Religions of the World - Judaism (Full Program)

Summary

This video script provides a deep exploration of Judaism, focusing on its core beliefs, traditions, and history. It highlights the Torah, which serves as the foundation of Jewish law and life, and details key rituals such as the Shabbat, Bar Mitzvah, and various Jewish holidays. The script also covers significant historical events, including the Exodus and the Holocaust, emphasizing the resilience of the Jewish people. It touches on different sects within Judaism and how the faith has evolved, including its influence on Christianity and Islam, as well as its spiritual connection to the land of Israel.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Shema, a central declaration of Jewish faith, calls for loving God with all one's heart, soul, and might, and it plays a key role in daily prayers.
• 📖 The Torah, the foundation of Jewish law and teachings, was passed down from Moses and contains the core elements of Jewish life, tradition, and the relationship with God.
• 🏞️ Judaism is deeply tied to the land of Israel, which is considered the promised land for the Jewish people as per their covenant with God.
• 🕍 The Torah and its teachings are central to synagogue services, and its reading is a sacred part of Jewish communal worship.
• 🌍 Despite centuries of exile, persecution, and the Holocaust, Jews maintained their faith and connection to their heritage, culminating in the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
• 🕌 Jerusalem is a focal point for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, with key religious sites for all three faiths located within the city.
• ✡️ Judaism emphasizes the observance of festivals such as the Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover, each holding deep historical and spiritual significance.
• 🕯️ The role of women in Judaism is evolving, especially within Reform Judaism, where women now play a central role in religious practices, including becoming rabbis.
• 🌱 Jewish movements like Jewish Renewal integrate modern spirituality, embracing practices like meditation and environmentalism while celebrating the joy of faith.
• 🙏 Jewish life centers on faith, the observance of commandments, and a strong sense of community, with deep-rooted traditions that date back over 5,000 years.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Shema in Judaism?

The Shema is a central prayer in Judaism, expressing the belief in one God. It is recited daily by devout Jews and highlights the commandment to love God with all one's heart, soul, and might.

What is the Torah, and why is it important in Judaism?

The Torah, in its narrowest sense, refers to the five books of Moses, which are foundational to Jewish religious law and tradition. It tells the story of the Jewish people, their covenant with God, and their way of life.

How did Judaism become official at Mount Sinai?

Judaism became official when the Israelites received the Torah from God through Moses at Mount Sinai, marking the beginning of their covenant with God and establishing their religious laws and traditions.

Why did the Israelites spend 40 years in the desert?

The Israelites spent 40 years in the desert as a period of purification after leaving Egypt, where they had been immersed in its cultural and spiritual impurities. This time was used to cleanse themselves and prepare for entry into the Promised Land.

What role does the Torah play in Jewish worship services?

In Jewish worship services, the Torah is read aloud. The Torah scroll is paraded around the synagogue so that the congregation can see, touch, and kiss it, emphasizing its significance in Jewish religious life.

What is the historical significance of the Holocaust in Jewish history?

The Holocaust, which occurred during World War II, saw the murder of nearly six million Jews by the Nazis. It represents one of the darkest periods in Jewish history and has had a profound impact on the Jewish community and its identity.

How was the state of Israel established after World War II?

After World War II, surviving Jews, along with others from around the world, moved to Palestine. In 1947, the United Nations divided Palestine, and in 1948, the state of Israel was declared, giving the Jewish people a homeland for the first time since 70 CE.

What is the significance of the Sabbath (Shabbat) in Judaism?

The Sabbath, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, is a day of rest and spiritual renewal in Judaism. It honors God as the Creator and involves refraining from creative activities to focus on spiritual matters and family.

How is Hanukkah celebrated, and what does it commemorate?

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The holiday celebrates the miracle of a small amount of oil lasting for eight days. It is observed by lighting candles for eight nights.

What is the significance of the Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah in Jewish life?

The Bar Mitzvah (for boys) and Bat Mitzvah (for girls) are ceremonies that mark the transition into adulthood in Judaism, where young people accept the religious duties, responsibilities, and privileges of a Jewish adult.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Shema and the Foundations of Judaism

This paragraph introduces the Shema, an essential Jewish prayer affirming the oneness of God. It explains how Jews are commanded to love God with all their heart, soul, and might, and to impress these teachings on their children. The Torah, especially the five books of Moses, is central to Jewish faith, teaching about God’s relationship with His people, their history, and the laws they must follow. The narrative continues by highlighting the Jewish journey through Egypt and their purification in the desert for 40 years, preparing them to receive the Torah and enter the Promised Land. The Torah remains a cornerstone of Jewish life, emphasizing humility and the pursuit of understanding the structure of creation.

05:01

🏛️ The Torah, Israel, and the Jewish Diaspora

This section details the central role of the Torah in synagogue services, where it is paraded, touched, and kissed before being read. It further explores the core tenets of Judaism: the land (Israel), the people (descendants of Abraham), and the love of God. The text reflects on Jewish history, especially the Holocaust, which saw the murder of six million Jews. Post-war, Jews established the state of Israel in 1947 after centuries of exile. The narrative emphasizes how Jews transformed Israel into a thriving agricultural state, symbolizing resilience and continuity, with significant locations like The Wailing Wall representing Jewish life and religious significance.

10:03

🌍 Judaism's Influence on Christianity and Islam

This paragraph discusses the shared roots of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jesus, a Jewish figure, emphasized mercy and compassion, which became foundations of Christianity. Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad drew upon Jewish religious teachings, with the Quran referencing Old Testament figures. The paragraph highlights how these three religions share and dispute religious sites in Jerusalem, and concludes by pointing out that Judaism provides the framework for major rituals and festivals. Shabbat, one of the most important Jewish holidays, symbolizes a day of rest and reflection, with deep ritualistic and familial significance.

15:06

🕍 Jewish Festivals and Customs

This section covers key Jewish festivals, beginning with Shabbat, which is considered the ultimate celebration of creation. It introduces the Jewish calendar, highlighting Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), and Sukot (the Feast of Booths), which commemorate important historical and spiritual events. The paragraph describes how families build booths during Sukot and follow religious commands from Leviticus by waving specific plants. The narrative also discusses Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, which celebrates the Maccabees' reclamation of Jerusalem and the miracle of the temple’s oil, symbolizing religious freedom.

20:08

🎉 Bar Mitzvah and Jewish Life Transitions

This paragraph describes the Bar Mitzvah (for boys) and Bat Mitzvah (for girls), ceremonies where Jewish young people accept the responsibilities of Jewish adulthood. It explains how the ceremonies involve Torah study and participation in synagogue services. In addition to being a significant religious milestone, these occasions are joyous family celebrations. The narrative touches on the diverse sects within Judaism, including the Orthodox Hassidim and the more modern Reform movement, which offers a flexible approach to Jewish law and tradition, particularly in how women play an increasingly central role in religious life.

25:18

🌿 Jewish Renewal and Spirituality

This paragraph introduces the Jewish Renewal movement, which began in the 1960s. This movement incorporates mystical and ancient Jewish elements, emphasizing a joyful, experiential approach to religion. Jewish Renewal focuses on personal spiritual growth, community, and the integration of wisdom from other religious traditions like Buddhism and Sufism. It promotes equality between men and women and environmental healing. The text highlights the movement's embrace of singing, dancing, and meditation as key forms of worship, aiming for a direct and joyous connection with God.

🌎 Judaism: A Faith of Remembrance and Continuity

The final paragraph reflects on Judaism as both a faith of remembrance and forward-looking hope. Despite the Roman conquest and subsequent Jewish diaspora, Jews have carried their faith through the centuries, teaching their children to honor the Torah. The paragraph highlights the Jewish connection to the Promised Land, the teachings of Moses, the reverence for kings, prophets, and sages, and the enduring influence of the Talmud. Judaism is depicted as a religion that binds its people across the world, centering on a deep love for God, the Torah, and their shared heritage.

Keywords

💡Shema

The Shema is a central declaration of the Jewish faith, expressing belief in one God. It is recited by devout Jews in daily prayers and reflects the monotheistic creed of Judaism. In the video, it is highlighted as a prayer found in the Torah that emphasizes the love for God with all one's heart, soul, and might.

💡Torah

The Torah refers to the first five books of Moses, forming the core of Jewish Sacred Scriptures. It tells the story of the Jewish people, their relationship with God, and their laws. In the video, it is described as a living law handed down from God to Moses and a cornerstone of Jewish life and faith.

💡Judaism

Judaism is the monotheistic religion of the Jewish people, rooted in the Torah and characterized by beliefs in one God, the importance of following God's commandments, and a deep connection to the land of Israel. The video explores the history of Judaism, its major teachings, and its cultural significance throughout time.

💡Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai is the biblical mountain where Moses is said to have received the Torah from God. The video explains how this event is foundational to Judaism, marking the moment when the Jewish people received their laws and responsibilities as a nation.

💡Israel

Israel is both the ancestral and modern homeland of the Jewish people. The video describes the significance of Israel in Jewish history, from the ancient Israelites entering the Promised Land to the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948. It is seen as the land where Jews fulfill their religious and national destiny.

💡Holocaust

The Holocaust refers to the genocide of six million Jews by the Nazis during World War II. In the video, it is discussed as a tragic period in Jewish history, but also as a reminder of Jewish resilience and the eventual establishment of the state of Israel as a safe haven for Jews worldwide.

💡Sabbath

The Sabbath, or Shabbat, is the Jewish day of rest, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. The video emphasizes the spiritual significance of the Sabbath as a time to cease creative work and honor God, with rituals like lighting candles and attending synagogue services.

💡Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah (for boys) and Bat Mitzvah (for girls) are Jewish coming-of-age ceremonies that signify the transition to religious adulthood. The video explains how young Jews take on the duties of following the commandments and are formally recognized as responsible members of the Jewish community.

💡Passover

Passover, or Pesach, is a major Jewish festival celebrating the Exodus from Egypt and the end of Jewish slavery. The video discusses the significance of this holiday, including rituals like the Seder meal, which commemorates the liberation of the Jewish people and their journey to the Promised Land.

💡Wailing Wall

The Wailing Wall, or Western Wall, is a sacred site in Jerusalem and the only remaining part of the Second Temple. The video highlights its importance as a focal point for Jewish prayer and a symbol of hope for the coming of the Messiah, when the Temple will be rebuilt.

Highlights

The Shema prayer is central to Judaism, expressing the oneness of God and the need to love God with all one's heart, soul, and might.

The Torah is the foundation of Jewish faith, encompassing the five books of Moses and providing a way of life, a land, and a relationship with God.

The Torah was given to Moses on Mount Sinai and passed down through generations as a living law, central to Jewish religious and cultural identity.

Jews spent 40 years in the desert after leaving Egypt, purifying themselves spiritually and physically to enter the land of Israel.

The Torah emphasizes humility and the expansion of human perception to understand the infinite nature of creation.

Jewish rituals include reading from the Torah in synagogues, where the Torah scroll is paraded and revered before being read aloud.

The Holocaust, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 6 million Jews, is viewed as an evil to be overcome rather than an existential threat to the survival of the Jewish people.

In 1947, the United Nations divided Palestine, establishing the state of Israel, providing Jews with a homeland for the first time since 70 CE.

Agricultural communities in Israel, such as kibbutzim, helped make the desert bloom through shared labor and innovative technologies, strengthening the bond between Jews and their land.

The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem is the last remnant of the ancient temple and holds deep religious significance for Jews, who believe the Messiah will one day appear here.

Judaism provided the foundations for both Christianity and Islam, with shared figures such as Abraham and Moses, and the central belief in one God.

Jewish festivals such as the Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, and Passover play crucial roles in Jewish religious life, symbolizing various elements of Jewish history and faith.

The Sabbath, or Shabbat, is viewed as a time to cease creative activity, honor God as the ultimate creator, and bring peace into the home.

At a bar or bat mitzvah, Jewish youths accept their adult responsibilities and full membership in the Jewish community by reading from the Torah and adhering to Jewish law.

The emergence of reformed Judaism and Jewish renewal movements brought new perspectives to traditional practices, incorporating modern values and promoting gender equality, inclusiveness, and spirituality.

The importance of remembrance in Judaism extends to honoring ancient teachings and ensuring that future generations maintain a strong connection to their faith and heritage.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Music]

of

with and while we are dancing

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here o Israel the Lord Our God the Lord

is

one you must love the Lord your God with

all your heart with all your soul and

with all your might

take to heart these words with which I

charge you this

day impress them upon your

children recite them when you stay at

home and when you are our way when you

lie down and when you get

up bind them as a sign on your

hand and let them serve as a symbol on

your

forehead inscribe them on the doorposts

of your house and on your

[Music]

[Music]

Gates here o Israel the Lord Our God the

Lord is one the shama recited by devout

Jews in their daily prayers expresses

the Creed of

Judaism it is found in the Torah the

Torah in its narrowest definition refers

to the five books of Moses the first

five books of the Old Testament the

Sacred Scriptures of the Jews sometimes

called the law the Torah was passed down

from Moses and it tells the story of a

people a

land a way of life

and a relationship with

God in a broader sense the Torah

Embraces the whole of authentic Jewish

teaching Judaism became official at

Mount Si Judaism started with

Abraham continue with Isaac Jacob Jacob

had the 12 sons who became the 12 tribes

they went down to Egypt and after 210

years they left Egypt and 40 years later

they entered into Israel after having

previously received the Torah at Hari on

Mount Si and the 40 years they spent in

the desert with 40 Years of

purification where they had to leave the

uh evils and the impurities of Egypt

where they had been immersed for 210

years and spent 40 years in a desert

atmosphere cleansing their souls and

their minds and their bodies and

studying Torah in preparation to

entering into the land of

[Music]

Israel the Torah is one of the four

cornerstones of Jewish faith it is a

living law handed down from God to Moses

on Mount Si and passes onward from

generation to

generation Western culture views

humility as being a put

down for us to be able to recognize that

our limited perceptions can be expanded

to include a perception of the infinite

the first step that we have to be able

to accomplish is not to see ourselves as

a

barrier so therefore we talk

about Torah that gift of knowledge as

being the perception not of a set of

disciplines but a perception of the

entire structure of creation

[Music]

a central part of the service in a

synagogue is the reading of the

Torah the scroll is first paraded around

the room so that the congregation can

see touch and kiss

it

it is then opened and read in the Torah

are found the other cornerstones of

Judaism the

land go forth from your native land and

from your father's house to a land that

I will show

you the people and I will make of you a

great nation and I will bless

you and the love of God you must love

the Lord your God with all your heart

with all your soul and with all your

might so therefore Torah is not a

religion Torah is life and we don't

Define them as being

separate the Torah the land the people

and the love of God have bound Jews

together through Exile and

captivity defeat and

dispersion and centuries of persecution

in Many

Lands

the Holocaust occurred during the second

world war when Millions were held

captive and murdered because they were

Jews from 1933 to

1945 nearly 6 million Jews were killed

by the Nazis evil achieves its

purpose by

our perceiving through it or overcoming

the challenge it is specific ly there as

the obstacle we can get caught in the

obstacle but it is only an obstacle with

the specific intent that we overcome it

therefore evil can never overcome

good there is never the threat that evil

will dominate the

world evil will be as perfect of a

challenge as we are capable of a as we

are capable of overcoming and that's as

a creation as a whole and that's for

every

individual when the war was over in

1945 those who survived the camps as

well as other Jews from all over the

world moved to Palestine a predominantly

Arab country at the Eastern end of the

Mediterranean Sea and fought to

establish the state of

Israel God said to us it is yours it

isn't

theirs and then that's the Jewish

position um we have this land because we

have a mandate from God that this is the

land that we are destined to inherit and

this is the land that we are destined to

fulfill our function and role as the

Jewish

nation in 1947 Palestine was divided by

the United Nations and Israel was

declared a state the Jews finally had a

Homeland for the first time since 70 CE

from all over the world Jews that had

been living in other cultures moved to

Israel what the Jews found when they

arrived in Israel was a desert land with

a very limited capacity for

agriculture a few Collective Farms

called kabut had been established by

early settlers and these were used as

models for a great many

others by working together toward the

common goal of making the country self-

sustaining and with Limitless human

energy and resourcefulness the Jews made

the Desert

Bloom they developed new agricultural

Technologies and communities where all

shared equally the responsibilities and

rewards today these communities continue

to provide Israel with much of its

agricultural produce and provide a

powerful bond with the land for their

residents

in Jerusalem The Wailing Wall is the

focal point of much of Jewish

life this is the only remaining part of

the temple complex which dates back to

the days of Solomon and was destroyed

twice the last time in 70 CE almost

2,000 years

ago the Jews believe the Messiah will

appear here to bring peace and Harmony

to the world

and at that time the temple will be

rebuilt as a House of Prayer for all the

people on

Earth in Judaism is found the roots of

two of the other world's major religions

Christianity and

Islam Jesus grew up as a Jew in

Palestine he worshiped in the synagogue

and followed a radical Jewish leader

John the

Baptist Jesus emphasized mercy and

compassion and encouraged his followers

to adhere to the high moral and ethical

standards that are the foundation of

both Judaism and

Christianity much of Muhammad's

knowledge of religion came from Jewish

sages who lived during his time the

Quran makes reference to a number of Old

Testament prophets among them Noah lot

Abraham Moses and David and of course

the central idea of one God is common to

all three

faiths in Jerusalem these three faiths

share and dispute the same ground within

a relatively small area in Old Jerusalem

Solomon built the first temple of the

Jews Jesus preached was crucified and

Christians believe ascended into heaven

and Muslims believe that Muhammad took

his night Journey from Jerusalem to

heaven where Islam teaches that he

visited the Throne of

Allah in the Torah is found the basis

for the major rituals and festivals of

[Music]

Judaism the Sabbath from sunset on

Friday through sunset on Saturday is one

of the most important of all holy days

remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy

there were three three practical

Commandments which are absolutely

essential to fulfill a basic Jewish life

and those are family

Purity kashrut the dietary laws and

shabas

Shabbat and we cease from creative

activity once a week in order to remind

ourselves and to refresh our memories

and to give honor to God who is the

ultimate creator of the universe

okay the is in some ways the feminine

aspect of God in fact shabas is called

Shabbat hamal Queen the queen Sabbath

the Sabbath Queen and that is ushered

in uh in various stages but the ultimate

Pinnacle is I suppose the lighting of

the candles by the woman of the house

when she says the blessings on the

candles and that light of that that

candle signifies the presence of the

Shina of the Sabbath Queen in the

home the Jewish calendar year begins in

late September or early October

judaism's most solemn festivals are

observed at this time in the Autumn of

the year the days of awe celebration

begins on the eve of rashash Shana with

the blowing of the

chofar

blessed are you Lord our god king of the

universe who has Sanctified Us by your

Commandments and has instructed us to

hear the call of the

chauffeur rosashana is the Jewish New

Year a commemoration of the beginning of

the world and a time when individual

worshippers begin a 10-day period of

repentance renewal and

[Music]

Rememberance

the days of awe end on yam Kapur the day

of atonement a time to pray for

forgiveness for oneself and

others in the Jewish part of Jerusalem

on yam Kapur the streets are completely

deserted everyone is worshiping at a

synagogue what we are saying is that

Torah is life and life is

Torah and therefore we have the state in

the TMA that says had God not given the

Torah on

sin with the

63 Commandments in there we would have

been obligated to go out and learn them

from

nature the next Festival on the Jewish

calendar is sukot the Feast of Boos

which recalls ancient Harvest

festivals and the way in which the

Israelites lived during their 40 years

in the desert on on their Journey from

Egypt to the promised

land people buy perfect examples of the

four plants specified in the

Torah sukot booths such as this one on a

kibitz in Northern Israel are built by

families each

[Music]

year sucot is also celebrated in the

synagogue during the service the plants

are waved in the hand following the

commands of

Leviticus and ye shall take the fruit of

goodly trees branches of palm trees and

bowels of thick trees and Willows of the

brook and you shall rejoice before the

Lord being Jewish is really a full-time

occupation that is the purpose of life

and in order to do that of course one

needs to make a

living that is the Jewish philosophy

it's not that one is a let's say a

doctor and he also happens to be an

orthodox doctor or a conservative doctor

or a reformed doctor or whatever it is

or a Christian doctor in Judaism it is

first and foremost that he's a Jew and

in order to support his wife and family

he works as a

doctor haneka the Feast of light is a

time for remembering

too kanaka is observed in celebration of

the time when the macbes reclaimed

Jerusalem from the

Ian the Hanukkah candles are lit to

recall the rekindling of the temple

light according to Legend the macbes

found only enough holy oil in the temple

to keep the lights burning for one day

but that one jar miraculously kept the

light burning for eight days and eight

nights until the priests could prepare

enough oil to keep it burning

thereafter the Hanukah candles symbolize

the light of religious

[Music]

freedom

[Music]

The Exodus from bondage in Egypt is also

celebrated on peson or Passover a time

for remembering why is this night

different from all other nights we were

slaves in Egypt and the Lord God our

Eternal brought us forth with a mighty

hand five centuries of struggle for

Religious Freedom is commemorated by a

3we period of semi- which ends on Tish

the ninth day of the month of a a day of

fasting and mourning over the

destruction of the

temple and over the tragedies that have

befallen the Jewish people throughout

their history God therefore doesn't

cause evil doesn't cause tragedy to

happen we as mankind

do we are the ones who may are the

fluctuating variable if we would bound

bance ourselves consciously with all of

the other variables of creation the

world would be in perfect balance and

there would be no

[Music]

suffering at the age of 13 Jewish young

people accept the duties obligations and

privileges of an adult

Jew at his bar mitzva ceremony the

initiate is recognized as a man of Duty

or a son of The

Commandments a young woman celebrates

the bot Mitzvah and becomes a daughter

of The Commandments to introduce her

into the adult

community bar is Hebrew and it means

it's actually Aramaic bar is Ben in

Hebrew Ben means son of bar mitah means

son of the mitz in other words this

person this young man is now a a an

obligated Jew to fulfill the

Commandments the young person studies

Torah and learns about the laws that

govern Jewish life in preparation for

their bar or bot Mitzvah they will read

from the Torah in front of the community

at the

celebration in addition to its serious

side the bar mitzvah or bot Mitzvah is a

joyous family occasion and a time for

congratulations and giftgiving for it is

the beginning of adulthood and full

membership in an ancient faith that

began more than 5,000 years

[Applause]

ago

there are several different sects in

Judaism the most Orthodox are the

hassidim or mystical Jews many of them

dress in the same way as their ancestors

in Europe did a hundred years ago and

they follow the Commandments very

strictly and the is like a precious stor

although it is quite unused usual there

are some Hassam who combine their

religious Traditions with artistic

representation to express their mystical

view of life look basically when you see

a person dress in Black you know in the

street you not always can take for

granted he was always like that but

nevertheless and as nist you can be

black and full of

color in the Orthodox synagogue men and

women sit in separate areas the men

conduct the service while the women

watch there's going to be the blessings

of the stars and the blessings of the

sand the reformed sect on the other hand

expresses a much more modern view in

dress worship service and customs in the

past the role of women in Judaism was

largely confined to keeping the home in

accordance with Jewish law while this is

still true in Orthodox Judaism in the

reformed sect women play a central part

in the synagogue as well the thing that

excites me so much about Judaism right

now is the women in it I see the face of

Judaism being transformed by by its

women and there's all sorts of ways that

are um that are being brought about by

the by women rabbis now that are

changing the the Liturgy changing the

way we doen the way we pray to make it

more Soulful to make it more alive and

refreshing so that when you leave you

really feel like you've done something

Exquisite reformed Judaism was brought

over to the United States later on and

and and now as you know it is a large uh

a large denomination it is a

denomination that is basically says you

keep your Jewish Heritage in the way

that you feel fit and it's not so

important whether you drive on the

Sabbath or whether you eat pork or don't

eat pork what's important is that you

stay together as a community and that

you make Judaism utterly relevant to

Modern Life the most recent

transformation within Judaism is the

emergence of the Jewish renewal movement

begun in the 1960s Jewish renewal

incorporates some of the ancient

mystical elements of Hasidic Judaism

bringing its followers an opportunity

for a direct experience of God imagine I

ask you the question who are you and you

will answer give me your name and I say

thank you who are you and each time I

ask deeper and deeper and deeper and

deeper then you say I am Consciousness

and then I say thank you who are you I'm

the source of Consciousness thank you

who are you ultimately you have to say

I'm God in this form but I'm God that

notion of recognizing that we are

children of God like we are Snippets of

the great hologram you know that we

contain in ourselves that spark of the

Living God that

recognition together with a celebration

of the body and of the heart and of the

insights that come from the mind that

basically created The Matrix out of

which Jewish renewal

came we do a lot of singing and

dancing

because when the body is awakened

and the Heart wakes up too then the

heart wants to express itself and all of

us if we get an opportunity to dance

when we aren't watched by other people

Everyone is a balet Dancer you

know other elements are an openness to

the wisdom of other religious Traditions

such as Buddhism and Sufism equality of

women and men in shaping the future of

Judaism and a concern for healing the

environment

this movement emphasizes a joyful

approach to religion and spirituality

with chanting dance and meditation as

well as traditional prayer and study of

Torah in many ways Judaism is a religion

of remembrance but it is a religion that

looks forward to after the Roman

conquest of Israel in 70 CE the Jews

were scattered throughout the world but

They Carried their beliefs with them and

they still teach their children to love

and respect the

Torah it is a faith that sent Abraham in

search of the promised land now the

spiritual Homeland for more than 14

million people it is a faith that takes

its way of life from the words of Moses

honors its Kings and its prophets and

sages by rereading and revering their

writings and Carries On A continuing

dialogue that began in Exile when the

men of the great synagogue began to

interpret the law of the Torah and wrote

down their commentaries in the

talmud it is a faith that binds people

of Many Lands together with the common

belief in the

people and the land of their

ancestors and the lives and words of

their

Founders and the Great Law of love if we

change the human beings that we come in

contact with we will eventually change

the sensitivity and awareness of the

world if we can change the awareness of

the world suffering does not need to

exist here o Israel the Lord Our God the

Lord is

one you must love the Lord your God with

all your heart with all your soul and

with all your

[Applause]

[Applause]

[Music]

might

[Applause]

[Music]

[Music]

here