Judaism

Judaism is the world's oldest Semitic religion. Despite the struggle it has in history it still remains
today. Jews believe that they are the chosen people to worship God. It began about 4,000 years
ago. This faith originated in Sumeria. It is the the root of the semitic faiths Islam and Christianity
faith which both of those faiths are Semitic. There are 5.7 million Jews in the USA, and 5.6
million Israel. They were the first ones to teach the concept of one god. Jews also believe that
the promised land is Israel. Abraham had had son named Isaac. Abraham had a covenant with
god that Israel was the promised land for all the Jews. When the Israelites were living in Egypt a
plague came upon them. All of the Israelites moved to Egypt and then were enslaved there.
Moses, after much debate with the pharaoh at the time, led the Israelites out of Egypt.
General Beliefs
Jews believe that there so only one god called God. God made the world and created man in
his own image and the Jews are God's chosen people. Canaan, which is now modern day
Palestine is the promised land that god pledged to the Jews through Abraham in return for
adherence to his laws, which were delivered through Moses. They believe that the Messiah has
not come get and one day he will come together to the the land of Israel and bring peace to the
world. They also believe that ten commandments of which Moses brought down from a
mountain are the ten ways of living life. Jews also believe that all people are equal and should
be treated with respected and love.
Rituals and Practices
For Jews around the world there are many rituals and practices that they all take part in. in
every religion prayer is an important and key part of their daily routine. For Jews when they pray
they need to face the holy city of Jerusalem. They can pray about something that they would
want, need, need help on or anything that they are struggling with. Fridays are Jewish peoples
holy day.
They have a multitude of prayers of which they do during that day. This special Friday is called
Shabbat. During Shabbat they eat a special meal. A bar mitzvah or for girls a bat mitzvah is a
ceremony of the coming of age when a Jewish boy or girl becomes an adult. This is usually
celebrated for a girl around the age of 12 and 13 for boys. During this they read part of the
Torah. the use a yard which is like a miniature hand on a stick to read from the Torah. Orthodox
Jews they never touch the Torah.
Sources http://www.jewfaq.org/barmitz.htm
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1084700/jewish/Bar-and-Bat-Mitzvah.htm
https://padlet.com/sforster12/9xkonu1n5acq -padlet link