RELIGIOUS STUDIES FORM 1 NOTES TERM 1 2024

Religion

 What is religion?
a. The belief in God or supreme being and man’s
response through symbols and actions to the
presence of God.

 Types of religions
i. Christianity
ii. Judaism
iii. Islam
iv. Hinduism
v. Buddhism
vi. Indigenous religion (IR)
vii. Bahai faith

 Monotheism religion
They believe in one God

 Examples of monotheistic religion

i. Judaism
ii. Christianity
iii. Islam
iv. Indigenous religion (IR)

 Polytheism religion
They believe in many gods

 Examples of polytheism
i. Hinduism
ii. Budhaism
 iii. Bahai faith

 Characteristics of world religions

i. It penetrates different cultures.
ii. It has a worldwide appeal.
iii. It has a doctrine of salvation which can be
available to the believers in a variety of
cultural contexts.
iv. Has sacred texts that can be translated into
different languages.
v. It has places of worship and well defined.
structures in the place of worship
vi. Has a founder
vii. Has beliefs in spirits and angels.

 Indigenous religion (IR)

 What is IR?
i. It refers to the religious beliefs and practices of the
Africans.

 Characteristics of the IR
ii. Has a belief in a supreme being who is called by
different names depending on the tribe and
occasion.
iii. Has a moral code based on the sacredness of the
other being.
iv. Has a belief in the existence of spirits which are
either good or bad and are very useful to the
existence in the society
 v. It is orally transmitted, and it has no scriptures.
Religious beliefs and practices are spread by word
of mouth from one generation to the other.
vi. Has a belief in the life after death.
vii. They renerate ancestors

 Names of supreme being

i. Mwari – God speaks through nature
ii. Musikavanhu – god is the creator of humans
iii. Chikara – God is the beast
iv. Musiki – the creator of the world
v. Nyadenga – God is the owner of the heaven
vi. Baba – God is elder to everyone
vii. Ishe – God is the Lord
viii. Mambo – God is Lord
ix. Samasimba – God is almighty

 Judaism

o Judaism is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion that

was founded by Moses, though it can be traced back
to Abraham the father of Jewish nation.
o The Jewish are considered to be a chosen race in
order to set an example of holiness to the rest of the
world.
o Before Abraham’s encounter with God, there was no
monotheism, people had many gods.
o Abraham is considered to be the father of Jewish
faith because he promoted the center of Jewish faith
which is monotheistic (there is one God)
o Abraham’s son Isaac had a son called Jacob and
later was named Israel.
 o Judaism is traced back to Abraham, the 1st patriarch
and Isaac his son as well as Jacob Isaac’s son.
o Jacob was finally named Israel after he wrestled
with the Angel of the Lord.
o Moses was born during the period when Israel was
under oppression of the Egyptians.
o Moses ran away from Egypt after he had killed an
Egyptian man and hid him in sand.
o God revealed himself to Moses while he was
tending sheep.
o God sent him to Egypt to free his people the
Israelites.
o Moses is understood as the writer of the first five
books of the Old Testament known as the
Pentateuch.
o These books are, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers and Deuteronomy.
o Moses was the first to reveal the name Yahweh and
also to be strict monotheist.
o He played a big role as the covenant medium at mt
Sinai.
o It was during the time of Moses that the office of
Priests and Levites became so functional and not
everyone could be a priest.
o The covenant box which is also very central was
established during the time of Moses.

 Names Of God
o In the Jewish religion, the name of God was so very
sacred that no one was allowed to say it.
 o Calling or saying the name of God could attract
punishment even by death.

a) Jehovah – this name was related to Moses in

the wilderness in Exodus 6:3. The name was
regarded to be sacred to be pronounced.
Pronouncing this name could attract
punishment even by death.
b) Adonai – this means “Lord”
c) Elohim – this is another name of God. Elohim
is a Hebrew name referring to God. The name
is associated with his power to create and
authority over his human beings.

 Other Names
o King
o Comforter
o Protector
o Savior
o Provider
o Sustainer

 Sacred text/ writing

1. The Torah
o Torah is the first five books of the OT.
o It is the holiest part of the TENAKH
o God gave it to Moses.
o Torah can refer to all Jewish teachings.

2. The Tenakh (Torah, Nevim, Ketivim)

 o Tenakh is the main sacred Jewish text.
o It is basically the same as the Christian OT except
that it is in a different order.
o It was also known as Migra and it contains
Hebrew scriptures including the Torah (law or
Pentateuch), the Nevim (prophets) and the
Ketivim (writings).
o Tenakh governs all aspects of Jewish life.

3. Nevim (prophets)
o Nevim is the second major division of the
Hebrew bible (the Tenakh), lying between the
Torah (instruction or law) and Ketuvim (writings)
o This is a collection of books that are divided into
2 parts.
 The former prophets – trace the history of
Israelites after the death of Moses.
 The latter prophets – contain the words of
prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and
Ezekiel.
 It also contains the messages of the minor
prophets.
 They encourage Jews to obey God and
follow the Torah.

4. The Ketuvim (writings)

o Is the third and final section of the Tenakh, after
Torah and Neviim.
o In English translation of the Hebrew bible this
section is usually titled “writings” or
“Hagiographa”
o It contains the 3 Ps – psalms, proverbs and
philosophy.
5. Talmud (study or learning)
o Commonly refers to a compilation of ancient
teachings regarded as sacred and normative by
Jews from the time it was compiled until modern
times and still so regarded by traditional religious
Jews.
o Talmud contains the rabbinic (scholars)/ in the
second – fifth century on the teachings of the
Torah.
o They were trying to understand how they apply
and seeking answers for the situations they
themselves were encountering.
o It is made up of two sections:
 Mishna – (repeated study)- Mishna is a
collection of originally oral laws
supplementing scriptural laws.
 Gemara – (completion)- is a collection of
commentaries on and elaborations of the
Mishna which in the Talmud is reproduced
in the juxtaposition (comparison and
contrasting)

6. Mishnah
o The Mishnah is the first major written collection
of the Jewish oral traditions that are known as the
oral Torah.
o It is also the first major work of rabbinic
literature.
o It was written about AD 200 and forms part of the
Talmud.
o A particular teaching within the Mishnah is called
Midrash.
 The importance of Mishnah to the Jews.
o It was the first rabbinic collection in Judaism
contains aspects from all walks of life.
o It divided commandments found in Torah into six
primary sections:
 Agriculture (Zeraim)
 Sacred times (Moed)
 Women and personal status (Nashim)
 Damages (Nezikin)
 Holy things (Kodashim)
 Purity laws (Taharot)

 Worship and practices

o Connecting with God everyday is a key teaching of

Judaism and therefore worship takes many forms
involving prayers at the synagogue and at home.

 Shabbat
o The origins of the sabbath lie in the Torah.
o It is one of the decalogue.
o It is the Jewish day of rest.
o Shabbat happens each week from sunset on Friday
to sunset on Saturday.
o During shabbat, Jewish people remember the story
of creation from the Torah where God created the
world in 6 days and rested on the 7th day.
o Some orthodox Jews will not switch lights on and
off or drive a car, as these considered work.
 Shabbat and synagogue
o This brings the Jewish community together each
week.
o Services are held on shabbat morning, afternoon and
late shabbat.
o Shabbat morning is the longest and it lasted between
2-3 hours.
o Important prayers, eg, Shema are said, and the
Rabbis will reflect on the Torah through a sermon.

 Kiddush on shabbat
o This is Jewish benediction and prayer recited over a
cup of wine immediately before the meal on the eve
of the sabbath or a festival.
o The ceremony acknowledges the sanctity of the day
that has just begun.

 Words of the Kiddush

o Blessed are you, Adonal our God, sovereign of all,
creator of the fruit of the wine.

 Shabbat at home
o The mother welcomes shabbat into the home with
two candles and she will be reciting the shabbat
blessing from the Siddur (Jewish prayer book).
o The father will start a meal with a kiddush and
another blessing over the challot bread.
o Challot represents God’s gift to the Jews of food
when they were hungry in the desert.
o Everyone gathers for the meal.
 o Shabbat ends with a family lighting the Havdalah
candle giving thanks to God for his creation of the
world.
o It gives the smelling of sweet spices, eg, cinnamon.

 Prayer
o Jews have a duty to pray, and this does not just
happen in the synagogue, it should be a part of
everyday life.
o Prayer connects believers with God and is a
communication of love.
o Traditionally, communal requires 10 men of over 13
years to be present and this is called -- Minyan.
o Reform Jews will accept woman in the number
when performing a Minyan.
o Families and friends are also encouraged to pray
together.
o Shared prayers is a way of presenting the needs of
the community to God.
o Observant Jews will pray at least 3 times a day on
weekdays with extra devotionals on shabbat and
festivals.
o When Jews pray they will focus on praising God,
thanking God and praying for others.
o There are many set prayers in the siddur.

 The Shema
o This is the central of the Jews.
o It is declaration of Jewish faith, reminding Jews
daily of oneness of God.
o This is recited 3 times daily.
 The synagogue
o The synagogue is a place of worship for Jews.
o Although many Jews worship in Synagogue, they
can as well worship anywhere.
o For many Jews, the home is an important place of
worship, as are the acts they carry out in their daily
life.

 The importance of the synagogue

1. House of prayer
o A place of communal prayer
o Some prayers only be said where there is
Minyan. So many observant Jews will go to a
synagogue every day.
o Where shabbat services are held.

2. A place of celebration
o Celebration of shabbat and other festivals.
o Bar Mitzvah (Jewish religious ritual and family
celebration commemorating the religious
adulthood of a boy on his 13th birthday).

3. A house of study (Midrash)

o Study of the Torah is a lifelong activity.
o Synagogue library for community use.
o Children attend classes to hear Hebrew.

4. A focus Jewish life

o Programs of social events
 o Support for the elderly and sick.
o Sports activities
o Charity collections

 Features of the synagogue

What is Bimah? - It is a raised platform

from which the Torah
scrolls are read.
What are the differences? - In orthodox
synagogues, it is
usually in the middle
so the Rabbi faces the
congregation.
- In reform synagogues,
the Bimah is in the
front combined with
the ark.
What is it importance? - It has central focus for
the reading of the
Torah scrolls and the
sermons preached.
This shows that the
Torah should be
central to life.

 Aron Hakodesh

What is Aron Hakodesh? - It is also known as the

holy ark containing
the Torah scrolls.
 - It is on the wall facing
Jerusalem and is the
local point of the
synagogue.
What are the differences? - In Sephardic
synagogues, it is
called Heikhal.
- During some prayers,
the doors and curtains
are opened and closed.
- Ashkenazi
synagogues usually
have a curtain outside
the door.
- Sephardic synagogues
have them outside.
What is important? - It is the most
important place in the
synagogue as it
contains Torah scrolls.
- Its importance is
shown by its
placement on the
walls facing
Jerusalem.
- Its opening and
closing of the ark
signifies important
times, eg, it is open 10
times a day of
penitence between
Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur.
 - Its importance is
shown by the Ner
Tamid above it and
when the ark doors are
open, the
congregation usually
stands.
 Torah scrolls

What are the Torah - These are the scrolls

scrolls? contain ns the Torah.
- They are made from
animal skins and they
are handwritten by a
trained scribe.
- The scroll is attached
to two slaves known
as the tree of life
- Each scroll is wrapped
and when not used, it
decorated with silver.
- The scrolls are carried
to the Bimah to be
read.
What are the differences? - In some Sephardic
synagogues, the scroll
is kept in a metal or
wooden case.
Why are they important? - A portion of the Torah
scroll is used in each
shabbat service.
- To show its
importance, it will be
 raised to show the
congregation.
- It is seen as an honor
of mitzvah to be
called up to read from
the Torah.

 Ner Tamid

What is Ner Tamid? - Often called the

eternal lamp, the Ner
Tamid is placed above
the Aron hakodesh or
ark
- It is always burns and
should never be put
out.
Differences. - There are some
differences in design
depending upon the
country of the
synagogue and
whether it is
Sephardic or
Ashkenazi.
Importance. - It is a symbol of
God’s presence
- In Exodus 27:20-21,
Jews were told to
cause a lamp to burn
continually.
- It is a symbol of the
golden menorah
 which burned
consistently in the
temple.
- It is also considered to
represent the light of
the Torah.
Key concept - Ner Tamid (meaning
eternal light) is a
constantly lit lamp
near the ark in the
synagogue that
symbolizes God’s
presence.
Sitting arrangements
What is the sitting - The sitting
arrangement in a arrangement reflect
synagogue? the type of the
synagogue.
Differences. - In orthodox
synagogues, there will
be separate seating for
men and women,
women seat in a
gallery.
- In reform synagogues,
everyone sits together.
- Ashkenazi
synagogues, have all
worshipers facing the
same direction while
Sephardic synagogues
have seats all around
the walls.
 Importance - The seating is one of
the main differences
between orthodox and
reform synagogues.

 The ten commandments

What are the ten - The ten

commandments? commandments given
by God to Moses are
usually displayed in
each synagogue.
- They are usually
displayed on two
plaques because the
bible says, Moses
received the original
decalogue on two
tablets.
Difference. - There are many
differences in design
but usually they show
just the first two
words of each
commandment written
in Hebrew.
Importance. - They reminded
worshippers of their
duty to follow God’s
commandment.
- They are usually
placed near the ark as
 a reminder that the
original tablets were
carried in an ark.

Worship in the home and private prayer

 Mezuzah
o A Mezuzah case is often on the doors (apart from
the bathroom)
o Inside the case is a Mezuzah, a scroll containing the
Shema.
o The Mezuzah symbolizes God’s protection of the
house, and that the family should live according to
the Shema.

 Jewish values
o The home is where children learn about what is
important in life.

 Prayer
o Jews are required to pray three times a day, for
many Jews it would not be possible to go to the
temple every time.
o Many women only attend synagogue on shabbat so
it is important that they will be able to worship at
home.

 Amidah
o Central prayer of Jewish worship – the standing
prayer.
Judaism Regalia

 Kippah
o This is a Jewish symbol of identity and a sign of
respect for God.
o Some Jews wear the Kippah all the time, whereas
others only wear it during worship.

 Tallit
o A shawl like garment with fingers attached (called
tzizit representing the 613 Mitzvot).
o The Torah refers to the duty of wearing fringers in
the corners of clothes.
o The Tallit Gadol (Large) is worn during prayer and
worship and it sometimes wrapped around a dead
body after death.
o The Tallit Katan (Small) is worn by Orthodox
Jewish males at morning under normal clothing in
everyday life.

 Tefillin
o These are worn by Orthodox Jewish males during
morning prayer, except on Shabbat and Festivals.
o One leather box is worn on the head (head tefillin
shel rosh) and contains two paragraphs of the
Shema and the Torah.

\
 Worship
 The Torah is treated with great respect
o Members of the congregation can be called to read
from the Torah which is an honor – it is known as
‘aliyah’. The Torah cant be touched, so the reader
uses a yad (pointer) to keep their place in the text.
o A Torah extract is read each week, so the whole
Torah is read over one year.
o During service, the ark is opened and the Torah is
carried through the congregation to the Bimah, as it
passes them, people will bow, kiss or touch the
Torah with their Tallit.

o Prayer Is Important
o Prayer is a central part of Jewish relationship with
God.- they believe God listened to their prayers.
o Prayers can include giving thanks, praise,
confessing of sins or asking God for something.
o Many Jews prays three times a day even if they
don’t attend synsgogue – it’s a Mitzah to do so.
o They say the same prayers as in the services, but in
a reduced form, this include the Shema and Amidah.
o The Shema is a declaration of faith in only one God.
Its in three parts taken from the Torah (Deut 6:49
and Numbers 15:37-41).
o Jews should say it in the morning, afternoon, and
evening.
o The 1st sentence of the Shema is said when the
Torah is taken from the ark.
o Many Jews have a copy of the 1st of the first two
parts of the Shema on every door post in their
houses, except the bathroom. It is written with a tiny
parchment scroll – a Mezuzah.
 o The Amidah (stand prayer) is a set of 19 blessings.
It begins by praising God and then asks for justice,
and ends with thanksgiving and asks for peace. It is
said durind weekday services – a short version is
used for Shabbat.
o Women are traditionally exempted from Mitzah
concerning services and prayer, but they should say
the Amidah twice a day, they often pray it at home.
o Full concentration on prayer is vital – its known as
‘Kavanah’ and without it, prayers don’t count.
o Jews can pray spontaneously (make up their own
prayers when they want) – this should be in addition
to set prayers, which provide a structure for daily
prayer. Many Jews say blessings before and after
meals.
o Jewish men often wear special clothing for prayer
and worship.
o Tefillin are two boxes containing Torah passage
worn during shacharit (morning prayer), except on
Shabbat.
o One is strapped to the upper arm passages and one
to the head, reminding the to serve God with head
and heart.
o A Tallit (prayer shawl) is also worn during shacharit
– it has a fringe (tzitzit) tied in a special way to
remind Jews of the Mitzvot.
o Many men wear a kippah as a sign of respect to
God. Orthodox men wear them all day.

Jewish Festivals And Feasts

o Rosh Hashanah
o Marks the beginning of the Jewish year. It is also
celebrated as the day when God created humanity.
o It is held on the 1st or 2nd day of the 7th month of the
Jewish calendar (Tishri)
o They visit graves of relatives/ forefathers.
o Prayers are committed.
o They read certain texts from Torah.
o They cast away sins on this festival.
o They priorities the head of the fish.
o They wear new clothes and also send greetings
cards to each other.
o They believe that Rosh Hashanah is the day when
God will open the book of life and write down his
judgement on them.
o It is also a time of self-reflection and self-
examination.
o Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the ten days
of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur.

o Three things that are eaten at home to welcome Rosh

Hashanah.
o The Challah – represent the hope that the new year
will be sweets.
o The head of a fish – symbolizes prayer.
o Fish and pomegranates – represent the hope that
there will be many good deeds.

o Why Rosh Hashanah is important to Jews.

o The Rabbis believe that Rosh Hashanah is the holy
day that the world was created so God as the creator
is important.
 o It is celebrated as the day human race was created
so relationship of people with God and with others.
o Rosh Hashanah is a time of repentance; sins are cast
away and people think about how they speak and
act.

o Yom Kippur (Day of atonement)

o A particular Jewish holiday, the day of atonement,
falling on the tenth day of the Hebrews month of
Tishri.
o It was a twenty-five hour fast.
o No food or drink is allowed.
o No washing, jewellery or perfumes.
o No leather shoes and sexual intercourse.
o Men wear a white Kittel.
o All the clothes in the synagogue are white.
o Yom Kippur begins at sunset, at the synagogue in
the evening.
o Prayers of confession are said.
o Some give money or chicken as charity for the
escape goat.
o On the morning of Yom Kippur, many Jews go to
the synagogue and stay there for the whole day.
o There will be five services.
o There will be Torah readings about Yom Kippur and
how it is celebrated.

o Explain why Yom Kippur is an important day to Jews.

o Jews are told to observe Yom Kippur in the Torah.
o It is known as the day of atonement and Jews ask
God to forgive their sins.
o It is the most important day of the Jewish year.
 o Jews believe that God makes a final decision of
someone’s behavior during the past year and puts it
the book of life.
o In ancient time it was one of the days of the year
when the high priest entered the most holy place of
the sanctuary to beg God to forgive the people’s
sins.
o Most people make a special effort to attend temple
on Yom Kippur.

o Shavuot
o A major Jewish festival held on the 6th and the 7th of
Sivan(ninth month of the civil year and third month
of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar).
o It came fifty days after the second day of Passover.
o It was originally a harvest festival, but now also
commemorates the giving of the law (Torah).
o The feast of weeks of celebrating the 1st fruits of
wheat harvests originally offered at the temple in
Jerusalem now symbolized by two shallots.
o It commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mt
Sinai, and it occurs 7 weeks after Pesach.
o There is no special Mitzvot because the giving of
the Torah cannot be reenacted.
o It is a joyful occasion, and flowers decorate the
synagogue.
o Prayers are said to thank God for giving them the
Torah.
o Men stay up all night studying the Torah.
o Daily foods are eaten.
 How Jews celebrate the Shavuot.
o Shavuot is the only festival in the Torah which has
fixed date.
o It usually begins on the 6th day of Shira.
o On the night of Shavuot, a special book and reading
from the Torah and Talmud are read.
o Synagogues and homes are decorated with flowers
and greenery to represent Mt Sinai.
o Two special shallots and cheesecakes are eaten.
o The leaves represent the Torah as the milk and
honey until Moses returned the food laws had not
been explained.
o As part of the synagogue service the decalogue are
read and the book of Ruth is about harvest.

 The importance of Shavuot

o It helps bring togetherness in families in their
worship.
o It teaches the young ones about their religion.
o It is believed that the heavens are open to receive
prayer and study.
o Tradition says that the Israelites fell asleep while
they were working for Moses.
o The Jews see their festival as the conclusion of
Pesach, physical freedom is allowed by spiritual
freedom.

 Passover
o Pesach begins on the 1st day of the Jewish calendar
called the chief of months (Rosh Chodesh).
o