Judaism: Key Figures, Practices, and History

Judaism: Key Figures, Practices, and History

The Synagogue

A place of learning and worship.

The Talmud

Considered divine revelation, it comprises two main parts: the Mishnah and the Gemara.

The Torah

The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), also known as the Pentateuch or the Five Books of Moses. It contains 365 laws.

The Torah Scroll

Handwritten on parchment made of animal skin and sewn together with animal parts. Read from at the temple. It contains no punctuation, chapters, or verses. (Christians added punctuation to the Bible around 500 CE.) Torah scrolls are expensive, with the cheapest costing around $60,000. A yad (pointer) is used to follow the text, preventing damage from touching the ink. Jewish temples are architecturally inspired by cathedrals. The elevated area, called the bimah, usually has three steps, symbolizing Moses' ascent on Mount Sinai. The Rabbi ascends these steps during services. (The elevated area in a Catholic church is called the sanctuary.) At the back of the bimah is the ark, which holds the Torah scrolls. A light is kept lit if scrolls are present in the ark, similar to the tabernacle. When Bibles or Torahs become too old, they are burned and buried.

Catholicism and Jewish Practices

Catholics incorporate elements of both temple and synagogue worship through the Liturgy of the Word (synagogue) and the Liturgy of the Eucharist (temple).

The Temple

Houses the Ark of the Covenant. All temples have an ark and an altar of holocaust (sacrifice) outside for offerings. The temple is a place of sacrifice.

The Miracle of the Oil Lamp

During the rededication of the Second Temple, an oil lamp needed to be lit for eight days, but there was only enough oil for one day. Miraculously, the lamp burned for all eight days.

Origins of Judaism

Judaism began in the early 1800s BCE.

Greek Occupation of Israel

The Second Temple was built during the Greek occupation of Israel (312-189 BCE). This period marked a transition from Babylonian captivity to Roman occupation. The Greeks forbade Jews from practicing their faith. After the Greeks left, the Jews needed to reconsecrate their temples.

Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac

Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a test of faith. As Abraham was about to comply, a ram appeared. (In the Quran, Ishmael is the one to be sacrificed.)

Abraham

Husband of Sarah. Abraham came from a polytheistic background but developed a relationship with God and left his former religion. He went into the wilderness and met Melchizedek, who brought gifts of bread and wine (symbolic of Jesus). Seder meals and religious feasts often include bread and wine. God promised Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abraham is considered the father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Hagar

Abraham and Sarah's servant. Hagar had a son with Abraham named Ishmael. She was later banished with Ishmael to Mecca.

Destruction of the First Temple

The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. The Babylonian captivity lasted from 422 to 370 BCE. During this time, Jews were allowed to practice their faith.

Yahrtzeit

The anniversary of a death. Candles and pictures are displayed, and a light is lit at the temple during the week of the Yahrtzeit.

Yizkor

A remembrance service held at the temple twice a year. Those who have lost loved ones are welcome to attend. This practice has been adopted by the Catholic Church, which holds candlelight remembrance vigils around Christmas. Yizkor focuses on healthy grieving.

Yom Kippur

The Day of Atonement for sins. Jews spend the entire day in the temple, fasting and seeking God's forgiveness to be inscribed in the Book of Life. This day emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and the hope offered by God.