women must follow nearly all the negative
commandments except trimming the beard and viewing a dead body. Women must also follow all
positive commandments not structured by time but are exempted from those that restricted by
time. The reason here is simple, that is, to release women from laws that they find difficult or
impossible to perform given omtheir traditional domestic roles, such as giving birth, taking care
of the family, and accomplishing household chores. In addition, women have the right to be
consulted on matters concerning marriage. Judaism offers tremendous respect to roles given to
women as wives and mothers. Even Jewishness or the question of Jewish self-identification is
passed down through the mother.

Holocaust Nazis, the German

The term Holocaust is of Greek origin that means “sacrifice by fire.” In History,
Holocaust pertains to the methodical, bureaucratic, and state sponsored persecution and execution
of around six million. Jews undertaken by the Nazi regime and its collaborators form 1993 to
1945. For the Hitler-led Nazis, the Germans were racially superior and considered themselves as
the master race as compared to the Jews who were seen as inferior people. Hitler’s police chief
Hein rich Himmler, also believed in Aryan superiority leading to the enslavement and
extermination of “non-Aryans” and the inferior race (Perry 1988). He was one of the German
officials directly responsible for the holocaust.

Anti-Semitism

The term anti-Semitism pertains to hostility towards and discrimination against the
Jewish people that was strongly felt in France, Germany, Poland, and Russia in the late
nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The term was popularized in Germany around 1870s. The
most common manifestation of anti-Semitism were the many violent riots or pogroms undertaken
against the Jews. The planned extermination of the entire Jewish race during the time of
holocaust was the most extreme form of anti-Semitism. Other forms of anti-Semitic activities
include the persecution and massacre of Jews throughout history.