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Judaism is an ancient, monotheistic, Abrahamic religion with the Torah as its foundational text. Judaism is considered by religious Jews to be the expression of the covenant that God established with the Israelites. The history of Judaism spans more than 3,000 years. Judaism is considered one of the oldest monotheistic religions. Jews are an ethnoreligious group and include those born Jewish and converts to Judaism. In 2015, the world Jewish population was estimated at about 14.3 million, or roughly 0.2% of the total world population.
Unit Expectations
Unit Expectations
SCV.01 - demonstrate knowledge of the key narratives and events in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures and identify their importance for the life decisions of Jewish and Christian people;
SCV.02 - demonstrate an understanding of divine revelation and its connection with the sacred writings of Judaism and Christianity;
CMV.07 - demonstrate an understanding of the role of Covenant and commandment in the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam;
CMV.08 - recognize the role of Sacred Scriptures in the development of moral codes for the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam;
RBV.01 - summarize the major historical influences on and events in the development of various religions;
RBV.03 - analyse and describe the connection between the human experience and sacred writings and oral teachings.
RBV.04 - demonstrate how practice, ritual, and symbolism are external representations of the beliefs and principles of religion
RB3.01 - categorize the practices and rituals of various religions (e.g., almsgiving, asceticism, atonement, anointing, Covenant, sacrifice, holy days, dietary laws);
SC1.01 - demonstrate an understanding of the importance of Covenants (originating with Abraham, Moses, and David) in the self‑understanding of the Jewish people;
SC2.04 - respect sacred Scripture as revelation of God's Word;
SS1.05 - identify ways in which religion is reflected in specific works of art, architecture, music, literature, dance, and in dress and cuisine, and interpret their religious significance.
PF2.05 - recognize the centrality of human dignity and personhood to the world's religious traditions;
RB1.02 - identify the major influences in the development of various religions (e.g., social unrest, advances in technology, changing mores);
HE2.02 - analyse attitudes, biases, and prejudices held by adherents of various religions;
HE2.03 - analyze how positive and negative attitudes within religious traditions have been used to justify local and global prejudices and biases.
You are required to answer all questions found throughout this unit using the Answer Recording Sheet found below. Download and save it to your Google Docs and work on your answers as you go through this page. You will need to print the questions and your answers as part of your unit submission.
JUDAISM ANSWER RECORDING SHEET.docxFestivals
Festivals
Hanukkah
It's time to celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights that lasts for eight days and nights. The holiday's popularity has surged in modern times, but its origins date back to the turbulent centuries following the death of Alexander the Great, the ancient Macedonian leader who conquered the Persian Empire. After Alexander’s death in 323 B.C., a power struggle broke out among his generals that lasted for more than century. The Greco-Syrian Seleucid kings would emerge victorious and rule many of Alexander’s former territories, including Judea (located in central, present-day Israel). The Seleucids exerted their influence through Hellenization, the spread of Greek art, architecture, and religion. Local communities, especially in Judea, resisted it. In 175 B.C. the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes came into power and tried to force Judeans to assimilate. The Seleucids captured the holy Temple of Jerusalem and defiled it by erecting an altar to the Greek god Zeus inside. Antiochus outlawed the Jewish faith and mandated the worship of Greek gods. Some scholars think he believed that establishing one common religion might unify his fractured empire, but his brutal methods undid those intentions.
Writing in the first century A.D., Jewish historian Josephus recorded the brutal plundering of Jerusalem and treatment of Jewish dissidents who were “whipped with rods, and their bodies torn to pieces, and were crucified, while they were still alive, and breathed. . . . And if there were any sacred book, or the law found, it was destroyed: and those with whom they were found miserably perished also.”
Horrified by the Temple desecration and cruelty toward the Jewish people, a priest named Mattathias and his sons rose up in rebellion. After Mattathias’s death in 166 B.C., his son Judah the Maccabee (the “Hammer”) took his father’s place in the fight and led the Jewish people in many victories over the Seleucids. In 164, Judah won back Jerusalem and restored the Temple, cleansing and rededicating it. The revolt of the Maccabees, as it came to be known, continued on and ultimately drove the Seleucids from Judea in 160.
Hanukkah, which means “dedication,” commemorates the miracle of light that occurred when Judah rededicated the Temple to the Hebrew god. According to the Talmud (one of Judaism’s holy texts), the Seleucids left only one intact vial of oil, just enough to light the Temple’s candelabrum for one day. But it burned for eight days—enough time for the victorious Judeans to secure more oil—and the miracle became the foundation of a beloved holiday to thank God and celebrate the victory of light over
Today Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev (the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar), which typically falls in late November to mid-December. For eight nights, candles are lit in a menorah, a candelabrum with spaces for nine candles—one for each night plus a “servant” candle called the shamash (shammes in Yiddish). On each successive night, one more candle is added and lit. During the lighting, people recite special blessings and prayers. Songs are sung, and gifts are exchanged to commemorate the miracle in the Temple more than 2,000 years ago.
Class discussion: What did you learn about Hannukah in this video that you didn't know before? How is the celebration of Hannukah similar or different to other holidays?
Passover
As the days brighten and spring kicks into full swing, Jews all over the world prepare for Passover, a weeklong holiday that is one of Judaism’s most widely celebrated and most important observances. Also known by its Hebrew name Pesach, Passover combines millennia of religious traditions—and it’s about much more than matzoh and gefilte fish.
The story of Passover can be found in the book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible, which relates the enslavement of the Israelites and their subsequent escape from ancient Egypt.
Fearing that the Israelites will outnumber his people, the Egyptian Pharaoh enslaves them and orders every newly born Jewish son murdered. One son is Moses, whose birth has been foretold as the savior of the Israelites. He is saved and raised by the pharaoh’s daughter.
In adulthood, God speaks to Moses, urging him to tell Pharaoh to let his people go. But the pharaoh refuses. In return, God brings ten consecutive plagues down on Egypt (think: pestilence, swarms of locusts, and water turning to blood), but spares the Israelites.
During the final plague, an avenging angel goes door to door in Egypt, smiting every household’s firstborn son. God has other plans for the Israelites, instructing Moses to tell them to slaughter a lamb, then brush its blood on the sides and tops of their doorframes so that the avenging angel will “pass over.” Then they are to eat the sacrificial lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened—without yeast—bread. This is the last straw for Pharaoh, who frees the Israelites and banishes them from Egypt. Modern Passover celebrations commemorate and even reenact many of the biblical events.
The seder (“order”), the ritual meal that is the centerpiece of Passover celebrations, incorporates foods that represent elements of the story. Bitter herbs (often lettuce and horseradish) stand for the bitterness of slavery. A roasted shank bone commemorates the sacrificial lamb. An egg has multiple interpretations: Some hold that it stands for new life, and others see it as standing for the Jewish people’s mourning over the struggles that awaited them in exile. Vegetables are dipped into saltwater representing the tears of the enslaved Israelites. Haroset, a sweet paste made of apples, wine, and walnuts or dried fruits, represents the mortar the enslaved Israelites used to build Egypt’s store cities.
During a traditional seder, participants eat unleavened bread, or matzoh, three times, and drink wine four times. They read from a Haggadah, a guide to the rite, hear the story of Passover, and answer four questions about the purpose of their meal. Children get involved, too, and search for an afikomen, a piece of broken matzoh, that has been hidden in the home. Every seder is different, and is governed by community and family traditions. (This is the crummy history of matzoh.)
Passover observances vary in and outside of Israel. The holiday lasts one week in Israel and eight days in the rest of the world, in commemoration of the week in which the Israelites were pursued by the Egyptians as they went into exile.
During those days, many Jews refrain from eating leavened bread; some also abstain from work during the last two days of Passover and attend special services before and during Passover week. Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside of Israel participate in two seders; Reform Jews and those inside Israel only celebrate one. (See inside an ancient Passover tradition according to biblical law.)
The Passover celebration underscores powerful themes of strength, hope, and triumph over adversity and anti-Semitism. But this year, seders will take place beneath the shadow of a pandemic. In the face of social distancing and closed synagogues, people will be forced to improvise—and the feast of resistance and renewal will take on even more significance as people celebrate apart.
Class Discussion: What part of the Seder video made the biggest impression on you? Why do you think that is?
Milestones
Milestones
Circumcision - Jewish boys are circumcised eight days after their birth by a mohel, who is trained in Jewish law. If a mohel is not present, then a trained rabbi or trained doctor can perform the surgery.
Bat/Bar Mitzvah - When a girl turns 12, she celebrates her Bat Mitzvah. When a boy turns 13, he celebrates his Bar Mitzvah. This means "daughter/son of the commandment."
Marriage - Most Jewish weddings take place in a synagogue underneath a decorated canopy called a Chuppah that represents the house they will live in. The groom reads the marriage contract aloud stating that he will look after his wife, then gives her a ring. At the end of the service, the groom crushes a glass under his foot symbolizing the difficulties that accompany the good times in a marriage. It also is a reminder of the destruction of the temple of Solomon.
Jewish Funeral - Funerals take place as quickly as possible, usually within twenty-four hours. The body is buried, and cannot be cremated because it destroys what God has made.
Shiva - is the seven-day period of mourning following the funeral. Immediately following the funeral, a candle is lit in the home to symbolize the soul of the deceased.
Sacred Writings
Sacred Writings
Torah - refers to the Law of Moses as well as to the entire belief system of the Jewish faith. Traditionally this is considered to be the first five books of the Bible.
Talmud - refers to a series of teachings and commentaries by rabbis throughout the centuries who were interpreting the Torah as times changed and diasporas took place.
Groups and Institutions
Groups and Institutions
Orthodox Jews - Accept without question that the Torah is from Heaven, it is the direct word of God, and interpret the Bible very literally. The Sabbath is strictly observed, only Kosher food is eaten, and traditional gender roles are maintained.
Hasidic - The Hasidic movement was founded by Israel ben Eliezer in the mid 1700s. He believed that the best way to communicate with God was through humility, good deeds, and prayer. It is less intellectually demanding than Orthodox Judaism.
Conservative Jews - hold the middle ground between the Orthodox and Reform Jews. They believe that the Torah is from God revealed through people. They separate men and women in the synagogues, though women can become rabbis.
Reform Jews - Believe that the Torah was created by humans and do not interpret it literally. They encourage Jews to absorb the norms of the areas where they dwell. They use the vernacular in their services, do not separate men and women in the synagogue, and allow for women to be rabbis.
Cultural Impact
Cultural Impact
European persecutions - Jews had been persecuted throughout Europe by Christians from the 11th Century. It was an established norm that Jews had to live in ghettos and adhere to a curfew. Jews were often scapegoats for sickness and poverty, and were physically abused or killed throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance by their Christian counterparts. This took place because Christians continued to blame Jews for the death of Christ.
Jews in Strasbourg, France, being burned to death during The Black Plague Persecutions in 1349.
Holocaust - This was a calculated slaughter of 6 million European Jews during World War II by Nazi Germany by imprisoning Jews in concentration camps or by pogroms.
Antisemitism - refers to the hatred of the Jews by other groups. Anti-Semitic sentiments and groups still exist in Canada and throughout the world.
maxeisen.pdfExcerpt from Max Eisen's "By Chance, Alone," where he describes his experience leaving the box car train to Auschwitz, and recalling the horrors of the death camp. He was 15 years old at the time. Max Eisen had blessed Mary Ward with his presence several times between 2010 and 2021.
Below is a link to a board-wide presentation when Max Eisen presented his story to the entire TCDSB in November of 2021. Watch and listen to his story as a continuum of the reading material
Optional film for research purposes: The Pianist
Conduct a virtual tour of Auschwitz by clicking on the link below and discuss what you found revealing, shocking, impressionable.
Class Discussion: What things really stood out in your memory from your virtual tour?
Be sure to complete the UNIT COMPLETION ASSESSMENT and consult with your teacher BEFORE you continue to the Unit Task.
Unit Completion Assessment.docxunit 5 Task options
unit 5 Task options
Choose one of the following task ideas below to demonstrate your learning and complete this unit. It is always advisable to consult with your teacher while you work on this task to ensure you are meeting the expectations and getting the best possible mark. Be sure that all of your work is properly cited with appropriate analysis. As Mary Ward is a Self-Directed Learning system, you may also create and develop your own task in consultation with your teacher.
1. SELF DIRECT! Always recommended! Choose one topic in this unit that you were particularly interested in (i.e. Symbols, Rituals, History, Beliefs, etc . . . or a topic related to this unit that was not covered but worthy of exploring), then choose one style of presentation that you are confident with or would like to develop (i.e. written paragraph, website, documentary, video, slide presentation, art installation, podcast, etc . . . ) and consult/discuss with your teacher what the product will look like. You also have the option to make the task interdisciplinary with another course(s), and/or do a group project.
OR
2. Create a documentary or powerpoint presentation that discusses the use of symbols and history in a Jewish festival. Your video or presentation should be about 2-3 minutes. You may follow up your presentation with a Kahoot for review.
OR
3. Write a formal paragraph or opinion piece with proper citations on the necessity of including the history of anti-Semitism in contemporary education systems.
NOTE: All of your work must be properly cited. Work that is not cited properly will be returned to you to be redone with a stronger sense of academic integrity.
Please see evaluation rubrics below for your task. Consult with your teacher for any clarification regarding your evaluation.
Please see evaluation rubrics below for your task. Consult with your teacher for any clarification regarding your evaluation.
Writing Rubric.docxPresentation Rubric.docxRubric for a Visual Product.docxunit work checklist
unit work checklist
Be sure you have answered the following questions and completed the following tasks before submitting your unit to your teacher. This checklist needs to be signed by the religion counter for your unit submission to be accepted.
JUDAISM UNIT SUBMISSION CHECKLIST.docxBe sure to complete the UNIT COMPLETION ASSESSMENT and consult with your teacher BEFORE you continue on to the Second Unit Task.
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