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The teachings of Judaism
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True or false? In Judaism, if you break one of God’s laws, you cannot be forgiven.
Iwette is studying for her Bat Mitzvah. It’s late. And she’s tired. - Who are you? Don’t disturb me, I’m studying for my Bat Mitzvah. - I am Abraham, ancestor of the Jews - I might be of assistance. - I don’t believe in ghosts. - I am not a ghost! I’m a dream! - Ok, explain the teachings of Judaism to me then. - Abraham tells Iwette: Judaism came into being about 4,000 years ago, in the Middle East.
People living there worshipped several gods. They were polytheists. But suddenly, Abraham breaks with this and says to the others that there is only one god. Abraham might be history’s very first monotheist. He makes a deal - a covenant - with God.
God promises that if Abraham’s descendants believe in God, they can live in the Land of Canaan. A bit later, Moses shows up. He too makes a covenant with God. God promises Moses that the Jews will be God’s chosen people. - And then Moses gets lots of laws from God and writes some down on stones. But this is the most important thing to remember: We are God’s chosen people. - But how are we supposed to live up to that? - Ah, no problem - you only have to keep the laws that God gave Moses.
613 of them, but they are summarized in the ten commandments that Moses carved on his stone tablets. - So we’re only supposed to follow these laws so that God won’t stop seeing us as his chosen people? - NO! - This is how most believing Jews interpret this: God loved the Jewish people so much that he made them his chosen ones. Then he gave them the laws. Jews follow the laws out of gratitude for being chosen. - Well of course no human is perfect. We all break a law now and then, but if we ask for God’s forgiveness, he will forgive us. But you’re also supposed to do good deeds to make the world a better place.
All this is written in the Tanakh. - The Tanakh consists of three parts: the Torah, the Neviim, and the Ketuvim. The laws are in the Torah. If you find what’s written in the Tanakh difficult to understand, there is a collection of writings about how to interpret them - the Talmud. In the Talmud for instance, one of the most famous teachers of Judaism says: “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn." - Learn by reading the Torah that is.
And by the way, that is what you are about to do on Saturday. On your Bat Mitzvah - just imagine you’re an adult - twelve years old - that’s big. And to celebrate this, you are to read from the Torah during the service in the Synagogue. - The Jews hold their services every Saturday because it’s their sacred - and free - day: Shabbat. The Jews were the first people in world history to introduce a free day in the week when you were not supposed to work. A free day in the week gives rhythm to the week.
And it’s the same thing with the holidays; they give rhythm to the year. During Shabbat and the holidays, there’s time for spiritual connection with God and for taking care of each other. Because this too is very important in Judaism. This is what it says in the Torah: “Love your neighbour as yourself”. And that still applies today.
It’s this life that matters, even though Jews also believe in life after death. - We are waiting for a king - the anointed one - The Messiah! The Messiah will lead the world into a time of peace and happiness. And when the Messiah has arrived, then the dead will rise! Did you follow everything? - er... - Good, ’cause it’s morning. Got to go.