Judaism Explained
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the foundations of Judaism, the world's oldest monotheistic religion, highlighting its sacred texts like the Torah and the Tanakh. It delves into Jewish beliefs, practices, and history, including the significance of the Covenant, the role of the Messiah, and the importance of the Sabbath. The script also touches on the diversity within Judaism, its dietary laws, and the centrality of the synagogue, offering a comprehensive yet concise introduction to the rich tapestry of Jewish culture and faith.
Takeaways
- đ Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, influencing the development of Christianity and Islam.
- đ The core text of Judaism is the Tanakh, which is divided into three sections: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.
- đ The Jewish religion has about 15 million followers, making it the tenth most popular religion worldwide.
- đ¶ The concept of Covenant in Judaism is central, symbolized by circumcision and the adherence to God's commandments.
- đ The Holy Temple in Jerusalem, once the center of Jewish worship, was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times.
- đ The Jewish understanding of God is of a singular, eternal, and all-powerful creator with an active interest in human affairs.
- đ€ The Tetragrammaton (YHWH) represents the name of God in Judaism, which is often not pronounced out of respect.
- đĄ The afterlife in Judaism is not extensively detailed, but it is believed that the soul lives on after death.
- đ€ The Talmud is a vast collection of Jewish law and commentary, serving as a guide for Jewish life.
- đ Judaism is not just a religion but also encompasses a diverse people, nation, culture, and civilization.
- đ The synagogue is the central place of Jewish worship and community, with the Torah Scroll at its heart.
Q & A
What is the significance of the number 4000 in the context of Judaism mentioned in the video?
-The number 4000 refers to the approximate age of Judaism, making it one of the oldest monotheistic religions.
What is the Tanakh and why is it important to Judaism?
-The Tanakh is the Hebrew name for the Hebrew Bible, which is foundational to Jewish belief and consists of three sections: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.
Can you explain the concept of the Covenant in Judaism as described in the video?
-The Covenant in Judaism is a special agreement between God and the Jewish people, symbolized by circumcision and representing a commitment to follow God's commandments.
What are the Five Books of Moses, and why are they significant?
-The Five Books of Moses, also known as the Torah, are the most sacred texts of the Jewish people, containing the foundational stories and commandments of Judaism, including the 10 Commandments.
How did the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt and their subsequent exodus shape Jewish history and belief?
-The enslavement in Egypt and the exodus led by Moses are pivotal events in Jewish history, symbolizing God's promise to the Jewish people and establishing the second Covenant at Mount Sinai.
What is the significance of the number 613 in the Jewish faith?
-The number 613 refers to the total number of Mitzvah, or commandments, that God gave to Moses in the Torah, guiding the conduct and beliefs of the Jewish people.
Why is the Holy Temple in Jerusalem important to Jewish worship?
-The Holy Temple in Jerusalem, housing the Ark of the Covenant, was the center of Jewish worship and a symbol of the sacred heart of Judaism before its destruction.
What is the Tetragrammaton, and why is its pronunciation significant in the Jewish faith?
-The Tetragrammaton is the four-letter name of God (YHWH), the pronunciation of which was lost over time. Its significance lies in the reverence and respect for God's name, with many Orthodox Jews avoiding its pronunciation.
What is the concept of Tzedakah in Judaism, and how is it practiced today?
-Tzedakah, meaning justice or charity, is a principle in Judaism that encourages acts of righteousness and giving, with many Jews donating a portion of their income to the needy.
What is the significance of the Messiah in Jewish belief, and how does it relate to the afterlife?
-The Messiah in Jewish belief is a prophesied leader who will usher in an era of peace and perfection, rebuild the Holy Temple, and bring about the resurrection of all Jews, signifying the end of suffering and the beginning of a new heaven on Earth.
How does the Talmud complement the Torah in Jewish religious life?
-The Talmud is a vast collection of commentary and debate on the Torah, providing interpretations, legal insights, and guidance for Jewish life, forming the basis for Jewish law.
What are the key differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews, and how do they influence Jewish culture?
-Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews represent two major groups with distinct cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Ashkenazi Jews developed in Central and Eastern Europe and speak Yiddish, while Sephardi Jews are descendants of Spanish Jews and speak Ladino, influencing Jewish cuisine, traditions, and religious practices.
Outlines
đ Introduction to Judaism and its Sacred Texts
This paragraph introduces the audience to Judaism, one of the oldest monotheistic religions at 4000 years old, and its foundational texts. The script discusses the Torah, the first section of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh, which is divided into three parts: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim. The Torah itself, sometimes referred to as the Five Books of Moses, includes the creation story and God's covenant with Abraham. The script also touches on significant historical events such as the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt and their subsequent liberation led by Moses, who received the 613 Mitzvah or commandments, including the famous 10 Commandments. The paragraph concludes with the mention of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the division of the kingdom, leading to the Assyrian conquest and Babylonian exile, setting the stage for the religious and historical context of Judaism.
đ Monotheism and the Core Beliefs of Judaism
The second paragraph delves into the concept of monotheism in Judaism, which is the belief in one eternal, all-powerful God, the creator of the universe and the source of all morality. It explains the origins of this belief with Abraham and how it influenced the development of Christianity and Islam. The script discusses the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the sacred name of God, and the reverence with which it is treated, including the practice of not pronouncing it aloud. It also covers the Jewish perspective on the afterlife, including the belief in the soul's continuation after death and the concept of Sheol as an underworld. The paragraph highlights the importance of Tzedakah, or charity, in Jewish life and the hope for the coming of the Messiah, who will bring about an era of peace and perfection, culminating in the resurrection of all Jews. Additionally, the Talmud is introduced as a critical text for Jewish law and life, being a comprehensive collection of commentary and debate on the Torah.
đ The Diversity of Jewish Culture and Denominations
This paragraph explores the cultural and ethnic diversity within the Jewish community, emphasizing that Judaism is not a race but a people, nation, culture, and civilization with members from various backgrounds. It distinguishes between Ashkenazi Jews, who originated in Central and Eastern Europe and speak Yiddish, and Sephardi Jews, descendants of Spanish Jews who speak Ladino. The script also mentions other Jewish communities from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Ethiopia, China, and Georgia, each with unique cultural practices. The paragraph discusses the impact of the Holocaust and the 20th-century migrations on the distribution of Jews, with North America and Israel becoming the primary homes for the Jewish population. It outlines various Jewish denominations, from atheistic to Orthodox, each with its interpretation of the Torah and Jewish law. The paragraph concludes with an explanation of the significance of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, and the dietary laws of Kashrut, including the concept of kosher food and the prohibition of certain animals and practices.
đ Synagogues and the Practice of Judaism
The final paragraph focuses on the central role of synagogues in Jewish life and worship since the destruction of the Second Temple. It describes the presence of a handwritten Torah Scroll in every synagogue and the role of the rabbi as a scholar and interpreter of Jewish law. The script touches on Jewish customs such as wearing a kippah or yarmulka as a sign of respect and the tradition of not cutting the hair at the sides of the head, known as Payot. The paragraph also promotes the documentary streaming service CuriosityStream and its offerings, including a special deal for viewers to support educational creators. It concludes with an invitation for viewers to explore more about Judaism and other religions through the provided resources and to support the channel through Patreon or the t-shirt store.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄJudaism
đĄTorah
đĄCovenant
đĄTanakh
đĄMonotheism
đĄTetragrammaton
đĄDiaspora
đĄTzedakah
đĄMessiah
đĄTalmud
đĄKosher
Highlights
Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, influencing the development of Christianity and Islam.
The Torah is the most sacred book of the Jewish people, also known as the Five Books of Moses.
The concept of a covenant in Judaism is central, symbolized by circumcision as a sign of the agreement with God.
The Israelites' history includes enslavement in Egypt and liberation under the leadership of Moses.
613 Mitzvah or commandments are contained in the Torah, including the famous 10 Commandments.
The Holy Temple in Jerusalem was a central place of worship, housing the Ark of the Covenant.
The Babylonian exile and the destruction of the Holy Temple are significant events in Jewish history.
Judaism is not only a religion but also encompasses a diverse people, nation, culture, and civilization.
Monotheism, the belief in one God, is a fundamental aspect of Judaism and has influenced other religions.
The Tetragrammaton, YHWH, is the name of God used in the Tanach, with pronunciation lost over time.
Jewish beliefs include the idea of free will and the possibility of a personal relationship with God.
The concept of an afterlife in Judaism is based on the life one leads on Earth, with the soul living on after death.
Tzedakah, or charity, is an important practice in Judaism, with many Jews donating a portion of their income to the needy.
The Messiah in Judaism is a prophesied leader who will bring about a Messianic Era of peace and perfection.
The Talmud is a vast collection of commentary on the Torah, providing the foundation for Jewish law and life.
Jewish denominations range from Orthodox to Reform, with varying interpretations of the Torah and Jewish law.
Shabbat, or the Sabbath, is a day of rest and rejuvenation, with specific prohibitions and encouragements for activities.
Kosher laws regulate the Jewish diet, specifying which animals and foods are permissible to consume.
The synagogue is the center of Jewish life and worship, with a handwritten Torah Scroll and a rabbi leading services.
Jewish traditions include wearing a kippah as a sign of respect and following specific grooming practices like Payot.
Transcripts
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Judaism, at 4000 years old is one of the oldest monotheistic religions
and the granddaddy of Christianity and Islam.
But even though its teachings helped create
the worldâs two most popular religions many people
donât know what Jews actually believe.
What is the Torah? Whatâs a Covenant?
and why donÂŽt people on the Middle East worship mermaid anymore?
Well, letâs find out.
Judaism developed here in the eastern Mediterranean over the last 4000 years.
Today there are about 15 million Jews making it
the tenth most popular religion on earth.
Right, letâs jump straight into their beliefs.
Tanakh is the Hebrew name for the Hebrew Bible,
known to most English speakers as the Old Testament.
But obviously, they donât call it that
since they donât recognise any New Testament.
The Tanakh is actually a trilogy and the word Tanakh
is made up of the names of the 3 sections of the Hebrew Bible.
T: for Torah N: for Neviâim and K: for Ketuvim
The first section, the Torah, is the most sacred book of the Jewish People.
The Torah consists of the five books shown here
and is sometimes called the Five Books of Moses.
Let's summarise this very long and very sacred book in a few paragraphs,
it should be easy!
In the beginning, God creates the world in six days
and then has a deserved rest on the seventh.
Later on, God starts talking to a guy named Abraham The Hebrew.
He tells Abraham to leave his home in Mesopotamia
and go to a land called Canaan, which is here.
God makes a deal or covenant with Abraham, promising:
"I will make of thee a great nation"
and offers "the whole land of Canaan" to him and his descendants.
To seal this special covenant God said unto Abraham
âEvery man child among you shall be circumcised.â
And Abraham was like: weâre going to do what now!
âye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin,
and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and youâ
Circumcision was a symbol literally âcut into the fleshâ
of the Jewish People to show their covenant with God.
And has been done by every Jewish male for thousands of years
The Covenant is extremely important in Judaism.
Later Abraham's grandson called Jacob literally wrestles with God
or an angel of some sort for an entire night.
So from then on, Jacob would be called Israel "one that struggles with God".
Jacob/Israel has twelve sons and their descendants
would become known as the Children of Israel
or Israelites and give their name to the land of Canaan now known as Israel.
The Children of Israel would be enslaved in Egypt.
But then one of them called Moses would under
God's guidance lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Moses and his people arrive at Mount Sinai. Here God gives Moses the entire Torah
which contains 613 Mitzvah or commandments
the most famous of which is the 10 Commandments written on two stone tablets.
This new Covenant requires Jews to worship only this God
and to follow His commandments.
In return, God will bless the Jewish people
and make them a holy nation living in the Promised Land, which is Israel.
The Israelites would eventually form a kingdom and one of their kings,
Solomon, builds a Holy Temple in Jerusalem,
which houses the Ark of the Covenant and becomes the sacred heart of Jewish worship.
Ironically enough Solomonâs kingdom would cut itself in two.
Israel, populated by 10 tribes descended from the sons of Jacob in the north
and Judah populated by the other 2 tribes, primarily the Judah in the south.
In 722 BCE the Assyrians conquered Israel,
leaving Judah as the sole surviving Jewish kingdom.
Which is this guy, Judah, a random son of Jacob,
and not even the one with the dazzling coat of many colours
gave the religion of Judaism and the Jews their name.
In 586 BCE the Babylonians conquered Judah,
demolished the Holy Temple, into exile and slavery in Babylon.
The destruction of the Holy Temple and Babylonian exile
is a heartbreaking historical event for Jewish people.
But then in 539 BCE along came Cyrus with his big Persian army and cool hat.
He wrecks the Babylonians, frees the Jews, and rebuilds the Holy Temple.
And that concludes our retelling of the Tanakh. It is foundational to all Jewish belief
and my summary barely scratches the surface.
So you can go and read more by checking out links in the description
or just waiting until I make a video just about that.
In 70 C.E. the Romans destroyed the Holy Temple âŠ.again,
and sent the people into another exile.
The Jews moved out across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East forming a diaspora
which periodically suffered persecutions, pogroms, and genocides from their neighbours.
This 2000ish year exile is considered to have lasted up until 1947
with the partitioning of Palestine
and the creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948.
Now that was a very brief summary of 2000 years of very complex history,
so please bear that in mind.
2. God
So Abraham lived in a world that believed in many, many gods.
You had your Marduks, your Nergals, you even had Dagans,
everyone loves Dagan, look at him the fancy merman.
But Abraham believed in One God.
An eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing creator of the universe,
and the source of all morality.
He has no children, he has no rivals, he has no equals.
This is known as monotheism and Judaism would
spread this concept across the ancient world
acting as an origin for both Christianity and Islam.
Today, nearly everyone in this region follows a monotheistic religion
and merman worship has dropped significantly.
The names of God used the most in the Tanach
are Elohim and the Tetragrammaton,
which is honestly one of the coolest words ever.
The Tetragrammaton is the letters YHWH.
The actual pronunciation YHWH was lost thousands of years ago.
Today it is sometimes pronounced as Yahweh.
But that was just one theory.
Many Orthodox Jews will not actually say the name out loud
and ones said HaShem, âthe nameâ or Adonai "My Lordâ instead.
Many Orthodox Jews won't even write words like God down,
as a sign of respect and will use something like G-D instead.
The Jewish God also takes an active interest in human affairs
and interacts with humans on Earth.
Humans can develop a personal relationship with God.
God granted humanity freewill and they, like Jacob, can âwrestle with Godâ,
and find and relate to God in their own personal way.
The Hebrew Bible barely mentions heaven or hell. Heaven is just where God lives.
It doesnÂŽt mentions a place called Sheol, but itâs kind just
a vague underworld where souls go after death.
DoesnÂŽt give any details.
But the Bible does make it certain that the soul lives on after you die.
When Abraham dies, for example, the Bible says:
"he breathed his last, dying at a good, ripe age, old and content
and he was gathered to his people....â.
The Bible describes a bunch of different characters being gathered to their people
and sinners being cut off from their people.
So while the body returns to the earth the human soul
goes somewhere to live on with their ancestors.
Jews accept that they do not know
what the afterlife would be like or what its rewards will be,
but they think it will be based on the kind of life they lived on earth.
So they try to follow God's path and commandments as closely as possible
because even if they donât know what rewards theyÂŽll receive in the afterlife
they know following GodÂŽs commandments here on Earth will make this world better.
Many Jews try to act with Tzedakah or Justice or charity.
Tzedakah comes from the Torah which says
âthou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field.....
neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard;
thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger".
Today many Jews donate 10% of their income to the needy as part of Tzedakah.
Many Jews today and in the past have hoped for the coming of a masheach or messiah.
Which is prophesied in the Tanakh.
The Messiah is a Jewish leader that will bring about the Messianic Era.
They will rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem
and bring all the Jews back into the Promised Land.
Which will bring about the perfection of the world
and an end to all hunger, war, and suffering.
When the Messiah comes, every Jew who ever lived will be literally resurrected.
They will return to Jerusalem to be present when God creates a new heaven on Earth.
This is why Jewish law demands that Jews must
be buried with any amputated limbs lost in life.
Jewish law also forbids cremation.
All to keep the physical body intact for when it is resurrected
by God after the arrival of the Messiah.
For Jews, the Messiah has obviously not yet arrived
because there is still suffering and inequality in the world.
We already saw at the Tanakh
but another book is also extremely important to the Jews.
The Talmud. The Talmud is a collection of different books
and is over 10 million words long and covers 38 volumes.
It is a massive collection of commentary on the Torah
and on itself on how the Torah or itâs commandments should be interpreted.
It's filled with debate, legal interpretations,
history, ethics, philosophy and legends.
Within a few lines you can see rabbis that lived
centuries apart debating a topic in the Talmud,
itâs pretty interesting.
It provides the foundation for Jewish law and is a guidebook for Jewish life.
So those are some Judaism believes
But Judaism is more than a religion.
It is also a people, nation, culture, and civilization
but not a race. There are black, asian, and white Jews.
There are people born Jewish and people convert to Judaism.
There are atheist, Agnostic, and a buffet of differing levels of religious Jews.
According to Jewish law a Jew is a child born of a Jewish mother
or a person who converts to Judaism.
Some modern Jewish denominations also now accept descent through the father.
Since the Medieval Period, there have been two major groups of the Jewish People.
Ashkenazi and Sephardi.
The Ashkenazi are the Jewish community that developed in Central and Eastern Europe.
They speak Yiddish, a combination of Hebrew and the languages of Central Europe.
Yiddish words like bupkis, chutzpah, and klutz are familiar in English speaking pop culture
because most Jewish immigrants in the United States were Ashkenazi.
The Sephardi Jews are descendants of the Jews of Spain,
and those who fled from Spain to other Mediterranean countries and North Africa.
They have their own language, Ladino, a combination of Hebrew and Old Spanish.
But unfortunately, this language is under serious threat of the extinction
There are also communities of Jews who do not fall into these two categories
such as the Jews of Iran and Iraq, Yemen, Ethiopia,
China, and Georgia along with many, many others.
All these different groups make up a diverse range of Jewish beliefs and cultures.
What many Americans and Europeans think of as Jewish culture or Jewish food
is really Ashkenazi culture and Central and Eastern European food,
adapted to Jewish kosher laws.
An Ashkenazi will eat Schmaltz herring
while a Sephardi will enjoy couscous.
An Ashkenazis will celebrate with a glass of schnapps,
a Sephardi will go for some Arak.
Ashkenazis called Saturday, Shabbos, Sephardis called Shabbat.
Before the Second World War about
9 million Jews lived in Europe, 5 million in the Americas,
800,000 in Asia, and 600,000 in Africa. Just above 15 million in total.
About six million Jews were systematically murdered during the Shoah,
the Hebrew term for the Holocaust.
The emigration, expulsion, and extermination of Jews
from their old heartlands during the 20th century
has made North America and Israel home to the majority of modern Jews.
Today there are many different denominations of Jews.
Ranging from Jewish atheists to Orthodox Jews.
Orthodox Jews believe the Torah is the direct word of God
and they strictly follow it's words and commandments.
The best known Orthodox Jews are the Hasidic Jews,
Jews that are recognisable and distinct fashion,
which has been appropiated by hipsters.
There is also Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Judaism
who all cover a wide range of beliefs.
From not believing in a personal or supernatural God
and thinking ritual and ceremony have no place in the modern world
to belief in God and the Torah but changing their interpretation as society evolves.
Shabbat or the Sabbath or Saturday is the 7th day of the Hebrew week
and the most important day for Jews.
Since God rested on the seventh day, Jews do the same.
It is a day of physical and spiritual rejuvenation.
Jewish law prohibits any work on Shabbat.
Activities such as doing business, spending money, shopping,
housework, driving, using electricity, or even using the phone are discouraged.
While things like prayer or reading are encouraged.
The laws of Kosher regulate the Jewish Diet.
What is Kosher? Well according to the Torah and Jewish law.
All vegetables, fruits, grains, and nuts are kosher.
When it comes to meat a kosher animal is one
that both chews its cud and has a cloven hoof.
Don't worry I didn't know what cud was either.
Cud is a bit of food that an animal chews and then swallows
and then vomits back into their mouth and then chews again.
Which is why some animals can just appear to be chewing all the time.
Examples of kosher animals are cattle and sheep.
While nonkosher animals include pigs, dogs, rabbits, and well humans actually.
Kosher animals must also be killed in a certain way called shechita.
This method uses a trained professional with an incredibly
sharp knife to deliver quick death to the animal.
Finally all blood must be drained from the animal because blood isnât kosher.
Today kosher food can be bought from kosher shops
or recognised by special kosher symbols on products.
All shellfish, birds of prey like eagles or owls, and fish without both fins and scales
like shark, whale, and porpoise are not kosher.
From the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE until today,
the synagogue has been the centre of Jewish life and worship.
In every synagogue, youâll find a handwritten Torah Scroll.
Which is read aloud during services.
Youâll also find a rabbi. A rabbi is a trained Jewish scholar and interpreter of Jewish law.
They conduct many Jewish events, such as circumcisions,
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, and funerals.
While there you may notice people wearing
a kippah also known as yarmulka on their heads.
Judaism originated in the Middle East,
where a sign of respect to God is a covered oneÂŽs head.
Orthodox Jews believe they are always in the presence of God,
so they wear a kippah at all times.
More liberal Jews wear a kippah sometimes.
You might also notice that many Orthodox Jew
have long curly hair on the sides of their head.
These are called Payot and Orthdox Jews do not cut
this hair because of a command on the Torah that says
âYe shall not round the corners of your heads''
You can learn more about Synagogues, the history
of the Jewish people, and much, much more
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So those are the basics of Judaism. It isn't even close to covering everything.
I probably only covered about 1%. One video simply can't cover everything.
Religions are too diverse, too deep, and mean
too many different things to different people.
But you can find all the sources used in the description.
If you liked this video please subscribe.
If you are interested in supporting the channel,
there are links for Patreon and my t-shirt store also in the description.
If you liked this video I think youâd really enjoy my videos on
Hinduism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism.
Which you can see on screen or linked in the description.
Thank you so much for watch.
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