Judaism

• The smallest of the 5 major world religions:

20 million followers

• That’s less than 1 % (0.023%) of the world’s population <1% (mathematically)

Judaism

• Mostly located in the Middle East

• Israel is a Jewish country in the Middle East– Located along the Mediterranean Sea in between

Egypt and Mesopotamia

Flag of Israel

Judaism throughout the World

• Most Jews live in Israel (about 8 million)• About 6 million Jews live in the United States• Several million Jews live in Europe– France, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Austria

Judaism

• This is the world’s first monotheistic religion – Founded in 535 BCE

• Based on the teachings of The Torah

• Abraham is considered to be “the father” of Judaism

Main Beliefs• Created by Abraham. Abraham had two sons:

– Isaac and Ishmael

• The Hebrew people fled to Egypt because of a drought, but the pharaoh took them as slaves

• Moses led the Hebrew people across the Red Sea back to Israel to escape slavery

– They wandered the desert for 40 years in search of Israel

• Believe that God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai

Monotheism

• At the time, other religions focused on the belief of many gods

• Judaism was the first major religion to follow monotheism: – the belief in one all-powerful god

Similarities between Christianity and Judaism

• Jewish people believe that the Ten Commandments are the laws that God put forth to live by

• Later, Christianity would develop many of the same beliefs as Judaism– Jesus Christ was Jewish

Judaism

• Jews believe that the Messiah has not yet come to earth and that God will soon send them one

• Jerusalem is a holy city

• Jews worship in a synagogue

• Rabbis are spiritual leaders

Modern-Day Israel

• Today, there is violence between the Jewish people and Palestinian people– 75% Jewish People– 25% Palestinian

• After World War II, a treaty was signed to make a new Jewish nation– Israel was created from Palestinian land

• Parts of Israel have been given to the Palestinian people– Golan Heights– West Bank– Gaza Strip

Jerusalem

• A sacred city to 3 different religions– Christianity– Islam– Judaism

• Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Israel– This is an on-going issue in the Israeli-

Palestinian conflict• Promises- A documentary that shows

the conflict through eyes of the children