1. Judaism is the smallest of all major living religions, yet it is the mother of the two largest religions in the world i.e. Christianity and Islam.
  2. Jews generally believe that people inherit their religion. A person born to Jewish parents is considered a Jew even if he/she does not practice Judaism, whereas a non-Jew who observes the Jewish law may still be considered a Gentile.
  3. What we find in the Bible is Priestly Judaism, which regards priests as the intercessors between God and His people. The destruction of the second temple in 60 AD paved way to Rabbinic Judaism, where Rabbis assume the role of the priests and halachah (the Jewish law) a means to reconciliation with God.
  4. Orthodox Judaism adheres to rabbinic interpretations of halachah and promotes strict observance of the Jewish Law. Conservative Judaism caters to the demands of cultural changes, while also emphasizing the value of traditional laws and rituals. Reform Judaism focuses mostly on ethical aspects of Judaism rather than its theological doctrines.
  5. Messianic Judaism considers Jesus as the Messiah and integrates Jewish customs and practices into their religious services.
  6. 'The Jewish Scripture is called the Tanach, which is a combination of Torah (the Pentateuch), Nevi'im (the Prophets), and Ketuvim (the writings)', 'Judaism is a religion of the covenant. Technically anyone can accept the Jewish religion through a binding ritual of consent, affirming faith in the covenants God established with Abraham (Genesis 12), Moses (Exodus 20) and David (2 Samuel 7).
  7. The concept of the Promised Land is central to Jewish theology. The Jewish law is integrally connected to the land.
  8. The Jews do not follow a formal creed. However, "The Thirteen Principles of Faith" developed by rabbi Maimonides (1135-1204 AD) serves as a general guide to their belief system.
  9. Jews observe tzedakah (tithe), kosher (dietary code), and shabbat (rest on the seventh day of the week).
  10. Jews keep a Mezuza (a container in which Deuteronomy 6:4-9 & 11:13-21 is written on parchments) on the doorpost.
  11. The male Jews use a kippah (skull cap), tefflin (phylacteries worn on the arms and the head), and a tallit (shawl) during their specific prayer times.
  12. Jesus taught from the Jewish Scriptures, observed Jewish rituals and faithfully practiced the Jewish law. Therefore most Jews consider Jesus as a rabbi.
  13. The Jewish festivals such as Yom Kippur (Day of atonement) and Pesach (Passover) rely heavily on the idea of sacrifice (korban) as the necessary prerequisite for the forgiveness of sins. Christians believe that the animal sacrifices in the Hebrew Scriptures are symbolic depictions of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
  14. In Nostra Aetate (1965), the Catholic Church recognizes the continuing validity of God’s covenant with Israel and now most evangelical churches offer unmitigated support to the Jewish nation.
  15. The Jews are waiting for a Messiah (12th principle of the ‘Thirteen Principles of Faith’) who will come to the world in order to restore the nation of Israel and reestablish its political sovereignty.
  16. Rabbinic texts struggle with two conflicting portrayals of the Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures—a triumphant king (Messiah ben David) and a suffering servant (Messiah ben Joseph). Are they indeed two different Messiahs, or simply two faces of the same Messiah?
  17. The Jewish declaration: "To Do the Will of Our Father in Heaven: Toward a Partnership between Jews and Christians" (Dec 2015), signed by many prominent Orthodox rabbis suggests, "Jesus brought a double goodness to the world… On the one hand he strengthened the Torah of Moses majestically" and on the other hand, "he removed idols from the nations," instilling them "firmly with moral traits." Therefore "Christianity is neither an accident nor an error, but the willed divine outcome and gift to the nations."

  1. How is the Judaism of the Bible different from the Judaism that is being practiced today?
  2. What is Messianic Judaism?
  3. How is the Jewish understanding of the Messiah similar to/different from the Christian perception of the Messiah?
  4. Do the Hebrew Scriptures picture God in human form?
  5. What is the significance of animal sacrifices in Judaism? How does the ritual of sacrifice symbolize the death of Jesus on the cross?

  1. Browse through news articles related to current events in Israel. How do they resonate with the Jewish understanding of Israel as the Promised Land? How would you evaluate these events in light of the Jewish hopes and dreams?
  2. Attend a Passover celebration in a Jewish home. How is it similar to/different from the Holy Communion Christians celebrate in churches?

  1. Browse through news articles related to current events in Israel. How do they resonate with the Jewish understanding of Israel as the Promised Land? How would you evaluate these events in light of the Jewish hopes and dreams?
  2. Attend a Passover celebration in a Jewish home. How is it similar to/different from the Holy Communion Christians celebrate in churches?

  1. The Pierced Messiah
    Chapter 6, The Unknown God