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Judaism Facts & Worksheets

Judaism is around 3,800 years old and is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, which means that they only believe in one God. The religion was founded by Abraham and he is believed to be the father of Judaism.

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Judaism is around 3,800 years old and is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, which means that they only believe in one God. The religion was founded by Abraham and he is believed to be the father of Judaism. In ancient times, Jews were called Hebrews or Israelites. It has only 12 million followers in the whole world. Jerusalem is their holy city and the capital of Israel, the only nation where Jewish people are the majority of the population.

See the fact file below for more information on Judaism or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Judaism worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

  • Judaism is one of the oldest of the world’s four biggest monotheistic religions.
  • It is also the religion with the smallest following with only about 12 million followers in the entire world.
  • It started around 1812 BC or 3,800 years ago in the Middle East.
  • The religion originated in Israel.
  • The religion was founded by Abraham, who is considered the father of the Jews.
  • Moses is also an important figure as he gave the Jews the Torah (Sacred Scripture) around 1250 BCE.
  • Moses freed the people from slavery in Egypt, and protected the Jews from the wrath of God, he negotiated with God on their behalf.
  • The holy place of Judaism is Jerusalem.
  • Their sacred Building is called the Synagogue.

SYMBOLS

  • Jews use the Maegan David or also called the Shield of David or the Star of David.
  • Menorah is one of the oldest symbols in the Jewish faith.
  • The candlestick with seven candle holders can be seen in Jewish Synagogues.
  • It symbolizes the burning bush as seen by Moses on the top of Mount Sinai.
  • There are 2 types of Menorah – the seven candle holders and nine candle holders.
  • The nine candle holder is used in the Jewish festival of Hanukkah – it is called Hanukkah or Chanukah.
  • Mezuzah is also a symbol of the Jewish people and can be seen in doorposts of Jewish homes.
  • It has a little case containing a tiny scroll inside.
  • The tiny scroll has printed writings from the bible. It is translated into Hebrew and called the Shema.
  • It is written in the tiny scroll that the Jewish people should obey and love God and keep his rules.

TORAH

  • The Torah is the holiest book of the Jewish people.
  • It is the first five books out of the 24 in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh).
  • It includes Judaism’s oral tradition.
  • The Torah (teachings) contains the five books revealed to Moses by God on the top of Mount Sinai:
    • Genesis
    • Exodus
    • Leviticus
    • Numbers
    • Deuteronomy
  • It is stored inside the Ark.
  • No one is allowed to touch the scriptures. Because of that, they use a special pointer called a yad when reading it.
  • The Tanakh is a collection of Jewish scriptures known as the TaNaCH or TeNaK and is divided into 3 parts:
    • The Torah
    • Nevi’im
    • Ketuvim

TYPES OF JUDAISM

  • Orthodox Judaism has several subgroups which include Hasidic Jews, and they explain that they had experiences of direct communication with God through prayer and worship.
    • This branch of Judaism started in Eastern Europe during the 18th century and its values and several practices differ from traditional Judaism.
    • Orthodox Judaism is very strict when it comes to the practice of traditional Jewish law and rituals.
    • Most orthodox Jews believe that the Shabbat shouldn’t involve working, driving, or handling money.
  • Another type is Reform Judaism which is considered to be a more liberal type compared to other categories.
    • Jews under this category value ethical traditions over the strict practice of the Jewish laws and they promote progressive ideas and adaptation.
    • Followers of this category advocate progressive ideas and adaptation.
    • Most American Jews are under this type and they follow Reform Judaic traditions.
  • Conservative Judaism still follows the traditions of Judaism while considering progressive ideas.
  • Humanistic Judaism was founded by Rabbi Sherwin Wine in 1963 and they celebrate Jewish history and culture without emphasis on God.
  • Messianic Judaism is modern – it combines the beliefs of Judaism and Christianity.
    • Messianic Jews believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah but still follow Jewish traditions.
  • Even if there are numerous categories under Judaism, most Jews simply refer to themselves as Jews without considering themselves under a certain denomination.

HOLIDAYS

  • One of the most popular holidays in Judaism is the Passover and it lasts 7 or 8 days.
  • The Passover mainly celebrates Jewish freedom from slavery in Egypt.
  • Rosh Hashanah, or also known as the Jewish New Year, celebrates the birth of the universe and humanity.
  • Yom Kippur is the “Day of Atonement” and is the holiest day of the year for Jews, in which they fast and pray.
  • Starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur, these 10 days are called the Days of Awe or Yamim Noraim and is a time of repentance.
  • Hanukkah, the “Festival of Lights”, is a Jewish celebration that lasts for 8 days.
  • It celebrates the allegiance of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees defeated the Syrian-Greeks 2,000 years ago.
  • Purim is a joyous and light holiday that celebrates the time when the Jewish people in Persia were saved from extinction.

Judaism Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Judaism across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Judaism worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Judaism which is around 3,800 years old and is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, which means that they only believe in one God. The religion was founded by Abraham and he is believed to be the father of Judaism. In ancient times, Jews were called Hebrews or Israelites. It has only 12 million followers in the whole world. Jerusalem is their holy city and the capital of Israel, the only nation where Jewish people are the majority of the population.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Judaism Facts
  • All About Judaism
  • Incomplete Words
  • Significant Symbols
  • Types of Judaism
  • Holy Days
  • Jewish People
  • Learning the Teachings
  • Jewish Vocabulary
  • Sacred Places
  • Religions of the World

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main belief of Judaism?

Jewish people believe in one God who has set up a covenant with them. This agreement stipulates that their God will communicate with believers through prophets, and promises rewards for good deeds while also threatening punishment for bad actions.

Who is the father of Judaism?

For Jews, Abraham is seen as the Ancestor of all Jewish people. He fathered Isaac and was a grandfather to Jacob, who renamed Israel. Israel had 12 sons, each representing one of the tribes of Israel.

Why was Judaism founded?

Judaism is a monotheistic religion with roots dating back more than 3500 years in the Middle East. Jews consider the Jewish people to be God’s chosen nation, charged with demonstrating moral perfection and piety to the rest of humanity.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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