My Jewish Journey

Curriculum

11 Sections
13 Lessons
Lifetime

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Why take a Jewish journey?
At some point in life, every reflective human being will ask three fundamental questions: Who am I? Why am I here? How then shall I live?
1
- 1.1
  Why take a Jewish journey?
The Way of Identity: On Being a Jew
In this first unit Rabbi Sacks covers identity. We are born into a family that has a history. Who are we? To which story do we belong?
3
The Way of Prayer: Speaking to God
In this second unit Rabbi Sacks discusses prayer, arguably the principle connection to God in Judaism.
3
The Way of Study: Listening to God
In this third unit, we will explore study, the highest of all Jewish acts, which the Sages said was more holy even than prayer.
2
- 4.1
  The Way of Study: Listening to God
- 4.2
  The Way of Study: a quick quiz
  5 Questions
The Way of Mitzvot: Responding to God
In this fourth unit, we study mitzvot, the way of the commandments.
2
- 5.1
  The Way of Mitzvot: Responding to God
- 5.2
  The Way of Mitzvot: a quick quiz
  0 Questions
The Way of Tzedakah: Love as Justice
In this fifth unit we unpack tzedakah, love as justice
2
- 6.1
  The Way of Tzedakah: Love as Justice
- 6.2
  The Way of Tzedakah: a quick quiz
  0 Questions
The Way of Chesed
In this sixth unit we explore Chesed, love as compassion.
2
- 7.1
  The Way of Chesed
- 7.2
  The Way of Chesed: a quick quiz
  0 Questions
The Way of Faith: Love as Loyalty
In this seventh unit we will explore faith, love as loyalty.
2
- 8.1
  The Way of Faith: Love as Loyalty
- 8.2
  The Way of Faith: a quick quiz
  0 Questions
The Way of Israel: The Jewish Land
In this eighth unit we will explore the role of the Land of Israel.
2
- 9.1
  The Way of Israel: The Jewish Land
- 9.2
  The Way of Israel: a quick quiz
  0 Questions
The Way of Kiddush Hashem: The Jewish Task
In this ninth unit we explore the concept of Kiddush Hashem, sanctifying God's name in the world by acting as God's ambassadors.
2
- 10.1
  The Way of Kiddush Hashem: The Jewish Task
- 10.2
  The Way of Kiddush Hashem: a quick quiz
  0 Questions
The Way of Responsibility: The Jewish Future
The last unit focuses on responsibility, the idea that we are God's partners and there is work to do.
2
- 11.1
  The Way of Responsibility: The Jewish Future
- 11.2
  The Way of Responsibility: a quick quiz
  1 Question

The Way of Israel: The Jewish Land

Transcript

The way of Judaism is particular but the concern of Judaism is universal. Abraham was promised that ‘Through you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ Isaiah said that we are called on to be God’s ‘witnesses’. Our message is not for ourselves alone.

How so? We do not seek to convert others. We believe that the righteous of all nations have a share in the world to come. But we do seek to be living examples, reflections of God’s light, an inspiration to others to find their own way to God. That, we believe, is the only way of honouring the fact, after Babel, of a world of many cultures and civilizations. God is one; we are many; and we must learn to live together in peace. That is why we do not seek to impose our faith on others. Truth is communicated by influence not power, by example not by force or fear.

Others have understood this about us. Winston Churchill, for example, said that the West owes to the Jews ‘a system of ethics which, even were it entirely separated from the supernatural, would be incomparably the most precious possession of mankind, worth in fact the fruits of all other learning and wisdom put together’.

At a time when we have witnessed the resurgence of antisemitism, the world’s oldest hatred, it is important to know that, yes, we have enemies but we also have friends. We have critics, but there are those who, without seeking to become Jewish, have drawn inspiration from Jewish life. We owe it to them, not just to ourselves, to be faithful to our task: to be God’s ambassadors on earth.

Questions for my journey…

1. How does this teaching apply to me?
2. How can I act on it to become a better person?
3. How can this help me to lead a more meaningful and fulfilled life?

The Way of Faith: a quick quiz

The Way of Israel: a quick quiz

My Jewish Journey

Curriculum

The Way of Israel: The Jewish Land

Transcript

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