 About
the Symbol
One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is
the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple. It has been
said that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and their mission to
be "a light unto the nations." (Isaiah 42:6). The sages emphasize that
light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by setting an
example, not by using force. This idea is highlighted in the vision in Zechariah
4:1-6. Zechariah sees a menorah, and G-d explains: "Not by might, nor by power,
but by My spirit." (excerpts from Judaism
101: Signs and Symbols).
Founder / Major Figures
- Abraham - brought his people to faith in one God
- Moses
- the greatest of the prophets; he led his people to freedom from slavery in Egypt
and received the Law from God
- David - one of the great kings of
ancient Israel
Major BeliefsHistorically, Jews
believe that God is intimately involved in the affairs of the world, and that
creation has a moral purpose in which good is rewarded and evil is punished. Besides
being perfectly just and righteous, God is also gracious and merciful, extending
pardon to all who repent of their misdoings. This unique One whom Jews worship
is understood to relate to humanity in personal ways, so that certain similarities
between the divine and the human exist. The divine Lord is always regarded as
being infinitely high above all that is created, always other than human beings.
The particular calling of the Jewish nation is expressed as a divine-human
agreement or covenant. This agreement was inaugurated by the giving of the Ten
Commandments to Moses, which became to Jews the basis of their life. They
are not as concerned about delving into the mystery of God's nature as they are
in regulating their lives to conform to the models of behavior set forth in divinely
inspired laws and teachings. For Jews, actions are more important than
beliefs. Judaism focuses on one's relationship to G-d and to others. Rambam's
set of thirteen principles of faith, widely accepted by Jews, is the following: - G-d*
exists.
- G-d is one and unique.
- G-d is incorporeal.
- G-d
is eternal.
- Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and no other.
- The
words of the prophets are true.
- Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses
was the greatest of the prophets.
- The Written Torah (Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and the Oral Torah (teachings in the Talmud and
other writings) were given to Moses.
- There will be no other Torah.
- G-d
knows the thoughts and deeds of humankind.
- G-d will reward the good and
punish the wicked.
- The Messiah will come.
- The dead will be resurrected.
*Jews
honor G-d by not writing out or saying the name of the Holy One.
Scripture
/ Sacred Writings  The
Hebrew Scripture, consisting of the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings, recounts
the story of a people specially chosen to show forth the beauty and power of life
lived by faith in the Creator of all things, the One True and Living God.
The
Written Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) are the books
of the Law and the writings held most sacred by Jews. The Talmud, a collection
of oral traditions (eventually written down), concerns all aspects of Jewish practice
and experience and is also revered.
Worship and Spiritual
PracticeJewish life is grounded in religious practices and
observances of holy days. The most important ritual for a Jew is the observance
of Shabbat, or Sabbath which begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on
Saturday. Observant Jews pray three times a day: in the evening, in the
morning, and in the afternoon. Worship by Jews can be understood as a vast
meditation upon the historical unfolding of their life as a people. Whether in
the home, traditionally the primary place for learning and practicing Jewish values,
or in the synagogue, each week they observe Shabbat (the Sabbath), a solemn day
of rest, prayer and praise to God. When the people gather they follow the
leadership of a rabbi, or teacher. There is a public reading from the Torah. Praying,
litanies, songs, chants and sermons are also parts of the weekly service. The
atmosphere in the synagogue may vary from respectful dignity to joyful exuberance.
Because God in Judaism is holy and infinitely just, the standards of that
faith for morals and ethics are high. Believers hold to certain ceremonial rules
regarding rites of initiation, food, drink, dress and social behavior, which are
observed with varying strictness.
Movements and Branches
Within Judaism are three movements: Orthodox, Conservative,
and Reform. Differences between them have to do both with ritual practices and
beliefs.
History Jewish people belong
to a unique tradition of faith and practice that goes back 4,000 years in the
Middle East.  They
trace their roots to Abraham who brought his people to faith in one God.
Then
as the children of Abraham continued their walk of faith under the leadership
of Moses and a line of kings and prophets, a nation was formed, a law was divinely
revealed, a land was settled, authoritative writings of legislation, history and
devotion developed. This nation, called Israel, felt a sense of destiny
as a collective witness to the reality of the one God of the universe. At various
times it came into conflict with secular powers and rival religious movements.
Internal strife also caused serious breaks at times in the unity of the nation.
Over the centuries the people of Israel were scattered into many countries,
but they have always retained their ethnic and religious distinctiveness. Ethnicity
is as important as faith in identifying Jewish people. History as it continues
to unfold teaches Jews further lessons of their faith. Dispersed to all parts
of the earth, they have seen their own in Europe suffer the ultimate in horror
at the hands of Nazi Germany during World War II. While the persecutions leading
up to those tragic events were gathering force, from the remnant of the dispersion
there emerged a dynamic movement, called Zionism, to regain the Promised Land
for Jews. Its result has been the establishment of the State of Israel, an event
of great hope to all people of that faith. The lessons of history have
been sad beyond measure for Jews, and even though the present scene of Israel's
rebirth as a nation offers promise, Jews are cautious and watchful. Anti-Jewish
feeling lies just below the surface in many cultures. There is also history
to be anticipated. Jewish faith has nourished through the centuries the hope of
a golden age when a divinely appointed leader called the Messiah, or Anointed
One, will rule the world in peace. While many Jews today do not hold to a literal
interpretation of their ancient messianic belief, it remains as a symbol to encourage
hope in a world community founded on the promise of universal justice. Today
the descendants of Moses' people enjoy a rich heritage handed down to them from
many generations of Jews who have maintained the tradition in spite of untold
hardship and persecution. There are nearly six million Jews in the United
States and about 13 million worldwide.
Calendar Jews
have a lunar calendar with the new year beginning on Yom Kippur (in September).
Every four years an additional month is added to the calendar in order
to make it congruent with the Gregorian calendar. Jews commemorate historical
events of their faith by the celebration of festivals. The Sabbath itself is one
of them, remembering the week of divine creation of the world. Other occasions
include: - Passover: remembering the time when Moses' people were
delivered from slavery in Egypt
- The Feast of Weeks: a harvest festival
as well a remembrance of the giving of the divine law
- The Feast of
Tabernacles: to remember God's protection during ancient Israel's wanderings
in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land
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A
Mission Study resource from the United Methodist Women