Five Faiths Project
JUDAISM
Further Research and Points for Discussion
- The stories of Abraham and Sarah can be found in the book of Genesis, beginning in chapter 12. Jews, Muslims and Christians all include a version of this story within their sacred texts. In the Torah, after God promised that Abraham would be the father of a great nation, but before he and Sarah have their son Isaac, Abraham has another son by a woman named Hagar. This son is named Ishmael. Although Ishmael and Hagar are forced to leave the company of Abraham, God meets them in their travels and makes promises to Hagar and Ishmael. From this set of promises, as well as the original promise to Abraham, Muslims draw their heritage.
Both Jews and Muslims regard Abraham as the patriarch, and Jews regard Sarah as the matriarch of the faith, while Muslims regard Hagar as the matriarch of Islam. Many Christians regard Abraham and Sarah as their patriarch and matriarch as well.
- The story of the Exodus can be found in the Torah in the book of Exodus, chapters 1 – 20. Chapter one explains how the people came to be in bondage and the subsequent chapters describe the process by which Moses led the people out of slavery. In Chapter 20, Moses receives the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments can also be found in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 6. The Law of Moses is found in the remaining chapters of Exodus and within the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
- Assign to students the task of finding a copy of the Ten Commandments. These may be found in the Torah, but also in the Christian Bible as well as in other sources. Some students may feel confident that they already know the Ten Commandments, even these students should be encouraged to find the commandments within a reliable source. How have the commandments influenced our modern laws? Can students identify counterparts for some of the commandments within our contemporary laws?
- Using an atlas, find modern Israel. With a little more research, find maps of the world made before the 1948 establishment of this new nation. Students may also be able to find maps of Biblical times, in which Haran will be identified. Comparing older, more recent and contemporary maps, encourage students to find other examples of changing boundaries, countries and regions. Have any boundaries changed within their lifetime? Were any of these changes based on religious ideals? What events might cause the changing boundaries and the establishment of new nations? What events led to the establishment of Modern Israel?
- If study of WWII and the Holocaust is within the teacher’s expected course of study, ask students to consider how the history of the Hebrew people in the stories of Moses and the Exodus might affect Jewish understanding of the historical events of the Holocaust? What does it mean to be a people in exile?
Contemporary Research Questions
- Watch the newspapers, periodicals, television and search the Internet for stories pertaining to a movement in America to post the Ten Commandments in public schools. Students may research this question and present to the class the pros and cons. Ask students to consider the possible outcomes, motivations and objections. Encourage students to support these considerations with source materials.
- The nation of Israel continues to have on-going conflict, and peace talks continue as well. Using newspapers, television, periodicals and the Internet, ask students to research the conflicts and the role America has played in negotiating for peace. How does sharing a common heritage in the story of Abraham affect the struggles in the Middle East?
- Using a phone book and a local newspaper, ask students to find the nearest synagogue. Imagine you are a practicing Jew, keeping the Shabbat. In some Orthodox Jewish households, driving a car is considered to be “work” and should be avoided on Shabbat. Is the synagogue close enough to your home or school that you would be able to walk there on Shabbat?
