Chapter 7-2 Jewish Beliefs and Texts

Sabbath

A day of rest because, in Jewish tradition, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. The Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown Friday and ends at nightfall Saturday, the seventh day of the week.

Talmud

A set of commentaries and lessons for everyday life. Written between AD 200 and 600.

commentaries

For centuries scholars have studied the Torah and Jewish laws. Because some laws are hard to understand, the scholars write commentaries to explain them. Many of them are found in the Talmud, a set of commentaries and lessons for everyday life.

What system of laws do Orthodox Jews strictly follow?

In many Jewish communities today, people still strictly follow Mosaic law. They are called Orthodox Jews.

synagogue

Jewish house of worship.

Mosaic law

Jews believe that Moses recorded a whole system of laws that God had set down for them to obey. Named for Moses the system is called Mosaic law. Mosaic law governs how people pray and celebrate holidays. The laws forbid Jews to work on holidays or on the Sabbath. There are rules about the foods that Jews can eat and rules that must be followed in preparing them.

justice

Kindness and fairness in dealing with other people. The idea that people should be fair and kind to everyone in the community is an important Jewish teaching. Everyone deserves justice, even strangers and criminals.

Prophets

People who are said to receive messages from God to be taught to others

Name the people who receive messages from God to be taught to others.

Prophets

What do historians study to learn about the lives of Jews?

The Dead Sea Scrolls. These writings help historians learn about the lives of many Jews during this time.

What is the most sacred text of Judaism

The Torah. Jews believe its contents were revealed to Moses by God. The Torah plays a central role in many Jewish ceremonies.

Torah

The ancient Jews recorded most of their laws in five books. Together these books are called the Torah, the most sacred text of Judaism.

Name the sacred texts of Judaism (hint: there are three).

The laws and principles of Judaism are described in several sacred texts, or writings. Among the main texts are the Torah, the Hebrew Bible, and the Commentaries.

Dead Sea Scrolls

Writings by Jews who lived about 2000 years ago. They were found in caves near Qumran. The hot dry desert climate preserved the 2,000 year old scrolls remarkably well. Written between 100 BC and AD 50. The scrolls included prayers, commentaries, letters, and passages from the Hebrew Bible.

monotheism

the belief in only one God