Post 10 (week 5)

Post 10 Judaism

            Jusiasm has a very interesting history, religion, and culture.  The Jews were the first group of people to believe that there is one and only one God.  Because of this belief they were persecuted for years.  The Jews have a long and sad history along filled with pain and suffering.

            The Hebrew’s are descendents of Abraham and Moses.  They forced into slavery by the Egyptians who treated them as if they were animals.  Then Moses comes around and demands the pharaoh to let the Hebrews go.  From Egypt Moses led the Jews to the “promise land” which took forty years.  During this time, which is known as the Exodus, Moses went up a mountain where he talked to God, and it was then when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

            The Ten Commandments are some very basic guidelines to life in which many religions share a few of them.  They believe in the Torah, which is basically considered the Old Testament for Christians. 

            Jews celebrate many holidays which include Passover it has to do with the Exodus from Egypt it is a very symbolic holiday that includes bread without yeast and wine.  Another important holiday is Yom Kippur in which Jews fast for twenty-four hours.  And finally the most popular holiday Chanukah or the festival of lights.  Chanukah last for eight days and for every day a candle is lit and gifts are exchanged, this holiday is to celebrate the rededication of the second temple.

            The Hebrew’s follow a very kosher diet meaning that they cannot eat pork, and a lot of their food products should be blessed by a Rabbi.  Some of the rules may seem odd to some of this but this has been going on for thousands of years. 

            Judaism is a very interesting religion because of the fact that they do not try to convert anyone.  They believe that they are God’s chosen people, their for they are encouraged to marry other Jews, and to raise their children within the Jewish customs and culture.  They believe that if the mother is Jewish the child is Jewish. 

            Through their history the Hebrew’s have endured a great deal of suffering but yet they still have a strong core belief in God.