NATIJudaism-Paige

= JUDAISM =



Abraham was a loyal man who had complete faith in God. One day, God came to Abraham and told him that if he gave up his home and family, he would bless him and make him a great nation. He accepted this covenant, and his descendants became the Israelites. Abraham is considered the father of the people of Israel, and is an important figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
 * Founder of religion: ** The founder of Judaism is Abraham, at around 3760 B.C.

 **Religious Leaders: ** The main religious leader is the Rabbi. A Rabbi is the leader of a Synogauge, and is similar to a Priest in a Church. Place of Worship: ** The place of worship is a Synogauge. Jewish people usually go to Synogauge on Fridays, but people can on Saturday mornings, too. Synogauges have no distinct shape, unlike a church, but sometimes they are circular with domes on the top.
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**Where it Began: ** Judaism began in Israel, but has spread all over the world. 40% of Jews live in Israel, 40% of Jews live the United States, and the other 20% is spread all over the world.

**Main Beliefs: ** ** God(s): ** Judaism is a monotheistic religion, which means they only believe in one God. God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient.
 * God exists; he is eternal, one, and is and always was existing.
 * Prayer should only be directed to God.
 * The words of the prophets are true.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Moses's prophecies are true.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Torah was given to Moses; there will be no other.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">God knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">God will reward the good, and punish the evil.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The messiah will come.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Dead will be resurrected.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Scared Writings: ** The sacred writings are called the Torah. Moses was the Torahs author; he received it from God at about 1300 B.C. The Torah consists of five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Dueteronomy. The Torah talks about the creation of the world, Abraham's life, the Ten Commandments, and teaches you how to act, think, and what to eat (keeping Kosher). Another fact about the Torah is that it is identical to the Old Testament (from The Bible, in Christianity), but Christians re-named it.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Religious Practices: ** Jews pray 2 or 3 times a day; once in the morning, then the afternoon, and evening. They go to the Synogauge every Friday (or Saturday, if they cannot go on Friday). Jews also have a strict diet, called keeping Kosher (most Jews practice this, except for Reform Jews). Here are the rules of Kosher:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ritually slaughtered beef, goat, and deer are permitted (all animals must be healthy, too). Pork, Camel, rabbit, rodents, reptiles, or any other animal that dies of natural causes are forbidden.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chicken, turkey, quail, geese are permitted. Eagles, hawks, and other birds of prey are forbidden.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meat eaten without dairy is permitted.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wine or grape juice, under Jewish supervision, is permitted.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Soft cheese and Kosher hard cheese is permitted.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Any other food with a capital 'K' for Kosher is allowed.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Religious Festivals: ** There are four main holidays in the Jewish religion: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kipper, Passover, and Hanukkah. Rosh Hashanah is the beggining of the (Jewish new year). It is celebrated with a feast in the evening, and is celebrated in January. Yom Kipper is a day set aside for fasting, practicing self control, and repenting from sins of the previous year. It is celebrated ten days after Rosh Hashanah. Passover is a week long holiday, that commemorates the Exodus from Egypt (when Moses lead the enslaved Hebrews out of Egypt). It is celebrated sometime in March or April. Haunukkah is and eight-day long celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd Century (A.D.), and is celebrated in September.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Religious Symbols: ** The main symbol of Judaism is the star of David, which symbolizes the symbol on David's shield. David was the second king of Israel, and is important in Christianity and Islam, too. He united the people of Israel, built the Holy Temple (the resting place of the Ten Commandments), and wrote most of the Psalms (a book in the Torah). David was also a close descendant of Abraham.