Category: God

The total Jewish population was not capable to rise above and fight the substantial subjugation of Nazi Germany, as their Jewish faith psyche were destroyed by the Nazi’s violent acts. Additionally, average Jews lacked the training and resources, which was further fuelled by an inability to counter such oppression after a peaceful life in the Middle East, followed by a mass migration to Europe in the 1800’s. The Jewish doctrine strictly upheld the traditional values of the Ten Commandments and stressed adherence to all values encompassed in its monotheistic system. To inflict further damage, the Nazis had also built an extensive system of oppression that lead to most Jews to presume passivity or even co-operation in their own destruction. However, the small figure of Jews that resisted the Nazi oppression were militaristically minded and were culturally accustomed to the deep-rooted anti-Semitism European countries. Therefore, Jews didn’t resist the Holocaust as the majority of the population had never endured significant oppression in the Middle East.

The Jews were weak in resistance due to their peaceful doctrine and faith. The Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) share a similar correlation of commandments that serve a crucial function in underpinning their culture. The Ten Commandments state that respect and fulfillment surrounding God and family is fundamental, which additionally is a crucial part of the Jewish culture. Due to this, many Jews practise strict observance according to the Ten Commandments and The Bible. As the Ten Commandments state: ‘Thou shalt not kill’ and thou shalt not steal.’ Therefore, these pacifistic ideals formed a weak resistance against the Nazi’s ruthless genocide. The U.S Holocaust Museum quotes how: ‘German killing squads called Einsatzgruppen were groups assigned to specifically kill Jews by moving with the Wehrmacht’. By the spring of 1943 these highly concentrated squads had killed 1.2 million Jews, by disguising the casualties as uncooperative Soviet civilians. Consequently, the new wave migration of Jews in the 1800’s weren’t accustomed to this German zeitgeist of deep-rooted oppression and structured hate that signalled the start of the Holocaust. As historian Walter Zapotoczny states: ‘the true power of the Wehrmacht was to crush the Jewish spirit’. Hence, the damaged psyche had a significant consequence on the effectiveness of Jewish resistance and quelled a majority of their fighting spirit. Furthermore, these values were tainted by Nazi ideologies as impure, anti-nationalistic and as a degradation of an ‘Aryan’ German’s values. Consequently, the Nazis were able to destroy any major ideas about resistance before they even formed, due to the ruthless tactics which were employed to destroy the Jewish persona.

The Wehrmacht’s control made Jewish resistance to the Nazis during the Holocaust perilous. At first, most Jews believed they would be re-settled to a productive life. As ‘We Are Not One’ by Fred Lazin states: ‘Jerusalem Yionites believed the German Jews would only work as punishment.’ Many Rabbis believed that by working for and being cooperative with the Germans they could survive and limit the suffering of other Jews. Professor M.Marrus states in an interview that: ‘The leadership of the ghettos, were utterly unprepared for the kind of catastrophes they faced. The kind of blackmail that these Jewish leaders faced is something scarcely imaginable today.’ The structured and armed force of the Wehrmacht posed a large obstacle to the resistance of mainly unarmed and low-morale civilians, especially Jews in the wake of Hitler’s agenda in 1933. The Nazis had also used the idea of ‘collective responsibility’ to thwart resistance. This tactic held whole communities and families responsible for acts of individual resistance. As the U.S Holocaust Museum states: ‘In the ghetto of Bialystok, 1943 the Germans shot 120 Jews on the street after Abraham Melamed shot a policeman. The Germans threatened to destroy the whole ghetto if he didn’t surrender.’ This structured barbarism had effectively destroyed the Jewish spirit, often making the oppressed fight each other in the process. The extreme secrecy and deception that the Germans used to carry out deportations and killings were intended to impede resistance. Millions of victims, rounded up for deportation to Nazi concentration camps, often did not know where they were being sent. Rumours of death camps were widespread, but Nazi deception and the human tendency to deny bad news in the face of possible harm. Even if they saw through it, what could they do? The German forces ordered their victims to pack their belongings, thus reinforcing the belief among victims that they were being “resettled” in labour camps. Alternatively, The Nazi regime had severe consequences on the psychological aspect on the international community. There was the unimaginable nature of what the Germans were doing. How could Nazis gas millions of innocent civilians? Mass graves in Europe were first discovered in 1941, yet in 1954, 22% of the British population denied The Holocaust. The overwhelming power of the German regime coupled with the thorough means of deception, played on the Jews, all contributed to the reason, so few Jews fought back and why there was little organized resistance.

However, due to the vast resistance they faced, certain Jews resisted the oppression. Resistance was however extremely limited and largely ineffective in Nazi Germany due to the Wehrmacht’s power and as they lacked broader international support. The acts of trying to stay alive and to maintain at least a remnant of human dignity constituted resistance to the Nazi effort to dehumanize and ultimately annihilate the Jews. Jews strove to sustain themselves both physically and emotionally in the face of the Nazi murder. In many ghettos the Judenrat and underground organizations did their utmost to distribute essentials. In many places they organized cultural, educational and religious activities, which were expressions of the vital spirit of the inhabitants. The act of providing work took on great importance in many places, both for its practical day-to-day aspects and in several ghettos, proving the value of Jewish labour evolved into a strategy for safeguarding the population. Attempts were made to document the ever-deepening suffering under the Nazis. Additionally, Jews acquired false documents that identified them as Gentiles, and used them to hide and cross international borders. As Jews became aware of the fact that the Nazis were massacring them, armed underground organizations came into being. Groups prepared for resistance against the Nazis, either within the confines of the ghettos or by joining the partisans in the surrounding area. The armed uprising of the longest duration occurred during three weeks in the spring of 1943 in the Warsaw ghetto. However, Hitler’s policy success in the mid-1930s and the drop in unemployment, trumpeted by an effective propaganda machine, helped forge widespread support for the sadistic regime.

Jews didn’t fully resist Nazi oppression as the barbaric regime had extensive power over the Jewish community and the fragile psyche of Judaism. Therefore, Jews had no previous exposure to this sort of constructed violence and had little resistance in way of ideals and morals. However, the small Jewish force that did resist were nationalistic and saw the true extent of anti-Semitism throughout Europe. The Holocaust was a vicious act in human history that was built upon the blood of many innocent civilians, many who died without a final stand.

Judaism is identified as a monotheistic religion with the belief of only one God. Judaism was established during the time of Abraham the prophet, where the initial covenant, or promise, of God was given to the people of Judaism. It is the religion of the ancient Hebrews and their descendants, where their teachings also influenced those of Christianity and Islam. Abraham and Moses are patriarchs of the Jewish faith, as well as, Isaac the son of Abraham and Jacob the son of Isaac. Just as any religion, Judaism is classified by its principle beliefs, sacred texts and core ethical teachings. Through the Jewish paradigm beliefs, sacred texts such as the Talmud and Tanakh, and core ethical teachings like the 10 commandments given by Moses and the Prophetic Vision, we can see the impact of Judaism on its adherents and their everyday lives. The mitzvot, also known as commandments, are derived and interpreted from all three aspects of Judaism and are compiled for Jews to follow and apply to daily life.

Judaism has no dogma, no official set of beliefs that one must have to be considered a Jew. They do not concern themselves with abstract concepts but rather focus on the relationships between God and humankind, God and the Jewish population, God and individuals, and humans amongst each other. We see a verse from Exodus saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery”, which emphasises the principle belief in God’s existence. Jewish principle beliefs stem from sacred texts and scriptures. These are interpreted and equipped to organise the core ethical teachings of Judaism.

Abraham was the core beginning of Judaism as a faith, giving reason to why he was considered the father of the faith. He stands as an example of the trust that one must have in God and His plan. Judaism is based on the covenant that was given to Abraham by God, and later on, the covenant given to Moses. Jew is the term given to those who follow the faith of Judaism, where an individual Jew can have a personal relationship with God.

God, in the Jewish faith, is a divine being who is omnipotent, referring to power, omnipresent, meaning constantly encountered, and omniscient, meaning all knowing. He has power over all events that occur on Earth, granting humans the opportunity of free will to choose between right and wrong. This gives significance to an individual’s actions and choices toward and against God. Though there is free will, it can be argued that God does have a role in determining human affairs, just as He interfered in human choice within Biblical scriptures. We see this in the hardening of the heart of the army of Canaan where the Bible states, “For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses” (Joshua 11:20 NIV). This is considered interference by God of free will as it causes the people to act differently or in a certain way.

Judaism’s sacred texts consist of the two major texts, which are, the Talmud and the Tanakh. The purpose of the sacred texts is to convey Jewish teachings, to guide the people and record traditions of the initial faith at the time of Abraham. The Tanakh is the primary Jewish sacred text. The word Tanakh is an acronym of the three sections that the text can be divided into. These include the Torah, Nevi’im and the Ketuvim and contains not only the beliefs of Judaism but its rituals and practices with prayers such as the Shema (daily prayer in Judaism) and important rules about rituals relating to holy days such as Pesach (Passover) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). The Tanakh consists of the same books of the Christian Old Testament, however, in slightly different order and minor differences. The Torah, meaning law or teaching, has 5 books inclusive of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. From this section of the Tanakh originates the Creation Story, where God created the world and universe, and the recount of lives of Abraham and Moses. This is where God’s covenant and commandments are given to the people of Israel. It contains the 613 Mitzvot (positive and negative rules for ethics). Exodus was the liberation of the people by Moses out of slavery and the journey to Mount Sinai where the well-known Ten Commandments were established, which are also recognised and utilised in Christianity. Up to Deuteronomy, Moses constantly reminds the people of God’s mercy and redemption to them with His rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience. There is a theme of God’s fidelity, contrasting the people’s infidelity. Moses hands over his power to Joshua and the people are lead to the Promised Land of Canaan.

The second section of the Tanakh is the Nevi’im, meaning prophets, has 21 books. As the name describes, this section is divided into prophetical books. These books describe the communication God had with these prophets for the good of Israel, informing them what needed to be done to please God and the exile that the prophets suffered, setting an example for Jews that it will not be easy to practise faith openly. It reminds the Hebrew people of their covenantal obligations and that departing from these obligations have negative consequences.

The last section of the Tanakh is the Ketuvim which translates to writings and has 13 books. This book holds significant poems, historical occurrences, scrolls and overall contemplations of God’s goodness and justice laced through the section. The major poetical books are Psalms, Proverbs, and Job.

The other sacred text of Judaism is the Talmud, also known as the Oral Torah. The Talmud is a compilation of Rabbinical writings that act as an interpretation and application of the Torah scriptures. A Rabbi is a teacher of the Torah and is often compared to a priest in Christianity as they practice in the same concept. Orthodox Jews believe the Talmud was revealed to Moses and preserved orally until it was written down. The Talmud can be separated into two parts; the Mishnah and the Gemara. The Mishnah is organised like a law book, holding legal rulings and lessons elucidated by rabbis in early Judaism. It is divided into 6 parts, which include laws for different aspects of life such as marriage, prayer, criminal laws, ritual cleanliness, holy days, and the Temple. The Gemara is a rabbinic commentary and contemplation on the Mishnah. One of the points of Orthodox Judaism is to build up Talmudic law as the state law of Israel. Orthodox Jews submit themselves deliberately to Talmudic law and the rabbinic court framework, particularly in matters of dietary and custom law, marriage and separation, and social work. Conservative Judaism, although it is viewed as a more contemporary version of Judaism that adapts with time, it is dedicated to determining the proper response to modern issues. Whereas, Reform Judaism rejects the Talmud as an entirely human invention portraying medieval thought and values.

The Core Ethical Teachings of Judaism are a basis of Jewish principle belief and are completely derived from their sacred texts. The Talmud explains the laws of the Torah. The Core Ethical Teachings of Judaism include the explanation and application of the Ten Commandments, Prophetic Vision (Tikkun Olam), 613 Mitzvot and the 13 Articles of Faith composed by Moses Maimonides. Also, Halachah is a Jewish legal System. It means ‘going with God.’ It describes how a Jewish person ought to behave. The Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God in the book of Exodus in the Torah and are included in the 613 Mitzvot (laws). It states Ten laws to which all Jews should live by and preach. The Mitzvot are scattered throughout the Torah. For example, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself’ (Leviticus 19:17). The 13 Articles of Faith is a summary of the basic beliefs of Judaism and its practical application to everyday life. It was created by Moses Maimonides as a clarification to avoid misinterpretation of beliefs. They are referred to as ‘fundamental truths of Judaism and its foundations’. It is a tradition to recite each principle after prayers in the synagogue (Jewish place of worship) starting with the phrase “I believe…”. The 13 articles of Faith are derived from the Mitzvot of which there are 248 positive (do) and 365 negative (don’t do) Mitzvots. There is also the Prophetic Vision (Tikkun Olam). Tikkun Olam is the concept of repairing the world through acts of kindness. Justice and freedom are articulated and it is evident that Jewish social groups are passionate about protecting other people. It empphasises the idea that each individual can contribute to the world to make it a better place for everyone. The book of Proverbs is another source of Jewish ethical teachings. This is a collection of moral and philosophical sayings in poetic form based on the human experience. In the book, we see major themes of righteousness, wisdom, purity and generosity. “He who gives to the poor suffers no want but he who ignores them gets many a curse”, is proof of righteousness. These Ethical teachings have a great impact on the lives of adherents as they determine the actions of the individual and their decision. The teachings are listed in practical applications to life and assist in maintaining peace amongst humans. Adherents are promoted by the ethical teachings of Judaism, contained in the Torah, the prophetic vision, the idea of Tukan Olam and the book of Proverbs, to ensure a safe and protective Jewish community of a place in the world where common laws and ideas encourage close bonds between individuals.

All aspects of religion have an impact on the adherents of the Jewish faith. It is evident that the three aspects of Jewish principle beliefs, sacred texts and core ethical teachings are all simultaneous of each other and are impacted by each other. Principle beliefs and core ethical teachings are interpreted and are derived from sacred texts, explaining specifically what a Jewish person needs to preach and praise in order to please God. Principle beliefs allow adherents to feel connected to a power larger than themselves and gives a sense of belonging. It also allows for great creativity where art and culture are combined in the portrayal of the Jewish faith. Sacred texts give order and management to the adherents everyday lives, allowing for good decisions to be made based on faith. Core ethical teachings are morals that allow individuals to remain morally sane and continue in a healthy lifestyle. In any society, ethics are vital for the enduring success and peace of the community. Kindness and loyalty within the community are valuable aspects of the ethics of Judaism.

The adherents of Judaism can be separated into three different kinds. Progressive Judaism, Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism. Progressive Judaism is the liberal branch of Judaism. They believe that the oral and written law is not regarded as the literal word of God.

They reject the concept of divine revelation as direct dictation of the Tanakh by God, instead, believing that the Torah was written by divinely inspired people rather than being the literal word of God. Also, synagogue worship tend to be simplified and modernised, men and women sit together and women can be rabbis. Orthodox Judaism is the traditional Jewish religion. They believe that the only way the Jewish religion will survive is to impose strict separation of Jews from secular society. An example is the Hasidic Jews who reject all attempts to sacrifice Halakhah to suit the changing social circumstances. There is to be no compromise with modern life which is seen in their clothing

Judaism

The symbol for this religion is the “Star of David”. It is a symbol of the Jewish religion and all the Jewish people as a whole, it is thought that this symbol was the emblem on the shield of King David. The Torah links this symbol to the “Seal of Solomon”, a magic ring used by King Solomon to control demons and spirits.

The origins of Judaism are explained in the Torah. It is said that God came to Abraham and made a special agreement with Abraham saying that Abraham and his descendants were the chosen people who would go on the create a great nation. God revealed the Ten Commandments, to Moses at Mt. Sinai.

There are three major variations of Judaism, Orthodox Judaism differentiates itself its worship in the Hebrew language, their view is that Biblical law may only be developed and interpreted by process of reasoning. Conservative Judaism follows traditional practices but adapts with modernity, the core belief is that God’s will is made clear to humanity through revelations. The Progressive concept originated with the freedom of the Jews of the various German states. The ideological distinctions between the Progressive and the Orthodox are reflected in the form of temple service.

Judaism holds that Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the national God of the Israelites delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and gave them the Law of Moses at Biblical Mount Sinai as described in the Torah.

The Jews believe there is a single God who created the universe and every Jew can have an individual and personal relationship with. They believe God continues to wok in the world, affecting everything people do. The Jewish relationship with God is a covenant relationship.

Yahweh or God can be seen differently depending on the perspective, to some He may seem like the a ruthless murderer who kills all who don’t obey Him. To others he may seem like a nice peaceful guy who created the world, creating us perfectly in His image.

Jews are supposed to pray three times a day; morning, afternoon, and evening. The Jewish prayer book (it’s called a siddur) has special services set down for this. Praying regularly enables a person to get better at building their relationship with God. After all, most things get better with practice.

Synagogues are spaces used for prayer, Halakha holds that communal Jewish worship can be carried out wherever ten Jews (a minyan) assemble.

There are a lot less Jews in Australia than Israel, but this however is not necessarily a bad thing. Smaller communities that have a common interest can be more beneficial for everyone involved. Smaller communities allow for closer relationships and a stronger identity within the group, smaller communities help move towards a common goal. Individuals are a part of something they want to be a part of, making their experience much more enjoyable. The size of these communities is about the only difference between them (aside from the country of course). Although there may be less attendants to a synagogue, the practices have remained the same showing that both communities have stayed true to their religion.

Critical Thinking and Reflection Question

According to Judaism, Jesus was what was called a false messiah. Jews believe Jesus was the most influential and therefore damaging of all the false messiahs. The rejection of Jesus as the messiah has never been an issue in Judaism, this is due to traditional beliefs. Judaism has also never accepted any of the claimed fulfilments of the prophecy that Christianity associates with Jesus. Since the fundamentals of Judaism are monotheistic, worship of a person as a form of God is forbidden. Judaism holds that the coming of the messiah will be accompanied by a series of events that have not yet occurred, this includes the return of the Jews to their homeland and the rebuilding of The Temple. Since these events did not occur in the lifetime of Jesus, he was not the messiah.

When comparing the major world religions, Judaism and Christianity are likely to be seen as the most similar. They both follow the Hebrew Scriptures (The Old Testament) and although Christianity includes The New Testament, they have a similar idea of a God who is seen as holy, righteous, and just, while at the same time loving, forgiving, and merciful. Although there are many differences between the two such as practices and worship etc, the key difference is the person of Jesus and the work he did. As mentioned before, Jesus is rejected as the messiah by Judaism but is seen by many as a good teacher and perhaps even a prophet. Christianity on the other hand teaches that God came to Earth as a human, Jesus, to sacrifice himself to pay the price for our sins. Judaism is strongly against these beliefs.

This task has greatly expanded my knowledge of Judaism. It has shown me how different religions have been changed throughout history and how the practices and beliefs of some have shaped new religions and beliefs.

CLS Assignment Speech Notes

The symbol for Judaism is the “Star of David”. It is thought that this symbol was the emblem on the shield of King David. The Torah links this symbol to the “Seal of Solomon”, a magic ring used by King Solomon to control demons and spirits (Augustyn, 2019). Following Jewish freedom after the French Revolution, Jewish communities chose the Star of David as their symbol, it is also found on the Israeli flag. The origins of Judaism are explained in the Torah. It is said that God came to a Hebrew man Abraham (The founder of Judaism). The Jews believe that God made a special agreement with Abraham saying that Abraham and his descendants were the chosen people who would go on the create a great nation. God gave his laws in the form of the Ten Commandments to Moses at Mt. Sinai. There are three major variations of Judaism, Orthodox Judaism is distinguished by its traditional forms of worship in the Hebrew language, their view is that Biblical law may only be developed and interpreted by process of reasoning. Conservative Judaism follows traditional practices but adapts with modernity, the core belief is that God’s will is made clear to humanity through revelations. The Progressive concept originated with the freedom of the Jews of the various German states. Jews were after full acceptance in the German culture to which they had finally been admitted. The ideological distinctions between the Progressive and the Orthodox are reflected in the form of temple service (Israel and Judaism Studies, 2018).

Judaism holds that Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the national God of the Israelites delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and gave them the Law of Moses at Biblical Mount Sinai as described in the Torah. The Jews believe there is a single God who created the universe and every Jew can have an individual and personal relationship with. They believe God continues to wok in the world, affecting everything people do. The Jewish relationship with God is a covenant relationship. Yahweh or God can be seen differently depending on the perspective, to some He may seem like a ruthless murderer who kills all who don’t obey Him. To others he may seem like a nice peaceful guy who sacrificed Himself to Himself to save the world from Himself, unable to understand the meaning of Him. To some, he is seen as the creator of the universe, a divine ruler perfect in every way and one who we should strive to like.

Jews are supposed to pray three times a day morning, afternoon, and evening. The Jewish prayer book (it’s called a siddur) explains how to do this. Praying regularly enables a person to get better at building their relationship with God. Synagogues are spaces used for the purpose of prayer, Tanakh reading and study. A synagogue is not necessary for worship. Halakha holds that communal Jewish worship can be carried out wherever ten Jews (a minyan) assemble.

There are a lot less Jews in Australia than Israel, but this however is not necessarily a bad thing. Smaller communities that have a common interest can be more beneficial for everyone involved. Contrast to larger communities where individuals can avoid contact, smaller communities help move towards a common goal. Individuals are in something they want to be in, this greatly affects a person’s experience within a community. The more positive a community, the more positive individuals will be. The size of these communities is about the only difference between them (aside from the country of course). Although there may be less attendants to a synagogue, the practices have remained the same showing that both communities have stayed true to their religion, showing its authenticity worldwide.

References

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8. En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Synagogue. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synagogue [Accessed 5 Aug. 2019].
9. Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Star of David | Meaning, Image, & Facts. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Star-of-David [Accessed 13 Aug. 2019].
10. GotQuestions.org. (2019). What is the difference between Christianity and Judaism? | GotQuestions.org. [online] Available at: https://www.gotquestions.org/difference-Christianity-Judaism.html [Accessed 11 Aug. 2019].
11. Israel & Judaism Studies (IJS). (2019). Modern Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative and Progressive – Israel & Judaism Studies (IJS). [online] Available at: https://www.ijs.org.au/modern-judaism-orthodox-conservative-and-progressive/ [Accessed 6 Aug. 2019].
12. Mfa.gov.il. (2019). [online] Available at: https://mfa.gov.il/MFA/IsraelExperience/AboutIsrael/Spotlight/Pages/Jewish%20Sacred%20Texts.aspx [Accessed 13 Aug. 2019].
13. My Jewish Learning. (2019). Is There a Jewish Afterlife? | My Jewish Learning. [online] Available at: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/life-after-death/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2019].
14. ReligionFacts. (2019). Jewish worship. [online] Available at: http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/worship [Accessed 3 Aug. 2019].
15. Sites.psu.edu. (2019). Larger vs. Smaller Communities | Applied Social Psychology (ASP). [online] Available at: https://sites.psu.edu/aspsy/2014/06/24/larger-vs-smaller-communities/ [Accessed 10 Aug. 2019].

Exploring new areas outside of one’s personal experiences or level of knowledge can be intimidating. I found this to be true when asked to attend a religious service outside of my own religious traditions. Religion is a sensitive subject for most people. In the United States, it is common to hear people say not to discuss two things; religion and politics because people tend to end up arguing over these subjects. Thus, the reason religion is usually kept private and not discussed openly.

I grew up in a household that held many Christian beliefs and values. Learning the history of my own religion is what first sparked my interest in Judaism because according to the Bible, Jesus the son of God was Jewish. This fact has always lingered in my mind, but I have never acted upon the urge to enlighten myself on Judaism and its beliefs, until being given this assignment.

Fundamental Beliefs

To understand the Jewish faith, one must first learn about the religions history as Judaism is one of the world’s oldest monothetic religions, dating back to 30,000 years old. There are 14 million Jewish people living in the world today, most of them residing in the United States or Israel. Jewish people believe in one God, who has elected the Jewish people to be in a covenant relationship with. It is God who they credit to have created and rules the world and at the end of time will come back for all of Israel, otherwise known as the Jewish people. The universal goal of Judaism is the idea of messianism, the belief that in a messiah as the savior of the world, who will bring peace and justice to our realm.

The origins of Judaism are told in the Torah, which is a portion of the Jewish sacred text known as the Tanakh or also referred to as the Pentateuch. The Torah consist of five books, Genesis, the creation of the world. Exodus, which speaks about how the Egyptians has enslaved the Israelites. It also is where the Ten Commandments of the bible can be found. Leviticus, discusses morality, diet, rules pertaining to sacrifice, and other ways of life. Numbers, known as the census. This book tells the adventures of the Hebrew people on their way through the desert to Canaan. The final book is titled Deuteronomy, where Moses address the children of Israel.

In the Jewish culture law is the most important domain of life. It is a guide in how to bring forth the reign of God on Earth. As the Jewish community believe that they are called to express loyalty to their covenant with God by following the examples set by the Torah in the most public and private times. Within the community, Jews are called upon to reflect on his or her personal intentions or behaviors. When people do so, they are believed to be rewarded by God, either in this world or the world to come, which comes after death.

Reform Judaism: The particular synagogue I visited was categorized as reformed. Reform Judaism has modified traditional Jewish views, laws, and rituals to fit the modern-day society and political culture. Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise is credited with the success of Reform Judaism in the United States; it began in 1841 in Charleston, SC. Reformed Jews assert that if Judaism stays frozen in time it will not survive a modern era. This form of Judaism introduces modern innovation and still preserves tradition and law, by doing so the religious beliefs and values are held without rejecting diversity amongst its community. Tikkun olam – repairing the world – is the hallmark of Reform Judaism. They accept the Torah as the foundation to their lifestyle, a book that allows them to face trials in their everyday lives. Holding true to the belief that Judaism must adapt to new times, Reformed Jews also are committed to the principles of inclusion for all, despite how the person is considered Jewish. Equality for woman in all areas of Judaism and of the lgbtq+ community.

Forms of Ritual

Most Reform congregations celebrate Sabbath with a service on Friday nights rather than Saturday mornings. They also do not enforce the rabbinic prohibitions against labor on the Sabbath. Reform Jews practice most of the same rituals as those in traditional Judaism.

When a baby is going to be named, a ceremony is held to choose the baby’s Hebrew name. The ceremony often takes place on the eight day after birth for boys when they are being b’rit milah or circumcised and within the first few weeks for baby girls. During the ceremony parents have the opportunity to explain their rational for having chosen the baby’s particular Hebrew name. Blessing are also said to acknowledge the baby’s new covenant with God and for the baby to grow into a life study of the Torah.

Confirmation is a Reform originated ceremony for teenagers tied to the Jewish holiday Shavuot, a holiday that occurs seven weeks after Passover to embrace the teaching of the Torah. Confirmation takes place at the end of grade 10, where students confirm a commitment to Judaism and the Jewish lifestyle. Most commonly, the Confirmation students lead all or part of the service and Torah reading.

Bar and bat mitzvah are directly translated to “son and daughter of the commandment.” Bar mitzvah were first developed for boys as a public recognition of a religious and legal status. When a boy turns 13 years old, they are called upon the Torah as a way of establishing entry into manhood. The bar mitzvah boy chants blessings and his father then recites a special blessing, “Baruch sheptarani mei-onsho shelazeh” or “blessed is he who has freed me for the responsibility for this boy.” The boy would then give a scholarly address on the Torah, followed by a gala feast called the s’udat mitzvah. At 12 years old, Jewish girls take on their legal responsibility, corresponding with most girl’s onset of puberty. However, unlike Jewish boys, girls are subject to fewer commandments. Some families hold a s’udat mitzvah for their daughters, that have the same process as the boy’s ceremony.

Contrary to traditional Jewish belief, Reform Judaism has made provisions for interfaith marriages and children to be welcomed into the Reform congregation, as well as, encouraged to convert to Judaism. Conversion is Reform Judaism only require the prospective covert to declare, orally or in writing, in the presence of a rabbi and at least two leaders of the congregation, acceptance of the Jewish faith and lifestyle.

Holiday, Festivals, and Sacred Days

Shabbat is a day of rest and prayer dedicated to God at the end of the week, meant to mirror how God rested after his creation, ‘Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Adonai your God.’ (Exodus 20:9-10) Shabbat starts 18 minutes before sundown on Friday until an hour after sundown on Saturday. The meaning behind shabbat is to connect with God, Torah, and family. Jewish people generally do minimal if not any work during the hours of Shabbat, but Reform Jews typically do not follow the strict rabbinic rules on physical labor during Shabbat. Preparing the home for Shabbat is what brings meaning to the celebration. Preparations consist of preparing a special meal and setting the table as if a royalty is coming to dine. Traditional of Shabbat, people generally greet each other with phrases like “gut Shabbos” or “have a good Shabbat” and “Shabbat shalom” which is Hebrew for “Shabbat peace.” Candles are light to initiate the commencement of Shabbat. A minimum of two candles are required to represent the importance of the Shabbat in the Torah’s Ten Commandments. In Reform Jewish homes, an importance is not placed at the time the candles are light unlike in more traditional Jewish homes. The ritual of Kiddush meaning “sanctification” is a requirement of Shabbat. The Kiddush consist of a piece from the story of the Creation story, a blessing over the wine, which is a symbol of peace and joy in Jewish culture, and a blessing over Shabbat itself. The Motzi which is as follows, “Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, hamotzi lechem min Haaretz” or ‘Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread out of the earth’ should be recited by everyone sitting at the table once the Challot is uncovered. Challot is loaf of bread with a special twisted design used during special Jewish holidays and occasions. Blessing ones family, children, household, and life is an important aspect of Shabbat.

Pesach or more commonly known as Passover is one of the most important dates in the Jewish calendar because it is a day to remember how God liberated the enslaved Israelites from Egypt. Passover takes place over a seven- or eight-day period centering around the Seder a home service that consist of family meals and retelling stories from the book of Exodus. During this time, Jewish people eat no bread or leavened food. They also take time off work during the beginning and end of Passover but work in the middle.

Hanukkah is also an eight-day holiday that remembers the Jewish recapture of the Temple in Jerusalem in the year 164 BCE. This holiday does not have any strict requirement and Jews do not typically take off of work to celebrate. Traditions include lighting a candle each day on a Hanukkah menorah and playing with a dreidel.

The last two high Jewish holidays are Rosh Hannah and Yom Kippur. Rosh Hannah is celebrated as new year for repentance or sin and renewal. During this time many Jews make amends with relationship in their life and seek forgiveness for mistakes they carry. Finally, Yom Kippur is a day of fasting, confession and prayer. Fasting involves no eating, drinking, washing, wearing leather, sexual relations.

Art, Symbols, and Images

The Second Commandment states, “You shall not make yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth”. This prohibits the construction of idols, or most artistic representation. Due to this, ceremonial objects are used in the Jewish culture to represent their religion artistically. Such as, candlesticks, Kiddush goblets, spice boxes, ornamented containers, silver crowns used to garnet Torah scrolls, and other objects used during Jewish ceremonies and rituals. Judaism does however have symbols and images recognizable to the religion. For instance, The Star of David is one of the most ubiquitous Jewish symbols. It is a six-pointed star, made up of two triangles that are meant to represent the union of heaven and earth. The two triangles symbolize man reaching up to God and God reaching down to man. A menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum made of gold that represents the continually lit “ner Elohim” or “candle of God” from ancient temple times. The Reform movement has never had any of its own distinctive symbols unique to its synagogues. It shares the popular display of Jewish symbols, such as the Star of David and the Tablets of the Ten Commandments.

Visiting Experience

Before visiting synagogue of Temple Judea, I conducted some preliminary research to get a better understanding of Reform Judaism. I found a webpage for Temple Judea that shared the synagogues mission and vision statement. They also provided viewers with an about us section that stated all member of the community were welcomed despite of age, race, religion, sexual orientation. Reading this statement made me feel much more at ease since I always thought of Judaism to be a very strict and law-based religion, but quickly learned the Reform division of Judaism was formed to create the balance between tradition and a changing society.

I attended a Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat service. I was very intimidated entering the synagogue as its size is very large and elegantly decorated. Upon entering the sanctuary, I was greeted by a member of the synagogue with a “shabbot shalom” which I found to be very exciting as I knew that was a common term used in the Jewish community. I saw many men but not all weaning a kippah, as well a select few of women wearing a tallit. When researching why, I found that the use of a kippah a small round head covering, and tallit a prayer shawl, is optional amongst the Reform Jewish community for both men and women. I also noticed that the synagogue provided Jewish members with these garments upon entry if needed. The lobby also had a store where ritual items could be purchased, such as, candles, prayer books, kippot, tallit. When entering the sanctuary, I could clearly see where the Shabbat service would be held, this area is called the bimah. It is the most sacred place in the sanctuary, the Aron HaKodesh or the holy ark, which is where the Torah scrolls are located. The bimah also had a podium for service leaders to stand behind and chairs for them to sit on. The congregation is set up to face this area, as this is where the rabbi will deliver the service. Rabbi Judith l. Siegal lead the service using the prayer book Mishkan T’filah which had prayers in Hebrew and English. The Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat service also included the reading of six psalms and a poem. The service consisted of a lot of music even during the rabbi’s sermon, meant as a backdrop during prayer and meditation. The service also had many moments of standing and sitting. For example, Bar’chu is a call to prayer and during this prayer you bow when reciting the first word and stand straight up again after reciting the third word. During Torah service, when the Torah was brought out of the ark and carried through the sanctuary, the congregation stood as a sign of respect. They sat once the Torah cover was removed and placed over the Torah and stood again once the Torah was read and being dressed again. The entire experience was enlightening and felt very sacred. The Reform Judaism movement is growing in south Florida due to the areas diverse population. Reform Judaism appeals to a larger group of people due to its flexibility to traditional Jewish aspects.

Works Cited

1. Popp, CA, et al. “Relationships between God and People in the Bible: A Core Conflictual Relationship Theme Study of the Pentateuch/Torah.” PSYCHIATRY-INTERPERSONAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES, vol. 65, no. 3, pp. 179–196. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edswsc&AN=000178629000001&site=eds-live. Accessed 12 July 2019
2. Adler, Felix. “Reformed Judaism.” The North American Review, vol. 125, no. 257, 1877, pp. 133–146. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25110081.
3. Vivian B. Mann. “Spirituality and Jewish Ceremonial Art.” Artibus et Historiae, vol. 24, no. 48, 2003, p. 173. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2307/1483736.

Intro

Certain patterns congregated in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the late 17th century that led to the emergence of Hasidic Judaism. Including the spread of mysticism in Jewish belief, such as Kabbalah, and the decline of authority figures in mainstream Judaism, with noblemen having such a sway over the power of a rabbi that many mainstream Jews lost trust in their ability to act unbiased in acts of arbitration, so turning to Hasidic charismatic leaders filled the gap left from these untrustworthy rabbis. Following this period, the Chabad Lubavitch branch of Hasidic Fundamentalism was born (Loewenthal, 2010). But how does this, as a Hasidic group, differ from mainstream Judaism both in the 17th and 18th centuries and today? This essay will explore Chabad Lubavitch as a fundamentalist, Hasidic subset of Judaism, and compare its beliefs and practices, such as messianism, Zionism, and leadership structures.

The first Rebbe of Chabad Hasidism was Shneur Zalman of Liady. Early in his life, he was known for his work Likute amarim (1797), which is commonly referred to as Tanya today, which provided an outline for Chabad Hasidism. The name “Chabad” was chosen for this movement because it is a Hebrew acronym for the attributes Chochma (wisdom), Bina (understanding), and Da’at (knowledge), as these three cornerstones of intellectual study encouraged one to keep learning and growing, perfecting ourselves while developing our inherent talent (Schloss, 2002). According to Loewenthal, many of the writings of Tanya act as an ideological basis for modern Chabad. During prayer, he emphasised the importance of establishing a deep, emotional relationship with the divine, while practically, he expounded the importance of hands-on action on social issues matching with the Chabad social values, such as being kind, giving to charity, and reaching out to other (Loewenthal, 2010).

Outreach

It wasn’t until the seventh (and final) Rebbe of Chabad Lubavitch that Shneur Zalman’s concept of outreach was fully implemented as one of the key points of the movement. Menachem Mendel Schneerson firmly believed in outreach as a primary goal of Chabad Lubavitch. In 1961, in conversation with a group of Young Israel intercollegiate students, the Rebbe shared the following thought:

A question that is often asked is: “How can we hope to establish the malchut Shadai (kingdom of God) on this earth with so few observant Jews?” The Jewish race is a minority among all the nations of the world, and Torah-observant Jews are an even smaller minority. It seems impossible that the vast and great majority should be influenced by the ways and teachings of the minority. And yet, Jews are still waiting for the coming of the Messiah, even though they have been a minority throughout history.

Years ago, the country with the larger army and greater manpower was always the victorious one. Today this is no longer so. If one person can invent a super atom-bomb, he would have the power to rule the earth. In the same way, if a person teaches about a state of spiritual perfection, he can positively impact the entire world and current order of existence.

Kalmenson sees this speech as proclamation of the dream of Rebbe Schneerson – he wants to see the world become devoid of suffering and pain, and he desires to share this vision with other Jews, but to do so, he needs to reach out to them to spread his message (Kalmenson, 2013). In order to spread this message, Chabad Lubavitch utilises emissaries that make it their goal to reach out to those with Jewish heritage and educate them on the importance and impact of faith. Lubavitcher emissaries emphasise getting Jews to abide by the mitzvot (commandments), as each practicing Jew that abides by the mitzvot could be the one to tip the scale and bring upon Earth the messiah, which comes with utopia, peace, rebirth and the end of Jewish suffering (Wigoder, 2002, p. 522 – 526).

Because of Schneerson’s effort, the Chabad outreach program grew in numbers and influence a considerable amount at the end of the 20th century. In major Lubavitch areas, Chabad members are chosen at a relatively young age to wander the streets in order to find Jews and convince them to take part in Jewish rituals, such as the aforementioned mitzvot. These men are known as Shaliach and their wives are known as Schluca. As well as scouting the immediate area, these young Lubavitcher emissaries go to both nearby localities and far away locations to open Chabad houses that host services and programs to educate and attract nearby Jews and visiting Jewish tourists, these programs can include summer camps, nursery schools and Jewish education (Levy, 2014). Some Shaliach choose to go to areas that are deemed by Chabad to be in need of the influence of Hasidic Judaism. Many Chabad houses are in towns and cities that have universities, Berman argues that this is to target the Jewish youth that might still be turned orthodox (Berman, 2009).

Unlike mainstream Judaism, Schneerson addressed women and men equally in his campaigns for outreach. Establishing a Chabad women’s organisation in Israel in 1951, his primary aim for this was to engage women and girls of all ages, turning them to the Hasidic Chabad movement with effort equal to that directed towards men and boys. Traditionally, education on Judaism and the Torah as a whole on an intermediate or advanced level is reserved for men (Furstenberg, 2000), so this intentional withdrawal from the customs of mainstream Judaism marks a distinct difference between Chabad Lubavitch as a Hasidic group, and Judaism as an established world religion. Furthermore, Furstenberg goes on to state that many talmidot hachamot, female authorities on the Talmud and scripture, are primarily from an orthodox orientation, which creates further distinction between mainstream Judaism and orthodox groups like the Hasidic Chabad Lubavitch.

Zionism

Zionism originates from the early 19th century as a liberation movement for the Jewish population, referring to the belief that a state in their homeland of Israel should be dedicated to the Jews, and thusly should be retaken. Only in this homeland could the Jews feel secure from anti-Semitism while embracing their culture (Laqueur, 1972).

Historically, Chabad Lubavitch has been an adversary of the Zionist movement, treating its attempts to create a Jewish state with disfavour. Sholom Dovber Schneersohn, the fifth Chabad Rebbe, campaigned against the movement, and made it clear that Chabad Lubavitch is an anti-Zionist Hasidic group. According to Kolb & Mezvinsky (2013), in a letter in June 1899, Sholom Dovber Schneersohn referenced Talmudic observation on the Bible, in which God commanded that the Jewish people must not try to force the redemption of the Holy Land themselves, especially not with physical strength. Schneerson went on to claim that the idea of Zionism directly contradicted the baseline Jewish belief that God alone will bring upon redemption, especially since all previous attempts at people forcing the redemption of man had failed, so only God could bring about this change, and the ideas of Zionists were all political delusions, spurred by leaders who only selfishly cared for power and influence. Furthermore, the Rebbe communicated in his letters and teachings that the people who followed pro-Zionist leaders were blinded by ignorance, as they are exchanging political nationalism and devout faith freely, allowing these people to be damaging to the word of God.

Rebbe Yosef Yitzhak Schneerson, the sixth Chabad Lubavitch Rebbe, carried on his predecessor’s legacy of anti-Zionism, making sure to emphasize his opposition throughout his time as the Rebbe. As stated by Kolb & Mezvinsky (2013), the sixth Rebbe saw Zionism as “false messianism”, while urging Jews to follow the actual commandments of God, making it so the coming of the messiah, and therefore the redemption, arrives sooner.

Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook put forward the idea of Religious Zionism, which claims that the mitzvah of cultivating the land of Israel refers to the Zionist approach of settling Israel, making Zionism God’s direct will. The sixth Rebbe was outspoken in his opposition of this.

The final Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, saw the current social and political climate of Israel as a threat. When Menachem Mendel Schnnerson (1902–1994) assumed leadership as the seventh and last Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1951, he considered the state of Israel a threat to God’s plan and this heresy. From his perspective, secular Zionists had established their state in order to promote the idea that Jews were basically the same as Gentiles and thus deserved to have a normal state. Schneerson, hereafter referred to as the Rebbe, asserted that God had cho¬sen and made the Jews his special people and that as such they at the time of redemption would have their governing status in the Holy Land deter-mined and their temple restored. Like his predecessors, the Rebbe also rejected the position of Rabbi Kook’s religious Zionism, which posited that the coming into existence of the state of Israel constituted “askhalte digeule,” the beginning of the redemptive messianic age. In rejecting religious Zion¬ism, the Rebbe pointed out that the Israeli Declaration of Independence omitted any mention of God. He strongly criticized Israeli politicos for this omission. He distinguished between the Holy Land and the imperfect state, created by secularists.

Leadership

Menachen Mandel Schneerson was last the charismatic leader of Hasidic Lubavitch, he acts as a Rebbe. This role is deeply different to that of a Jewish Rabbi, as he not only acts as the lead and religious elder, but he is seen to have a personal connection with God, being viewed by many Lubavitchers as a prophet (Berman, 2009, p. 73).

The followers of a Rebbe assign to them profound spiritual powers and qualities given directly from God, with the ability to call upon miracles from the highest power. He may even be able to reverse decrees of a divine nature, (Feldman, 2003, p. 27) interprets the Talmud passage “I rule man; who rules me? [It is] the righteous: for I make a decree and he [may] annul it.” (Moed Katan 16b), in a way that suggests that the Rebbe has the authority to change the status of divine decrees. In the past, some Rebbes have declared their powers openly, while others haven’t addressed their miracles. However, all emphasize the power of individual worship, such as prayer, over the power of a miracle. Because of this, many Hasidic Jews will come to a Chabad Rebbe with a kvitl (note to God), often hoping for God to heal or aid a loved one (Sharot, 1987). Much of this Godliness attributed to the Rebbe is related to his enlightened form of deveikuth (dedicated and individual connection with God).

Reference List

1. Berman, E. (2009). Voices of outreach: The construction of identity and maintenance of social ties among chabad-lubavitch emissaries. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 48(1), 69-85.
2. Loewenthal, N. (2010). Lubavitch Hasidism. Retrieved from http://www.yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Lubavitch_Hasidism
3. Feldman, J. (2003). Lubavitchers as citizens: A paradox of liberal democracy. New York: Cornell University Press.
4. Schloss, C. (2002). A Chassidic journey. Israel: Feldheim Publishers.
5. Sharot, S. (1987). Messianism, mysticism, and magic: A sociological analysis of Jewish and religious movements. North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press.
6. Kalmenson, M. (2013). The Rebbe’s dream – Chabad outreach Retrieved from https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/1566795/jewish/The-Rebbes-Dream-Chabad-Outreach.htm
7. Wigoder, G. (2002). The new encyclopedia of Judaism. New York: New York University Press.
8. Levy, F. (2014). Young Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries: Who they are, where they’re going. Retrieved from https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/2767338/jewish/The-Young-Chabad-Lubavitch-Emissaries-Who-They-Are-Where-Theyre-Going.htm
9. Furstenberg, R. (2000). The flourishing of higher Jewish learning for women. Retrieved from http://www.jcpa.org/jl/jl429.htm
10. Laqueur, W. (1972). A history of zionism. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
11. Kolb, J. & Mezvinsky, N. (2013). Eyes upon the land: Chabad Lubavitch on Israel. doi:10.1558/rsth.v32i1.7

“Big mouth” is an adult animation sitcom which is about the Jewish teenager daily life story in Westchester county, New York. The drawing style was very similar with “The Simpsons.” It was not my personal taste but number of my friends told me that the “Big Mouth” has similar laughing code and it was quite fun to watch. It looked like the author is trying to make fun some of the factors to reduce antisemitism. Anyway, the show does include some of the Jewish culture, but it does not include any of the Judaism as in spiritual. In some part, it was hard to understand because the monster pops out from nowhere any say random lines. However, it seems like, the monster represents the dark side from the deep of mind of the children. I, as a typical Asian, have learned Jewish culture and life in North America as a Jewish by watching this TV show and the show made me draw some picture, in my head, of Jewish daily life in North America. Although there might be some of the exaggeration to make some of the point fun, but there are number of things that are might be true. From the TV show, the cultural event and symbol, imagery, language and sound, and the stereotypes towards Jewish are the reasons why this show represents present days of Jewish identity of North America and the TV show turns those factors to comedy.

Firstly, “Big Mouth, season 1, Episode 9, was about the “Bat Mitzvah” for one of the main characters, Jessie. “Bat Mitzvah” is a Jewish ritual for girls who became 12 years old. This is extremely interesting because of its meaning. According to the Chabad.org, “‘Bat mitzvah’ is Hebrew for “daughter of commandment.” When a Jewish girl turns 12, she has all the rights and obligations of a Jewish adult, including the commandments of the Torah.” (Ross) In simple way, “Bat Mitzvah” is a coming-of-age ceremony. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “Torah, in Judaism, in the broadest sense, the substance of divine revelation to Israel, the Jewish people: God’s revealed teaching or guidance for humankind. The meaning of “Torah” is often restricted to signify the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), also called the Law (or the Pentateuch, in Christianity).” (Encyclopedia Britannica) It is clear that “Bat Mitzvah” is a Jewish event, but it emphasizes that the Jewish life in North America. Although “Bat Mitzvah” is an event to celebrate one’s maturity, but it seems like Jessie does not want to be in part of “Bat Mitzvah.” In North America people usually celebrate “sweet sixteen,” and mostly do not celebrate come-of-age in religious way. Maybe the author might want to express this point to represent present days of Jewish in North America.

Secondly, another factor that this TV Show can represent present days of Jewish identity of North America because of language and sound that used in the TV Show. It is very hard to understand the TV show because of some Hebrew vocabularies and it’s the pronunciation. Not only the word “Bat Mitzvah,” but also there were number of the Hebrew were used, such as “Simcha,” “Rabbi,” “Aliyah,” “Yarmulke,” and “Mazel Tov.” It is quite similar with how American Korean sounds like. People who were born in America, they tend to mix some of the Korean words when they have conversation. Even though, it is unnecessary to add those Native language words in the sentence, but they do enjoy adding those words. Anyway, some of the characters in the “Big Mouth” also tend to speak some of the Hebrew during the conversation. after the “Bat Mitzvah,” Andrew says “Mazel Tov” (10:41) to Jessie, which he could’ve just said congratulation to her. Not only, the characters in the show speaks Hebrew, but also they still uses the some of the Hebrew words while they are speaking English. Furthermore, people who live in North America tend to lose the proper pronunciation of their origin language, but the contor makes ‘huch’ sound. It is obvious that the contor did not have to make ‘huch’ sound because everyone in the church was Jewish and even if she did not make ‘huch’ sound no one would say anything to her.

Thirdly, image in the TV show supports the idea that this TV show shows Jewish identity of North America. Symbols of Judaism and Jewish were in the episode. Such as Yarmulke, Star of David, Tallit are the major symbols of representing Jewish identity. However, in the episode, Contor and Rabbi in the Jewish temple is a Judaism way to call teacher and guide. Contor and Rabbi look like a teacher at church. Not only the Contor and Rabbi are the main image for represent Jewish culture symbols but also the most important thing was the location of “Bat Mitzvah.” Jessie’s “Bat Mitzvah” was held in Jewish temple. It was easy to distinguish that the location was Jewish Star of David was on the wall of a building. Additionally, boys were wearing the Yarmulke during the “Bat Mitzvah.” Yarmulke is one of the symbols of Jewish identity. Yarmulke is a hat that Jewish wear during the pray or mealtime. Also, wearing the tallit makes audience think the “Big Mouth” is a TV show represents present days of Jewish identity of North America. Tallit is a scarf look like thing that people put on their head or shoulder for special Jewish events. According to the research people do not wear yarmulke and tallit all the time. People wear them on special occasion or event. However, there is a point that make audiences to have stereotype to Jewish people. Huge number of people from Asia think that Jewish people are very conservative, and this episode make people think that they are right about Jewish people.

Lastly, in “Big Mouth,” the author makes fun of Stereotype of Jewish make another point that the TV show represents present days of Jewish in North America. There are tons of stereotypes towards Jewish people, but most of the common stereotypes are that Jewish are conservative, rich, and stingy. The author turned those stereotypes to a comedy in the TV show. Firstly, having Andrew and Missy break up might look like a stereotype towards Jewish. Although parents worry about their children being in relationship but most likely parents in North America tend to congratulate their children being in relationship, which looks very conservative parents. Secondly, Jew Fisherman is keep offering to the kids in the church, which represents that the stereotype of Jewish are conservative. According to the Jew In The City, “Sephardic communities did not adopt the practice of wearing a yarmulke to the same extent as Ashkenazic communities. Many observant Jews of Sephardic descent are only strict about wearing a yarmulke when eating and davening.” (Abramowitz) Not a surprisingly, the teenagers in the TV show did not wear yarmulke nor tallit until “Bat Mitzvah” are in middle of the service in the church or special event. This also represent present days of Jewish because they do not think that it is necessary to wear yarmulke or tallit all the time. Additionally, the background of the TV show look like a environment where rich people are living. Especially, The last stereotype that the author used was Jew Fisherman’s job before he retired. A ghost that follows Nick always talk about his agent for making a TV show. It looks like the author was making fun of the joke of Jewish owns most of the film making companies. All these stereotypes are made without any evidence but some people such as who grow up in Asian countries would might believe such a stereotype because most of them would never have a chance to see Jewish in their life.

To sum up, the “Big Mouth” seems like not the greatest TV show to watch because the TV show is using non-sense stereotypes as a comedy. When Jew fisherman was offering the yarmulke, the ghost who were following Nick, who is a main character, ask him, “Jew, can you even remember the name of my first single?” then the Jew repeats the question. “Do you boys need a yarmulke?” then the ghost says “oh, good, he still remembers some things.” Without any question, this is a making fun of Jewish music culture because Jewish song is mostly about tradition of Jewish or Judaism and Jewish culture. There might be more of the stereotypes, images, languages, and cultural factors that I have missed, but it obvious that the author is trying his/her best to turn those factors to comedy so that people have less antisemitism. Therefore, the “Big Mouth” contains a lot of Jewish culture, language, symbols, and made fun of stereotypes towards Jewish and it would be good example to learn Jewish culture.

Work Cited

1. Chabad.org. “Bat Mitzvah: What It Is and How to Celebrate – Everything You Need to Know about Becoming a Bat Mitzvah.” Judaism, 8 Nov. 2012, https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1918218/jewish/Bat-Mitzvah-What-It-Is-and-How-to-Celebrate.htm.
2. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Torah.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 Sept. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Torah.
3. Abramowitz, Jack. “Why Do Jewish Men Wear Yarmulkes (Kippahs)?” Jew in the City, 8 Feb. 2019, https://jewinthecity.com/2017/01/why-do-jewish-men-wear-yarmulkes-kippahs/.

Theological anti-semitism is a dislike or intolerence of Jewish people based on their religious thought and beliefs. That is today’s definition of anti-Sematism. If you look at the Ancient Origins power point it gives a list of semetic speaking languages. Anti-Sematism actually means a dislike of the semetic speaking languages, including: Arabic, Maltese, and Hebrew (Morisson-Santana, 14). When the word was first created it meant disliking people that speak semetic languages but the connotations it gives today is a dislike towards only jewish people. The term has turned to only disliking Jewish people as the religion grew bigger and bigger. The ideology has been around since the religion of Judaism was created around 1812 B.C.. Anti-semitism has spread around the entire world since it’s creation and everywhere that there are Jewish people, there is antisemitism.

From the beginning of the religion to today there are instances of anti-semitism throughout all of history after the religion was created. A major instance on anit-Semitism can be seen in the Holocaust. The Holocaust was the imprisionment and killing of around six million Jewish people based only of the fact that they were jewish. It didn’t matter who you were or what you did, if you were a jewish person you would be taking to a camp to either work or be killed. People of any race or creed were taken to the camps if they were jewish. Even if someone was suspected to be Jewish they were taken to a camp. It is the biggest form of anti-Semititsm seen in the entire history of the world. It is also the biggest genocide to happen in all of histroy. This event has brought anti-semitism to a larger scale and it has spread the ideology like a wildfire throughout the world.

Judaism was created when God came to a nomad named Abraham and promised him people and land as long as he did what God wanted. God wanted him to: obey him, be merciful to everyone no matter who they are, and he and his people cannot fight. Abraham agreed to do what God wanted him to and in return he gave him the people and land that he was promised. That was the creation of judaism. After they were created, they became a nomadic people that traveled around the world trying to find somewhere to settle. This was difficult for them due to them having different beliefs than the rest of the world. They were monotheistic while the rest of the world was polytheistic. They separated themselves and they didn’t fight in wars. They took the “smart jobs” from the people such as doctors. They also established Israel in an already occupied area of Palestine. These differences and choices led people around the world to dislike the jewish population. This was how Anti-semitism was created. No one wanted the Jewish people to be around because they help the people that gave them land and they were different.

The land that was given to them by God was also occupied by people. The area known today as palestine was promised to Abraham by God if he did what God commanded him to do. This made the people that were already there angry because these people were coming to settle on their land without their permission. This added the the anti-Sematism that was spreading throughout the world because the people that were already there disliked the Jewish people for taking the land that wasn’t theirs. After some time Israel became too barren for them to stay and they had to leave. This is when they became nomadic and the idea of anti-Sematism really took off. This was a big factor for the spread of anti-Sematism.

Anti-semitism has evolved from the past to be a more hateful thing. Due to the holocaust anti-semititsm has become a very hateful word. It went from disliking jewish people based on their ideas and religion, to hating them just because they are jewish. It became a word to degrade the people of the judaism religion. An article called “How anti-Semitic beliefs have taken hold among some evangelical Christians” talks about how American Christians are blaming the Jewish population for a lot of Americas problems. The article talks about how the president of the united states is blaming the Jewish people for the problems that America faces. The article says that many people are becoming anti-Semetic because they are following Donald Trump, who is saying anti-Semetic things (Zauzmer, august 22nd,2019, 5). He is unknowingly advocating for anti-Semetic ideas by different means. He is tweeting things that are anti-Semetic without him even knowing. For example he tweeted an image of Hilary Clinton over money with a Star of David (Zauzmer, august 22nd,2019, 19). His tweeting is making people believe that he is anti-Semetic and people are starting to follow his beliefs. People are becoming anti-Semetic because of what he is doing.

Just as the people of the past blamed the Jewish people for the problems of the world, The people today also blame the Jews for causing many problems. This article is related to the past because they both show a distaste for the Jewish population based on untrue things said about them. In the past people didn’t like them because they thought that they took the “smart” jobs and they were blamed for killing Jesus. Nowadays they are hated because they are seen as “running the world” (Laitman, 1) Many people today thinik that jewish people run the world and that’s the reason why they are disliked today.

They think that Jewish people run everything. For example, many people think that the Jewish people run the banks, which isn’t true. These are untrue statements and they only reiterate the stereotypes of jewish people. People from the past and people from today both base their opinions of jewish people on nothing but unproven statements. They hear something about them and they instantly believe it as fact without checking it. They don’t check to see if what they hear is right and it makes the Jewish people look worse. This has lead to anti-Sematism to increase throughout the world. Many people hear these false things and they spread it and it gets bigger and bigger.

The article also differs from the things that have been said about Jweish people in the past. In the past people thought of Jewish people as people who didn’t fight in wars and were monotheistic. Today people see Jewish people as people who own everything and have a lot of money. These stereotypes are untrue from the past and the present differ but they are both untrue. In the past anti-Sematism was not as hateful as it is today. Today the word comes from darker places such as the Holocaust and it is now even darker then it used to be. The idea of anti-Sematism has evolved throughout history. In the beginning it was only created because the Jewish population was different, now the idea has taken a much darker turn and it is about hating them for other reasons.

The article also talks about how the ideas are coming from a couple of well known people while in the past it was spread throughout the entire world by the people that would allow the Jewish people to settle. When Judaism first started to spread they would go to different places and try to settle. It wouldn’t work out for them because the people they tried to settle with wouldn’t agree with their ideology so they forced them to leave. When they left the dislike of them was left in the place they settled. So every time they left somewhere because they were forced out they would be disliked by the people that were living their. This spred the idea of anti-Semitism throughout the ancient world. Today anti-Sematism is spread by high profile politicians or famous people while in the past it was spread by everyone. These politicians and famous people have large following so they can easily influence the people that follow them. If they have these ideas of anti-Sematism then the people that follow them will also have those ideas. This would then cause it to spread throughout the world and many people start to believe what they hear.

In conclusion, People of the past and people of the present both have very anti-Semetic beliefs. People in the past didn’t like jewish people because they were monotheistic, did not help in wars, and they were blamed for killing jesus. People today don’t like Jewish people because they are perceived as people who own everything. Both the past and the article have similarities and they differ from each other. Anti-Sematism is spread throughout the world just as it was in the past but it is spread differently and the meaning of anit-Sematism has become much more dark. Judaism came from being a harmless group of people started by one man named Abraham who was visited by god, to becoming one of the biggest and most hated groups of people on the entire planet.

The research question for my topic of beliefs in the Judaism religion was do beliefs define us as people? When looking at the beliefs in Judaism we see how Jews express the belief of having only one god this is called monotheism. Jews believe strongly that god created the world and have an independent and unique relationship with god. ”This relationship is known as a covenant relationship which the Jews thank him for all the deeds he has done”.

The main ways Jews express a covenant relationship is by keeping God’s laws and to bring holiness into everyday activities. They believe that god has chose them to be his chosen suitable people in order to set holiness and righteous conduct throughout the world. Jewish life is very much a community based and they have many ventures for example the Jewish prayer book the Torah. ”In 960-922 BCE the first Temple in Jerusalem was built by King Solomon who was David’s son “The Temple became the centre of Israelite worship. “In 586BCE the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and the Israelites are deported to Babylon, which is the beginning of the period known as the exile.” The Persians rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem.

This period onwards is known as second temple Judaism. Between 69-70BC there was a Jewish riot against the romans and the temple in Jerusalem was demolished by the roman army. The western and wailing wall remain today. The belief is that the messiah will rebuild the temple. There are three movements in the Jewish religion Orthodox Jew, conservative Movement and Reform Judaism.”Orthodox Jews believe that both the written and oral Torah are of divine origin, and represent the word of god this is a similar view of conservative movement, but the orthodox movement holds that such information is the exact word of god and does not represent any human inspiration or vision through their thoughts” Conservative Jews believe it is important preserve old ways as much as possible but not in the degree of importance as orthodox Jews they acknowledge the importance of carefully chosen adjustments to accommodate the world in which they live in. Reform Jews accept the Torah but is seen more of an open study and seen more as an explanation by individual Jews.

This movement arose in 19th century and experienced remarkable expansion in the United States of America. From looking at the recent research conducted the conclusion is that Jewish people have strong ethical values of their beliefs and this is a factor which contributes to defining them as people.

Bibliography

1. BBC 2014(Jewish Faith and God) “Jews believe strongly that god created the world and have an independent and unique relationship with god” www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/beliefs/beliefs_1.shtml
2. BBC 2014 “This relationship is known as a covenant relationship which Jews” [online] last modified September 14th 2009 www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/beliefs/beliefs_1.shtml
3. BBC 2014 (Jewish Faith and God) “This relationship is known as a covenant relationship which Jews” [online] accessed 2019 www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/beliefs/beliefs_1.shtml
4. Burroughs. Jonathan “Judaism Beliefs” RSP4001 Religions and World Religions MIC Thurles, 2019
5. Jewish Virtual library, “Orthodox Judaism: background and overview” American-Israel Co-Operative Enterprise, Accessed 30 October 2019 https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/background-and-overview-of-orthodox-judaism

The Bible is frequently alluded to as the ‘Heavenly Bible.’ But I’m not catching it’s meaning for an individual as opposed to a book to ‘be sacred’? Is it an activity or a perspective? The book of Leviticus offers some understanding into what being blessed involves, clarifying that it requires predictable activity with respect to Israel. Researchers consider Lev 17-26 the Holiness Code, a nitty gritty arrangement of moral and ceremonial laws remembering decides for sexual immaculateness that each Israelite must pursue to be viewed as ‘spotless’ and ‘heavenly.’ The reason for sexual virtue laws was to make a particular personality for the Israelites through custom. As the individuals consistently play out a similar ceremonial activity, a comprehension of substantial immaculateness creates and ties the network together.

The Israelites were living in a setting where they may experience Egyptians or Canaanites who occupied with what the creators of Leviticus considered ‘wicked’ works on, including excessive admiration and unethical sexual conduct. Leviticus consequently requires the Israelites to embrace measures of conduct to isolate themselves from their neighbors and keep up the immaculateness of the land given to them by the God of Israel. A definitive objective of the sexual virtue laws, and the Holiness Code when all is said in done, was to persuade the Israelites to be sacred, similar to God—what later pundits call impersonation Dei, ‘mirroring God’ (see Lev 19:2). To be heavenly is to be discrete from polytheistic neighbors and to be isolated to God. In Lev 18, the Israelites are advised to perform activities that ‘set apart’ the clean from the unclean; by doing so the Israelites will keep up a level of immaculateness and along these lines be ‘sacred.’ ‘Clean’ and ‘heavenly’ are connected however not really the equivalent. To be ‘perfect’ alludes not to physical neatness however to a state accomplished through custom that directs qualification for love and consideration, in particular, ‘sacredness.’ And in this way, starts the recitation of sexual virtue laws, controlling the conduct of the Israelites (and furthermore uncovering lascivious continuous acts of their outside neighbors).

The sexual virtue laws start by posting sexual disallowances including relatives. The laws likewise incorporate two restrictions against sex between two men (Lev 18:22, Lev 20:13) that have thrown a long shadow of segregation. A superficial perusing of these refrains outside of any relevant connection to the issue at hand may lead a peruser to presume that the Hebrew Bible contradicts same-sex intercourse by and large. In any case, the restriction is against male practice, not female, a reality that has driven pundits to contend that the (probable male) creators were focused on male nonprocreative intercourse (look at the ‘spilling of seed’ by Onan in Gen 38:9-10). It is likewise worth thinking about the more extensive scriptural setting. Lev 19:18 states that ‘you will cherish your neighbor as yourself,’ and Lev 19:34 offers a considerably more extensive announcement: ‘you will adore the outsider [that is, the non-Israelite] as yourself, for you were outsiders in the place that is known for Egypt.’ The arrangement of such sexual virtue laws nearby an increasingly all inclusive ethic of affection may appear to be astounding. In any case, regardless of the shallow disjointedness, the Levitical laws were intended to coincide with one another, similarly as the Israelites must exist together with non-Israelites. The direction to ‘love’ the neighbor and the outsider supporters not inactive feeling but rather activity. It is comprehended that sacredness isn’t selective yet includes tolerating and coinciding with non-Israelites. At last, the principles of Leviticus characterize how to be an individual of the God of Israel; they make a network, a personality for the Israelites as they move into the guaranteed land.

In Judaism “purity” is a of a social system which coordinates and puts people in their rightful place. The ranking system for this is listed from most pure to least pure. There are many maps including maps of places, certain things, people, and times are all mapped. Below I am going to list the map of holiest places for the purest people, followed by the least holy for the less pure.

1. The Land of Israel is holier than some other land.
2. the walled urban areas (of the place where there is Israel) are still progressively blessed.
3. Inside the dividers (of Jerusalem) is still increasingly heavenly.
4. The Temple Mount is still progressively heavenly.
5. The Rampart is still increasingly sacred.
6. The Court of the Women is still progressively heavenly.
7. The Court of the Israelites is still progressively blessed.
8. The Court of the Priests is still increasingly heavenly.
9. Between the Porch and the Altar is still increasingly blessed
10. The haven is still more holy…The Holy of Holies is still more holy.

The list is extremely useful. It demonstrates bearing: one moves from the outside toward the middle. Gentile domain is outside of Israel and isn’t blessed in any way; it is off the guide completely. In any case, all of Israel is blessed; it is on the guide. As if one were climbing a progression of concentric circles, one voyages upward and internal toward the focal point of heavenliness, the Temple. The focal point of the Temple is the Holy of Holies, God’s special stepped area and honored position, wherein God is ‘enthroned over the cherubim.’ It is, at that point, the focal point of the universe, the navel of the world. The course of the guide recommends the standard of arrangement, sacredness is estimated regarding vicinity to the Temple, the focal point of the guide. Everything else is arranged and appraised as ‘heavenly’ in vicinity to that middle.

In Judaism the Jewish family purity laws, or otherwise known as Taharat HaMishpacha, or also niddah. These laws include certain things such as the act of partition between a discharging lady and her significant other. Scripturally situated in the Torah, these laws, likewise alluded to as niddah, have formed into a complicated and point by point set of laws that keep a discharging lady from having sexual relations with her better half both during her menstrual cycle and for a time of seven ‘white days’ following. Through the improvement of rabbinic laws and writing, niddah has likewise extended to incorporate the custom of mikveh, the inundation following one’s menstrual cycle, and laws applying to ladies during and after pregnancy. It is essential to note, in any case, that lone a little segment of numerous Jewish people group practice these laws. Generally Conservative and Reform Jews don’t consolidate this part of Judaism into their life; it is mostly Orthodox Jewish families that training niddah laws. The act of Taharat HaMishpacha can be investigated and inspected from various perspectives. Some observe niddah as a positive encounter that extends both sexual and nonsexual parts of a marriage. Others see these laws as negative, in that they corrupt and typify ladies and estrange a discharging lady from everyone around her. Be that as it may, this subject can’t be decreased to this polarity; rabbinic writing, for example, the Mishnah, and understandings of the Torah present an indistinct picture of these laws.

There are no characterized answers to the gendered ramifications of niddah. The Torah recognizes niddah, a lady having her normal menstrual period, yoledet, a lady conceiving an offspring (which incorporates a lady having a late unsuccessful labor), and zavah, a lady encountering an unpredictable progression of blood. As indicated by the Torah, a niddah basically checks seven days from the main day of her period (counting the principal day) and afterward goes to the mikveh to filter herself on the late evening following the seventh day. Thus, a yoledet essentially tallies seven days from the introduction of a child or 14 days from the introduction of a girl before setting off to the mikveh. In any case, a zavah must hold up seven clean days after her blood stream has finished before experiencing purging. The rabbis record that during the hour of the Talmud the qualification among niddah and zavah turned out to be too hard to even think about upholding. So as to err on the side of caution, all ladies who experience uterine draining are considered to conceivably be a zavah. Some talmudic sections ascribe this severity to the ladies themselves. Prior to starting the seven clean days, the lady must sit tight for her period (or her baby blues seeping) to end. Ashkenazic ladies additionally make a point to hold up until in any event the fifth day since the draining started, regardless of whether the blood stream finished before; Sephardic ladies hold up until at any rate the fourth day.

There are also purity laws against what people who follow Judaism can eat, there are clean foods and unclean foods. That also includes animals some forbidden foods are the blood of animals or birds, fats, especially the fat of an ox, a sheep or a goat. More forbidden foods include animals that don’t have cloven foods, or animals that don’t eat their feces. Those animals include pigs. Pigs have cloven hooves but avoid eating feces. Insects that fly and walk on four legs. That includes locust and grasshoppers which have legs but use them for hopping. Aquatic animals that do not have fins or scales are also forbidden to eat, and also certain birds. There are also many other things that are considered forbidden, but those are just a few examples that if you eat, you will be considered unclean.

Jewish Theology is a huge part of Judaism. There are many different thoughts about the Theology of Judaism. There are also many different beliefs of the Jewish religion. In this portion of the paper I will talk about those things, and also where it comes from.

Judaism is the world’s most established monotheistic religion, going back about 4,000 years. Supporters of Judaism have faith in one God who came to light through old prophets. The historical backdrop of Judaism is basic to understanding the Jewish confidence, which has a rich legacy of law, culture and custom. Jewish individuals accept there’s just a single God who has set up a pledge or extraordinary understanding with them. Their God conveys to devotees through prophets and rewards great deeds while likewise rebuffing fiendishness.

Most Jews accept that their Messiah hasn’t yet come yet, however will one day. Jewish individuals venerate in sacred spots known as synagogues, and their profound pioneers are called rabbis. The six-pointed Star of David is the image of Judaism. Judaism is the religion, culture, morals and law of the Jewish individuals. It is one of the main recorded monotheistic beliefs. 14 million Jews practice Judaism today. Verifiably, Judaism establishes numerous different religions, including Christianity and Islam. It was the first to dismiss excessive admiration and lecture monotheism.

There are a few groups in Judaism, which include:

• Standard Judaism: Orthodox Jews are regularly known for their severe recognition of conventional Jewish law and customs. For example, most trust Shabbat shouldn’t include working, driving or taking care of cash.
• Universal Judaism is a various order that incorporates a few subgroups, including Hasidic Jews. This structure began in the eighteenth century in Eastern Europe and holds unexpected qualities in comparison to conventional or ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Hasidic Jews underline a mysterious involvement in God that includes direct fellowship through supplication and love. Chabad is an outstanding Orthodox Jewish, Hasidic development.
• Change Judaism: Reform Judaism is viewed as a liberal class of the religion that qualities moral customs over severe recognition of Jewish laws. Supporters advance dynamic thoughts and adjustment. The greater part of the Jews living in the United States pursue Reform Judaic conventions.
• Preservationist Judaism: Many individuals consider this type of Judaism some place in the middle of Orthodox and Reform Judaism. Ordinarily, moderate Jews respect the conventions of Judaism while taking into account some modernization.
• Reconstructionist Judaism: Reconstructionism goes back to 1922 when Mordecai Kaplan established the Society for the Advancement of Judaism. This organization accepts that Judaism is a strict development that is continually advancing. Humanistic Judaism: Rabbi Sherwin Wine established this division of Judaism in 1963. Humanistic Jews observe Jewish history and culture without an accentuation on God. Messianic Judaism: This cutting edge development joins the convictions of Judaism and Christianity. Messianic Jews accept that Jesus Christ was the Messiah yet at the same time pursue Jewish conventions. While there are different categories of Judaism, numerous Jews don’t relate to a specific grouping and just allude to themselves as Jewish. Jewish Holidays

Jewish individuals watch a few significant days and occasions ever, for example, Passover: This occasion endures seven or eight days and observes Jewish opportunity from bondage in Egypt. In particular, Passover alludes to the scriptural story of when the Hebrew God ‘ignored’ places of Jewish families and spared their youngsters during a plague that was said to have executed all other first-conceived babies in Egypt. Rosh Hashanah: Jews praise the introduction of the universe and mankind during this occasion, which is otherwise called the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur: This ‘Day of Atonement’ is viewed as the holiest day of the year for Jews who ordinarily spend it fasting and imploring. High Holy Days: The 10 days beginning with Rosh Hashanah and consummation with Yom Kippur are otherwise called the High Holidays, the Days of Awe or Yamim Noraim. The High Holy Days are viewed as a period of atonement for Jewish individuals. Hanukkah: This Jewish festival, otherwise called the ‘Celebration of Lights,’ keeps going eight days. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees vanquished the Syrian-Greeks more than 2,000 years back. Purim: This is a happy occasion that praises when the Jewish individuals in Persia were spared from annihilation.

Introduction

There are approximately 14 million Jews worldwide concentrated mainly in the United States and Israel. The Jewish people believe the place of origin is Israel, in the Middle East, where Abraham was believed to have talked with God, or in Hebrew Yahweh. Jewish people believe Abraham is the founder of Judaism because God first revealed himself to him. Abraham is believed to be the first patriarch of Judaism because God made a covenant with him and his descendants are the chosen people, Jews. The covenant is a mutual relationship with God and Jews in which the Jewish people become the “Holy Nation” and must live up to His commandments; however, if they disobey God, He shall punish them. They believe that God is the one and only true God who created the world and all humanity starting with Adam and Eve. God is believed to be transcendent, omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipotent (almighty). Although God is referred to as a He, He is neither female nor male, He is a spirit who is described in human terms, so humanity can better understand Him. The Jewish people believe He imparted an ethical principle in which the Jewish people live by and follow. The Jewish practice strictly from the Torah, which is the first five books of the Christian Bible, in which it refers to the entirety of God’s revelations. The Jews also practice from a book called the Talmud, which is a collection of biblical law written by Rabbis, Jewish priests. The Talmud also called the “Oral Torah”, explains how God’s Ten Commandments should be carried out and explains Jewish traditions in depth.

The question of humanity’s origin

Jewish people believe God created humanity and the world we live on. In the Torah, the book of Genesis describes the six days God spent creating the world, animals, and humanity. The Book of Genesis reveals that God created Adam from the dust on the ground and breathed life into him, then God created Eve from the rib of Adam. Since woman came from man, man shall unite them in one flesh; therefore, when the Jews get married, they believe man and woman unites into one because it was destined by God. Humanity originated from Adam and Eve, the first people God put on earth, and everyone is a descendant of them.

The question of purpose: why I am here

God created humanity, so God could reward His people, the Jewish Chosen People who are descendants of Abraham; however, God wants His people to earn the reward themselves. To earn the reward of an afterlife with God, the Chosen People must live by a strict mandate, the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments, in summary, say to be kind, honest, not to harm others, and only worship God. They believe in a Messiah, Mashiach in Hebrew meaning anointed one, who is a liberator of the Jewish people and who would come for the final judgment and renew life on earth. Christianity believes that Jesus was the messiah, but Judaism believes the Messiah has not come to earth yet, rather he will come “at the end of time” (Brood, 360). The Jewish people believe we were sent to earth to carry out God’s word and live a life devoted to God because after they die they will be rewarded in the afterlife by returning to God’s side.

The question of eternity

In Judaism, there is an afterlife, which they call “the world to come”. When they die their soul goes into the underworld and souls remain there until Judgement Day when the dead are resurrected, and God comes to judge the living and the dead. Everyone is born with an immortal soul and when a person perishes their soul is sent to heaven or hell where they will spend eternity. A person cannot move from heaven to hell or hell to heaven, they are sentenced to live everlasting in where God’s judgment has placed you. When the Messiah comes down to earth the Messianic Age will begin, and the dead will rise from the ground and they will be judged.

The question of pain and suffering

God created the world with perfect peace and harmony between nature and humanity; however, when Adam and Eve were created God told them not to eat from the forbidden tree, but they did. Adam and Eve created the original sin; therefore, everyone created thereafter was born with sin and into sin. The sin does not mean God does not love us; on the contrary, God loves His creations wholeheartedly and those who believe in Him shall live with Him in heaven. The pain and the suffering in this world are due to the sinful nature we have been born with, but if we try and follow God’s word and His Commandments then we shall live in peace knowing we are saved.

Conclusion

Jews are descendants of Abraham, who had talked with God first and therefore founded Judaism in Israel. The Jewish religion believes in an eternal soul, heaven and hell, one and only God, and a judgment day for all. To be saved from eternal damnation they must live by God’s Ten Commandments and follow in the way God had intended humans to live. Jews follows the Torah and the Talmud which gives them guidance on living in such a way that God will save them. Sin is a normal part of life and came about with the original sin of Adam and Eve, but God will save those who believe in Him and try to live in a way that He will save us. When a person dies there is no reincarnation, Jews believe God gave them one life to live and they must live in accordance with the Torah to dedicate their lives to serving Him. God is the one who gave them life and God will make them live forever in a state of grace in heaven.