Sacred Text In Judaism

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Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion, dating back thousands upon thousands of years. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that this tradition also has one of the first sacred scriptures ever created. Considered to be secondary sacred powers, the patriarchs Abraham and Moses brought G-d’s knowledge back to the Jewish people in the form of the Torah at Mount Sinai, the sacred space of this faith. In synagogues, homes, and even workplaces all around the world, Rabbis as well as members of congregations chant from the sacred text every day. Whether it be prayers of faith, agreement, dedication, praise and worship, intercession, or the ones chanted daily, the Jewish people can connect to the divine through the Torah’s words. This essay …show more content…

They would tell the stories of prophets and patriarchs including Moses, Judah, and Elijah. However, the Torah began to be put together during the 7th century B.C.E. upon the discovery of literature similar to that of the current fifth book of the sacred text (Livingston). A true need for a written work came when the Jews had to flee to Babylon in the 5th century B.C.E. Ezra the Scribe had to create a text for new converts who could not speak Hebrew to use when praying to G-d. His writings were considered to be a valuable stepping-stone, even though they were edited and became more standardized around the 2nd century C.E. (Zaklikowski). By looking into Jewish tradition, it is necessary to note that many adherents follow that Moses received the Torah from G-d on Mount Sinai soon after the Jews left Egypt. It consisted of 613 mitzvot, commonly referred to as the Ten Commandments. There are 10 broad categories that the 613 mitzvot can fall under. Examples include “observance of sacred times,” “respect for parents and teachers,” and “prohibition of physically harming a person” …show more content…

First, there is a discussion of the world being made up until G-d calling upon Abraham. The second part picks up right where the first left off and continues on through Abraham’s passing (King). An important Jewish patriarch, Abraham was asked by G-d to leave the place he lived in order to become the father of the Jewish people. It covers the importance of trusting in G-d and his plans (My Jewish Learning). Third, there is an explanation of Jacob being born up until his son Joseph’s dreams (King). Jacob stole his twin brother’s blessing, as he was not firstborn. However, he gets tricked into marrying the wrong woman later on and has conflicts with his own sons (My Jewish Learning). The fourth section delves into Joseph’s life and the formation of an Israeli tribe (King). He has dreams where certain objects bow down to him, making him believe that he will lead his family one day. However, his siblings do not appreciate all the attention that Joseph gets, making him become a slave in Egypt. He ends up being elected the prime minister of the Pharaoh and finds it inside of himself to make amends with his eleven brothers (My Jewish

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