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    A Complete Introduction to Judaism: World Religion Series, #5
    A Complete Introduction to Judaism: World Religion Series, #5
    A Complete Introduction to Judaism: World Religion Series, #5
    Ebook49 pages36 minutes

    A Complete Introduction to Judaism: World Religion Series, #5

    By Mary Pandeo

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    About this ebook

    The ancient religion of Judaism is surprisingly relevant to today's society and is a full and complex belief system, which can become confusing once examined.

    This book is written to provide you with a simple, easy to understand and concise guide to what Judaism is and how the religion is practiced.

    Judaism is a fascinating yet complex religion with a very long and influential history.  Spanning millenia it is heavily entwined with the modern day world.

    When you read "World Religion Series: A Complete Introduction to Judaism" you will get an in-depth look at the religion so you can understand the festivals, worship, beliefs and much more.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherShaharm Publications
    Release dateMar 11, 2016
    ISBN9781524269982
    A Complete Introduction to Judaism: World Religion Series, #5
    Author

    Mary Pandeo

    Mary Pandeo has spent her entire working life as a religious education teacher in several school across the world. As a frequent traveller, Mary has always been fascinated by how religion can shape one's society and social beliefs. Religion and spirituality has been a lifelong passion for Mary and she endeavours to research and uncover all she can about the world's most prominent faiths. Mary has created her series of books to share this passion with you and, when you read them, you'll uncover all you need to know about Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and more.

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      Book preview

      A Complete Introduction to Judaism - Mary Pandeo

      1. Introduction

      Judaism was one of the first major monotheistic religions. It emerged nearly four thousand years ago in the Middle East, and despite periods of persecution the Jewish people have grown in number and now total around fifteen million worldwide.

      The religion can be traced back to Abraham, whose belief in a single omnipotent and omnipresent God gave rise to three important faiths; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The descendants of Abraham were driven out of Egypt many centuries later, and wandered in exodus for nearly four decades. During this time God spoke to Moses and gave mankind a set of commandments that he wished his people to live by.

      This covenant created with God is of the utmost importance to the Jewish people. Abiding by these commandments is something that pervades every aspect of their lives, from the prayers taken at synagogue to how they behave and act in their homes. It can affect everything from their diets to how they dress.

      The historical roots of Judaism are also reflected in how the Jewish people carry out their lives. The Jewish calendar is structured around several significant festivals, each of which contains teachings and customs that help people to remember the roots of where their faith came from.

      Jews believe that their relationship with God is very special, and that the Jews are God's chosen people. Their behavior must therefore meet the ethical standards outlined by their creator, and their virtue and holiness should be considered an example to the world. However, they also believe that God is a merciful judge and that He will forgive those who repent their bad deeds and seek redemption for their sins.

      Here we will look closely at how the religion came about, and how history shaped the beliefs of the Jewish people. We will also examine how the commandments and teachings contained in the Torah influence how Jews worship, celebrate and mark rites of passage. Judaism is a rich and complex religion but this book will give a comprehensive overview of this major world faith.

      2. A Brief History of Early Judaism

      History and tradition are at the core of the Jewish faith. The roots of Judaism go right back to the Biblical Old Testament.

      The first of three patriarchs of the faith is considered to be Abraham, who forsook the polytheistic worship of his contemporaries in favor of following one true God. The other two patriarchs are Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, and finally, Isaac's son Jacob, born of his marriage to Rebekah.

      Jacob had twelve sons, his favorite of whom was Joseph. This favoritism caused great jealousy among Joseph's older brothers, who sold him into Egyptian slavery. However, the Book of Genesis tells how Joseph's steadfast belief in God brought him status and prominence in Egypt, where he was given charge of stockpiling the generous harvests. When a great famine drove Joseph's brothers to Egypt, Joseph forgave them and the descendants of the family enjoyed many years of peace and prosperity in the land.

      In around 1580 B.C.E, the Pharaoh became fearful of the influence wielded by

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