BeliefsJews believe in the Torah, which is the laws which were given to the Israelities at Sinai. They believe they must follow God's laws which govern daily life. Later legal books written by rabbis determine the law as it applies to life in each new place and time.
Jews believe that God completely guided the hand that wrote the Ten Commandments, there is no human imagination or influence inside these writings. They also believe that God spoke the aloud for all of Israel to hear. The Ten Commandments, as written in the Torah, are: •Worship no other God but me. •Do not make images to worship. •Do not misuse the name of God. •Observe the Sabbath Day (Saturday). Keep it Holy. •Honor and respect your father and mother. •Do not murder. •Do not commit adultery. •Do not steal. •Do not accuse anyone falsely. Do not tell lies about other people. • Do not envy other's possessions Orthodox Jews believe in the Deity. This belief is that there is only one God Almighty, the Creator, the All Powerful, the continuous, all knowing and formless Spirit. |
Myths and Sacred Stories
Some forms of sacred writings are:
Myths: Myths aren't as evident in the Jewish religion compared to Catholicism or Aboriginal dreaming. Jews believe in the Scriptures and read Genesis as a literal truth. An example of this is the Creation Story from Genesis. They oppose all evolution and geological ideas from science and believe deeply in the Creation Story. Because of the ever-advancing scientific discoveries, the younger and modern generations of Orthodox Jew are more open to the ideas of evolution, and refer to the Creation Story as the Creation Myth instead but traditionally this story is taken literally. |
Sacred Texts and Other Religious WritingsThe Tanakh and the Torah (meaning law) are among the most sacred of the Jewish sacred writings. The Tanakh is made up of 24 books and inside these books are the five books of Moses. These five books describe the core beliefs and practices, and the 613 laws of Judaism. The Torah is technically the first five books of the Tanakh, these are essentially the same 5 books as in the Christian Old Testament:
- Genesis - Exodus - Leviticus - Number - Deuteronomy. The Torah can also be used to refer to the entire Tanakh, or even all Jewish writings. It is also important because details the commandments gave to the people by God through Moses. The last book of the Old Testament is the Malachi, but the original order had the Chronicles as the end book, and the Jews still maintain this. |
RitualsThere are lots of Jewish rituals, some of them include:
Birth and Naming Ceremonies On the first Sabbath after a Jewish child is born, the infant's father is called forward at the synagogue to recite the aliyah and ask blessings for the health of mother and child. If the child is a girl, she is named at this time. Boys will be named on the eighth day after birth. This is also when circumcision is done. Circumcision The rite of circumcision also known as 'brit milah' is performed on the eighth day of a boy's life after they are born. It usually takes place in the morning at the family's home by a mohel. This only applies to boys as it marks the entry into the Jewish community and symbolises the ties between God and Abraham and between God and the Jews. According to Jewish law, the foreskin should be buried after a brit milah. Jewish Marriage Traditions Marriage is highly admired and strongly encouraged in Judaism. The unmarried life has never been considered more holy than the married life, and one must be married in order to become a rabbi, unlike Catholicism where a priest cannot get married.. Judaism's high view of marriage is a direct result of its view of the home and family as the centre of religious life. Death Rituals and the Chevra Kaddisha The preservation of life in Judaism is very important. Death is seen as a part of life and a part of God's plan. The extensive mourning rituals in Judaism do not show a rejection of death, but rather demonstrates the great value Judaism places on life in general and the life of each individual person. Chevra kaddisha is a group of men and women who prepare Jewish bodies for burial according to Jewish tradition. The bodies are protected from violation, wilful or not, until burial. |
SymbolsPassover Plate
The Passover is one of the most important date and event in the history of Judaism. The Passover was when the Angel of Death passed over the Israelites who applied blood to their door, saving their firstborn from death, on the eve of the Exodus. The plate is associated with the Passover meal. The food on pass over is placed in a specific place on the plate and everything in done structurally. The Menorah The eight left and right branches mark the eight-day holiday, while the middle candle is often called "the helper," which is used to light the other branches. The Torah Scroll The word Torah means ‘law’ The term is also used as a label for the first five books of the Hebrew Bible - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Star of David A symbol in Judaism since the 17th century. The symbol may have derived from the use of protective amulets that pre-date the 17th century. A blue-colored Star of David is presently displayed on the flag of Israel. |
Social Structures- Rabbis (A religious teacher and person authorized to make decisions on issues of Jewish law)
- Cantors (an official who sings liturgical music and leads prayer in a synagogue) - Gabbais (a person who assists in the running of synagogue services in some way) - Kohanim (a member of the priestly caste, having certain rights and duties in the synagogue) - Levites (provides assistants to the priests in the worship in the Jewish temple) - Rebbes (a rabbi, especially a religious leader of the Hasidic sect) - Tzaddik (a Hasidic spiritual leader or guide) |
Ethical Principles or Oral and Written Codes of BehaviourThe following 13 points were create by Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon derived by the Torah and they are called the "Thirteen Fundamental Principles" of the Jewish faith and they cover the basic beliefs of Jewish faith.
1. I believe with perfect faith that God is the Creator and Ruler of all things. He alone has made, does make, and will make all things. 2. I believe with perfect faith that God is One. There is no unity that is in any way like His. He alone is our God He was, He is, and He will be. 3. I believe with perfect faith that God does not have a body. Physical concepts do not apply to Him. There is nothing whatsoever that resembles Him at all. 4. I believe with perfect faith that God is first and last. 5. I believe with perfect faith that it is only proper to pray to God. One may not pray to anyone or anything else. 6. I believe with perfect faith that all the words of the prophets are true. 7. I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses is absolutely true. He was the chief of all prophets, both before and after Him. 8. I believe with perfect faith that the entire Torah that we now have is that which was given to Moses. 9. I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be changed, and that there will never be another given by God. 10. I believe with perfect faith that God knows all of man's deeds and thoughts. It is thus written (Psalm 33:15), "He has moulded every heart together, He understands what each one does.” 11. I believe with perfect faith that God rewards those who keep His commandments, and punishes those who transgress Him. 12. I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah. However long it takes, I will await His coming every day. 13. I believe with perfect faith that the dead will be brought back to life when God wills it to happen.” A Jewish law is Kosher which limits the Jews food consumption to what is considered acceptable in the Jewish Law. An example of this; “The Torah states that you are only allowed to eat meat from certain animals, and there are strict laws on how the animal must be killed.” |
Religious Experiences and SpiritualityFor Judaism this could be the religious experiences of doing all rituals, such as Bar or Bat Mitvah. It could also be something that occurs in their everyday life. Many Jews practice a strict religion whereas younger generations are more lenient but still consider themselves as Jewish.
|