Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
National Capital Region
DIVISION OF CITY SCHOOLS – MANILA
Manila Education Center Arroceros Forest Park
Antonio J. Villegas St. Ermita, Manila

Introduction to World
Religions & Belief
Systems

Quarter 1- Week 4
Module 4
Most Essential Learning Competency:
Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental
beliefs, practices, and related issues of Judaism.
 HOW TO USE THIS MODULE
Before starting the module, I want you to set aside other tasks that will disturb
U U

you while enjoying the lessons. Read the simple instructions below to successfully
enjoy the objectives of this kit. Have fun!

1. Follow carefully all the contents and instructions indicated in every page of
this module.
2. Write on your notebook the concepts about the lessons. Writing enhances
learning, that is important to develop and keep in mind.
3. Perform all the provided activities in the module.
4. Let your facilitator/guardian assess your answers using the answer key card.
5. Analyze conceptually the posttest and apply what you have learned.
6. Enjoy studying!

PARTS OF THE MODULE

 Expectations - These are what you will be able to know after completing the
lessons in the module.
 Pre-test - This will measure your prior knowledge and the concepts to be
mastered throughout the lesson.
 Looking Back to your Lesson - This section will measure what learnings and
skills did you understand from the previous lesson.
 Brief Introduction - This section will give you an overview of the lesson.
 Discussion - This section provides a short discussion of the lesson. This aims
to help you discover and understand new concepts and skills.
 Activities - This is a set of activities you will perform with a partner.
 Remember - This section summarizes the concepts and applications of the
lessons.
 Check your understanding - It will verify how you learned from the lesson.
 Post-test - This will measure how much you have learned from the entire
module.

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 Lesson
Judaism: Basic Beliefs
1
EXPECTATIONS

You will examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of Judaism.
Specifically, this module will help you to:
 Understand the history of Judaism and its founders
 Analyze sacred texts which reflects the life and values Jewish culture
 Articulate understanding of one’s religious beliefs, and practices by
exploring their own origins

Let us start your journey in learning more on the brief history,

core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices of Judaism. I am
sure you are ready and excited to answer the Pretest. Smile and
cheer up!

PRETEST

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. A religion in which people believe in only one god is known as
a. An atheistic religion c. a polytheistic religion
b. A monotheistic religion d. agnostic atheism

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2. In a Jewish Faith, a __________ is both a teacher and a leader of religious
ceremonies.
a. Rabbi b. Sabbath c. Yorah d. Guru

3. One of the most important Jewish religious text is the _________.

a. Torah b. Kabbalah c. Koran d. Yorah
4. Ten commandments gave people guidance for ___________
a. dietary procedure
b. self-restraint and appropriate behavior
c. setting up a city
d. cultural purposes
5. The Torah includes _______
a. commandments
b. recipes
c. articles
d. the first five books of the Jewish Bible
6. What did the early Jewish people call their God?
a. Yahweh b. Baal c. Allah d. Brahman
7. Who gave Judaism its fundamental laws?
a. Abraham b. David c. Moses d. Isaac
8. According to the Torah, God promised Abraham he would have as many
descendants as there are stars in the sky. The name Abraham means
a. Promise land c. Father of many
b. Keeper of the covenant d. Messiah
9. Moses received the Ten commandments after they left Egypt. What was their
flight from Egypt called?
a. The Crusade b. The Sabbath c. The plague d. The Exodus
10. According to the Torah, how did the Hebrews escape from the Egyptian army?
a. A plague of locusts killed the Egyptian army
b. Moses parted the waters of the Red Sea long enough for the Hebrews to
cross
c. They left while the Egyptian soldiers were resting and worshipping on
the Sabbath.
d. Moses promised the Egyptian soldiers that they will bring them to the
Promised Land.
Great, you finished answering the questions. You may
request your facilitator to check your work.
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Congratulations and keep on learning!
 LOOKING BACK TO YOUR LESSON

(Critical thinking, Communication)

To prove your understanding of the past lesson, you should be ready to accomplish
this task. You may do the following.

Directions:

1. One of the most significant functions of religion is that it encourages moral

values. Now, how does it help you become a better person?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. The Hebrews maintained the
monotheistic belief which originated in the Hebrew Bible also known as Tanakh and
the other sacred writings such as Talmud, the written version of Jewish oral law
(Mishnah), and explanations and interpretations of Mishnah (Gemara) that were
unique in the ancient world. Judaism as considered by its religious leaders and
followers is the expression of the covenantal relationship God established with the
children of Israel.

This module provides you with an introduction to the religion of Judaism.

Specifically, the Jewish religious history, its developments as well as sacred texts
which reflect the life and values of Jewish culture.

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DISCUSSIONS
Historical Background

Judaism claims a historical continuity spanning more than 3,000 years.

Judaism has its roots as a structured religion in the Middle East during the Bronze
Age. Of the major world religions, Judaism is considered one of the oldest
monotheistic religions. The Hebrews or Israelites were already referred to as “Jews”
in later books of the Tanakh such as the Book of Esther, with the term Jews replacing
the title “Children of Israel”. Judaism’s texts, traditions and values strongly
influenced later Abrahamic religions, including Christianity, Islam and the Baha’i
Faith. Many aspects of Judaism have also directly or indirectly influenced secular
Western ethics and civil law.

The term Judaism derives from the Latin Iudaismus , which derived from the
Greek Ioudaïsmos . This ultimately came from the Hebrew Yehudah or ” Judah .”
The first appearance of the term Judaism appears in the book of Second Maccabees,
dated to the 2nd century BCE (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_history).
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Jewish Groupings

Around the 1st century CE there were several small Jewish sects:
the Pharisees , Sadducees , Zealots , Essenes , and Christians . After the destruction
of the Second Temple in 70 CE, these sects vanished.

 Christianity survived, but by breaking with Judaism and becoming a separate

religion.
 The Pharisees survived but in the form of Rabbinic Judaism (today, known
simply as “Judaism”).
 The Sadducees rejected the divine inspiration of the Prophets and the Writings,
relying only on the Torah as divinely inspired. Consequently, a number of other
core tenets of the Pharisees’ belief system (which became the basis for modern
Judaism), were also dismissed by the Sadducees.
 The Samaritans practiced a similar religion, which is traditionally considered
separate from Judaism.

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 Like the Sadducees who relied only on the Torah, some Jews in the 8th and
9th centuries rejected the authority and divine inspiration of the oral law as
recorded in the Mishnah (and developed by later rabbis in the two Talmuds),
relying instead only upon the Tanakh.

Over a long time, Jews formed distinct ethnic groups in several different
geographic areas — amongst others, the Ashkenazi Jews (of central and Eastern
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Europe), the Sephardi Jews (of Spain, Portugal, and North Africa), the Beta Israel
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of Ethiopia , and the Yemenite Jews from the southern tip of the Arabian
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Peninsula. Many of these groups have developed differences in their prayers,

traditions and accepted canons; however these distinctions are mainly the result of
their being formed at some cultural distance from normative (rabbinic) Judaism,
rather than based on any doctrinal dispute.

Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-fscj-worldreligions/chapter/history-2/
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Founder of Judaism
The origins of Jewish faith are explained throughout the Torah.
According to the text, God first revealed himself to a Hebrew man named
Abraham, who became known as the founder of Judaism. Jews believe that
God made a special covenant with Abraham and that he and his descendants
were chosen people who would create a great nation. Abraham’s son Isaac,
and his grandson Jacob, also became central figures in ancient Jewish
history. Jacob took the name Israel, and his children and future generations
became known as Israelites. More than 1,000 years after Abraham, the
prophet Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt after being enslaved for

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hundreds of years. According to scriptures, God revealed his laws, known as
the Ten Commandments, to Moses at Mt. Sinai.

Varieties of Judaism

In line with the diaspora of the Jews, contemporary Judaism is not a

singular religion but a number of religions. Given the richness of its history
it is not surprising that there are cultural differences in Judaism. There are
certain culturally based groups, such as the Sephardic Jews, who came from
west Israel and sometimes Spain; the Ashkemazic who came from central
Europe; the Falashas who are in Ethiopia (Molloy 2005, 327 -328)

1. Orthodox Judaism. They are typically known for their strict observance of
traditional Jewish law and rituals. For example, most believe Shabbat
shouldn’t involve working, driving or handling money. It is also known for its
diverse sect that includes several subgroups, including Hasidic Jews. Hasidic
Jews emphasize a mystical experience with God that involves direct
communion through prayer and worship.
2. Reform Judaism is considered a liberal category of the religion that values
ethical traditions over strict observance of Jewish laws. Followers of this group
promote progressive ideas and adaption.
3. Conservative Judaism. Followers of this form of Judaism somewhere between
Orthodox and Reform Judaism while allowing for some modernization
4. Reconstructionist Judaism. This sect believe that Judaism is a religious
civilization that is constantly evolving. Reconstructionism dates back to 1992
when Mordecai Kaplan founded the Society for the Advancement of Judaism
5. Humanistic Judaism. Followers of this form of Judaism celebrate Jewish
history and culture without an emphasis on God.

While there are various denominations of Judaism, many Jews don’t identify
with a particular classification and simply refer themselves as Jewish.

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The Sacred Writings of Judaism

Judaism is the oldest of the Abrahamic religion, and its primary text
is the Tanakh, or the Jewish Bible, which is composed of the Pentateuch
(Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im) and the Writings (Ketuvim). Tanakh is an acronym
that stands for the three sections of the Hebrew Bible. Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) is an
account of the Israelites’ relationship with God from their earliest history until the
building of the Second Temple (c.535 BCE). Abraham is hailed as the first Hebrew
and the father of the Jewish people. As a reward for his act of faith in one God, he
was promised that Isaac, his second son, would inherit the Land of Israel (then called
Canaan). Later, Jacob and his children were enslaved in Egypt, and God
commanded Moses to lead the Exodus from Egypt.

According Rabbi Menachem Posner, an editor staff at Chabad.org, the world’s

largest Jewish informational website, “studying these texts is a sacred act in which
one connects to God on the deepest level”. He enumerates the list of sacred book that
can be found in a basic Jewish library:

1. Five Books of Moses (Torah) –

often referred to as the Torah,
when in scroll format. It is the
very foundation of Judaism.
Until this very day, the text—
which was written in Hebrew
over 3,000 years ago—has
been carefully preserved by (Photo: Beis Yisroel Torah Gemach)Source:
https://www.chabad.org/library/article
the Jewish people. It is also
known as the Chumash or Pentateuch (related to the respective Hebrew
and Greek words for “five”). The books were written by Moses, as
dictated by God Himself. Jewish people view every letter and nuance as
a sacred communication from God, laden with meaning and
significance. They contain 613 mitzvahs—Divine commandments
which shape the lives of Jewish people everywhere.

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2. Psalms (Tehillim)- The Five
Books of Moses are followed
by 19 other books which
comprise
the Prophets (Neviim)
and Writings (Ketuvim).
Collectively the set is known
as Tanach. Each of these Source: https://www.chabad.org/library/article

books is a treasured revelation of the Divine Wisdom, but one in

particular has found a special place in the Jewish heart: the Book of
Psalms (Tehillim). Its 150 chapters—compiled by King David—express
the deep faith, yearning, and joy that are part and parcel of being a
Jew.
a. Nevi’im - The term is the pluralized form of a Hebrew word that
means prophet. This section includes the historical books in the
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Hebrew Bible (e.g. Joshua, Judges, I and II Samuel, I and II

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Kings) along with the major prophetic books (e.g. Isaiah,

Jeremiah, and Ezekiel) and minor prophetic books (e.g. Amos,
Habakkuk, Joel, Obadiah, etc.). It is about the stories and
writings of the Jewish leaders which recount Jewish history and
call for repentance and obedience.
b. Kethuvi’in -The term is the pluralized form of a Hebrew word that
means writing. This section is more or less a catch all for
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various literary genres including petitionary literature (Psalms

and Lamentations), wisdom Literature (Proverbs, Job,
Ecclesiastes), and one apocalyptic text (Daniel).

3. Megillah (Book of Esther) - One of the last books added to the Biblical
canon is the Book of Esther, also known as the Megillah (“Scroll”). One
of five megillahs included in the canon, Esther is the only one
commonly read from a handwritten parchment scroll. It tells the
dramatic Purim story, in which Queen Esther is the Divinely-placed
heroine through whom the Jewish people who live in the sprawling
Persian empire are saved from Haman’s evil scheme of annihilation.
The Megillah is read twice every Purim, once in the evening and again
in the morning

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4. Mishnah- Throughout the
years, the sages developed a
body of oral traditions to
accompany the laws of the
Torah. In the tumultuous
years following
the destruction of the
Second Source: https://www.chabad.org/library/article

Temple in Jerusalem, Rabbi Judah the Prince compiled many of these

rabbinic traditions into a wide-ranging text, known as the Mishnah
(“repetition” or “learning”). Divided into six “orders” (volumes), the
Mishnah is the foundational text of rabbinic law.

5. Talmud The Talmud (/ˈtɑːlmʊd, -məd, ˈtæl-/; Hebrew: ‫)ת ְלמּוד‬

ַּ is the 31T 31T46 31T46 31T46 31T46 31T 31T 31T

central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish

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religious law (halakha)

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and Jewish
31T theology. 31T The
Talmud was the centerpiece
of Jewish cultural life and was
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foundational to "all Jewish

thought and aspirations",
serving also as "the guide for
the daily life" of Jews. It has
two components; Source: https://www.chabad.org/library/article

the Mishnah (Hebrew: ‫משנה‬, c. 200), a written compendium of Rabbinic

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Judaism's Oral Torah; and the Gemara (Hebrew: ‫גמרא‬, c. 500),

31T 31T 31T 31T

an elucidation of the Mishnah and related Tannaitic writings that often

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ventures onto other subjects and expounds broadly on the Hebrew 31T

Bible. 31T

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6. Zohar - One of the preeminent sages of
the Mishnah was Rabbi Shimon ben
Yochai, who flourished in Israel during
the era of Roman oppression. He was
also a master teacher of the Kabbalah,
the “hidden” part of Jewish tradition.
Many of his teachings, especially those
from right before he passed away, were
collected into the Zohar, an Aramaic
text that typically fills three volumes
and has been arranged to correspond Source: https://www.chabad.org/library/article

to the weekly Torah portions.

7. Mishneh Torah is also called “Torah Review”, is an organized

encyclopedia of halachic rulings culled from all rabbinic literature

created by Rabbi Moses Moimonides to provide layman who could not

access to practical guidance for day-to-day living (halachah).

8. Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law)

Known in Hebrew as Shulchan Aruch (“Set Table”), the Code of

Jewish Law provides day-to-day instructions extracted from
Maimonides’ code and other commentaries. It was written by
Rabbi Yosef Caro (1488-1575), a Sephardic sage who lived in the holy
city of Safed in the north of Israel. Shortly after it was published, Rabbi
Moshe Isserles, an Ashkenazi rabbi in Krakow, Poland, added glosses
in which he notes anytime Ashkenazic tradition differs from Rabbi
Caro’s rulings.
9. Siddur (Prayerbook)
The Jewish prayers were composed by the Anshe Knesset
Hagedolah,“Men of the Great Assembly”—a panel of 120 prophets and
sages comprising the ultimate religious authority at the onset of the
Second Temple Era. In addition to the Amidah (“Silent Prayer”) and
other compositions, the Jewish prayers include sections of Scripture,
notably the Shema a selection of Psalms.

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 10. The Tanya - provides a roadmap to the soul and invaluable advice for
maintaining joy, inspiration, and consistency throughout life’s
challenges.

ACTIVITIES
Activity 1. Create a Pie Graph
Objective: To compare and analyze the different monotheistic religions in the
world
Directions:
1. Identify some of the important monotheistic religions and create a pie
graph in which you show the relative size of each religion.
2. Write your answer on a separate paper (short bond paper) for
submission. Use short folder.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. What does your pie graph tell you? How does it influence you in your
relationship with your God?
2. What are your realizations or discoveries when doing the task? (Include this
answer in your folder)

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

What do you believe?

Directions: Considering your knowledge about Judaism and the Jewish people
belief in one true God, you too will prove such faith by:

1. Describing your personal belief through a collage, poem or a song. These

beliefs may link to a religion, moral values or even a belief in the best

13
 basketball team etc.,
2. Answering the guide Questions:
a. What do you believe and why?
b. Who influenced you holding such belief/s? (e.g. parent, friend, other
influences etc.). And what role do they play in believing such faith?

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Based on the activity, what are your realizations or discoveries when

doing the task? (Include this answer in your folder)

REMEMBER
 Judaism is considered one of the oldest monotheistic religions.
 Jews are an ethno-religious group and include those born Jewish and
converts to Judaism. The largest Jewish religious movements are Orthodox,
Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism.
 Traditional Judaism maintains that a Jew, whether by birth or conversion, is
a Jew forever. Thus a Jew who claims to be an atheist or converts to another
religion is still considered by traditional Judaism to be Jewish
 Jewish ethnic groups in several different geographic locations the Ashkenazi
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Jews (of central and Eastern Europe), the Sephardi Jews (of Spain, Portugal,
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and North Africa), the Beta Israel of Ethiopia , and the Yemenite Jews from
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the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

 Different classification of Judaism based on their observances: Orthodox
Judaism, Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Reconstructionist Judaism,
Humanistic Judaism
 Judaism is the oldest of the Abrahamic religion, and its primary text
is the Tanakh, or the Jewish Bible, which is composed of the
Pentateuch (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im) and the Writings (Ketuvim).
Tanakh is an acronym that stands for the three sections of the Hebrew Bible.

14
 POST TEST

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. One of the most important Jewish religious text is the _________.
a. Torah c. Kabbalah
b. Koran d. Ketuvim
2. Tanakh or Jewish Bible is composed of __________.
a. Pentateuch or Torah c. Ketuvim (Writing)
b. Nevi’im (the prophetic books) d. Genesis
3. These books were written by Moses as dictated by God Himself
a. Shemot c. Nivi’im
b. Ketuvim d. Pentateuch
4. A religion in which people believe in only one god is known as
a. an atheistic religion c. a polytheistic religion
b. a monotheistic religion d. an agnostic atheism
5. The Torah includes _______
a. The first five books of the Jewish Bible
b. Commandments
c. Recipes
d. Articles
6. This form of Judaism maintains that a Jew, whether by birth or
conversion, is a Jew forever
a. Traditional Judaism c. Reform Judaism
b. Orthodox Judaism d. Conservative Judaism
7. Followers of this form of Judaism believe that celebration of Jewish
history and culture can be celebrated without an emphasis on God.
a. Humanistic Judaism c. reform Judaism
b. Conservative Judaism d. Traditional Judaism
8. This refers to the historical books in the Hebrew Bible.
a. Megillah c. Torah
b. Ketuvim d. Nivi’im
9. He is the founder of Judaism

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 a. Abraham c. Isaac
b. Moses d. Ishmael
10. It is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of
Jewish religious law
a. Talmud c. Zohar
b. Mishnah d. Siddur

Lesson
Judaism: The Covenant in
2 Practice

EXPECTATIONS

You will examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of Judaism.
Specifically, this module will help you to:
 Analyze the fundamental beliefs, and practices of Judaism
 Develop students’ appreciation for the Jewish culture and traditions

 Conduct a comparative study on commonalities of the Jewish practices and

other religious practices that can be found across religious traditions.

Let us start your journey in learning more on the brief history,

core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices of Judaism. I am
sure you are ready and excited to answer the Pretest. Smile and
cheer up!

16
 PRETEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. According to Judaism, the ideal of life is.
a. Living harmony with the c. Strictly adhering to
will of God Jewish dogma
b. Achieving balance and d. eliminating desire
harmony with nature
2. Which holiday represents the Jewish New Year?
a. Passover c. Rosh hashanah
b. the Sabbath d. Hanuka

3. The first king who build the first temple to show that Israel was the greatest
nation was
a. Saul c. Solomon
b. David d. Abraham
4. The Jewish book ____________ includes what Christians refer to as Old
Testament
a. The tanakh c. the Shofar
b. The Talmud d. the covenant
5. The story of __________ has become a reminder to all Jews of God’s protection
and his special relationship to them.
a. Exodus c. revelation
b. Genesis d. Leviticus
6. The first covenant that God made was with ____________.
a. Noah c. Jesus
b. Moses d. Abraham
7. What is the most sacred text of Judaism?
a. Talmud c. Bible
b. Tenakh d. Torah
8. What is a Jewish place of worship?
a. Synagogue c. mandir
b. Church d. Mosque
9. The person considered the father of the Jewish people

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 a. Abraham c. Solomon
b. Moses d. David
10. The Hebrew believed in one God. This is called
a. Polytheism c. capitalism
b. Monotheism d. imperialism

Great, you finished answering the questions. You may

request your facilitator to check your work.
Congratulations and keep on learning!

LOOKING BACK TO YOUR LESSON

To prove your understanding of the past lesson, you should be ready to accomplish
this task. You may do the following.

Directions: Explain that Judaism is truly a monotheistic religion. Use separate

sheet of paper for your answer.

Directions:

1. Explain that Judaism is truly a monotheistic religion. Use separate sheet of

paper for your answer.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

BRIEF INTRODUCTION
In the previous lesson you have learned that Judaism is the religion of the
Jewish people, based on principles and ethics embodied in the TaNaKh or Jewish
Bible. It is one of the first recorded monotheistic religion and among the oldest
religious traditions still in practice today. And its origin dates back to Abraham, the
Patriarch and progenitor of the Jewish people.

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 In this module, we will discuss Judaism’s beliefs, practices and traditions.
Also, this module will provide you opportunity to compare and contrast the Jewish
culture and traditions with other cultures and practices that you have learned in the
previous lessons.

DISCUSSIONS
Major beliefs and Teachings

God and His Nature

In Judaism, God has been conceived in a variety of ways. Traditionally,
Judaism holds that YHWH, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the national
God of Israelites, delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

In Jewish thought, God is understood in many forms. The table below shows
the traditional interpretations of the concept of God and its influence to the Jewish
beliefs and culture.
Influence of
Belief (how does
Nature of What do Jews believe Source of wisdom
this affect Jewish
God and authority
beliefs, attitude,
(Evidence)
behaviour,
actions?)

God as One God as one means that In Exodus when - Jews believe
God is always present in God gave Moses that God
people’s lives, every sight the 10 should be
they see, sound they hear, Commandments praised so
and experience they are he said ‘I am the they will go to
aware of is regarded as a Lord your God”. the
Synagogue to
meeting with God. This shows he is
pray.
one.

God as - Jews believe that God Genesis 1 says - Jews

Creator created the universe “When God began remember the
out of nothing. He to create the seventh day
created it exactly how heaven and of creation
he wanted it to be. earth..” In because God
Genesis it says made it holy.

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 - The Book of Genesis in “Let us make man - This reminds
the Torah describes the with our image them every
creation story. and likeness….in week that
- It took four days for the image of God God is
God to get the universe he created him.” important
fit to support life and a and is the
further two days to creator.
create all living
creatures. On the
seventh day God rested
and made it holy.

God as - Jews believe that God In Exodus God - By obeying

lawgiver gave them free will. gave Moses the 10 the mitzvot
God wanted to help the Commandments Jews believe
Jews to choose to do like ‘Do not kill’ that they are
the right thing with and ‘Keep the doing what
their free will so he Sabbath day holy.’ God requires
gave them of them and
commandments fulfilling his
(mitzvot). will on earth.

God as - Jews believe that God The Ten - Jews will

Judge not only gave them Commandments celebrate
laws to follow, but also (Exodus 20:1-15) Rosh
judges them for how Hashanah by
well they follow these reflecting on
laws. They believe that their
God judges everyone – behaviour
whether they are Jew over the year
or not – based on their and to say
actions, behavior and sorry for
beliefs. anything they
- Jews believe there are have done
two main times when wrong.
God judges them:
during the festival of
Rosh Hashanah (the
Jewish new year) and
after death.
The Divine - Jews believe that God - God appeared - Shekhinah
Presence is present on earth and as a burning can help
(Shekhinah) this is what the word bush when he Jews
Shekhinah means. spoke to understand
• In the Torah God is Moses. suffering, as
also sometimes - When God gave it means God
described as a cloud or Moses the 10 is alongside
a pillar of fire. This was Commandment them.
a symbol of God’s s he appeared
presence among his as a dense
people. . cloud.

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Source: https://www.st-gregorys.org.uk/140/y11-re-exam-revision-information/83

Religious Observance, Festivals, and Days of Significance

Ceremonies and Rites

Different life-cycle events are important to Jewish people, it shows their

unending search toward kedushah (meaning “sanctification”), which is a goal of
Jewish religious living.

a. Birth
The birth of a child is regarded as a blessing from God and an occasion
for deep gratitude. Traditionally, a daughter would be named in the synagogue
on the first Sabbath following her birth. A son is named at the Brit
Milah ("Covenant of Circumcision") on the eighth day. The circumcision is
performed by an official called a mohel. Through the ceremony of circumcision
the child is brought into the Covenant of Abraham and enters into the
Community of Israel. When young people reach the age of 13, there is a special
ceremony among the Orthodox for boys only and among Reform and
Conservative Jews for girls as well. The young person is called to the reading
of the Torah and may be counted henceforth in the minyan for the
congregational worship. A boy is called a Bar Mitzvah ("Son of the
Commandment"), and a girl is called a Bat Mitzvah or Bas
Mitzvah ("Daughter of the Commandment").
b. Marriage
The Jewish marriage ceremony takes place under a canopy (chupah),
which is a symbol of the bridal chamber. The traditional ceremony begins with
a blessing of betrothal (engagement) and is followed by the kiddushin, in which
the groom places a ring on the index finger of the bride's right hand and says,
"Behold, thou are consecrated unto me with this ring according to the Law of
Moses and Israel." Liberal Jews will often use two rings, allowing the bride to
recite her formula to the groom. A traditional marriage contract (ketubah) is
then read. Written in Aramaic, it lists the responsibilities of the husband for
the care and support of the bride. In Liberal ceremonies the
traditional ketubah may be replaced by a personal statement of the bride and
groom to each other.

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 c. Death
Jews believe death as part of God’s Plan. They believe that Jews should
not die alone, if possible. The dying person’s family should visit and look after
them. It is considered an act of kindness to be with someone when they die
and to close the dead person’s eyes. Following death and burial, the immediate
family enters a seven-day period of mourning (shivah) during which they
remain at home except for the Sabbath, when they may attend the synagogue.
After the seven days, and until the 30th day, the mourning customs are eased
and the bereaved begin a return to normal life.
d. Conversion to Judaism
Judaism welcomes those who wish to accept the Jewish faith. A
ceremony of conversion (gerut) is conducted by three rabbis who determine
the candidate's preparation. Traditional Jews require a visit to the ritual bath
(mikvah) for a woman and circumcision for a male. Reform Judaism does not
officially require either, although many Reform rabbis request this of those
they have instructed. Upon conversion the new convert, or proselyte (ger), is
considered a Jew in every respect.

e. Dietary restrictions
Food that complies with Jewish law is called kosher. Pork and shellfish
are forbidden, and other meats should normally be slaughtered according to
strict rules, by a qualified person (schochet). Meat and dairy foods are not
eaten, cooked or kept together; after consuming meat or poultry, an observant
Jew waits some time before eating dairy foods. It is good practice to check
directly with a person about their dietary restrictions.

The Sabbath and Holy Days

Since biblical times the Sabbath has been a day of utmost importance. It was
set aside because God completed the creation of the world in six days and made the
seventh day a day of holiness and blessing. It is also a reminder that the Children of
Israel were once slaves in the land of Egypt and that Jews were therefore obliged to
free their servants and slaves from labor on the Sabbath. The day is also referred to
as a "sign of the covenant" between God and the Children of Israel. While no work is
to be done on the Sabbath, rest is not its main purpose. Its goal is holiness, and the
day is set apart in each week for prayer and study.

23
 In his book, “An Introduction to Judaism” de Lange, (2000), enumerates major
holidays of the Jewish culture:
a. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and lasts two days in early
autumn. Together with Yom Kippur, it is considered the holiest of Jewish
holidays.
b. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement and falls ten days after Rosh
Hashanah. By fasting and praying all day in synagogue, Jews take time to
contemplate life, repent and make changes for the new year.
c. Passover is a festival of freedom that takes place in spring to commemorate
the historical Exodus of Jews from Egypt. It lasts for eight days and is
celebrated on the first night with a ritual meal called a seder.
d. Chanukah falls in mid-winter. Also known as the Festival of Lights, it is a
gift-giving holiday that lasts eight days, over which time eight candles are
lit on a special nine-branch candelabra called a Chanukah. Rites of
passage: All cultures and religions mark important life transitions. The
following are a few that involve Jewish children:
- Circumcision: Jewish boys are generally circumcised when they are
eight days old.
- Bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah: Around the ages of 12 or 13, boys
mark their transition from childhood to adolescence with a bar
mitzvah and girls with a bat mitzvah.

Other important religious practice in Judaism

Historically women have been excluded from participation in the observance

of Judaism. The notion of female rabbi is unacceptable. However, with the foundation
of liberal Judaism, and especially in the progressive Reconstructionist movement,
the subject of women’s role in the covenant became an issue of increasing
importance. The Reform movement in the USA ordained its first woman rabbi in
1972, and three years later a female cantor. Following this lead, other branches of
Judaism began to initiate reforms, allowing women to participate in rituals and as
witnesses, and bringing in bat mitzvah ceremonies (the female equivalent of the bar
mitzvah). Women were finally admitted to rabbinical schools in the 1980s. Today,
only Orthodox Judaism still holds out against the ordination of women rabbis, but
in all branches of the faith, women are taking an increasingly active, if not leading,

24
role in the synagogue. (the book of Religions: 2013, 199).

ACTIVITIES
Activity 2
Textual Analysis
Objective: Analyze the given text about the Jewish culture
Directions: Judaism is a religion that values so much their children. There is even
a saying that a Hebrew child is and must be raised with Jewish Values (Serapio:
2016). Now, analyze the Hebrew saying and answer questions below

A child of five (5) is my master…

A child of ten (10) is my servant…
A child of fifteen (15) is either my friend or my enemy…

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. What do you think is the meaning of this Old adage (well-known saying) of
the Hebrews?
2. How will you relate this to our Filipino culture in terms of rearing and
valuing our children or our youth?
3. Do you think parents are big factors to the success or failure of their children
in the future? What learnings/insights did you get from this Hebrew saying?

Note: Use separate sheet of paper for your answer

25
 CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

As Filipinos, we look forward to celebrate different festivals every year such as

the feast of the black Nazarene in Quiapo attended by several millions of devotees
expressing their undeniable faith and sense of gratitude after receiving numerous
miraculous blessings and other celebrations with roots in pagan times such as the
Ati-atihan festival which preserves the costumes and rituals that reflect our
Christians beliefs. Jewish people also celebrate holidays throughout the year. To
name a few, one is Passover, which commemorates the exodus from Egypt. Another
is what is called Shabuoth also known as the Festival of the First Fruits. And last,
the Simchat Torah (“Rejoicing of the Torah”) and it states the completion of the
annual cycle of weekly scripture readings from the Torah scroll.

Directions:
A. Look into various practices that can be found across religious traditions. For
example, Passover and Easter tend to fall around the same time of year, same
as Chanukah and Christmas. And another religious traditions in form of
fasting: Ramadan in Islam, Yom Kippur in Judaism and Lent in Christianity
(Zanna: 2002)
B. Share your personal narrative that highlights:
1. Commonalities between Judaism and other religion (e.g. Christianity,
& Islam), such as cultural practices, socio-economic, geographical,
linguistic and other characteristics.
C. Write your answer on a separate paper (short bond paper) for submission. Use
short folder.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Based on the activity, what are your realizations or discoveries when

doing the task? (Include this answer in your folder)

26
 REMEMBER
 Nature of God- Jews are monotheistic, they believe in only one God
- God as one means that God is always present in people’s
lives, every sight they see, sound they hear, and experience
they are aware of is regarded as a meeting with God.
- God as creator – a belief that God created the universe out of
nothing. He created it exactly how he wanted it to be.
- God as lawgiver – a belief that believe that God gave them free
will. God wanted to help the Jews to choose to do the right
thing with their free will so he gave them commandments
- God as Judge – a belief that God not only gave them laws to
follow, but also judges them for how well they follow these
laws.
 Jewish’s ceremonies and rites are events that are very important to
Jewish people in their search toward kedushah or meaning
“sanctification”.
 Sabbath is considered a day of utmost importance. It is celebrated
because God completed the creation of the world in six days and made
the seven day a day of holiness and blessing. It is also a reminder that
the children of Israel were once slaves in the land of Egypt and that
Jews were therefore obliged to free their servants and slaves from labor
on the Sabbath.
 Holy Days are observed during fall season of the year. These are days
of reverence and awe and a time to look into one’s heart and begin a
new religious year as a better person.

27
 POST TEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. What is most sacred text of Judaism?
a. Torah c. Bible
b. Tenakh d. Talmud
2. It is considered the holiest of Jewish holidays
a. Rosh Hashanah c. Chanukah
b. Passover d. Bar Mitzvah
3. Which holiday represents the Jewish New Year?
a. Hanukah c. Rosh Hashanah
b. Sabbath d. Passover
4. The Hebrew believed in one God. This is called
a. Polytheism c. Capitalism
b. Monotheism d. Imperialism
5. The Jewish book ____________ includes what Christians refer to as Old
Testament
a. The Tanakh c. The Bible
b. The Talmud d. The Covenant
6. Judaism holds that there is one eternal God, who created the universe,
and who remains master of it. This refers to _______.
a. God as lawgiver c. God as Creator
b. God as One d. God as Judge
7. A belief that God is present on earth
a. Shekhinah c. Simchat
b. Kedushah d. Shabuoth
8. It is a festival of freedom that takes place during spring to commemorate
the historical Exodus of Jews from Egypt.
a. Passover c. Sabbath
b. Chanukah d. Shekhinah
9. It is Jewish festival that lasts for eight days in which candles are lit on a
special nine-branch candelabra. It is also known as the Festival of lights.
a. Chanukah c. Kedushah
b. Shekhinah d. Simchat
10. It is a Jewish custom being observed with reverence and awe during fall
of the year with the hope of becoming a better person.
a. Sabbath Day c. Hanuka
b. Passover d. Holy Day

28
 REFERENCES

Online Sources
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-fscj worldreligions/chapter/history-
https://www.history.com/topics/religion/judaism
31T 31T

https://www.history.com/topics/religion/judaism
31T

https://www.chabad.org/library/article
31T 31T

https://www.st-gregorys.org.uk/140/y11-re-exam-revision-information/83
31T 31T

https://www.etymonline.com/word/religion
31T 31T

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_geography#cite_note-Kong2010-
31T 31T

http://marripedia.org/effects_of_religious_practice_on_society
31T

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Judaism#:~:text=Traditionally%2C%2
0Judaism%20holds

Books:
Cornejo, Nigel L., et al. Fundamentals of World Religions. MaxCor Publishing
House, Inc., 2019
Cornelio, Jayeel S. et al. Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems.
Rex Books Store, 2017
Nicolas de Lange, An Introduction to Judaism (Cambridge University Press,
2000
The book of Religion. Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2013
Serapio, Maria Perpetua Arcilla. Introduction to World Religions for Senior
High School. Mindshapers Co., Inc. 2016

29
 Acknowledgements

Writer: Gener C. Irinco

Editor: Amalia C. Solis - EPS
Reviewers:, Paciano B. Ferrer, Alejandrino C. Alac, Jeriel G. Apurillo
(content) Virginia Pike (language)
Management Team: Maria Magdalena M. Lim-Schools Division
Superintendent-Manila, Aida H. Rondilla-Chief Education Supervisor
Lucky S. Carpio-EPS and Lady Hannah C. Gillo, Librarian II-LRMS

30
 REFLECTIVE LEARNING SHEET

Name ____________________________________________ Grade and Section ___________

School: ______________________ Date: _____________ Subj. Teacher: _______________
Quarter: 1 Module No.: 4 Week No.: 4.1
MELC: * Examine the fundamental beliefs, teachings, practices of Judaism
Objectives: To be able to articulate understanding of one’s religious beliefs, and
practices by exploring their own origins- including the elements they share with
others and those that differ.
Topic: Fundamental beliefs, teachings, practices of Judaism
Direction:

1. Visit a local synagogue or church, if this is not possible complete a virtual

tour of a synagogue or church. Focus on the similarities and differences
between them.
2. During your visit or virtual tour answer the following questions:
a. How and why are synagogues/churches different?
b. What happens in a synagogue/church?
c. When do people visit a synagogue/church?
3. Take photographs or print-screen the key symbols and objects within the
synagogue or church you visit.
4. Write your answer on a separate paper (short bond paper) for submission.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Based on the activity, what are your realizations or discoveries when

doing the task? (Include this answer in your folder)

18
 REFLECTIVE LEARNING SHEET

Name ____________________________________________ Grade and Section ___________

School: ______________________ Date: _____________ Subj. Teacher: _______________

Quarter: 1 Module No.: 4 Week No.: 4.2

MELC: Examine the fundamental beliefs, teachings, practices of Judaism.
Objectives: To develop students’ appreciation for the Jewish culture and traditions
Topic: Fundamental beliefs, teachings, practices of Judaism
Directions: Write your answers and thoughts on the following questions (use
separate sheet of paper for your answer).

1. What makes Passover special to the Jews?

2. What do you think is the most special part of the Passover and why?
3. Is family time important? Why?
4. What questions do you still have about Passover?

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Based on the activity, what are your realizations or discoveries when doing the
task?

Note: Write your answer on a separate paper (short bond paper) for submission. Use
short folder.

19
Lesson 1

PRETEST POST-TEST

1. B 1. A
2. A 2. A
3. A 3. D
4. B 4. B
5. D 5. A
6. A 6. A
7. C 7. A
8. C 8. D
9. D 9. A
10. B 10. A

Lesson 2

PRETEST POST-TEST

1. C 1. A
2. C 2. A
3. C 3. D
4. A 4. B
5. A 5. A
6. D 6. C
7. D 7. C
8. A 8. A
9. A 9. A
10.B 10.D

20
21