Department of Education

Bureau of Learning Delivery

Teaching and Learning Division

Grade Levels: Grade 11

Specialized Subject: Introduction to World Religions and Belief
Systems
Semester: First Semester (WEEK 4)

LEARNING COMPETENCY:
Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices,
and related issues of Judaism.
 JUDAISM
(Abrahamic religion)

Judaism is an ancient monotheistic religion that traces its origin as an

organized belief system during the Bronze Age in West Asia. The religion of the
Jewish people, Judaism is one of the three Abrahamic religions that also include
Christianity and Islam. It is the religion professed by the Jews known as the “People
of the Book” in the reference to their sacred text written covering nearly a thousand
years and formalized as a canon of teaching by the end of the first century C.E. The
picture above is the Torah which is the most important text of the Jewish people and
contains the “Five Books of Moses” and many sacred laws. The Jews consider
themselves as the people chosen by God to serve as an exemplar of devotion and
purity to humankind.

This module will present brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of Judaism.

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

4.1. Recite the Ten Commandments as stated in the Old Testament (Exodus 20)
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIId-4.1
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIId-4.2
4.3. Justify: The core teaching of Judaism is the covenant of one God with a chosen people
vs. other people with many gods.
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIId-4.3
4.4. Identify a story from the Old Testament that demonstrates the Jewish belief in one God
(e.g. Story of Samson)
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIId-4.4

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Direction: Fill in the K and W columns before the lesson. Fill the L column after
the lesson.

K W
What I know about Judaism What i want to know about Judaism

L
What I have learned about Judaism

Task 1: Connect the words. Formulate sentences showing how the following
pairs of words are connected to each other.

a.
Abraham Covenant

b.
Moses Exodus

c.
Ishmael Arabs

Task 2: Analyze the picture and answer the following questions.

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1. Why do you think the Jews consider themselves as the chosen people?
2. Why did they have to leave the Promised Land?
3. What role did Moses play in leading them back to the Promised Land?
4. What can you say about the plight of the Jewish people in their journey
back to the promised land?

Judaism, the religious beliefs and practices of the people of Israel, traces its
heritage to the divine covenant made between Adonai and their ancestor Abraham,
whose family of origin migrated from Mesopotamia nearly four thousand years ago
and ended up settling in the Middle East region called Canaan – what is now the
territory of the states of the Israel and Palestine. In this covenant, Adonai promised
Abraham in Genesis 12 several things: a great name, numerous descendants, and a
land of their own. The divine covenant was passed on to Abraham’s younger son
Yitzchak/Isaac and later on to Isaac’s younger son Ya’akov/Jacob, who was be
renamed Israel. With this two wives and two concubines, Jacob/Israel begot twelve
sons- foreshadowing the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Sacred Texts
“The Torah Moshe [Moses] commanded us as an inheritance for the
community of Ya’akov [Jacob/Israel]” (Deuteronomy 33:4, CJB). The Hebrew word
Torah means “instruction.” Broadly understood, Torahis the “instruction” or teaching
of Adonai contained in the entire collection of Hebrew Scriptures called the Tanakh,
as well as in the orally transmitted interpretations laid down later in the Talmud. More
narrowly, it refers to what is also known as the Pentateuch.
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Jewish Principles of Faith
1. God exists.
2. God is one and unique.
3. God is incorporeal.
4. God is eternal.
5. Prayer is to be directed to god alone and to no other.
6. The words of the prophets are true.
7. Moses’ prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets.
8. The Written Torah and the Oral Torah were given to Moses.
9. There will be no other Torah.
10. God knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
11. God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
12. The Messiah will come.
13. The dead will be resurrected.
These statements of belief were eventually as credo of every article beginning
with “I believe” and then later versified, set to music, and included in prayer books
(Jurji 1946). Though controversial when first formulated and evoked much criticism
or even disregarded for many centuries, these principles are generally accepted
nowadays by the Jewish community.

The Ten Commandments

The “Ten Commandments” are set of absolute laws given by God to Moses at
the biblical Mount Sinai that shall govern the life of every Israelite. Most scholars
consider this period as the official beginning of Judaism as an organized and
structured belief system. These laws are twice mentioned in the Hebrew Bible,
particularly, in Exodus and in Deuteronomy.

Worship and Observances

The Jewish community utilizes the lunar calendar with twelve months, each
beginning at the new moon of 29 or 30 days. Every festival and Sabbath commences
and terminates at dusk (or sunset) rather than midnight in adherence to the biblical
pattern. Jewish calendar is followed in observance of festivities, holidays, and
community and family celebrations (Brasswell 1994). Jewish holidays are special
days observed to commemorate key events in Jewish history and other events that
depict the special connections with the world, such as creation, revelation, and
redemption.

Sabbath
The most important day in Jewish calendar is Sabbath (or Shabbat) which
commemorates God’s completion of creation of the universe and his rest after the six
day toil (Parrinder 1971). This is the fourth law within the “Ten Commandments.” It
begins a few minutes before sunset on Friday and runs until an hour after sunset on
Saturday or almost 25 hours to be precise. At Friday sundown, Sabbath candles are
lighted and kiddush(sanctification) is recited over wine or grape juice. Children are
then blessed by their parents. Jews must abstain from work and must study the
Torah. Some work prohibitions include lighting fires, using money and writing. The
Sabbath ends through the symbolic ritual ofhavdalah (“division”) done by dousing
wine on candles and smelling sweet spices.
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The days of Awe
Tishri is the seventh month in the ecclesiastical year of the Jewish calendar.
The first ten days of the Tishriare called the “Days of Awe”(YamimNoraim) wherein
the first two days compromise the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the tenth day of
the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the ten-day
period of the penitence leading to the Yom Kippur and is distinguished from other
days of by blowing a ram’s horn trumpet (shofar) in the synagogue and eating apples
dipped in honey which is symbolic for a sweet new year. Using the shofar, a total
number of notes are sounded each day. All Jews must undergo self-reflection and
make amends for all the sins they have committed. Rosh Hashanah is also a day of
judgement wherein God assesses one’s deeds and decides what lies ahead of him
or her the following year. These deeds are recorded in the “Book of Life” and sealed
on Yom Kippur. Work is not permitted during the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippuris the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish calendar that brings the
period of repentance to its conclusion.

Pilgrimage Festivals
During the olden days, theTorah,commanded the ancient Israelites to go to
Jerusalem on three pilgrimage festivals and participate in the worship at the temple.
Also called the ShaloshRegalim, these are Pesach (Passover), Shavout (Weeks or
Pentecost), and Sukkot(Tabernacles). These festivals spiritualize human life and
merge nature and history in a divine pattern (Jurji 1946).

Synagogues
Synagogues are Jewish temples of worship, instruction, and community
fellowship that contain separate rooms design for specific activities, such as praying
and studying. In Orthodox Judaism, men and women sit separately at the
synagogues; in Reform Judaism, they sit altogether in temples. Similar to a Christian
church, synagogues have seats facing an elevated platform with one or two lecterns
or cahir. The central feature at the flatform (bimah or tebah) and the holiest spot
inside a synagogue is the ark where the Torah scrollsare kept.

The origin of the Jewish people and the beginning of Judaism are recorded in
the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Pentateuch. Judaism has three notable
founding figures or patriarchs, namely, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These biblical
patriarchs are the physical and spiritual forebears of the Jewish People. Judaism is
anchored upon God’s revelation to Abraham that he is the creator and ruler of the
universe and that h loves his creatures and demands righteousness from them.
The Jewish people have been called the “people of the Book” in
reference to the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh or Mikra) that is divided into three principal
sections, namely, the Torah, Nevi’im, abd Ketuvim. Jewish beliefs and doctrines are
manifested in the” Articles of Faith”, in the “Ten Commandments”, and in the 613
mitzvot or law.

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Task 3: Do you know that the Jewish bible is included in the Christian
bible? Recite and read silently Exodus 20:2-17. After, reflect on the
following question.
2 
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of
slavery.
3 
“You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven
above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to
them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the
children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who
hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and
keep my commandments.
7 
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold
anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and
do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it
you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or
female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in
six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and
made it holy.
12 
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the
land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 
“You shall not murder.
14 
“You shall not commit adultery.
15 
“You shall not steal.
16 
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s
wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to
your neighbor.”

1. After reciting and reading, close your eyes and imagine a human community
where everyone faithfully follows every single commandment.
2. Write in a ½ crosswise what you saw in your imagination.

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Task 4: Read and identify a story from the Old Testament that demonstrates
the Jewish belief in one God. Make a comic strip out of it.

Rubric for Comic Strip

Points
Criteria Description Points
obtained
Organization The concept was clearly and
6
creatively conveyed
Content Important concepts were highlighted
7
and explained
Presentation The idea was clearly presented based
7
on the poster presentation
Total:2
0

Answer the following question:

1. What do you think makes the history of the Jews distinct?
2. How did the Jews show their faith in their God?

Write the letter of the correct answer on the blanks provided.

_____1. Why is Judaism a religion of revelation?
A. because they believe in reincarnation
B. because they believe in the resurrection of the dead
C. because they believe that their God reveals himself to chosen people
D. because they believe that their God is the one who started their religion

_____2. What do you call the Jewish feast that celebrates their freedom from
slavery of Egypt?
A. Purim
B. Passover
C. Yom Kippur
D. Hanukah

_____3. Who led the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt?

A. Moses
B. Jacob
C. David
D. Abraham

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_____4. Why the God of Judaism did changes the name of his chosen people?
A. sign of pride
B. sign of honor
C. sign of authority
D. sign of responsibility

_____5. What does “Shemah Yisrael” signify?

A. Judaism is a polytheistic religion.
B. Judaism is a monotheistic religion.
C. Judaism is a religion of one family.
D. Judaism is a religion of one true God.

_____6. How many commandments does Judaism have?

A. 623 mitzvot
B. 100 mitzvot
C. 200 mitzvot
D. 613 mitzvot

_____7.What is the meaning of the name Abraham?

A. noble man
B. one who wrestled with God
C. father of all nation
D. he who laughs

_____8. What is the belief of Messianic Judaism?

A. promotes progressive ideas
B. strict observance of traditional Jewish law
C. believes in Jesus Christ but continues to follow Jewish traditions
D. believes that Judaism is a religious civilization that is constantly evolving

_____9. What is the sacred scripture of the Jewish people?

A. Tanakh
B. Nevi’im
C. Torah
D. Ketuvhim

_____10. What part of their sacred scripture tells about their history?
A. Tanakh
B. Nevi’im
C. Torah
D. Ketuvhim

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Glossary
Adonai – Lord of History
Ketuvhim – (Writing)a collection of eleven books comprising a variety of material
Mitzvot –(commandment) action performed with heartfelt devotion
Nevi’im – (Prophets) part of Tanakh which is a continuous narrative about the
wavering fidelity of the people of Israel to the Covenant
Passover – Jewish feast that celebrates their freedom from slavery of Egypt
Rabbi – religious leader of the Jews
Rosh Hashanah - marks the start of the ten-day period of the penitence leading to
the Yom Kippur
Shabbath- day of rest and prayer for Jews
Synagogues- Jewish temples of worship, instruction, and community fellowship that
contain separate rooms design for specific activities, such as praying and studying
Tanakh- Hebrew Scripture
Ten Commandments- set of absolute laws given by God to Moses at the biblical
Mount Sinai that shall govern the life of every Israelite
Tishri- seventh month in the ecclesiastical year of the Jewish calendar
Torah- instruction or teaching of Adonai contained in the entire collection of Hebrew
Scripture
Yom Kipur- Day of Atonement

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Answer Keys
Task 1 – Answers may vary
Task 2 – Answers may vary
Task 3 – Answers may vary
Task 4 – Answers may vary
Task 5 – Multiple Choice

1. C
2. B
3. A
4. D
5. B
6. D
7. C
8. C
9. A
10. C

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References

INTERNET SOURCES:
https://www.google.com/search?
q=moses+exodus&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiZoab1rNvwPjdeOsA0#imgrc=PKSnP7
Nkdhxf4M

TEXTBOOK
Ong, Jerome A. and Jose, Mary Dorothy dl. Introduction to World Religions
and Belief Systems (Senior High School Textbook) Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg.,
DepEd Complex Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600, Vibal Group 2016

Manaloto, Christian B and Rapadas, Maria Teresita R. Pilgrimage to Sacred

Spaces:An Introductin to World Religions 927 Quezon Ave., Quezon City, The
Phoenix Publishing House Inc. 2016.

Prepared by:

MARVIN P. SUBRIDA
SST-II
Passi National High School (Senior High)
Division of Passi City
Region VI- Western Visayas

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