Pd1Judaism_B

Marthalyn

Welcome to the website where you'll learn all you need to know about Judaism!

 **The Founder of Judaism** The beginings of judaism can be traced back to one man named Abrahm. He had questioned his father's religion of beliving in many idols at a young age. One day he took a hammer and and smashed al of the idols with a hammer exepct for the larget one who he then put the hammer in the hand of. When his father got home and asked what had happened he said that the idols got into a fight, when his father responded by saying that that was impossible because the idols had no power he only responded by saying "then why do you belive in them?"

 **The Leaders of Judaism** there are two main leaders in the jewish faith, they are the rabbi and the cantor. The rabbi is the leader of the synagogue and the reinturpetuer of the jewish law.They will spend years studding the jewish law and will give advice to people with problems. The cantor is the person who chants prayers in worship. They will often have a trained voice, direct the chior, and have a spechial knowledge of relioious education.

 **Where they Worship** Almost all jews worship in a temple or synagogue. This is the place where religious services are held. They may also have the jewish school there.

 **Their Beliefs** Judaism has many main beliefs. Their main belief is that there is only one god. God will reward good and punish bad. The ten commandments are the laws of the jewish faith, they include worshiping one god, not having any idols, not using God's name in vain, honoring your mother and father, ect. ect. ect. Jews also do not eat pork or shellfish and do not eat diary and meat in the same meal.

 **Where it Began and Where it is Today** The bible and other relible sources tell us that judaism started in Canaan or the land that God had promised the Jews. Judaism has existed just about every where in the world at some time or another. Today judaism mainly exists in the United States and Isrial.

 **God** God, or Yahwea, is a forgiving being. God can show you the right path, but he can also cause some of the greatest disasters.

 **The Scriptures and What They Mean** The scriptures in the Jewish faith are called the torah. In addition to the ten commandments and the six hundred thirteen rules given to moses it includes the central events of hebrew history, and the begining of time.

 **The Religious Practices** In the jewish home most people practice their religion by celebrating the holy days, praying, and celebrating the sabbath. In the synagogue practices only vary by a few things. In the reform and consivetive branches of judaism women are accepted as rabbis but they are not in the orthodox branch. A bar or bat mizfa is when a jewish child becomes old enough to read from the torah.

 **The Religious Festivals** The main religious festivals are Passover, Hanukkah, and Roach Hashanah. Passover is the celebration of escaping slavery of the Egyptian's. Hanukkah celebrates oil for one day burning for eight days. The celebration of Roach Hashanah is the Jewish new year.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; font-size: 110%;"> **The Symbols and What They Represent** The star of david is probablly the most well known jewish symbol. It represents what legend says was on the sheild of King David. The yarmelka or the kippa is also well known. It is a skull cap that is worn on the head of men and boys that represents human beings being beneth and dependent on God.