Checklist of Information

(This is far too much to teach but is a useful way for you to find areas you may like to learn more about)

 

A. Jewish History

Abraham to Joshua – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Joseph and his brothers; enslavement in Egypt; Moses and Aaron; the Exodus from Egypt; Revelation at Sinai; the Tabernacle; Death of Moses; Occupation of Canaan under Joshua.

Judges, Kings and Prophets:
Twelve tribes; The Judges; Samuel; Saul; David and Jerusalem; Solomon and the First Temple; The Two Kingdoms; Elijah; Assyrian Conquest of Israel; Jeremiah; Babylonian Exile; Ezekiel; Isaiah

From Persians to Romans:
Cyrus and the return; The Second Temple; Ezra and Nehemiah; Alexander the Great; Judaism and Hellenism; Maccabean Rebellion; Hasmonean Kings; Herod the Great; Jesus of Nazareth; War against Rome; Rise of Christianity.

Age of the Rabbis
Pharisees and Sadducees; Hillel and Shammai; Yochanan ben Zakkai and Yavneh; Akivah and Bar Kochba; Judah the Prince and the Mishnah; Tannaim and Amoraim; Talmud and Midrash; Geonim and Exilarchs; Rise of Islam; Karaites; Massorah

Middle Ages: Jewish life in Islamic countries; Golden Age of Spain; Maimonides; Jewish life in Christian Countries; Rashi; Crusades; Expulsion from England.

Ghetto Period:- The Inquisition; the Expulsion from Spain; the Venice ghetto; Safed in 16th Century; Talmudic learning in Poland; Manasseh ben Israel; Spinoza; Chmielnicki Massacres; Shabbatai Tzvi; Ba’al Shem Tov and the rise of Chasidism; the Vilna Gaon.

Age of Emancipation:- Moses Mendelssohn; Napoleon’s Sanhedrin; Emancipation; Reform Movement in Germany, England and America; Orthodox, Conservative Judaism; Haskalah; Zionism; Russian pogroms and migration; Dreyfus Affair; Theodor Herzl’ The Bund

Twentieth Century:- 1st world war and Balfour Declaration; Mandate Palestine; Hitler and Holocaust; Establishment of State of Israel; Soviet Jewry;

Anglo-Jewry today:- Board of Deputies; Leo Baeck College – CJE; RSGB; ULPS; United Synagogue; Federation: Masorti; Chief Rabbinate: Beit Din

 

B Jewish Literature

Torah – bible in general and Pentateuch in particularly. Names, composition, language, character, authority. Written and Oral Torah; Progressive revelation.

Prophets: Historical books, prophetic books,

Writings: Psalms, five megillot etc

Rabbinic Literature: - Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash

Medieval Jewish Literature:- Codes, Responsa, commentaries, philosophy, poetry, Zohar

 

C. Jewish Thought

Nature of God – non dogmatic nature of Jewish theology; existence of God; unity of God; transcendence and immanence of God; moral attributes of God; God as Creator, Revealer, Redeemer. Names of God; Problem of evil.

Nature of Human beings:- the ‘image of God’; difference between humanity and animals; free will; ‘good inclination’ and ‘evil inclination’; sin, repentance and atonement; prayer and worship.

Role of Israel:- Nature of the Jewish people; role of religion in Jewish culture; concept of ‘chosenness’; Mission of Israel; Israel and Diaspora; problem of Jewish survival.

 

D. Jewish Practice

Personal ethics: - Imitation of God; Sanctity of Life; Golden Rule; Justice and Mercy; Kiddush HaShem/Chillul HaShem;

Social Ethics:- obligations between husband and wife; parents and children; marriage and divorce; sex ethics; obligations in business; crime and punishment; obligations of citizens; philanthropy; preservation of environment; treatment of animals; war and peace.

Devotional Discipline:- Mitzvah of Talmud Torah; religious education of children; adult education; purpose of prayer and worship; value of ceremonial observance; roles of home and synagogue; duty to support the community and its activities.

Jewish Home:- Chanukat Ha’Bayit; mezuzah; dietary laws; ritual/ceremonial activities; study.

Synagogue:- history and role of the synagogue; Sefer torah and its appurtenances; Ark, Neir Tamid, Bimah, Rabbi, Music, segregation of sexes, tallit and Kippah.

Liturgy:- history of Jewish liturgy; siddur and machzorim; differences between progressive and orthodox liturgy; shema and its blessings, HaTefillah - Amidah; Public reading of Torah and haftarah; Synagogue vocabulary.

Daily Observance:- inc daily prayer; Kashrut; ethical behaviour; Birkat hamazon; Berachot for occasions

Shabbat:- History and significance of Shabbat; duration of Sabbath; abstention from work and oneg Shabbat. Services from Hadlakat HaNeirot to havdalah.

The Jewish Year:- The Calendar; Rosh Chodesh; Yom Tov Sheni; Survey of months and festivals; Hallel; vocabulary inc. greetings

Yamim Noraim:- History and significance of the High Holy Days; Rosh Hashanah in the home; Rosh Hashanah in the Synagogue; Ten Days of Repentance; fasting on Yom Kippur; Kol Nidrei; Viddui.

Pesach and Shavuot:- History and significance of Pesach; abstention from leaven; Seder and Haggadah (how to do it); services in synagogue;
Tikkun Leyl Shavuot; Ten commandments; Ruth. Dairy products.

Sukkot and Simchat Torah:- History and significance; the Sukkah, the Arba’a minim; Hoshana Rabbah; Shemini Atzeret; Simchat Torah; Chatanim;

Chanukah and Purim:- History and Significance. Chanukiah and ritual – how to do it. Ma’oz Tzur; Reading of Megillah; Purim spiel etc.

Other Feasts and Fasts:- Yom HaShoah; Yom Ha’Atzma’ut; Lag b’Omer; Tisha b’Av; Selichot services; Shabbat Shuvah; Tu b’Shevat.

Life Cycle:- Circumcision; baby naming; Pidyon HaBen; Cheder; Bar/Bat Mitzvah; Marriage Laws and Ceremonies; Sickness and death; laws and customs of mourning; Kaddish; Yahrzeit.

 

Duties of a Jew:- what it means to be a Jew. The duties of a Jew:-

a) right conduct
b) continuing study
c) religious observance in the home
d) supporting the synagogue and participating in its worship and activities
e) raising children
f) supporting the Anglo Jewish community
g) philanthropy/ Tzedakah
h) supporting fellow Jews in other lands
i) Israel
j) Working for the betterment of human society.