JUDAISMShaina Jacobs and Savannah Short

DESCRIPTION the monotheistic religion of

the Jews having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmud

Jews make up the majority in only one country: Israel. Still, there are more Jewish people in the United States than in Israel

A major symbol is the Star of David.

BASIC BELIEFS

God exists. God is one and unique. God is incorporeal. God is eternal. Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other. The words of the prophets are true. Moses was the greatest of the prophets, and his prophecies are true. The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings

now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses. There will be no other Torah. God knows the thoughts and deeds of men. God will reward the good and punish the wicked. The Messiah will come. The dead will be resurrected.

TEXTS

Talmud Mishnah’s (6 orders) Gemara

Tanakh Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,

Numbers and Deuteronomy Nevi’im: Joshua, Judges, Samuel (2),

Kings (2), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, and MalachiIsaiah

Ketuvim (writings): Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Ruth, Esther, Lamentations, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles (2).

PRACTICES

Sabbath as a day of rest, starts at sundown on Friday

Regular attendance by males at Synagogue Annual Festivals:

Passover – recognizes Jews’ deliverance out of slavery Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year Yom Kippur – fast until sundown Sukkoth- 8 day harvest festival Hannukah – 8 day feast of light Purim – the feast of lots Shavout- the feast of weeks

BIRTH RITUALS

Brit Milah – On the 8th day of life, males are circumcised and also given a Hebrew name

Zeved Habat or Brit Bat – Hebrew naming ceremony for girls

DEATH RITUALS

Multi-Staged Mourning: Shiva: “seven” – observed for one week, sit

at home and be comforted by friends and family

Shloshim: observed for one month For those who have lost their parents-

Avelut yud bet chodesh: observed for eleven months

ABORTION Fetus is considered a

partial life until birth. Abortions are not

permitted due to fetal imperfections.

Abortions are permitted to save the mother or the mother’s health.

Judaism supports abortion access for women.

“…each case must be decided by a Rabbi well versed in Jewish law.”

MARRIAGE Takes place under a chupah or wedding canopy. Symbolizes a happy home.

The men where yamakas.

At the end of the ceremony, the groom breaks a glass and the audience yells “Mazel Tov!”

DIVORCE AND CONTRACEPTION

Divorce Judaism permits divorce. In fact, a man can

divorce a woman for any or no reason, but woman’s consent is required

A man must divorce a his wife commits a sexual transgression, even if he is inclined to forgive her

Traditionally, a woman cannot initiate a divorce Contraception

The Torah states that a Jewish man should have at least one daughter and one son

Use of protection to prevent STD’s is permitted

ORGAN DONATION In both Orthodox and non-

Orthodox Judaism, the majority view holds that organ donations permitted in the case of irreversible cardiac rhythm cessation

In some cases, rabbinic authorities believe that organ donation may be mandatory

A minority opinion considers any donation of a live organ as forbidden

BELIEFS REGARDING HEALTHCARE The physician's office environment should

promote good health. All office personnel should be non-smokers and waiting room magazines should be free of cigarette advertisements.

Prevention is the highest form of healing. Drugs and surgery have their place in the holy art of healing, but the need to resort to invasive treatment must be regarded as a failure in prevention.

BELIEFS REGARDING HEALTHCARE CONT’D The physician should be regarded as

the ultimate authority in all medical matters

A physician may not become wealthy from medical practice but is entitled to earn a good living.