JUDAISM: DISCOVERING OUR RELIGIOUS ROOTS

OUR PEOPLE, OUR FAMILY, OUR ROOTS

Jews – The People of God Jesus = Jewish

Hopes and Dreams Language Jewish Prayers Celebrated Jewish feast days Read Scriptures

Jesus’ story is OUR STORY

THE NEED FOR A SENSE OF THE PAST

Without a history/story, we would be lost and confused!

Catholic Chrisitianity comes from JUDAISM (religion of the Jews) – 4,000 years old

THE BEGINNINGS OF A PEOPLE

Abraham 1800 years before Jesus Hebrews – Tribal people Shepherd Sarah (Wife) – no children and was old

God called Abraham God’s promise to him Relationship and Trust in God = Covenant Canaan – The Promised Land Male children were circumcised (Physical

Covenant)

THE ONE GODWhat kind of world did Abraham live

in?POLYTHEISM - belief in many godsHe realized that there is only ONE

Abraham developed what type of belief?MONOTHEISM – belief in only ONE

God JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, and ISLAM

– come from Abraham

ABRAHAM’S DESCENDANTS, THE ISRAELITES

Abraham and Sarah’s son = ISAAC Isaac and Rebekah’s son = Jacob

Jacob = ISRAEL “One who has contended with divine and human beings”

Israelites = Jews Patriarchs of Judaism – Abraham,

Isaac, and Jacob Matriarchs – Sarah, Rebekah, and

Rachel

JOSEPH IN EGYPT

Jacob and Rachel had 12 sons JOSEPH was the favorite

Sold as slave in EgyptVirtuous and talentedInvited family to leave Canaan to

EgyptLived a happy life with Egyptian

pharoahs

MOSES, THE PEOPLE’S GREATEST LEADER

Egypt became cruel for Israelites Hundreds of years after Joseph came

MOSESSon of Hebrew slavesGod called him on a missionYahweh was revealed – “I AM WHO I

AM”

THE EXODUS: ESCAPE FROM SLAVERY

Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt EXODUS – Central story of God’s saving love

for Israel Return to Canaan, the Promised Land When in doubt, they remember that God had

acted directly in their lives and their history Moses always trusted in God

Israelites complained, but God saved them PASSOVER – Jewish feast to remember

Exodus Special meal - Sedar

THE SINAI COVENANT

Mount Sinai – Waited for Moses for direction Moses met Yahweh

BOOK OF EXODUS – God sealed the loving relationship with the people that had begun with the promise to Abraham hundreds of years before

Sinai Covenant – Pledge between God and Israelites

God gave moses the Law (Mosaic Law or Ten Commandments)

A LAW THAT FREES

Ten Commandments The Law was not meant to limit our freedom or

lock us in PROMOTES FREEDOM How to love God and one’s neighbor Foundation of morality

Mosaic Law was a way of expressing their love and concern for one another and their devotion to the

God who had freed them

Jesus criticized those who live by the letter of the law, he loved it and did not want to see it misused

WANDERING FOR 40 YEARS

Israelites waited and waited and waited…

Israelites built and idol of metal – a golden calf Had festivals to honor it Worshiping false god

For 40 years they were lost and wandered, but they TRUSTED GOD who saved them

THE PROMISED LAND

Moses did not make it to the Promised Land Promised Land – Palestine, Israel, or the Holy

Land Joshua – Moses assistant led the Israelites to

Canaan War occurred Israelites came to doubt God more More disasters came

A KINGDOM FOR THE ISRAELITES

Israelites – divided in 12 tribes King David

Shepherd and soldier Chosen by God and anointed by Samual (prophet) Was king 1000 years before Jesus Jerusalem = Capital Many flaws and failures but always devoted to Yahweh

and kept people faithful toward the Covenant The people always turned to the descendants of DAVID

King Solomon – Built Temple in Jerusalem

David’s story teaches us that we can make mistakes and fail, but God will still use us!

PROBLEMS

During King Solomon’s reign: Kingdom split – Northern (Israel) and Southern

(Judah)

After King Solomon Kings were corrupt Injustice to the poor Worship of false gods People were not cared for

PROPHETS

Isaiah was one of the greatest prophets Prophets questioned the injustices

Role was to say what would happen if people did not change their harden hearts

Critics of their society Outsiders and loners speaking the truth

CRUSHING DEFEAT AND PAINFUL EXILE