Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

*The Abrahamic Faiths:

*Abrahamic Faiths

*All three of these religions have three things in common:*They are monotheistic

*They call Jerusalem their Holy City

*Their foundations are traced to Abraham

*JudaismA. Founded around 3,000 to

4,000 years ago1. Abraham made a deal with

God to worship Him exclusively and to travel to the “Promised Land”

B. Abraham was the first Hebrew and the father of the Jewish nation

1. Ishmael was his first born to handmaiden (slave) Hagar

a) Islamic tradition begins with him

2. Isaac was his 2nd born with Sarah (his wife)

a) Jewish tradition begins with him

C. Formed 12 tribes

*Early JudaismA. 12 tribes were forced

to leave Palestine for Egypt

1. They were enslaved, but escaped captivity under the direction of Moses

2. Traveled back to Palestine and renewed covenant with God through the 10 Commandments

3. Most Jews believe that the laws (Mitzvoth) were written by God

*KingdomsA. Jewish Kingdom was

established in Palestine and a temple was built to worship God

1. Contained the 10 Commandments

B. The 12 Tribes split1. Northern Kingdom (10)

of Israel

2. Southern Kingdom (2) of Judea

*Attack!!A. 586 BC – Babylonians

attacked and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple

1. Forced Jews into exile

B. 530 BC – Persians defeat Babylonians and allow Jews to return to Palestine

1. Temple rebuilt

2. Jews under Persian rule

C. Ruled by Persians, Greeks, then Romans

*Judaism under the RomansA. 66 AD – Jews

rose in rebellion against Rome

1. Defeated in 70 AD

2. Masada

B. For the next 2,000 years, they lived throughout Europe and the Middle East

C. This is known as

the Diaspora

*IsraelA. 1800’s – European Jews

started push for their Jewish homeland (Zionism)

B. Started buying land around Palestine

C. Israel founded in 19481. Land taken from

Palestinians and given to Jews

D. Today, more Jews still live outside Israel than within, but Diaspora is over

*Dark TimesA. During the Diaspora,

Jews lived as minority groups

1. Treated badly because:

a) Monotheists living in polytheistic Rome

b) Wouldn’t convert

2. Things didn’t improve through Middle Ages and into modern times

a) Russian Pogroms

b) Nazi Holocaust

*Holy Sites and the Holy City A. Jerusalem

1. Center of Jewish life for over 3,000 years

2. Temple Mount still exists

3. Western Wall (Wailing Wall)

a) Jews pray here

4. Third Temple is prophesied to be built when Messiah comes to Earth

a) Christians believe that Jesus was Messiah; Jews still waiting

*Teachings of JudaismA. Monotheistic, unlike

close neighbors

B. One God – Yahweh

C. Recorded history and spiritual laws in the Torah

1. Outlined laws for following God and for everyday life

D. Individuals were responsible for their actions

1. Zoroaster-influenced

*Jewish HolidaysA. Rosh Hashanah

1. Jewish new year

2. 1st day of 7th month of calendar year

3. God judges you for deeds

4. 10 day count to Yom Kippur

B. Yom Kippur1. Holiest day of the year

2. Theme of atonement and reconciliation

3. Prayer and complete fasting

A. Sukkot1. 7 day festival after

Yom Kippur

2. Celebrates Jews protection in desert

3. Sukkah means “booth”

B. Hanukkah1. Held off huge

Seleucid Empire (Greeks)

2. Only oil for one day

3. Burned for 8 days

4. Rededicated Temple