"What makes this night different from all other nights?" - traditional Passover Seder question
Talmud: The Talmud has been described as a "virtual encyclopedia" of Jewish knowledge. It consists of more than 15,000 pages in its 63 volumes. These "teachings" were collected over a period of approximately four centuries. You can see an example of a page from the Talmud. This page is interactive, and you can examine what different sections represent. Browse this page to see how the Talmud works.
The Mitzvot (Commandments): Central to Jewish life is the concept of the mitzvot (or commandment). As part of their covenant with God, Jews will adhere to these commandments. (Of course, exactly how that is done differs from branch to branch and family to family. Some interpret the commandments more liberally than others in the face of technology and other demands of modernity. Some of the mitzvot are physically impossible to observe given events such as the destruction of the Temple.)
Defining terms: covenant, mitzvot
There are, of course, Ten Commandments which are more familiar than the others. Actually, 613 mitzvot have been identified in the Torah. DO THIS: Refer to the list of 613 mitzvot. Count how many of them you have broken. (Just kidding...) Instead, note the way they are grouped. Focus on a least one example from each "grouping". Think about ways they might be observed today, and how those observances may have changed over time.
The Jewish Life-Cycle: Most of you are no doubt familiar with many of the transitional rituals and life stages of Judaism. As with other religions, these traditions are observed in various ways and to various degrees within the Jewish faith. What we describe for Orthodox Jews may not hold for Reform and/or Conservative Jews, and vice versa. DO THIS: You and a partner or two will look into one of the life stages below. Be prepared to report back to the group with key information. (Each group is linked to the appropriate section from the Jewish Virtual Library web site.) You decide what to stress, but keep our earlier focus on symbols, rituals, and sacred expression in mind.
Sacred Literature and the Life Cycle
You should continue your reading in the Judaism chapter in Huston Smith's The World's Religions. Try and be through it by the end of this week.
Sacred Literature
Defining terms: Torah, Five Books of Moses, Tanakh, Talmud
Torah: "Teachings"- This is sometimes known as the Five Books of Moses. Browse through the Torah a bit. Try to find at least two sections or stories with which you are familiar.
Tanakh: The Tanakh consists of the Torah, the works of the Prophets, and the writings.
Defining terms: Torah, Five Books of Moses, Tanakh, Talmud
Torah: "Teachings"- This is sometimes known as the Five Books of Moses. Browse through the Torah a bit. Try to find at least two sections or stories with which you are familiar.
Tanakh: The Tanakh consists of the Torah, the works of the Prophets, and the writings.
Neviim: The works of the prophets.
Ketuvim: These are known as the "writings."
Talmud: The Talmud has been described as a "virtual encyclopedia" of Jewish knowledge. It consists of more than 15,000 pages in its 63 volumes. These "teachings" were collected over a period of approximately four centuries. You can see an example of a page from the Talmud. This page is interactive, and you can examine what different sections represent. Browse this page to see how the Talmud works.
The Mitzvot (Commandments): Central to Jewish life is the concept of the mitzvot (or commandment). As part of their covenant with God, Jews will adhere to these commandments. (Of course, exactly how that is done differs from branch to branch and family to family. Some interpret the commandments more liberally than others in the face of technology and other demands of modernity. Some of the mitzvot are physically impossible to observe given events such as the destruction of the Temple.)
Defining terms: covenant, mitzvot
There are, of course, Ten Commandments which are more familiar than the others. Actually, 613 mitzvot have been identified in the Torah. DO THIS: Refer to the list of 613 mitzvot. Count how many of them you have broken. (Just kidding...) Instead, note the way they are grouped. Focus on a least one example from each "grouping". Think about ways they might be observed today, and how those observances may have changed over time.
The Jewish Life-Cycle: Most of you are no doubt familiar with many of the transitional rituals and life stages of Judaism. As with other religions, these traditions are observed in various ways and to various degrees within the Jewish faith. What we describe for Orthodox Jews may not hold for Reform and/or Conservative Jews, and vice versa. DO THIS: You and a partner or two will look into one of the life stages below. Be prepared to report back to the group with key information. (Each group is linked to the appropriate section from the Jewish Virtual Library web site.) You decide what to stress, but keep our earlier focus on symbols, rituals, and sacred expression in mind.
- Birth and the First Month: bris, mohel
- Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, and Confirmation: bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah
- Marriage (and, sometimes, Divorce): ketubah, get
- Life, Death, and Mourning: shiva, kaddish
- Olam Ha-Ba - The Afterlife: messiah, Olam Ha-Ba
Use any remaining time to continue your group's work on their "piece" for our Jewish history timeline.
Homework for Judaism - Day #4
Please try to finish up the Judaism chapter in Huston Smith's The World's Religions. According to the reading schedule, you should be through page 315 at our next meeting.
Please read the assigned articles in the "Judaism - Article Packet."
Your Independent Assignment #4 is due on Thursday. (I won't count them late if they are posted later Thursday or even Friday/Saturday. I'll try to get caught up grading Sunday evening, so let's make them late after 6 PM on Sunday.)
I'll post the Blog Entry - Judaism questions yet this week. They'll be due before the beginning of next Thursday's class. (I mean the 13th of November, not the 6th.)
