Introduction to Judaism

Introduction to JudaismUSE RIGHT OR LEFT ARROWS TO GO FORWARD OR BACKLiving a Jewish LifeAn overview of Important Jewish Values and Practices.Unit 7, Session 1

Rabbi Jonathan Keren-BlackLeo Baeck Centre - East Kew - 2009/5770Revised 2010/5771 for Introduction to Judaism Course

KEDUSHAHHolinessThe root of the word is K D SHK D SH is Special or SeparateKiDuSH for Shabbat & FestivalsKeDuSHa prayer in the Amidah (eg Prayer Book page 248)KaDiSH Readers Kaddish prayer, Mourners Kaddish prayerSpecial behaviour being holy.Being holy as God is holyTrying to act as God would act

Shutafut - PartnershipIn government circles and with things like grant applications, Partnership is a common and important word and concept working together with others.In Judaism, it goes back a long way. We believe that humans and God need to work in Shutafut in partnership, to heal the world.Tikkun OlamAt the end of every service, we read the Aleynu, which contains the phrase ltakeyn olam bmalchut Shadai to perfect the world under Gods rule.This is The Meaning of Life. We are here for a purpose to work WITH GOD to make the world better for all its inhabitants, both today and into the future.2nd paragraph of Aleinu prayer(see Siddur, page 588)

But how?Our task is to work with God to heal the world.These units ask: how do we work out how best to heal the world? What should we do in practical termsLets start with a practical and current community-wide example: Nothing But Nets. Great progress has been made over the past few years in combating malaria we have been a part of that real improvement in our world.

Nothing but NetsThe Union for Progressive Judaism has partnered with the UN Nothing But Nets campaign to combat the spread of malaria. Together, we aim to supply 5,000 insecticide-treated bed nets to families in sub-Saharan Africa, saving one family at a time, one net at a time. Visit www.nothingbutnets.net to find out more. Why get involved?The pillars of Judaism are three-fold: commitment to Torah (lifelong Jewish learning), Avodah (worship of God through prayer and observance) and Gmilut Hasadim (the pursuit of justice, peace and deeds of loving kindness). This third pillar is expressed by participating in social action efforts. This is why the UPJ is partnering with Nothing But Nets to combat the spread of malaria. This is a practical way to help.

Where does it come from?TORAHOur tradition teaches us that God dictated the written law to Moses... but also...God gave Moses the oral law at the same time.We don't take either of these claims literally.

TORAH 'Divinely Inspired'Perhaps God literally, physically gave some of Torah to Moses at the top of Mount Sinai.Who knows? What would this look like?We believe that Moses, and/or others, perhaps 'inspired', recorded over many years what they felt 'God wanted from human beings'.This document, Torah, has gained sanctity because of this noble task, and the messages, the history and the age-old experiences it contains.

Applying the TorahThe context.So an important tradition developed. When Moses was given the written law, he was also given the explanations about what it meant - and how to apply it.So the tradition says that as well as the written Torah passed down through the generations, there was also an oral Torah just as important.The tradition said the oral law should never be written down. And one couldnt be Jewish without the traditions and combination of both parts of the Torah, written and oral.The Genius of 'Oral Tradition'If a tradition is conveyed orally, it can be applied slightly differently as situations and needs change.But it can also be lost, especially as it inevitably grows bigger and bigger. Thus it was eventually decided to record the Oral Law in writing (Mishna).It was divided into six sections or 'Orders. The flexibility started to be lost.The Mishnah The Mishna is the first collection of Oral Law, written down about 220 of the Common Era by Judah HaNasi.It was useful.It became restrictive.It became rigid.

GmarahOnce the Mishna was published, it was widely studied and debated.The discussions, arguments and debates were written around it.This was called 'GMaRah' completion (GMR:finish).The combination Mishna and its many commentaries, is called 'Talmud' studies.

Ethical and RitualAmongst other things, the Talmud has much detailed discussion about the commandments.A commandment is a MiTZ-VahThe plural is MiTZ-VotEthical mitzvot demand high standards of behaviour.Being very honest, being sensitive, feeding the hungry, looking after the sick, not stealing, not exploiting or taking advantage... Ritual mitzvot govern ceremonies and rites of Jewish life such as food, festivals, prayers...MITZVAHCommandmentThe tradition tells us there are 613 commandments in the Torah[Sometimes called the TaRYaG (alphabetical way to say 613) mitzvot]Best known are the Ten CommandmentsIn Hebrew they are called Aseret HaDibrotMore accurately this translates as The Ten Statements as the first, Love your Eternal God, is not a command (though the Christian version is Have no other gods).

Is the left hand set a Jewish set of commandments?

To be strictly accurateThe left hand set were Christian (they did not start with I am the Eternal God).Actually, the rounded top is a shape from later, Classical architecture. The two tablets of stone would probably have been rectangular.Also the Hebrew we are now familiar with is a more recent, Aramaic script. The letters Moses would have known were proto-Canaanitic.So, if the Ten Statements were written on stone in Moses time, they would have looked more like the next set:

Between Humans and GodCommandments 1-51. I am your Eternal God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt2. You shall have no other Gods but Me3. You shall not use Gods name casually4. Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy5. Honour your father and your mother (the bridge to the second five honouring parents is said to be like honouring God).Between people Commandments 6-106. You shall not murder7. You shall not commit adultery8. You shall not steal9. You shall not bear false witness10. You shall not covet your neighbours wife, nor his ox nor his ass, nor anything that is your neighbours.(this last is a warning against materialism wanting things and hence very relevant to modern society today!).The Halahic Process(h is another way of writing ch as in loch)The Mishna and Gmarah tried to determine what a Jew should do in any given situation what is 'the right way to go'?The verb one goes' or one walks' is HoLeH'.From that verb we get HaLaHa' (Jewish law).If one does something according to 'halaha' then we call it 'halahic'.Seriously orthodox Jews try to follow the 'halaha strictly. Seriously Progressive Jews decide what is meaningful and helpful to them.Shabbat and HavdalahExamples of Ritual Mitzvot

Progressive ChoiceEthical behaviour is often pretty clear.Ritual rapidly becomes very complicated.Progressive Judaism is based on empowering people to make EDUCATED CHOICESAsk yourself: Do you understand the origin and background of this tradition or ritual?When you have researched, understood and experienced it, then ask Does this practice help bring God into your life at this stage in your life? (the answer may change over time)Ethical MonotheismEthics Judaism demands we try to live up to high standards of behaviour acting as God would act (or trying to be perfect).[Perhaps this is why many Jews seem to tend to be perfectionists]We base our ethical standards on a belief in some unique power, far greater than any individual human, which we call God, and then we ask What does God require of us.For most Progressive Jews, Torah is the record of this human quest.The Value of RitualHaving a developed, adult understanding of an ethical life and goals may be enough.In practice it probably isnt, and is supported and encouraged through ritual acts (for example, considering animals through checking what you are buying and eating)However children especially need a ritual framework in which they slowly learn that they are part of a special family (KaDoSH). Two particular areas for consideration as examplesTwo very important areas where each person needs to work out what works best for them in bringing God and spirituality into their life are:Kashrut what and how you eat every day For the next session, please view the powerpoint U7-2 Kashrut on this subject.Shabbat how you mark the cycle of time and a day of rest in each week. The powerpoint for session U7-3 Shabbat addresses this subject.

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