Core Beliefs

Being Jewish

The term "Jewish" can be used to describe a race and a culture rather than a religion, so some who identify themselves as Jewish may have little interest in the beliefs and practices associated with the religion of Judaism.

The Torah

The Jews believe in the teaching of the Jewish Bible, known as the Torah.

This is the First Testament of the Christian Bible. There is no Second Testament or New Bible for Jews.

Why? As they do not believe in Jesus

What are the first five books of the Torah?

1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy

Written Law and Oral Law
613 commandments were found in the Torah ("Written Law").
Talmud ("Oral Law") - commentary of ancient rabbis that elaborates oh how to apply God's Law in everyday life through:

• Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher)
• Dress and other symbols
• Prayer and devotion to the one God
• The Temple and Temple rites
• Observance of Holy days
• Proper social relations between male and female, in business, judicial rulings, etc.

Core Beliefs
Jews firmly believe that there is only one God, there are 13 main beliefs that Jews believe in, they include:

• God exists
• God is one and unique
• God is eternal
• Prayer is to God only
• The prophets spoke truth
• Moses was the greatest of the prophets
• The Written and Oral Torah were given to Moses
• There will be no other Torah
• God will reward the good and punish the wicked
• The Messiah will come
• The dead will be resurrected

The Family

The heart of Judaism is in the home and family, social responsibility and doing Mitzvot ("good deeds" based on God's commandments). Through education and hard work we make our lives, the lives of others, and the world, what God did intended it to be - holy.

Old Testament Stories

What happened?

Began with ‘In the beginning…’, marge imagined Adam and Eve from Genesis, told couldn’t eat fruit the forbidden tree, but both Adam and Eve ate it and got kicked out.

Who are the main characters?

Adam, Eve, and God

Where it appears in the Bible?

Genesis

Why is it important?

As it is the original sin, and creation

What happened?

Lisa imagined the story of Moses, and worked with Moses to try to free their people; he crossed the Red Sea and then drowned the Pharaoh and his men to free their people from slavery.

Who are the main characters?

Moses, the most important of the prophets for the Jews

Where it appears in the Bible?

Exodus (means exit)

Why is it important?

It is important because the Jews are led from Slavery to head to the ‘Promised Land’

What happened?

Bart dreamt of being King David, killed Goliath, but Goliath II killed his best friend, so killed Goliath II but his followers thought Goliath was the best king they had ever had

Who were the main characters?

David and Goliath

Where is appears in the Bible?

Book of Samuel

Why is it important?

King David is important to the Jews as he symbolises the Star of David

Revelations - Apocalypse/judgement day

When you die, you are judged by God, and then go to either Heaven, Purgatory (7 stages of cleansing) or hell (7 deadly sins)

Judaism

Introduction

Origins:

• Judaism is one of the three Prophetic Monotheistic Religions in the world, the other two are Christianity and Islam
• It is Prophetic as there were numerous Prophets who predicted the coming of a Messiah, Monotheistic as they believe in one God - mono (one) Theology (belief/study of God)

History:

• Jews are ancient people of about 3000 years ago, their history is told in the Bible and is traced back to Abraham of around 1900 BC (before common time era)
• The Jews have been known as Jews, Israelites, and Hebrews. (Jesus was a Jew, however the Jews accept Jesus as a wise man, but not the chosen Messiah as Christians believe, hence Judaism predates and heavily influences Christianity, but is not part of Christianity)

Abraham:

• Abraham is one of the first recorded leaders of the Hebrews in the Bible. He was a wealthy man who was called by God to leave his land and move from Ur to Canaan, or Israel as it is called today.
• Abraham heard the call of the Lord to stop believing in pagan Gods (like God of wind, God of mountains etc.) and he followed God's request and led his people from Mesopotamia to Canaan. This journey is recorded in the book of Genesis. We can map this journey here

Questions:

1. Who is Abraham? The first Jew, the founder of Judaism
2. What did Abraham believe? How was it different to the people of the time? He believed in one God, while many others believed in many Gods
3. What do you think a Covenant is? What Covenant did God make with Abraham? A Covenant is a promise e.g. like the Covenant of marriage, God promises Abraham three things: to make a great nation (to be the father of many nations), to bless everyone in his name, promise him land
4. What sacrifice was Abraham requested to make? Why did God ask this of Abraham? God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. He did it to prove his love to God
5. Search the word Patriarchs, what does it mean? It means father of the religion, Abraham is the father of Isaac and Jacob

History of Religion

What is Religion?
Religion can be defined as the worship of God os gods, guidelines about how to behave, and/or and answers to life's biggest questions.

What are beliefs?
Beliefs are what your opinions and committments to an issue

Animism: the earliest kind of religion, developed while the humans were living as hunter-gatherers, still found among indigenous people today.
Polytheism: belief in many gods
Pantheism: belief that everything is part of one God
Monotheism: belief in only one God
Agnosticism: uncertainty about God or gods
Atheism: belief in no gods

The Nobel Peace Prize

The Founder of the Prizes

In the 1890’s, Swedish, Alfred Nobel donated his large fortune to the Nobel prizes. He dedicated the award to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promoting of peace congresses”.

 

An example of a Nobel Peace Prize is Kofi Annan "...for their work for a better organisation and more peaceful world..."

The First Peace Prize

Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross, shared the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901 with Frederic Passy, a leading international pacifist of the time.

In addition to humanitarian efforts and peace movements, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded for work in a wide range of fields including advocacy of human rights, mediation of international conflicts, and arms control.

Number of Prizes

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to 120 Laureates - 97 times to individuals and 23 times to organizations.

The Gender Allocation

Of the 97 individuals awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 12 were women

Oraganisations can win the award

Two examples of organisations hat have won the award are the International Committee of the Red Cross and Amnesty International

More Information

For more information about the Nobel Peace Prize, visit the website here.

United Nations

'Declaration of Human Rights', 30 human rights that protect the dignity of humans.

The UN deals with global issues. It was created after the 2nd world war to stop a world war happening again.

Some of the human rights in my own words are:

• Everyone is entitled to the same rights (No. 2)
• No one shall be held in slavery (No. 4)
• Everyone has the right to be free of torture (No.5)
• Everyone has the right to recognition (No. 6)
• Anyone of full age has the right to choose to marry and have a family (No. 16)
• Everyone has the right to freedom and opinion of choice (No. 19)
• Everyone has the right to social security (No. 22)
• Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living and health (No. 25)
• Everyone has the right to education (No. 26)
• Everyone has the right to freely participate within the community (No. 27)

Village Space Presentation

Suicide in rural Australia

What was the issue about?

The issue is about the rising number of suicide deaths in rural and remote parts of Australia. Many of these deaths mainly occuring in men. These rates have risen over the three decades.

What is causing the issue?
The issue is because of the incresing stress of financial insecurity, economic hardship, social isolation, reduced access to support services, but mainly beacuse of the drought

Who is affected?

According to statistics, men are more vulnrable to the effects of these hardships. However, anyone living in remote and rural areas may experience such effects

What can be done?

• Promote more education and awareness programs
• Improvements in access to mental support services
• Financial planning
• Frequent social events with the community