Judaism
Judaism is the oldest of the world's four biggest monotheistic religions (religions with only one god). It's also the smallest, with only about 12 million followers around the world. Jewish history begins with the covenant established between God and Abraham around 1812 BC (over 3,800 years ago), during the Bronze Age, in the Middle East. The Torah (Jewish Law), the primary document of Judaism, was given to the Jews by the Prophet Moses (Moshe) about 3,300 years ago. The Jewish calendar starts with the day when Adam and Eve were created (the Sixth Day of Creation). This year (2013) is 5773 on the Jewish Calendar. It starts with Rosh HaShanah, the two day Jewish New Year.
Comparative religions is the study of religions concerned with the systematic comparison of the doctrines, practices, and history of five of the world's major religions. There are many benefits to such a course of enquiry but in general the comparative study of religion yields a deeper understanding of the fundamental philosophical concerns of religion and of the differences and similarities in beliefs among people who practice these religions. A person who has undertaken such a course of study has a much richer and more sophisticated understanding of human beliefs and practices regarding religious practice. In this class, we will be studying Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. |
short videos
|
Common Core State Standards for this Unit
|
Concepts and Objectives
Celebrations, festivals, ceremonies, and customs
identify major festivals and relate each to the beliefs they celebrate identify at least one unique custom of the religion be able to describe and explain the beliefs, ceremonies and customs associated with the celebration of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur understand the symbolism of the Passover meal |
Sacred writings, stories and key figures
know the stories of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Joseph, David, and Solomon
know stories which show how Moses became the leader of his people and helped them to escape from Egypt (Passover) know the significance of the Torah (Pentatuch) and the Talmud in Jewish life know the story(s) of creation |
Beliefs
be able to describe what Jews believe
about the future in terms of personal survival and expectations of the Messiah
understand the basic belief that the Jewish people are the Chosen of God (Abraham) |
Sacred places, worship and symbols
understand the symbolism of the Seder
meal (Passover) understand the significance of Israel, Jerusalem, The
Temple Mount, and the Wailing Wall (The Western Wall)
be able to identify the major symbols of Judaism and their importance |
Moral values and attitudes
show some understanding of the Ten
Commandments and be able to discuss their appropriateness
apply the beliefs embodied in the Ten Commandments to a contemporary social/moral situation explain how the belief in the Covenant impacts current political affairs in the Middle East |
Challenges
All Challenge due dates include the Reflection Form for the Challenge. The Reflection Form has changed since the last unit, so check it BEFORE you begin to work.
Challenge #1—Individual: Create a travel guide-- Jewish Sacred Sites in the Middle East. You MUST include Israel, Jerusalem, The Temple Mount, and the Wailing Wall (The Western Wall). You should include AT LEAST 4 other sites of your choosing. Due March 25 Challenge #2—Individual: Create an illustrated dictionary of Jewish terms. Include any terms you find throughout the unit that are new to you or are used in a new way. Also include in your dictionary a map of the major world centers of Judaism. Due March 25 Challenge #3—Group: Demonstrate how the Jews’ belief in the Covenant impacts current political affairs in the Middle East, especially as it applies to Israel and Palestine. You may choose your group---groups may be 1, 2, or 3 people. Due March 28 Challenge #4—Individual: Retell a story from Genesis. Be sure the theme is clear and consistent with the original version.You may choose your group---groups may be 1, 2, or 3 people. This may be the same group as #3. Due March 29 Challenge #5—Individual: In poster form (for the bulletin board), write your own 10 Commandments. Consider the themes and purpose of the original when your construct your own. Be prepared to explain your choices and to answer questions about your items. Due March 25 Challenge #6—Individual: Cook Passover festival foods and bring to class to share. This is for extra credit points (up to 10 points possible) and may be completed any time during the Judaism unit. (check the syllabus for recipes) Arrange with Ms. Vest for presentation date. Please do not wait until the last minute. If there isn't time, you won't be able to present. |
Resources
|