2/18/11

After our quiz, we went over the handout "Jewish Afterlife and Salvation." Although the Jews do not completely agree about bodily resurrection, they do agree that during the Messianic age, body and soul will be brought together. After death, a person's soul can go to either Gan Eden (Heaven) or Gehinnom (Hell). Paradise is not exclusively for Jews (though they do have a special place reserved) since anyone who lives a good life can get there. Mrs. Egan explained that Jews believe that each person is born with Yester Hara (evil intentions) and Yester Yatov (good intentions) but each person should choose to act on their good intentions in order to attain salvation. Then our class finished watching the video on Judaism we had started watching last class. For homework we have to read the handout "Rituals (Nature and Significance)."

Circumlectio 2/7

Today we started off with the beginning prayer, a Hail Mary. After prayer, we read an extract from a book. The extract was a chapter focused on Judaism, written by Huston Smith. Smith says that Judaism encompasses a small population, but that Jews have had a huge influence on the west.
We then watched a "Gaining a Better Understanding of Judaism" on YouTube. The video explains the three main denominations of Judaism: orthodox, conservative, and reformed Jews. Orthodox Jews are focused on traditionalism and they are very modest. In their synogogues, the men and women are separated. They listen to very traditional music and do not practice listening "to pop music."
After the video, we learned the difference between orthodoxy and orthopraxis. Orthodoxy is right "doing", orthopraxis is right belief.