Introduction to Judaism

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The Deluge

"Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives, went into the ark to escape the water of the flood...The flood continued for forty days upon the earth. The waters mounted, and lifted the ark so that it rose above the earth...Of all that was on the land, everything in whose nostrils was the breath of life died" (Genesis, VI 13,14,22)

Leaving the Ark

"And also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground". "So that on the 17th day of the 7th month the ark grounded on the mountains of Ararat...So Noah came out, his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives accompanying him. Every animal, every reptile, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth came out of the ark by their species" (Genesis, VIII 4,18,19)

Sacrifice of Noah

After the rain stopped Noah built an altar and God put a rainbow in the sky. "And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for perpetual generations, I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of the covenant between me and the earth." (Genesis, IX 12, 13). This is the agreement.

Tower of Babel (Breughal-1563)

After the flood Noah's sons had many children. Some of them built a city. The people were strong and ambitious and wanted to build a tall tower to go to heaven. In their attempt to rival God's power he changed their language so each one spoke words the others did not know. The people could not talk to each other or work together so they left the city and were scattered across the earth.

Abraham and Melchizedek

Abraham is the father of all believers, the first Patriarch.
Abraham lived in the city of Ur and was a descendent of Noah. Sarah was his wife. The people of Ur prayed to idols and did not obey God as Abraham did. God told Abraham and Sarah to leave Ur and he would lead them to the promised land. God promised that the descendants of Abraham would rule the land of Canaan, the promised land. They obeyed God and traveled a long time and at last they came to the promised land. Many years passed and there were wars in the land. "On his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and his confederate kings, the king of Sodom came out to the valley of Shaveh...to meet him , while Melchizedek, king of Salem brought out bread and wine, and, as priest of God Most High, blessed him, saying: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High" (Genesis XIV 17-19).

Abraham and Three Angels

"The Lord appeared to him at the terebinth of Mamre...Raising his eyes, he saw three men standing near him. On seeing them, he ran from the door of his tent to meet them, and bowing to the earth, said: "O sirs, if perchance I find favor with you, please do not pass by without stopping with your servant" (Genesis, XVIII 1-3). It was after this appearance of the 3 angels that Sarah gave birth to Issac at age 90.

Sacrifice of Issac (Ghiberti-1401)

After the birth of Isaac God wanted to know if Abraham would obey him and told him to sacrifice his son on a mountain. Abraham took Isaac and two men with him. They rode on a donkey and traveled 3 days. Abraham bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood... "And the angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven and said...Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me". (Genesis XXII, 9,11,12)

God Appears to Isaac

"The Lord then appeared to him, and said: "...I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants this whole country, so that all the nations of the earth will invoke blessing on one another through your descendants" (Genesis, XXVI 2,4)

Isaac Blesses Jacob

Isaac grew up and married Rebekah. They wanted a child and asked God. Rebekah had twin boys, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the oldest but he gave away his birthright to Jacob. When Isaac became old he gave Jacob a blessing.

Issac and Esau

"No sooner had Isaac finished blessing Jacob, indeed Jacob had just left the presence of his father Isaac, when his brother Esau came in from his hunt...On hearing his father's words, Esau cried loud and bitterly, and said to his father: "Bless me also, my father!" (Genesis, XXVII 30,34)

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	The Deluge "Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives, went into the ark to escape the water of the flood...The flood continued for forty days upon the earth. The waters mounted, and lifted the ark so that it rose above the earth...Of all that was on the land, everything in whose nostrils was the breath of life died" (Genesis, VI 13,14,22)
	Leaving the Ark "And also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground". "So that on the 17th day of the 7th month the ark grounded on the mountains of Ararat...So Noah came out, his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives accompanying him. Every animal, every reptile, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth came out of the ark by their species" (Genesis, VIII 4,18,19)
	Sacrifice of Noah After the rain stopped Noah built an altar and God put a rainbow in the sky. "And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for perpetual generations, I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of the covenant between me and the earth." (Genesis, IX 12, 13). This is the agreement.
	Tower of Babel (Breughal-1563) After the flood Noah's sons had many children. Some of them built a city. The people were strong and ambitious and wanted to build a tall tower to go to heaven. In their attempt to rival God's power he changed their language so each one spoke words the others did not know. The people could not talk to each other or work together so they left the city and were scattered across the earth.
	Abraham and Melchizedek Abraham is the father of all believers, the first Patriarch. Abraham lived in the city of Ur and was a descendent of Noah. Sarah was his wife. The people of Ur prayed to idols and did not obey God as Abraham did. God told Abraham and Sarah to leave Ur and he would lead them to the promised land. God promised that the descendants of Abraham would rule the land of Canaan, the promised land. They obeyed God and traveled a long time and at last they came to the promised land. Many years passed and there were wars in the land. "On his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and his confederate kings, the king of Sodom came out to the valley of Shaveh...to meet him , while Melchizedek, king of Salem brought out bread and wine, and, as priest of God Most High, blessed him, saying: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High" (Genesis XIV 17-19).
	Abraham and Three Angels "The Lord appeared to him at the terebinth of Mamre...Raising his eyes, he saw three men standing near him. On seeing them, he ran from the door of his tent to meet them, and bowing to the earth, said: "O sirs, if perchance I find favor with you, please do not pass by without stopping with your servant" (Genesis, XVIII 1-3). It was after this appearance of the 3 angels that Sarah gave birth to Issac at age 90.
	Sacrifice of Issac (Ghiberti-1401) After the birth of Isaac God wanted to know if Abraham would obey him and told him to sacrifice his son on a mountain. Abraham took Isaac and two men with him. They rode on a donkey and traveled 3 days. Abraham bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood... "And the angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven and said...Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me". (Genesis XXII, 9,11,12)
	God Appears to Isaac "The Lord then appeared to him, and said: "...I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants this whole country, so that all the nations of the earth will invoke blessing on one another through your descendants" (Genesis, XXVI 2,4)
	Isaac Blesses Jacob Isaac grew up and married Rebekah. They wanted a child and asked God. Rebekah had twin boys, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the oldest but he gave away his birthright to Jacob. When Isaac became old he gave Jacob a blessing.
	Issac and Esau "No sooner had Isaac finished blessing Jacob, indeed Jacob had just left the presence of his father Isaac, when his brother Esau came in from his hunt...On hearing his father's words, Esau cried loud and bitterly, and said to his father: "Bless me also, my father!" (Genesis, XXVII 30,34)