Socio-Political Dynamics of Judaism Presentation.pptx

Reports

1. SOCIAL-POLITICAL DYNAMICS OF JUDAISM
The Old Testament gives us ideas on socio- polotical dynamics of Judaism.Understanding the Jewish concepts on political and society would help us understand the historical development of Judaism as one of the world’s religions and see its relevance in contemporary times. The Jewish concept of leadership based on the Old Testament directs us to certain types of leadership,one of which is kingship as the ideal form of government.This can be deducted from the chronicles of the Kings of Israel and Judah , as well as in the Book of Deuteronomy, which stated,”Let me put a king over me like all the nations that are around me”( Deut : 17:14-15).In relation to the idea of kingship,the concept of “covenant” between the ruler and the ruled is equally important as well in Judaism.Just as God the Father entered into a covenant with His people ( such as the covenant between God and Abraham),the same should also be true for the King and his subjects.Thus , socio- polotical dynamics can also be described as following the model of tribal federation in which various tribe and institutions shared political power.Although they practice communal living l, there were certain people who hold important positions in society with regard to their roles in Judaism,such as the rabbi who functions as a teacher and interpreter of the Jewish law and customs. Thus,it can be deducted that for the Jews, politics, society , culture and religion are all interconnected,thus Judaism is not only considered as a religion but as away of life as well.

2. SACRED SCRIPTURES The Jewish people have been called the “people of the Book” in reference to the Hebrew Bible ( Tanakh or Mikra) the has been the authority,guide,and inspiration of the many forms of Judaism that have evolved throughout the different periods of time and in various places(Parrinder 1971).Composed over a period of almost a thousand years, collections within the Bible became established in its canonical form by the end of the first century C.E.(Parrinder 1971). According to the Jewish tradition,the Hebrew Bible is divided into three principal sections namely the Torah,Nevi’im, and Ketuvim. The foundational text Torah (“Teaching”) is composed of the first “ Five Books” or the Pentateuch traditionally believed to have been authored by Moses through division je instruction in Sinai. These include Genesis,Exudos, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Apart from containing basic laws for Jewish self-understading,the Pentateuch also narrates the history, religious statues, and moral regulations for individuals and society,ceremonial rites and creation stories by Yahweh, and the origin and growth of mankind (Braswell 1994). Meanwhile,the Nevi’im (“Prophets”)is subdivided into Earlier Prophets, Later Prophets and twelve minor prophets. Prophets served as spokesperson ls who criticize the hypocritical practices of Jewish rituals. They were specifically chosen by God to preach hid message to the people. Lastly, the Ketuvim (“Writings”) form the third section of the Tanakh that contains works on poetry, temple ritual, private prayer l, philosophical explorations, and other canonical works.

3. In the strictest sense ,Torah rreligious the “Five Books of Moses”. However, it can also pertain to the entire Hebrew Bible known as the Old Testament to non-Jews’ but Tanakh (or the “Written Torah”) to the Jews. Broadly speaking, Torah could mean the whole body of Jewish laws and teachings. Another sacred writing of Judaism is the Talmud (or the “Oral Torah”) which means “study”. All the studies and interpretation done by Jewish rabbis or teachers ot the Torah are contained in the Talmud. In short,the Talmud is an authoritative collection of rabbinic interpretation of the sacred scriptures. It contains materials of law and moral codes. Around the second century C.E.,this oral law was complained and written down as Mishnah or a restatement of the law by a respected opinion. The next few centuries witnessed the writing of an additional strand of commentaries in Jerusalem and Babylonia about the Mishnah. Known as Gemara , it includes legends, folklores , and sayings (Braswell 1994). The Mishnah and Gemara comprised the Talmud contains 63 tractares that is often printed over 6,200 pages long. Apart from being a book of law ,the Talmud is also a fountain of religious thought and inspiration similar to the Pentateuch (Jurji 1946).

4. The Pentateuch is the single most important scripture for the Jewish people that became the source of their inspiration and direction for centuries. It became the foundation of other essential Jewish writings ,such as the Talmud and Mishnah. With all these codified laws and legal materials, Judaism has become a religion of the law and the Jew as the chosen people have shown obedience to God’s covenant throughout their long and tumultuous history (Hopfe 1983). BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES In Judaism, actions are more significant than beliefs. However, while Judaism has no dogma, there is definitely a place for belief within the religion since it focuses on the worship of one god, the practice of good deeds, and the love learning (Braswell 1994). For the Jews, there is one everlasting god who created the universe in its entirety and remains the master of it (Parrinder 1971).

5. Human being were created by God who provide them the capacity to decide what is right and wrong, and gave them the freedom and responsibilities for their own actions (Loach 2001). Human have the ability to restrain their evil intensions because their propensities or both good and evil (Parrinder 1971). For Jews, all human being are created equal. While God communicate with human through relevations ,humans can also commune to him by means of prayers and meditations. With regards one’s Jewishness, a Jew is someone whose mother is a Jew, although some sectors recognize the children of Jewish fathers as Jews, too. While a Jew may not lose one’s technical status as a Jew by converting to another religion, he or she loses the religiosity emanating from his or her Jewish identity. A person may also convert to Judaism,but he or she has to undergo numerous rituals.